Are you looking for a versatile smartwatch for your next adventure? You are on the right track. Check out our Garmin Instinct Crossover vs Forerunner 255 comparison. These two smartwatches are the best in the line of sports and fitness watches.
Each smartwatch comes with a multitude of smart features like fitness and wellness tracking, GPS, safety functions, and multisport profiles. However, both may offer different functions based on what you are looking for, specifically in a smartwatch.
The comparison will help you determine which Garmin smartwatch stays ahead of the race regarding its durability, accuracy, training, and smart features. Is it the Instinct Crossover or Forerunner 255? Read the review below to decide.
Garmin Instinct Crossover
Launched at the start of Nov 2022, the Garmin Instinct Crossover is an updated version of Garmin’s Instinct watches. It is a cross between a digital and analog watch, with a bright digital display and analog watch and hands, boasting acute multiple global navigation satellite tracking.
The new addition of RevoDrive technology keeps the watch hands calibrated even if it receives a whack. While a SuperLuminova coating allows maximum readability of watch hands and hour markers in the dark.
Featuring a military-grade design and durability, it offers stealth mode, a kill switch feature, and a night goggle vision for extreme adventures. Available in Solar, Tactical, and Non-Solar variants, this is a watch designed to last longer,
Forerunner 255
Launched at the start of June 2022, the Garmin Forerunner 255 is a step up above all the watches of the Forerunner series.
Due to its advanced tracking experience coming from its multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology, it gives the same vibe as Fenix 7 and Epix 2 series.
Plenty of new recovery tools, sports profiles, and native running power support make it a welcome addition to the Garmin family.
A new PacePro feature enables multi-band GPS-based guidance to set the pace for a selected route. While a Grade-Adjusted Pace function allows adjusting speed over varying terrain, making it an optimal watch for running.
Weighing at just 1.7 oz, you won’t feel its weight on your wrist. You also have options to choose between two case sizes. Moreover, the Garmin Forerunner 255 is available in Music and Non-Music versions.
Garmin Instinct Crossover vs Forerunner 255: Design and Display
Garmin Instinct Crossover
The Garmin Instinct Crossover features a MIP screen and a 0.9 display with a 176 x 176 resolution. A Power Glass lens and a MIL-STD-810G durability make it ideal for rugged outdoor sports.
Five buttons on the edge of the display allow for easy toggling while the watch hours will get out of the way when you navigate the menu. This smartwatch boasts RevoDrive technology that offers accurate timekeeping even if the watch falls or receives a smack.
An addition of SuperLuminova coating on the analog watch hands and hour markers enables you to read them in the pitch dark. The Instinct Crossover provides a 10ATM of water resistance rating, making it ideal for wearing during water sports in up to 100 meters of water.
Forerunner 255
The Garmin Forerunner 255 features a MIP screen that is transflective and a .1.3in display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass.
Its screen offers a 260 x 260 resolution and provides maximum visibility in the sunlight. Although the display is tiny, you can still see the stats clearly underwater.
Weighing at just 49g and adorned with easy-to-use buttons, this smartwatch has a sturdy but lightweight build. So, it’s very comfortable to wear. It also allows you to customize watch faces to your liking.
A 5ATM water resistance rating allows you to wear it up to 50 meters of water. In addition, it is available in two 41mm and 46mm case sizes. The Music variant of this watch comes with 3GB of storage.
Garmin Instinct Crossover vs Forerunner 255: Smart Features
Garmin Instinct Crossover
The Instinct Crossover delivers improved accuracy and situational awareness with its Dual-format GPS function coordinating with longitudes and latitude references.
An Incident Detection function can send your live location manually and automatically to your loved ones.
Another TracBack feature provides turn-by-turn navigation and won’t let you wander off the track while a Reference Point will enable you to track a known location.
Other smart features include a wrist-based heart rate monitor that measures your heart when working out or resting.
An advanced sleep tracking function calculates your REM sleep stages while a Body Battery monitor measures your energy levels.
The Instinct Crossover also encompasses stress tracking that calculates your stress score. While a Pulse OX sensor how well your body is absorbing oxygen at altitude or when you are sleeping.
In addition, this smartwatch comes with an altimeter, barometer, and a 3-axis compass to measure altitude and provide weather forecasts when you are hiking or mountain biking.
Also, it offers support for the Garmin Connect IQ store, Garmin Pay, and smartphone notifications.
The Tactical version of this watch comes with a Stealth mode that allows you to disable the wireless connection and a Jumpstarter mode to calculate release points for high altitudes.
Other tactical features deliver night goggle vision compatibility and view tactical activity in coordinate types.
Forerunner 255
The Forerunner 255 comes with improved GPS accuracy and a heart rate sensor. A multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology not only provides accurate measurements on positioning but also optimizes battery life.
A wrist-based heart rate sensor continuously collects heart rate samples whether you are at rest, sleeping, or working out.
Furthermore, an improved sleep-monitoring feature provides detailed insights into your sleeping pattern, and a Pulse Ox sensor3 monitors blood saturation levels.
