Garmin - Forerunner 255S Music

How much will playing music from the watch be a use for you? Battery life suffers a lot when you use the watch for music, and the 255 specifically suffers a lot. From a week or two of battery to hours. It might be worth it to upgrade to the higher end watch just for the battery life alone.

My experience with the 255 Music is the same as two other friends with the same watch. Playing music had a big drain for all of us. Maybe you got lucky and got a 950 battery accidentally installed in yours at the factory hahaha

Hello everyone. I’m having a hard time deciding which watch to commit to using. I have an Apple Watch Ultra 2 and a Garmin Forerunner 255 Music, and I’ve been alternating between the two, which makes it difficult to stay committed and keep all my training data in a single app. First, I’m a 35-year-old man and I started training a bit more seriously about 3 months ago. My workouts are mainly focused on health, since I have a full-time job that I can’t step away from, as I’m the primary provider for my family. However, I’ve been venturing a bit more into triathlon training with a dream—still distant—of completing an Ironman 70.3. I finished my first half marathon two weeks ago. I really like the battery life of the Forerunner 255 as well as the way Garmin presents health and training data. For example, in swimming, the rest intervals show up every time I get out of the water. During runs, there’s an upper graph displaying my heart rate zone or pace so I can check it with just a quick glance. I also really liked the Daily Suggested Workouts and the adaptive coaches that adjust based on my sleep and recent training. But the biggest issue with the watch is that it doesn’t have LTE, nor does it have a microphone or an assistant for timer requests, alarms, Apple reminders, or voice notes. With the Apple Watch, the screen is amazing and vibrant, but it’s not always-on like an MIP display. My workout data ends up split across two different apps (Health and Fitness), and it’s not presented very clearly. I end up using Bevel and WorkOutDoors to improve the layout and presentation, but this data doesn’t influence the training suggestions. My sleep doesn’t influence my workouts, nor do my recent exercises. Everything feels a bit disconnected. But I love going out for a run with just my watch, without carrying my smartphone, and using LTE to receive notifications and calls, as well as Apple Pay for payments. Also, the convenience of voice reminders, timers, alarms, answering calls without having to run around looking for my phone—these things make life so much easier. So, I’d like to know if anyone has gone through this and how you ended up solving it. I believe that if the LTE issue were resolved, I would switch to Garmin for good. I hate running with a smartphone. Do you keep it in your pocket? Do you use a specific Lycra band or something like that? What did you decide in the end?

I find that both are equally reliable on training. Pace, distance and everything else. Just the way Garmin presents are way better. If only Garmin create a LTE experience likewise Apple.

I have both. It’s impossible to decide. Different watches for different purposes

I still use my 255 music every day and I’ve never said oh I wish I had that feature from another watch. This one does everything I need

255: Not touch-screen; buttons only

For me, yes. Coming from a touchscreen that was frustratingly over-sensitive (even with a screen protector), it’s much easier to press the button when I mean to. It got to the point that if I got caught in the rain, the watch was responding to raindrops. YMMV, but having now had both, I like big butt(on)s and I cannot lie. 🎶🎤

Fellow Forerunner 255 owner here. Welcome to the family!

Technically, OP *could* download MP3s directly onto the watch, if you don't want to bring the phone (one of the criteria I had for my Forerunner 255 Music purchase).

While I know you didn't mention it, IMHO this depends on your budget and what you're looking to get. I had (still have) a Vivoactive 3 Music, which I got 6 years ago for $199. It replaced my previous Fitbit which had fallen apart (literally) and I wanted something that had a) standalone, reliable GPS/barometer/altimeter, and b) music storage (I got sick of carrying my phone when I run). Recently, when Jeff Bezos needed more yachts (aka Prime Day), I snagged a FR255M for $249 (normally $399).

\^\^ This. I had a Vivoactive 3 Music for 6 years; hardly any new updates, but the thing kept working (the battery stopped holding a charge as well). The only reason(s) I updated to a 255 Music was because a) it was on sale for only $50 USD more than the VA3M from *6 years* prior, and b) it had more sensors I wanted to take advantage of. If my 255 lasts as long as my Vivoactive did (does), I'll be a happy dude.

