Garmin Forerunner 55 GPS Running Smartwatch with Heart Rate & Training Tools

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.th-model .th-name{font-size:.52rem;white-space:normal;word-break:break-word} .hrm-compare .th-model .th-lvl{font-size:.42rem;padding:1px 2px} .hrm-compare .val{font-size:.52rem} .hrm-compare .part{font-size:.48rem} .hrm-compare .yes,.hrm-compare .no{font-size:.72rem} .hrm-compare .tip-icon{width:10px;height:10px;font-size:.42rem} .hrm-compare .upgrade-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr} } @media(max-width:380px){ .hrm-compare .cards-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr} .hrm-compare table.cmp thead th{font-size:.42rem;padding:3px 1px} .hrm-compare table.cmp tbody td{font-size:.48rem;padding:3px 1px} .hrm-compare .th-model .th-lvl{display:none} .hrm-compare .upgrade-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr} } Skip to main content Garmin Forerunner® 55 GPS Running Smartwatch The Forerunner 55 is Garmin's entry-level GPS running smartwatch, released June 2021. It's built for new and casual runners who want accurate GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, daily suggested workouts, and Garmin Coach adaptive training plans — all in a lightweight, easy-to-use package. At just 37 grams with up to 14 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in GPS mode, the FR55 delivers the essentials without the complexity or cost of advanced training features. 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If you want a color touchscreen and Garmin Pay, choose the FR165. If you want the lowest-cost Garmin running watch with solid GPS and battery, the FR55 is the best value."}}, {"@type":"Question","name":"Does the Forerunner 55 have music or Garmin Pay?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. The FR55 does not include on-device music storage or Garmin Pay contactless payments. For music, step up to the Forerunner 265 ($449.99) or higher. For Garmin Pay without music, the Forerunner 165 ($249.99) is the most affordable option."}}, {"@type":"Question","name":"Does the Forerunner 55 have Training Readiness or Training Status?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. The FR55 focuses on core running metrics: GPS pace and distance, heart rate zones, PacePro pacing, recovery time, VO2 Max estimates, and daily suggested workouts. For Training Readiness, Training Status, and the full training analytics suite, step up to the Forerunner 265 ($449.99) or higher."}}, {"@type":"Question","name":"Is the Forerunner 55 good for beginners?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes — it's specifically designed for beginners. The FR55 includes Garmin Coach with free adaptive 5K, 10K, and half-marathon training plans, daily suggested workouts, and predictive race estimates. The simple button-only interface is easy to learn, and at $199.99 it's the most affordable Forerunner."}}, {"@type":"Question","name":"Does the Forerunner 55 have a barometric altimeter?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. The FR55 relies on GPS for elevation data, which is less accurate than a barometric altimeter. For a barometric altimeter, step up to the Forerunner 165 ($249.99) or higher."}}, {"@type":"Question","name":"Can the Forerunner 55 track swimming?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. The FR55 is water-rated to 5 ATM (50m) and includes pool swimming as a built-in sport profile. It does not support open-water swimming — for that, step up to the FR265 or higher."}}, {"@type":"Question","name":"How long does the battery last on the Forerunner 55?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Up to 14 days in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode. This is competitive with much more expensive watches in the Forerunner lineup."