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Forerunner 255 vs Forerunner 255S Music

Garmin Forerunner 255 vs Garmin Forerunner 255S Music

What Forerunner 255 does better (5) and where Forerunner 255S Music wins (2) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2022Forerunner 255

4.2Score

5 advantages≈ $350

Higher score

Garmin · 2022Forerunner 255S Music

4.1Score

2 advantages≈ $400

3.5Display2.2

4.8Battery life3.7

4.9Health tracking4.9

5.0Sports & outdoor5.0

2.7Build & durability3.5

Dimensions

Size comparison

Forerunner 255Forerunner 255S Music

	Forerunner 255	Forerunner 255S Music	Difference
Height	45.6 mm	41 mm	+4.6 mm
Width	45.6 mm	41 mm	+4.6 mm
Thickness	12.9 mm	12.4 mm	+0.5 mm
Weight	49 g	39 g	+10 g

Drawn to the same scale from the official dimensions (front and side).

Why is Forerunner 255 better than Forerunner 255S Music?

Battery life (smartwatch mode)14 days vs 12 days+17%
GPS battery life30 h vs 26 h+15%
Screen size1.3″ vs 1.1″+18%
GPS battery life (dual-band)16 h vs 13 h+23%
Resolution (width)260 px vs 218 px+19%

Why is Forerunner 255S Music better than Forerunner 255?

Weight49 g vs 39 g+26%
Thickness12.9 mm vs 12.4 mm+4%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Forerunner 255≈ $3504.2	Garmin Forerunner 255S Music≈ $4004.1
Design & durability
Case size	46 mm	41 mm
Weight	49 g	39 g
Thickness	12.9 mm	12.4 mm
Height	45.6 mm	41 mm
Width	45.6 mm	41 mm
Case material	Plastic / polymer	Plastic / polymer
Sapphire crystal	No	No
Lens / cover glass	Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3	Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3
Strap material	silicone	silicone
Water resistance	5 ATM	5 ATM
Water rating (maker)	5 ATM	5 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.3″	1.1″
Display technology	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)
Panel	Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel	Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel
AMOLED / OLED display	No	No
Always-on display	Yes	Yes
Resolution (width)	260 px	218 px
Resolution (height)	260 px	218 px
Pixel density	200 ppi	198 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	14 days	12 days
GPS battery life	30 h	26 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	16 h	13 h
Battery type	Lithium ion	Lithium ion
Wireless charging	No	No
Charging	Garmin proprietary plug charger	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
Temperature sensor	Yes	Yes
HRV tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, SatIQ technology, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, SatIQ technology, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Dual-band GPS	Yes	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	Yes	Yes
Sport profiles	58	58
Connectivity
NFC payments	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	—	Wi-Fi 4
ANT+ sensors	Yes	Yes
Smart features
Music on the watch	—	Yes
Storage	4 GB	4 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android