The time has arrived. Garmin announced the first piece of GPS running watch with heart rate monitoring from the wrist. Begone chest straps. Employing technology from Mio Global, the same company that also lent their expertise in optical sensors to Adidas, the Forerunner 225 is the first device from Garmin featuring wrist-based heart rate. I’m sure this is merely the first of many more to come from Garmin.
Besides combining heart rate monitoring and GPS functions into one, the Garmin Forerunner 225 also features all day activity tracking with the in-built accelerometer, a colour display and idle alert in the form of a move bar and vibration.
List of features:
- Tracks steps, distance, calories and sleep
- GPS enabled
- Wrist worn optical heart rate sensors from Mio Global
- Water resistant to 50m
- Idle alert
- Vibration enabled
- Coloured display
- 4 weeks battery life in watch mode with activity tracking. 7-10 hours with GPS and heart rate monitoring
Tracked data is synced automatically to Garmin Connect Mobile where users can do post-training analysis. Clearly Garmin’s been paying attention to the burgeoning group of consumers who are keen in all-in-one devices like the Fitbit Surge and Microsoft Band.
The Garmin Forerunner 225, available in red or black, will start shipping in the second quarter of 2015 at the recommended retail price of $299.99.
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