It depends on what you need. When moving to Garmin from Fitbit, I opted for a Vivoactive 3 Music (aka VA3M). I was looking for a) GPS on the watch, and b) music storage. Hate carrying my phone when cycling/running. Recently moved on from the VA3M (worked for 6+ years, and *technically* still works). Picked up a Forerunner 255 Music and am quite happy with my choice. This may help: [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/which-watch/runner/compare/](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/which-watch/runner/compare/)

Check out the forerunner 255 not too bulky and will do that you need from it. I recently upgraded to the 265 and love it. You can't go wrong with the forerunner range

I missed the touch screen as had it before the 255. The screen is better and more features.

That's not true. I had a 255 music and had no issues with playing music and battery.

The 255 music is a great watch. I now have the forerunner 265. Just a point on fasting. It's not really recommended for runners. Try to ensure you are fuelling enough as you increase your mileage.

FR255 is not touch screen. I went from VA 4 to FR 255 then to FR 265. The 265 is really good and has the touch screen.

I have forerunner 255 music and I love it. I use Spotify on it and have never had any issues. Can leave the phone at home. I use shokz headphones with it too. Fab watch all round. I had vivoactive 4 before that, that also had music. Think it was replaced with vivoactive 5. It is less technical.

I have 255 music. It's a fab watch. Bear in mind the 's' means small.

Was also a non-runner but outdoors active and resistance training. Someone on Reddit said the Forerunners are way more value packed than the vivo actives. I purchased a Forerunner 255 music, and am now a daily runner...just a warning, you'll start exercising more. Just released a video on the 255... [https://youtu.be/Mvp5GIYElY0](https://youtu.be/Mvp5GIYElY0)

Non-runner here. Wanted a "best bang for my buck" fitness watch with a great battery life, and got suckered into a Forerunner 255 music. I now run 5-6 days per week, 5-7k average...you have been warned. I've never been this fit in my life and it keeps getting better. Just released a review video on the Forerunner 255: [https://youtu.be/Mvp5GIYElY0](https://youtu.be/Mvp5GIYElY0)

Just made a video on the 255 music. Cheaper than the 965 and 265...great value packed option in my opinion... [https://youtu.be/Mvp5GIYElY0](https://youtu.be/Mvp5GIYElY0)

I wear the forerunner 255s Music in whitestone and it suits my disproportionately bony wrists. Links seamlessly with my Spotify, ticks off all the things you highlighted.

I’d recommend the Forerunner 255/255 Music or 955, both are excellent choices for running and cycling, with great battery life and advanced features. However, they usually cost over $300. I don’t think the Vivoactive or Vivosmart models are ideal for those activities, as they’re more focused on general fitness tracking rather than performance training. My suggestion would be to wait for Black Friday sales, since the 255/255 Music and 955 might get good discounts around that time. Alternatively, you might find a good deal on Facebook Marketplace that fits within your budget.

I'd look at the FR 255 and 255s. The 255 is larger and has battery life comparable to the pace 3. The 255s is more in your size range but has a correspondingly worse battery life, although certainly enough for regular 5k‘s. I've heard a lot of people say they like the Coros app more than the Garmin app. One thing Garmin has is better music, Garmin pay, and an App Store. Other than that they're very similar, and the same price on Amazon in the US.

You can expect the Pace 3 to receive software updates for at least another couple years, whereas the 255 will probably not receive any significant updates. Garmin watch faces (outside an activity) are superior to Coros, no question. Pace 3 has four “buttons” (one button, one crown that can be pressed or turned in two directions), the 255 has five buttons. I have the Pace 3 and kind of wish it had one more button. Coros stats make no sense: race predictor is useless, recovery number is way too optimistic. (Coros says I'll be able to run a full marathon at a faster pace than my best half.) Not sure about the 255’s charger but the Pace 3’s is pretty finicky.