The GPS running watch that survived Apple Watch’s assault by staying laser-focused on serious athletes and multi-week battery life.
Runner’s Choice
Garmin’s Forerunner line dominated GPS running watches since 2003, but the 2011-2015 era (Forerunner 610, 620, 910XT, 920XT) established it as the serious runner’s choice. Features included GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, advanced metrics (VO2 max, cadence, ground contact time), and week-long battery life. Triathletes and ultramarathoners swore by them.
Apple Watch Threat
When Apple Watch launched (2015) with fitness tracking and GPS (Series 2, 2016), many predicted Garmin’s demise. But Garmin doubled down on athletes: better GPS accuracy, training load metrics, performance analytics, and 10-40 hour battery life for ultramarathons. The Forerunner 935 (2017) and 945 (2019) offered features Apple Watch couldn’t match: multi-day battery, open-water swim tracking, triathlon modes.
Niche Dominance
Garmin accepted it wouldn’t win casual fitness users—Apple Watch dominated that market. Instead, Forerunner focused on serious athletes willing to wear a second watch for training. The Forerunner 255 (2022) and 965 (2023) added AMOLED displays and improved metrics while maintaining battery life. By 2023, Garmin held 25-30% of the fitness watch market, behind Apple but profitable serving dedicated athletes.
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