Garmin today announced two of its latest GPS running watches –the Forerunner 230 and the Forerunner 235. Tracking distance, pace, time, heart rate and more, the 230 and 235 keep runners on pace for their next personal record. The Forerunner 235 is the first product to feature Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate technology, which displays heart rate and zone on an easy-to-read, colorful graphic interface, so runners new to tracking heart rate can train more effectively. The Forerunner 230 pairs easily with a chest-worn strap to get all the same data right on the watch. When connected to a compatible smartphone2, runners can stay connected with smart notifications and motivated with music controls and audio prompts that announce their lap times. Daily activity tracking features including all-day heart rate tracking on the 235 keep runners apprised of their all-day steps, calories and sleep. The 230 and 235 are also compatible with the Connect IQ™ smartwatch platform. With Connect IQ, users are able to customize their watch with additional apps, widgets, watch faces and data fields.
“We’re excited to add two new devices to our lineup of GPS running watches with the Forerunner 230 and 235,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “These watches provide a new form factor and training toolset, plus the convenient wrist-based heart rate in the 235 is one more way Garmin is helping runners meet their training goals, whether it be running a 5K or a marathon.”
Through a compatible smartphone, 230 and 235 users can stay connected and motivated during and in-between workouts with smart notifications for call, text and email alerts, music controls and audio alerts for lap and lap times during a run. The Forerunner 230 and 235 are both compatible with the Connect IQ smartwatch platform, so users will be able to customize their watch with additional apps, widgets, watch faces and data fields.
The 230 and 235 automatically sync with the recently updated Garmin Connect™ Mobile app when in range, so users can check in throughout the day to view reports on activity progress, track their sleep hours, join step challenges and more. Garmin Connect Mobile’s easy-to-use interface provides daily information and trends over time and can be linked to a MyFitnessPal account to automatically sync calorie and nutritional information, allowing users to view active and consumed calories, and remaining calories (based on goals set in MyFitnessPal).
With up to 16 hours of battery life in training mode and 5 weeks in watch mode with activity tracking and smart notifications, the Forerunner 230 boasts extended battery life to get more workouts in on a single charge. The 235 can get up to 11 hours of battery life in training mode and up to nine days in activity tracking mode with smart notifications. Both the 230 and 235 are also water resistant to 50 meters4 to withstand the elements.
The Forerunner 230 will be available in black/white, purple strike/white and force yellow/black, and will begin shipping in Q4. It will have a suggested retail price of $249.99 and the Forerunner 230 Bundle with Premium Heart Rate Monitor will have a suggested retail price of $299.99. The Forerunner 235 will be available in black/gray, black/marsala and frost blue/black, and will begin shipping in Q4. It will have a suggested retail price of $329.99.
