V1.72 – 30th August 2017
In this version: Garmin, Garmin, Garmin, Fibit, WAHOO. There will be some newer brands too that I need to get my head around first.
I did say back in October 2016 that 2017 would be the year of the Garmin. And so it is.
This is my opinion of current & future devices across the GPS running/cycling market. Updates to this will be issued as and when information emerges which may include rumors, although please note that any information provided to me under NDA by manufacturers will not appear here. So there will be a few more surprises 😉 Please let me know of errors or omissions. Thank you . Enjoy.
There are more detailed thoughts on this topic (here) for the remainder of 2017
Considering adding?: Others? What have I missed? Note information that has become available about accessories is NOT included below (too many of them). There are too many Power Meter models for me to keep track of. I have more than a passing interest in PMs for triathlon disciplines but I don’t keep an eye on the whole market. (I have a day job).
Recent Trends/Future Trends?: higher res colour screens; music on watch; battery-duration innovation; 1m GPS accuracy Galileo – now confirmed in Garmin FORETREX; vendor apps/app store (eg for the Fitbit Ionic); WORKOUT DATA standards, openness and integration; mapping/navigation; support for novel accessories & sensor data – environmental (weather), physiological (hydration) & spatial (radar); optical HR; deep smartphone integration (AW2); simultaneous dual-band recording (ZWIFT+your main recording device).
| Manufacturer | Device | Comments |
| Garmin | Fenix/Fenix 2 | Effectively Discontinued, not as good as subsequent models. |
| Garmin | Fenix 3 Fenix 3 HR + variants | Still great devices |
| Garmin | Fenix 5, 5s, 5x | Garmin’s flagship model for 2017-2018 |
| Garmin | Fenix 6 | Expected 2019 |
| Garmin | Fenix Chronos | Quality innards. F5s firmware. Expensive. |
| Garmin | Forerunner 910XT | Great tri watch in its day, still good enough |
| Garmin | Forerunner 920XT | Great tri watch |
| Garmin | Forerunner 935 | Lightweight Fenix 5 with quick release kit |
| Garmin | Forerunner 25 | Why? |
| Garmin | Forerunner 35 | Entry level run/sports watch |
| Garmin | Forerunner 210, 220, 225 | Effectively Discontinued |
| Garmin | Forerunner 230 | Probably won’t be replaced as such. Good. |
| Garmin | Forerunner 235 | Replacement 2017. Good |
| Garmin | Forerunner 245 | Expected 2017 by me, Q1-2.2018 by others. |
| Garmin | Forerunner 610, 620 | Effectively Discontinued but good enough |
| Garmin | Forerunner 630 | Great device |
| Garmin | Forerunner 645 | Expected relatively soon in Sept/Oct 2017 |
| Garmin | Forerunner 735XT | Good. Again the 935 could be the replacement for this too |
| Garmin | Epix | Nice But Effectively Discontinued and replaced by Fenix 5X |
| Garmin | Vivoactive | Effectively Discontinued |
| Garmin | Vivoactive HR | Great device, replacement Imminent |
| Garmin | Vivoactive 3 | BATTLEGROUND: Very early September 2017 – contender to Fitbit Ionic and Apple Watch 3 |
| Garmin | Vivomove | Dress watch, superseded September 2017 |
| Garmin | Vivomove HR | As above, with HR, Imminent Sept 2017 |
| Garmin | Edge 20/25 | Entry level cycling computer |
| Garmin | Edge 200, 500, 510 | Effectively Discontinued |
| Garmin | Edge 520 | Still a great cycling computer |
| Garmin | Edge 530 | Expected 2018 |
| Garmin | Edge 800, 810 | Effectively Discontinued |
| Garmin | Edge 820 | Flagship top-end, nav cycling computer |
| Garmin | Edge 830 | Expected Aug 2018 earliest |
| Garmin | Edge 1000 | To be superseded in 2017 |
| Garmin | Edge 1030 | Expected August 2017 along with podless Vector 3 |
| Lezyne | Mini, Macro, Super, Watch variants | Currently releasing Year 10 (2017) models |
| Polar | V800 | Still a great multisport watch |
| Polar | ?V810/V850/V900? | V800 replacement Q2.2018 |
| Polar | M200 | Entry level oHR running/sports watch 2016. replacement 2018/2019 |
| Polar | M400 | Replaced by M430 in Q1.2017 |
| Polar | M430 | An optical M400, released |
