Last Updated: December 4, 2020 (Refresh Now)
Garmin Forerunner 235 GPS Running Watch Black Gray
Last Updated: December 4, 2020 (Refresh Now)
7.9
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
996
Old Reviews
329
Unverified
100
Spam Test
PASS
Yes
GPS
1.23 inches
DISPLAY SIZE
Review Analysis - 567 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
For Running
92runs, training, workouts, marathon, runners
+96%
-4%
" ... For running outdoors: 100%!! ... "
" ... The Forerunner 235 is a good everyday running watch. ... "
" ... It is great for running and works well for biking. ... "
" ... Love the fact that when I’m running it gives me my time per kilometer. ... "
" ... My son runs every day. ... "
" ... It has rekindled my love of running. ... "
" ... Great running watch. ... "
" ... Great watch for running ... "
Heartrate
87heart rate monitor, hr monitor, hr, steps, heart
+69%
-31%
" ... I have my doubts about the accuracy of the heart rate monitor of the Garmin Forerunner 235 sport watch. ... "
" ... Sometimes it doesn't measure my heart rate very precisely but it's ok for its price ... "
" ... I love the added heart rate monitor over the 230. ... "
" ... The heart rate and the mileage are comparable in both watches. ... "
" ... I leave heart rate monitoring on, typically use GPS for 3-4 activities per week (2-3 hours worth of GPS time) and go about 5-6 days before needing a charge. ... Heart rate monitoring is typical for a wrist based device ... "
" ... She loves telling me her steps, and jokes about her heart rate rising when we're messing around. ... "
" ... I like the heart rate tracker. ... "
" ... I use it for running and tracking heart rate. ... "
GPS
71garmin, tracking, accurate, running, 235
+86%
-14%
" ... The GPS on this unit is wonderful that much I can say positively. ... "
" ... When setting it up for running, it picks up GPS and delivers accurate results. ... "
" ... As I said, I have yet to turn the gps on so battery life is great right now. ... I’m sure it won’t be so great when I’m outside and have the gps going but I’m optimistic that it’ll still be pretty good. ... "
" ... This is my first Garmin and I mostly got it for its GPS tracking abilities. ... I've had this Garmin for about 3 months now and it's been great for tracking runs. ... I charge it about every 4-6 days, and I turn on the GPS tracking for ~ 1 hour each day. ... "
" ... I've never seen a running watch acquire GPS faster. ... "
" ... I highly recommend this Garmin Forerunner 235. ... "
" ... I love the accuracy of the GPS tracking for outdoor activities (I used it for soccer). ... "
" ... gps feature wonderful ... "
Battery Life
67charge, battery, week, lasts, watch
+72%
-28%
" ... The main cons are that (1) the a battery life was amazing at first but after 6 months it’s already not so great: I used to only charge it once a week and now I charge it every few days. ... "
" ... Good battery life, tracks runs and bike rides. ... "
" ... The battery lasts a long time so it's great for any distance. ... "
" ... The battery life varies on how much activity occurs but definitely last 3-4 days regardless. ... "
" ... Simple to use, long battery life, light weight ... "
" ... I can fit in 2 or 3 30-minute runs with GPS, at least, and still have a significant amount of battery leftover. ... "
" ... Holds a charge very well. ... "
" ... The battery life is incredible. ... "
Pedometer
58track, step, miles, fitness, tracker
+84%
-16%
" ... The forerunner 325 is a great motivator, as it makes you want to do more distance. ... "
" ... Excellent tracking of steps. ... "
" ... Able to track steps and workouts pretty good although does have issues tracking steps when pushing a stroller. ... "
" ... This is the second Garmin Forerunner I’ve purchased. ... "
" ... It suits his running needs perfectly as someone who does ~30 miles/week. ... "
" ... would def recommend for a standard step time and fitness watch ... "
" ... Best activity tracker I’ve own ... "
" ... I use this for all of my runs because it tracks my HR, cadence, mile/min, and so much more! ... "
Software Platform
55watch, garmin, garmin connect app, apps, strava
+75%
-25%
" ... The smart functions are rudimentary when compared to the Apple Watch so don’t expect that level of functionality. ... The Garmin Connect app allows you to dissect your runs in detail which is great. ... "
" ... I loved running before I had this watch But after receiving this watch it set a new fire in me to go after it and run more! ... "
" ... Using it with my Google Pixel 2, and it syncs very well with my calendar and notifications. ... "
" ... Easy to sync, somewhat intuitive features, easy to download apps. ... "
