Garmin's Forerunner 255 smartwatch works with the iPhone through the Garmin Connect app and is now selling for less than half the price of an Apple Watch, according to a report on the device's features and pricing.
The watch is currently listed on AliExpress for 184.38 euros, down from 329.66 euros, using the discount code RAZONES20.
Built for training, not just step counting
Garmin has built its reputation on tracking accuracy rather than flashy design. The Forerunner 255 is designed primarily as a training watch that also happens to count steps, rather than a general wellness watch with a running mode bolted on.
The difference becomes clear when comparing a workout route with someone using a different device, according to the report.
Multiband GPS for cleaner tracking
The Forerunner 255 was the model that brought multiband GPS down to Garmin's mid-range lineup when it launched in June 2022. The watch reads satellite signals on two frequencies at once, L1 and L5, instead of just one.
In practice, this means the route recorded stays accurate on narrow streets between tall buildings and in dense wooded areas, where other watches can produce a zigzagging path that adds distance never actually run. For anyone training by pace splits, that accuracy determines whether the average pace on the watch can be trusted.
The GPS also connects quickly. One buyer said the GPS connected almost instantly and that the watch tracked swim workouts very well.
The watch is water resistant to 5 ATM, allowing it to go in the pool without issue. It weighs 49 grams with a 46mm case, light enough to become unnoticeable during a two hour session, according to the report.
Pairing with an iPhone
Many iPhone users rule out Garmin watches automatically, assuming pairing will be difficult. That is not the case with the Forerunner 255, which syncs with the iPhone through the Garmin Connect app, requiring iOS 18.2 or later. Notifications and workout data sync through the app without needing to switch phones or ecosystems.
That compatibility is part of what makes the price gap notable. The Apple Watch Series 11 starts at 449 euros in Apple's own store, putting it in a different spending bracket. The discounted Forerunner 255 costs less than half that amount.
Battery life and display
The Forerunner 255 offers up to 14 days of battery life in watch mode, meaning the charger becomes something used a couple of times a month rather than every night. Battery drain is faster with GPS running continuously, but the overall charging habit still changes significantly. For a week-long holiday with daily outings, not needing to pack a charger removes one thing to worry about.
The 1.3-inch display uses transflective MIP technology, which works in reverse compared with a phone screen: the brighter the light, the easier it is to read. At three in the afternoon on a sunny August day, pace splits can be checked at a glance without turning the wrist or seeking shade. Indoors, the screen looks dimmer to anyone used to an AMOLED display, though the report notes the eye adjusts after a couple of weeks of use.
The watch is controlled entirely through physical buttons rather than a touchscreen. That matters when fingers are wet mid-set or hands are gloved in winter, since a button always responds while a touchscreen may not. Anyone switching from a touchscreen watch may find themselves tapping the display out of habit during the first week.
Where it fits in Garmin's lineup
Garmin sells watches above the Forerunner 255 with AMOLED screens and additional sensors, but none of them change what the 255 already does well: accurate measurement, low weight and long battery life. The Forerunner 255 opened this segment of the market as the most affordable multiband GPS watch available at the time, and remains one of the most direct ways to get that feature, according to the report.
The AliExpress listing prices the watch at 184.38 euros, down from 329.66 euros, with the code RAZONES20 applied.
