Garmin 230 vs Garmin 235

Garmin Forerunner 230 and 235
Garmin Forerunner 230 vs Garmin Forerunner 235

Comparing the Garmin 230 and the 235: Which is the Best Option for You?

The Garmin Forerunner series is one of the most popular on the market, and the Forerunner 230 and 235 are great options for anyone who needs a smartwatch that is rugged, sturdy, and smart. The Garmin Forerunner puts the most important functions of a fitness tracker and a smartphone in one convenient device. You’ll enjoy phone notifications on your wrist, and excellent fitness tracking to take you through each of your workouts. The Forerunner 230 and the Forerunner 235  arer very similar but ultimately different from each other. That’s why we decided to put together a detailed fitness tracker comparison to make it easy to decide which of the two options is right for you. Keep reading to find out which purchase decision is the right one for you.

Examining the Differences Between the Devices

The Garmin Forerunner 230 and 235 are both top-performing fitness-based smartwatches that are beloved by thousands of people, but there are a few key differences between the watches that set them apart. If you’re thinking of purchasing either of the models, make sure that you fully understand the differences between the watches. Take a look at this smartwatch comparison and use the information to help you make the best possible purchase.

Built in Heart rate Monitoring

Garmin Forerunner 235
The 235 comes with built-in heart rate monitoring

The one major factor that sets the Garmin Forerunner 235 apart from the Forerunner 230 is built-in heart-rate monitoring. This more advanced device will take your pulse as you are working out and let you know what your heart rate is. With the watch firmly in position you should get a decent reading that will help you track your workout and make sure you are pushing yourself enough. The Forerunner 230 does not come with a heart rate monitor at all, and will require you to purchase a compatible chest strap heart monitor if you want a good heart reading as you work out.

 

Battery Life Differences

If battery life is important to you, you’ll want to look closely at this fitness tracker comparison, because each Garmin fitness tracker has a very different battery life expectancy. The Garmin Forerunner 230 lasts significantly longer than the 235, and that’s because it doesn’t have that heart rate monitor. With the GPS enabled you will get up to 16 hours of operation with the 230 versus a much lower 11 hours with the 235. Without GPS enabled the difference gets even more notable. The 230 can go up to 5 weeks without a charge in everyday mode, while the 235 lasts up to 9 days on a single charge without the GPS enabled. That’s a pretty massive difference, and definitely something that you’ll want to consider if you’ll be using the smartwatch for longer periods of time, or you want it to last longer when chargers aren’t available.

Consider the Price Difference

Garmin Forerunner 230 vs Forerunner 235
The 230 is a more cost-effective option

Another real factor that will determine which of the two watches are right for you in this smartwatch comparison is the cost of each one. The inclusion of a heat rate monitor makes the Forerunner 235 significantly more expensive than the Forerunner 230. On average you can expect to spend between $60 and $80 more on the 235, which is more than some buyers are willing to pay. It’s important to consider the cost of an added heart rate monitor though, because the 235 is the more affordable option if you’re comparing it to the 230 and a heart rate monitor if you don’t already own a compatible heart rate monitor to use with the device. For users that aren’t too interested in having a heart rate monitor, cost will likely be the deciding factor that determines which smartwatch is the best purchase.

What they Both Do Well

While any good fitness tracker comparison needs to stress the major differences between the two options being compared, we also wanted to focus in on the good that both of these Garmin fitness tracker solutions can offer you. They’re both highly capable devices and can help you meet your fitness goals as well.

Excellent Fitness Tracking Capabilities

Each of these smartwatches has the ability to closely monitor your workouts. The watches will track your cadence, distance traveled, workout pace and more. They rely on a GPS and an accelerometer to gather information about your activities and you can do things like map out your runs, track the distance that you run or bike, keep an eye on your running form and look for ways that you can improve your fitness and your running performance over time. These watches work well for other fitness activities like cycling as well, and come with different profile settings depending on the activity that you are completing. Get them set properly and you’ll have important information that helps you improve as an athlete whether you are running, cycling, or doing something else.

They Will Manage Your Workout

A good solid Garmin fitness tracker will help you make the most of your workouts, and this is especially true of either Forerunner model if you are a runner. These smartwatches enable you to create custom workouts and have the smartwatch walk you through them step-by-step. From beginning to end, the watch will be their encouraging you to work harder, and pushing you through the different steps of your workout.

Encourage Healthy Habits

While sitting down to compare fitness trackers, we noticed that both of these options encourage healthy habits throughout the day. They double as activity trackers during the day, much like a Fitbit does. By watching your steps, and keeping an eye on your movements as well, these smartwatches can encourage you to get up and move when you’ve been stationary for too long. A quick vibration lets you know to move about a bit. They will also help you compare one day against another so you can track your progress toward living a healthier and more mobile lifestyle.

Support Handy Smartwatch Connect Features

On top of all the fitness benefits that these smartwatches offer, we also noticed that each Garmin fitness tracker serves as a useful smartwatch for everyday life as well. During our fitness tracker comparison we enjoyed having access to phone notifications with a quick wrist glance. All run information is automatically transferred to your smartphone as well, making it easy to keep a detailed log of everything that you do with the watch.

Both the Garmin Forerunner 230 and the Garmin Forerunner 235 are highly capable smartwatches, they just offer different capabilities. Hopefully, after reading through our smartwatch comparison you have a good idea of which of the two options is best for you. Some buyers prefer the heartrate monitoring capabilities of the Forerunner 235, while others want the more affordable and longer-lasting 230 to carry them through their workouts.

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