" ... With the connecting apps, it's really transformed my sporting life. ... "
" ... It tracks all the info he wants to know, great app to go with it, and we both agree that it was the better choice! ... "
" ... Can also add apps from the store. ... "
" ... I was shocked at the value the app adds. ... "
Apps
54watch, apps, garmin, garmin connect app, strava
+83%
-17%
" ... Easy to sync, somewhat intuitive features, easy to download apps. ... "
" ... I find it awesome that you can use CONNECTIQ app to change and use anybackground you want! ... "
" ... With the connecting apps, it's really transformed my sporting life. ... "
" ... The app is amazing - the watch has so much to offer. ... "
" ... Must download Garmin app and use the app to set all controls. ... "
" ... The app is fantastic and the only thing I can think of that could be better is smart scale compatibility. ... It interfaces really well with my other running apps (Nike, Strava) seamlessly. ... "
" ... What I immediately liked though about the Garmin 235 was how seamlessly the watch and app synced with my iPhone. ... "
" ... Using it with my Google Pixel 2, and it syncs very well with my calendar and notifications. ... "
Product Reliability
44years, watch, stopped working, year, month
+36%
-64%
" ... I really wanted to like this watch, but there are too many issues working against it. ... "
" ... It worked about 6 months and quit. ... should at least work for longer than a few months. ... "
" ... Watch stopped working without any specific reason after just 1 year and 10 days of use (of course the guaranty is only 1 year). ... "
" ... Unfortunately there have been numerous issues and the watch has completely cease to work after 14 months ... "
" ... I tried several computers and same failure. ... "
" ... Item stopped working after one use. ... "
" ... Watch froze and stopped working after only three days of use. ... "
" ... This product only worked for a month. ... "
Comfort
40watch, comfortable, wear, strap, wearing
+75%
-25%
" ... This is a great cheaper option if you're not comfortable spending $300+ on a watch. ... "
" ... The watch is very comfortable and doesn't bother my wrist at all, not even on long runs. ... "
" ... I’m surprised by how comfortable this watch is on my wrist. ... "
" ... HR on wrist is great. ... "
" ... I wear it all the time and specially since its so light in weight and plus point is that so many strap options/design available on Amazon. ... "
" ... I love being able to glance down at my wrist during my runs and know exactly how I'm doing. ... "
" ... Even though I am wearing a watch after this long, the watch has been very comfortable, even while working out! ... "
" ... Wristband is so soft and comfortable ... "
Device Compatibility
39garmin, connect, bluetooth, syncs, notifications
+69%
-31%
" ... You can connect your calendar, weather, and notifications via bluetooth. ... "
" ... I like that it outputs to your phone detailed data of the workout like the time in each zone. ... "
" ... Plus you can get all your notifications from your phone on it (when connected via bluetooth) which I have really found helpful! ... "
" ... The Bluetooth on the watch is easy to toggle on and off, and it is easy to sync the watch with Garmin's iPhone app. ... "
" ... You can see some results on the watch, but can see so much more on Garmin Connect. ... "
" ... Syncing with an iPhone over Bluetooth takes about 5-10 seconds as well - amazing. ... "
" ... Why does the product description said "Easily download up to 500 songs to your watch, and connect with Bluetooth headphones (sold separately) for phone-free listening" ... "
" ... Garmin is the leader in personal navigational devices! ... "
Ease of Use
36easy, user friendly, simple, intuitive, user
+92%
-8%
" ... So easy to use. ... "
" ... Easy to use. ... "
" ... Easy to use too. ... "
" ... It was easy to setup. ... "
" ... I've only used it for running so far, but it's definitely easy to use once you get the hang of it. ... "
" ... The features are great and it was really easy to set up. ... "
" ... Easy to use and learn with YouTube videos ... "
" ... Very easy use and easy to learn. ... "
Price
31money, watch, worth, worth the money, every
+77%
-23%
" ... Very cost effectiveness product. ... "
" ... It was the most cost effective one I could find that could do what I wanted (it’s nuts how much the prices for these things have increased over 5 years! ... "
" ... Tremendous watch value price ratio. ... "
" ... I was able to get a better price point. ... "
" ... Really worth the investment. ... "
" ... That, in itself, is worth every penny. ... "
" ... I bought this one in a great price. ... "
" ... I still enjoy the watch but should have saved my money. ... "
Band
