These Old Fitness Watches Are Garmin’s Best Deals, and They’re Always on Sale
If you’re looking for a great value Garmin watch, the recent introduction of the Forerunner 570 and 970 is great news—not because you should buy those models (I think they’re great), but because previous generations of the Forerunner, which are still great watches, are now available at ridiculously low prices.
The previous models, the 265 and 965, are great, but you can go back another generation to the 255 and 955, released in 2022, and save hundreds of dollars without sacrificing any core features. I really can’t think of any fitness watch that’s a better deal right now, given the prices we’re seeing on these two models: currently $247 for the Forerunner 255 and $373 for the Forerunner 955 , which is an updated version with maps and a few extra training features.
Why am I recommending a three-year-old watch? I’ll cover the specs below, but the important context here is that Garmin Forerunners have serious longevity. The running app Strava publishes year-end trend reports that consistently show older Forerunners as the most popular running watch in the country and around the world. For example, the latest report put the Garmin Forerunner 245 in third place, behind the Apple Watch and Apple Watch SE. That’s a five-year-old watch. Not long ago, the Forerunner 235, then an eight-year-old watch, was the most popular watch in the world. These things last!
What the 255 and 955 lack compared to the newer models (not much)
The numbered models can be confusing, but I promise you can follow along. All watches starting with a 9 are top-end Forerunners (the 955 was replaced by the 965 and most recently the 970), and most of them came with a little brother starting with a 2 (respectively the 255, 265, and, breaking with tradition, the 570).
The 9xx series has built-in maps that let you see exactly where you are and where you’re going. The 2xx has a breadcrumb trail that shows you the general shape of the route you’ve already taken. If you want a map on your wrist, you’ll probably want to go with the 9xx.
I wrote about the newest models here , so you can see how the 970 differs from the 965 (and how the 570 differs from the 265). The big feature is that both the 570 and 970 support voice calls and voice text messages, and the 970 has a built-in LED flashlight. If these features aren’t a must-have for you, check out the next generation.
The 265 and 965 are both great watches with important features like dual-band GPS. You can read my 265 review here : , and note that the 265 is my personal running watch, which I bought with my own money because I like it. The 265 has a ton of great features for runners. Some are specific and functional: physical buttons, lots of options for data screens, and dual-band GPS for extra location accuracy. Others are more software-based but still arguably useful: training status, daily recommended workouts. The battery also lasts between one and two weeks, depending on how many workouts you do.
The 965 has all of that, plus built-in maps so you can see where you are in relation to roads, bodies of water, etc. It also has a few extra training stats, like an endurance score and a heat acclimation score.
All of these features are available in the 255 and 955. The only features that are significantly different between the x55 and x65 series are:
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The 255/955 has an old, always-on MIP screen , while the 265 has a smartphone-style AMOLED screen. I’ll tell you more about the difference between these screen types here .
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The 255/955 do not have touch screens . Use the UP and DOWN buttons on the left side to scroll through the options.
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The 255 can’t store music unless you buy the 255 Music version. The 955 has built-in music storage, as do the 265 and 965.
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The 255 doesn’t have a Workout Ready feature , but it does have a Workout Status feature. (I personally never use Workout Ready, so it’s not a big loss. You can always look at your heart rate variability trend, which the watch also reports, if you want to know how recovered you are each morning.) The 955, 265, and 965 all have a Workout Ready feature.
A detailed list of all the minor differences between the two models can be found on this comparison page on the Garmin website .
Which version of the Forerunner 255 should you buy?
There’s only one Forerunner 955, but there are four 255 versions and two 265 versions.
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The regular Forerunner 255 is larger (45.6mm) and has no music storage.
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The Forerunner 255S is smaller (41mm) and also lacks music storage.
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The Forerunner 255 Music has a larger size (45.6 mm) and includes music storage, so you can listen to music on your watch while leaving your phone at home.
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The Forerunner 255S Music model is smaller (41 mm) and has storage for music files.
Personally, I always take my phone with me when I run, so I’ve never found the offline music feature to be very useful. If you think you might use it, it’s usually a $50 upgrade, but currently it’s only $20 for the larger watch.
To help you decide, the photo above shows the difference in screen size between the AMOLED 265S (left) and the MIP 255 (right). It also shows the size difference between the smaller and larger models; the 265S on the left is 41.7mm, which is very close to the 255S at 41mm.
How old is the 255 model?
The 255 is only a year older than the 265, launching in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Before that, Forerunner releases tended to come out three to four years apart. The quick turnaround between the 255 and 265 makes sense when you realize they’re essentially the same watch with a different display.
So I wouldn’t expect the 255 to feel dated anytime soon. The big question you need to ask yourself is: How do I feel about a MIP screen? I’ve written more about the difference between MIP and AMOLED here . MIP screens don’t light up, although they do have a backlight that can automatically turn on when you raise your wrist. When idle, they’re “always on,” meaning they’re always displaying something , so you’ll never look at a blank screen. They also reflect sunlight brightly.
AMOLED screens are more like smartphone screens with glowing pixels, and the watches typically turn off the display when you’re not using it to save power. (You can enable an always-on setting, but it eats up battery.) Still, the overall battery life of both watches is about the same at default settings — 14 days without activity for the 255 and 13 days for the 265.
Some people prefer MIP screens, and if that’s you, the choice is clear: buy the 255 or the 955. You can even get a refurbished version for $179.99 , making this one of the cheapest watches in Garmin’s lineup .
Bottom Line (Check Prices)
Forerunner prices have fluctuated lately, so I’m hesitant to give any dollar-for-dollar comparisons, but here’s what I see as of this writing. Garmin officially sells the 255 and 265 for the same price, $349.99. The 955 and 965 are the same price, $499.99. You can also buy the -65 version of whichever watch you prefer at those prices.
But on Amazon I’m seeing prices as low as $247 for the 255 and $373 for the 955. That means the 255 costs the same as the weak Forerunner 165 (which is a decent budget watch, but lacks many of the features the 255/265 has), and the 955 costs the same as the 265! Check the prices to see if those deals are still in effect by the time you read this, and ultimately make a decision based on the features.