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Forerunner 255 vs Forerunner 55

Garmin Forerunner 255 vs Garmin Forerunner 55

What Forerunner 255 does better (5) and where Forerunner 55 wins (2) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2022Forerunner 255

4.2Score

5 advantages≈ $350

Higher score

Garmin · 2021Forerunner 55

3.6Score

2 advantages≈ $200

3.5Display2.4

4.8Battery life3.8

2.7Build & durability3.7

Dimensions

Size comparison

Forerunner 255Forerunner 55

	Forerunner 255	Forerunner 55	Difference
Height	45.6 mm	42 mm	+3.6 mm
Width	45.6 mm	42 mm	+3.6 mm
Thickness	12.9 mm	11.6 mm	+1.3 mm
Weight	49 g	37 g	+12 g

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

Why is Forerunner 255 better than Forerunner 55?

GPS battery life30 h vs 20 h+50%
Sport profiles58 vs 153.9×
Storage4 GB vs 0.03 GB133.3×
Screen size1.3″ vs 1.04″+25%
Resolution (width)260 px vs 208 px+25%

Why is Forerunner 55 better than Forerunner 255?

Weight49 g vs 37 g+32%
Thickness12.9 mm vs 11.6 mm+11%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Forerunner 255≈ $3504.2	Garmin Forerunner 55≈ $2003.6
Design & durability
Case size	46 mm	42 mm
Weight	49 g	37 g
Thickness	12.9 mm	11.6 mm
Height	45.6 mm	42 mm
Width	45.6 mm	42 mm
Case material	Plastic / polymer	—
Sapphire crystal	No	No
Lens / cover glass	Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3	chemically strengthened glass
Strap material	silicone	silicone
Water resistance	5 ATM	5 ATM
Water rating (maker)	5 ATM	5 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.3″	1.04″
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	208 px
Resolution (height)	260 px	208 px
Pixel density	200 ppi	200 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	14 days	14 days
GPS battery life	30 h	20 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	16 h	—
Battery type	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	—
Temperature sensor	Yes	—
HRV tracking	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, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Accelerometer
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Dual-band GPS	Yes	—
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	GLONASS, GALILEO
Barometric altimeter	Yes	—
Compass	Yes	—
Multisport / triathlon mode	Yes	—
Sport profiles	58	15
Connectivity
NFC payments	Yes	—
ANT+ sensors	Yes	Yes
Smart features
Storage	4 GB	0.03 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android