}} ] } ] Our Take: The FR55 is the best entry point into Garmin's running ecosystem. It strips away the complexity of advanced training analytics and gives you what matters most for building a running habit: accurate GPS, heart rate zones, daily suggested workouts, Garmin Coach training plans, and outstanding 14-day battery life. At $199.99, it's the most affordable Forerunner and punches well above its price with PacePro pacing, VO2 Max estimates, and Body Battery energy tracking. The main things you give up are the AMOLED display, music, Garmin Pay, and advanced training metrics like Training Readiness and Training Status. Why you'd choose this model Best value in the Forerunner lineup — $199.99 The most affordable Garmin Forerunner with GPS, heart rate, and the full Garmin Connect ecosystem. Half the price of the FR265 with the core running features most people need. Garmin Coach — free adaptive training plans Free 5K, 10K, and half-marathon training plans from real coaches that adapt to your fitness level, schedule, and progress. Workouts sync directly to the watch. 14-day battery — best-in-class for the price Up to 14 days in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in GPS mode. Charge it once every two weeks. The MIP display is the key to this exceptional battery life. Lightweight and comfortable — just 37 grams One of the lightest GPS running watches available. The compact 42mm case and soft silicone band make it comfortable for all-day wear and sleep tracking. Daily suggested workouts — no planning needed The watch suggests a workout each day based on your recent training history, fitness level, and recovery. Just press start and follow the guidance. PacePro — grade-adjusted pacing guidance Download a course from Garmin Connect and PacePro gives you target splits adjusted for elevation changes. Available on even this entry-level model. Simple button-only interface — easy to learn Five physical buttons — no touchscreen to fumble with during sweaty runs. Straightforward menus designed for runners, not tech enthusiasts. Body Battery™ — track your energy all day See your energy level from 0–100 throughout the day based on heart rate, stress, sleep, and activity. Know when to push hard and when to rest. Tip: Tab to a reason. Press Enter or Space to toggle details. Press Escape to close details. Who this watch is perfect for New runners who want a reliable GPS watch without the complexity of advanced training metrics. Casual runners who care about pace, distance, heart rate, and daily suggested workouts. Anyone training for their first 5K, 10K, or half-marathon with Garmin Coach. Budget-conscious athletes who want Garmin quality and the Garmin Connect ecosystem at the lowest price. You may prefer a different Forerunner if… You want an AMOLED touchscreen and Garmin Pay — step up to the Forerunner 165 ($249.99). You want music, multi-band GPS, and full training analytics — step up to the Forerunner 265 ($449.99). You want the latest Gen 5 HR sensor and voice calling — step up to the Forerunner 570 ($549.99). You want on-watch maps — step up to the Forerunner 965 ($599.99) or Forerunner 970 ($749.99). Feature Highlights Display & design MIP (memory-in-pixel) sunlight-readable display — 1.04", 208×208 Chemically strengthened glass lens Fiber-reinforced polymer bezel and case 5 ATM water rating (swim-safe to 50m) 5-button navigation (no touchscreen) 20mm quick-release silicone band 42mm case, just 37g Running & training GPS, GLONASS, Galileo satellite tracking PacePro™ grade-adjusted pacing Daily suggested workouts Garmin Coach: free adaptive 5K, 10K, half-marathon plans VO2 Max estimate Recovery time advisor Predictive race estimates (5K, 10K, half, marathon) Track Mode — accurate pacing on running tracks Virtual Partner and Virtual Racer Intervals, custom workouts, course navigation (breadcrumb) Health & wellness tracking Elevate Gen 3 optical HR sensor — 24/7 heart rate Body Battery™ energy monitoring All-day stress tracking Sleep tracking (light, deep, REM stages) All-day respiration rate Intensity minutes Fitness age Women's health: menstrual cycle and pregnancy tracking Hydration tracking (via Garmin Connect) Smart features Smart notifications: texts, calls, email, calendar Weather forecast Find My Phone Incident detection & Assistance LiveTrack Connect IQ app store What's in the box Garmin Forerunner 55 Silicone band (color varies by model) Charging/data cable Documentation Forerunner® 55 Specifications Garmin Forerunner 55 full specifications including display, battery, sensors, and connectivity Specification Details Case size 42 × 42 × 11.6 mm Display MIP 1.04" — 208 × 208 px, sunlight-readable Lens Chemically strengthened glass Bezel / case Fiber-reinforced polymer Battery — Smartwatch Up to 14 days Battery — GPS mode Up to 20 hours GPS GPS, GLONASS, Galileo Water rating 5 ATM (50m) Weight 37 g Connectivity Bluetooth, ANT+ Sensors Elevate Gen 3 optical HR, accelerometer Barometric altimeter No Speaker & mic No Music storage No Garmin Pay (NFC) No Wi-Fi No Band size 20mm quick-release silicone MSRP $199.99 All Variants — MPN Reference (USA) Garmin Forerunner 55 variant details including color and MPN Color MPN MSRP Black 010-02562-00 $199.99 White 010-02562-01 $199.99 Aqua 010-02562-02 $199.99 All Forerunner 55 variants share identical hardware, features, and pricing. The only difference is color. How the Forerunner® 55 Compares Focus or hover a row label for a plain-English definition. Press Escape to dismiss the tooltip. Entry Mid / Mid+ Advanced Flagship Loading image… ★ Entry — You Are Here FR55 Loading… Shop FR55 → Loading image… Entry+ FR165 Loading… Shop FR165 → Loading image… Mid FR265 Loading… Shop FR265 → Loading image… Mid+ FR570 Loading… Shop FR570 → Loading image… Advanced FR965 Loading… Shop FR965 → Loading image… Flagship FR970 Loading… Shop FR970 → Hardware & Display Feature FR55Entry FR165Entry+ FR265Mid FR570Mid+ FR965Advanced FR970Flagship Display?Screen technology. AMOLED offers richer colors and always-on options; MIP is power-efficient and sunlight-friendly. MIP 1.04" AMOLED 1.2" AMOLED 1.3" / 1.1" AMOLED 1.4" / 1.2" AMOLED 1.4" AMOLED 1.4" Case sizes?Watch case diameter. Smaller cases suit slimmer wrists. 42mm 43mm 42mm / 46mm 42mm / 47mm 47mm 47mm Bezel material?Material surrounding the display. Titanium and aluminum are more premium and scratch-resistant than polymer. Fiber polymer Fiber polymer Fiber polymer Aluminum Titanium Titanium Lens?Glass protecting the display. Sapphire crystal is the most scratch-resistant. Chem. glass Glass Gorilla Glass 3 Gorilla Glass 3 Gorilla Glass 3 DX Sapphire Crystal Speaker & mic?Built-in speaker and microphone for voice calls and voice assistant when paired with your phone. ✕No ✕No ✕No ✓Yes ✕No ✓Yes LED flashlight?Built-in LED flashlight with white and red modes for early morning or late-night visibility. ✕No ✕No ✕No ✕No ✕No ✓Yes Water rating?5 ATM = swim-safe to 50m. 10 ATM = deeper dive-rated to 100m. 5 ATM 5 ATM 5 ATM 5 ATM 5 ATM 10 ATM GPS & Navigation Feature FR55Entry FR165Entry+ FR265Mid FR570Mid+ FR965Advanced FR970Flagship GPS system?Multi-band accesses multiple satellite frequencies for best accuracy. SatIQ auto-balances accuracy vs battery. GPS / GLONASS / Galileo Multi-GNSS Multi-band + SatIQ Multi-band + SatIQ Multi-band + SatIQ Multi-band + SatIQ Preloaded maps?Full-color topographic maps on the watch for turn-by-turn navigation without a phone. ✕No ✕No ✕No ✕No ✓Yes ✓Yes GPS battery?Maximum hours of continuous GPS tracking on a single charge. 20 hrs 19 hrs 20–24 hrs 18 hrs 31 hrs 26 hrs Battery Life Feature FR55Entry FR165Entry+ FR265Mid FR570Mid+ FR965Advanced FR970Flagship Smartwatch mode?Daily battery with all-day health tracking and no continuous GPS use. Up to 14 days Up to 11 days 13–15 days 11–14 days 23 days 15 days Training Analytics Feature FR55Entry FR165Entry+ FR265Mid FR570Mid+ FR965Advanced FR970Flagship Training Status?Shows if you're training productively, peaking, recovering, strained, or detraining. ✕No ✕No ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes Training Readiness?Morning score combining sleep, recovery, and training load to tell you if it's a good day to push hard. ✕No ✕No ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes PacePro™?Grade-adjusted pacing guidance that adapts to elevation changes on your course. ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes Race Widget?Pre-race dashboard with course details, weather, pacing strategy, and countdown. ✕No ✕No ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes Real-Time Stamina?Tracks your remaining energy during long efforts to help you avoid bonking. ✕No ✕No ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes Triathlon mode?Dedicated multisport activity that auto-detects transitions between swim, bike, and run. ✕No ✕No ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes Triathlon Coach?Personalized triathlon training plans that adapt based on performance and recovery. ✕No ✕No ✕No ✓Yes ✕No ✓Yes Health & Wellness Feature FR55Entry FR165Entry+ FR265Mid FR570Mid+ FR965Advanced FR970Flagship HR sensor gen?Garmin's Elevate optical heart rate sensor generation. Gen 5 is the latest with improved accuracy. Gen 3 Gen 4 Gen 4 Gen 5 Gen 4 Gen 5 Skin temperature?Overnight wrist skin temperature readings to track trends in recovery and health. ✕No ✕No ✕No ✓Yes ✕No ✓Yes ECG sensor?Electrocardiogram app to check for atrial fibrillation. Requires metal contacts on caseback. ✕No ✕No ✕No ✕No ✕No ✓Yes Body Battery™?Tracks energy from 0–100 using HR, stress, sleep, and activity data. ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes HRV Status?Overnight heart rate variability trend to assess recovery and stress. ✕No ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes Smart Features Feature FR55Entry FR165Entry+ FR265Mid FR570Mid+ FR965Advanced FR970Flagship Music storage?On-device music for phone-free listening with Bluetooth headphones. Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer. ✕No music storage Music ed. only 8 GB 8 GB 32 GB 32 GB Garmin Pay?NFC contactless payment from your wrist at supported terminals. ✕No ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes ✓Yes Data based on official Garmin specifications. If you notice an error, please contact us. Where does the Forerunner® 55 fit in the lineup? ★ You Are Here — Entry Loading… FR55 — GPS, HR, PacePro, Garmin Coach, Body Battery. MIP display, no music/Pay. View on heartratemonitorsusa.com → Step Up — AMOLED & Pay Loading… FR165 — AMOLED touchscreen, Garmin Pay, barometric altimeter, HRV Status. View on heartratemonitorsusa.com → Step Up — Full Training Suite Loading… FR265 — Multi-band GPS, Training Status/Readiness, music, Race Widget, triathlon mode. View on heartratemonitorsusa.com → ⚠ CA Residents: Prop 65 Warning We work hard to keep product information accurate. If you spot an error, email us at [email protected] — we appreciate it. Forerunner® 55 — Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between the Forerunner 55 and the Forerunner 165? The FR165 ($249.99) upgrades the FR55 with an AMOLED touchscreen display (vs MIP), Garmin Pay contactless payments, a barometric altimeter for accurate elevation, HRV Status, and a Gen 4 HR sensor (vs Gen 3). The FR55 ($199.99) saves $50 and offers comparable GPS battery life (20 hrs vs 19 hrs) but uses an older MIP display without touchscreen capability. If you want a color touchscreen and Garmin Pay, choose the FR165. If you want the lowest-cost Garmin running watch with solid core features, the FR55 is the best value. Does the Forerunner 55 have music or Garmin Pay? No. The FR55 does not include on-device music storage or Garmin Pay contactless payments. For Garmin Pay without music, the Forerunner 165 ($249.99) is the most affordable option. For both music and Garmin Pay, step up to the Forerunner 265 ($449.99) or higher. Does the Forerunner 55 have Training Readiness or Training Status? No. The FR55 focuses on core running metrics: GPS pace and distance, heart rate zones, PacePro pacing, recovery time, VO2 Max estimates, and daily suggested workouts. For Training Readiness, Training Status, and the full training analytics suite, step up to the Forerunner 265 ($449.99) or higher. Is the Forerunner 55 good for beginners? Absolutely — it's specifically designed for beginners. The FR55 includes Garmin Coach with free adaptive 5K, 10K, and half-marathon training plans, daily suggested workouts that adapt to your fitness, and predictive race estimates. The simple button-only interface is easy to learn, and at $199.99 it's the most affordable Forerunner in the lineup. Does the Forerunner 55 have a barometric altimeter? No. The FR55 relies on GPS-derived elevation data, which is less accurate than a dedicated barometric altimeter — especially for indoor activities and hilly terrain. For a barometric altimeter, step up to the Forerunner 165 ($249.99) or higher. Can the Forerunner 55 track swimming? Yes. The FR55 is water-rated to 5 ATM (50m) and includes pool swimming as a built-in sport profile, tracking laps, strokes, and distance. It does not support open-water swimming — for that, step up to the FR265 or higher. How long does the battery last on the Forerunner 55? Up to 14 days in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode. The efficient MIP display is the key to this battery life — it's competitive with much more expensive watches in the Forerunner lineup. Support If you have questions about this product, please contact sales at 215-259-2700 or 800-403-8285. 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