This morning, Garmin announced the Forerunner 25, the latest addition to its line of affordable, GPS-enabled running watches.
The watch is a reiteration of the previous Forerunner 15 and is more equipped to compete in a market of fitness-centered devices that focus as much on functionality as they do on connectivity.
Compared with its predecessor, the new watch boasts a slew of new features: GPS tracking; Bluetooth smartphone integration that flags any calls, messages, and calendar alerts; live-tracking functionality that nags you when you're inactive for too long; and support for a heart rate monitor. In terms of more physical features, the update is also water resistant for up to 50 meters (164 feet) and has a 32 percent larger display and sleeker body.
Garmin also sees this added connectivity as an opportunity to promote online features such as Garmin Connect and MyFitnessPal, which help create an online fitness community to help better track, analyze, and compare your progress.
The watch is set to ship in the third quarter, at a price of either $169.99 or $199.99 for models with a heart-rate monitor.
The company will offer two sizes for the product—the large-faced watch, which can be purchased in either black/red or black/blue, has a battery that will last up to 10 hours in training mode or 10 weeks in watch or activity-tracking mode. The smaller of the pair is sold in black/purple and white/pink, and its battery life will last up to 8 hours in training mode and 8 weeks in watch or tracking mode.
Although it doesn't support touch (one can only imagine that's the next move), Garmin's new Forerunner 25 is definitely a big step up from its older version, and a step in the right direction toward hassle-free, affordable, and well-connected fitness technology.