The Forerunner 255 also comes with stress tracking that prompts you to relax if you feel stressed. A Health Snapshot feature records your wellness statistics, including respiration in a 2-min log-in session, while a Body Battery monitor tracks energy levels.
Other smart features include support for the Garmin Connect app, Garmin Pay, and iOS Android notifications. This smartwatch boasts a LiveTrack feature that lets your loved ones track your location in real-time.
Another Incident Detection function automatically sends your location to emergency contacts. Besides, the Music version of this watch allows you to download up to 500 songs from Spotify or Deezer.
Garmin Instinct Crossover vs Forerunner 255: Key Sports Features
Garmin Instinct Crossover
Offering strength training and multisport features like MTB cycling, HIIT, Tabata, AMRAP, and EMOM. Other sport modes include yoga, golf, running, hiking, swimming, and indoor climbing.
A VO2 Max indicator measures changes in your performance based on heat and altitude. While a running power feature calculates how much energy you are applying while running using your HRM-Pro Plus monitor.
Another Grit and Flow function will inform you about trail difficulties when mountain biking or hiking.
A recovery time function lets you know when you’ll be ready for your next bout of activity. You can create custom sports profiles, learn your fitness age and get tips to lower it.
The Crossover offers daily suggested workouts based on your current fitness level and training status. You can also track your intensity minutes during a workout.
Forerunner 255
Brimming with 30+ multisport modes, including triathlon and open-water swimming, the Forerunner 255 can really push your workout limit. Other workouts include HIIT, yoga, pilates, cardio, etc.
You can mix various workouts to form a routine or download more from the Connect smartphone app. A Morning Report feature provides an overview of your sleep, training readiness, and recovery time when you wake up.
Besides, the report also provides insight into HRV status tracking that measures your wellness through heart rate variability while you sleep. You can also customize the reports.
An in-built race widget suggests daily workouts and gives personalized training tips. You can view the entire week’s exercises and upcoming activities in your Garmin Connect app calendar.
Forerunner 255 boasts a Garmin Coach feature that provides expert guidance from world-renowned running coaches, enabling you to achieve your goals faster. The training plans are free and include 5K, 10K, and half-marathon programs.
A Visual Race Predictor sets your running speed for these marathon programs based on your fitness level and running history. While a PacePro feature offers GPS guidance, allowing you to tailor your race strategy for a selected distance.
You can also create courses on Strava or Komoot platforms and sync them to your Forerunner 255 watch. Another Grade-Adjusted Pace function doesn’t let you lose steam by adjusting your running speed over varying terrain.
You can also view your training history and get feedback about how your workouts affect your speed, endurance, and energy. A performance indicator provides real-time insight into your health and performance ability.
Using HRM-Pro Monitor, this smartwatch can also measure critical running metrics like cadence, stride length, balance, and ground contact time. In addition, a track-running feature allows you to record lap distances accurately.
Garmin Instinct Crossover vs Forerunner 255: Battery Performance
Garmin Instinct Crossover
The battery life for the Instinct Crossover can last up to 28 days in smartwatch mode and 71 days with solar charging.
In battery save mode, the battery will last for an infinite time. Without solar charging, in expedition GPS mode, this watch can last for 25 hours, and 31 hours with solar charging
Forerunner 255
In smartwatch mode, the Forerunner 255 can last up to 14 days, and in GPS mode, it provides up to 30 hours of battery life. With music and All systems-GNSS mode switched on, the battery can last up to 6.5 hours.
Garmin Instinct Crossover vs Forerunner 255: Pricing
Garmin Instinct Crossover
The Instinct Crossover with solar charging is available in Tactical Edition for $599.99 and in Standard Edition for $549.99. On the other hand, you can get the Non-Solar version for $499.99.
Forerunner 255
The Forerunner 255 is available in Music and Non-Music variants for both 41mm and 46mm case sizes. With music storage, both case sizes are available for $399.99, and without music, they stand at $349.99.
Garmin Instinct Crossover vs Forerunner 255: Which one should you buy?
The Garmin Forerunner 255 is a tiny, sturdy watch, but it is not designed for rugged water sports and outdoor adventures. In fact, it is more of a runner’s watch designed specifically for marathon runs and tracking.
On the other hand, the Instinct Crossover is a rugged sport watch through and through, offering military-like adventures.
A 5ATM water resistance rating of Forerunner 255 also falls short of the 10ATM rating of Instinct Crossover, meaning you can’t wear it for snorkeling or diving.
The GPS accuracy and heart rate monitoring also lack precision, and the Forerunner doesn’t offer any adventure modes.
Additionally, it is not wrong to say that the Instinct Crossover surpasses other Garmin devices regarding its built-in GPS. You can also expect it to keep accurate timing in challenging environments.
With Crossover, you’ll also get lots of adventure modes, strength training, and strenuous workouts with a battery that just won’t die, especially with solar charging.
Also, you won’t lose out on your money with features like breadcrumb navigation, night visions, and advanced health and safety functions.
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