| Polar | M600 | Best AndroidWear sports watch |
| Polar | M450 | Replaced by M460 in Q1.2017 |
| Polar | M460 | M450 with STRAVA LIVE |
| Polar | V650 | Bike Nav Cycling device |
| Polar | ?V660? | Possible V650 replacement 2017 |
| Polar | A370 | A360 replacement with linked GPS |
| Suunto | Ambit/Ambit 2 | Effectively Discontinued |
| Suunto | Ambit 3 variants (Peak, run, Sport…) | Still great devices. In many ways superior. |
| Suunto | Ambit 4 | The SPARTAN is the replacement AMBIT3 |
| Suunto | SPARTAN Ultra | OK to buy now |
| Suunto | SPARTAN Sport | OK to buy now |
| Suunto | SPARTAN Sport with oHR (WHR) | Released |
| Suunto | SPARTAN Trainer | Just Announced available start Sept 2017 |
| Suunto | SPARTAN (other) | Expected 2018- |
| Fitbit | Blaze | Current, a replacement device relying on a smartphone for GPS unlikely. |
| Fitbit | Charge HR | Discontinued |
| Fitbit | Charge 2 | Current |
| Fitbit | Surge | About to be supesceded by Ionic |
| Fitbit | Blaze 2 | 2018 |
| Fitbit | Ionic | BATTLEGROUND: Imminent September 2017 |
| Fitbit | Ionic adidas | A 2018 sporty refresh planned |
| Fitbit | Charge 3 | 2018 |
| Hammerhead | Karoo | Cycling Computer, due Oct2017 |
| Stages | Dash | Cycling Computer |
| TomTom | Runner, Runner 2 | Effectively Discontinued |
| TomTom | Runner 3, Spark 3 | Still a great watch, possible Q3.2017 update as TomTom ask for beta testers |
| TomTom | Adventurer | Still a great watch, possible Q3.2017 update |
| Wahoo fitness | ELEMNT | A great cycling computer |
| Wahoo fitness | ELEMNT BOLT | A great cycling computer |
| Wahoo fitness | ELEMNT MINI | Cut down cycling computer no GPS, no power, Wahoo-only sensors |
| Wahoo fitness | Running – Tri Watch | Speculation for 2018/19 CEO/Chip says they are looking beyond cycling |
| XPLOVA/Acer | X5 | Nice cycling computer |
| Bryton | RIDER 100, 310, 330, 530 | Current |
| Bryton | RIDER numerous other models | Effectively Discontinued |
| CatEye | STEALTH, STRADA, PADRONE | 2016 models are current |
| MIO/Magellan | Cyclo 505HC + others | Nice but all is quiet on the Western front |
| New Balance | RunIQ | Current |
| Casio | Pro Trek Smart WSD-F20 | Current, replacing WSD-F10 |
| adidas | Smart Run | Discontinued |
| Apple | Watch Series 2 w/Nike | Current |
| Apple | Watch Series 3 | BATTLEGROUND: Rumours of a Q3/Q4 Announcement |
| Epson | SF-series | Current but all is quiet |
| Huawei | Fit | Current |
| Samsung | Gear Sport | due September 2017 |
| Moto | 360 – 2nd Gen/Sport | Current |
| Misfit | Vapor | Oct’17..apparently not vapourwear |
| LG | Watch Sport (Google collaboration) | Expected Q2.2017 |
Garmin Timeline (Original Source: Zitasport, modified)
Polar timeline (Original source: zitasport, this is slightly outdated eg M600, M200)
Source: zitasport
There will be a mid- cycle Fenix (and possibly 935) upgrade in spring 2018. Nothing too new other than NFC and maybe Galileo support (expect marketing jargon around it). There will be a “copper” style color as well. Garmin will be adopting more of the tick-tock approach.
I presently use the 920XT and the Ambit3 Sport for run training and racing. And use my 910XT whenever I go on a drive over 5 miles to see where and how I went that day. In case I have to prove to my significant other ( spouse ) where and when I went.
Having said that. My question to each you 5krunners. What do you mean when you say that the Ambit3 series Sports watch is “somewhat Superior” to the other watches? Is it the metrics or accuracy or whatever?
hmmm. I’ll have to double-check on my use of the English language (as above).
Lots of words on this site, some superlatives occasionally slip through unchallenged.
to answer, let’s go with “Accuracy (in a few respects), build quality and whatever”
You must be some sort of lawyer of sorts. ” I did not have Triathlon with that watch”
nice 🙂
that comment gets you into my Top 10 comments that made me lol…keep up the good work!
Samsung leaks the existence of the Garmin Forerunner 645: https://support.smartthings.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001815503-Garmin-Watch
nice