31band, chest strap, strap, garmin, hr
+71%
-29%
" ... The wrist HR data IS low compared to a chest strap. ... "
" ... I bought the interchangeable watch bands and the protective face-cover. ... "
" ... With the Garmin HRM Dual chest strap this is a fine piece of equitment. ... "
" ... I was switching from the TomTom Spark 3 and found the round face, band, and app to be superior. ... "
" ... The strap is really comfortable (soft and flexible) and breatheable. ... "
" ... HR on wrist is great. ... "
" ... The watch band has a lot of holes, which makes it really easy to get a good fit. ... "
" ... Watch band is very comfortable to wear. ... "
Charging
31charging, watch, charged, week, usb
+39%
-61%
" ... It stopped working completely ( no charge, etc. ) ... "
" ... The stupid watch wont even charge. ... "
" ... Anyway, it no longer accepts a charge. ... "
" ... I've had to call tech support multiple times because my watches date and time we're completely wrong after charging. ... "
" ... I've had this since Wednesday and the device won't accept charge, doesn't even acknowledge there is a power source. ... I've tried multiple methods of charging, no resolution. ... "
" ... the watch was defective and would not take a charge ... "
" ... However it took a charge for 1 night and will not charge again. ... Tried multiple outlets and charging blocks with no success. ... "
" ... Had it on the charger for over 12hours. ... "
Accuracy
30mileage, tracking, accuracy, hr, gps
+83%
-17%
" ... good enough for government work, but not good enough for elite athletes and those relying on very accurate HR data. ... "
" ... was highly recommended by my running friends and since I used a Apply iwatch which wasn't giving too accurate results on my running activities. ... "
" ... He said it is very accurate compared to other brands he has used. ... "
" ... The accuracy level of the readings for everyday walking and exercise is impressive for the price point. ... "
" ... If you need pace, miles and time it fits the bill. ... "
" ... Watch is very intuitive to use and pretty accurate ... "
" ... More accurate on distance also. ... "
" ... Everything about this watch as far as function and accuracy goes is great. ... "
Sleep Tracking
27tracking, track, steps, heart rate, tracks
+85%
-15%
" ... Not sure how well it tracks my sleep and GPS is off at times but still does everything I need. ... "
" ... Although the 235 does sleep tracking, it is not advanced sleep tracking. ... If I were to make a purchase today, I'd look to upgrade to get more advanced sleep tracking and pulse oximetry features, but for now I am staying the course. ... "
" ... Great usage, I can monitor sleep, steps, heart rate etc. ... "
" ... There are others out there who probably make a watch style activity tracker that will be better for me, but the Garmin has grown on me somewhat. ... "
" ... I became obsessed with the sleep tracking and heart rate. ... "
" ... And sleeping with it on (to measure sleep quality) isn’t bad either. ... "
" ... I dont understand the purpose of sleep tracking - but it is interesting to see how much/little sleep i get on aa given night. ... "
" ... It does track your sleep, steps and you can receive notifications such as texts and calls coming in and such. ... "
Features
26light, watch, feature, mode, features are great
+73%
-27%
" ... Haven't got into all the features yet, but seems pretty comparable to the 735xt and at about $100 less. ... "
" ... Still figuring out all the features but love it so far. ... "
" ... She picked out the watch based on a list of features. ... "
" ... It has a lot of cool features like the recovery advisor and vo2 max estimates. ... "
" ... Amazing watch love all the features! ... "
" ... Love it and has all the features I needed. ... "
" ... There are so many features and stats, I still haven't looked through all of them. ... "
" ... Has lots of other very nice features though. ... "
Display Clarity
20display, watch, touch screen, watch face, sunlight
+60%
-40%
" ... This Garmin watch is excellent - large display - easy toggle from running to biking- accurate stats and connects seamless to Garmin Connect site where you can review your data and daily runs as well as improvement. ... "
" ... I love the big screen as I have trouble seeing the screen on other watches I purchased. ... "
" ... No issues with seeing the screen in the sunlight, band is comfortable, watch is super lightweight. ... "
" ... but watch the glass on the watch face. ... "
" ... If you do buy this watch, I would suggest buying a screen protector for it. ... "
" ... Then when you're ready to resume the activity you can go back the Pause screen and resume. ... "
" ... The display is really clear and can be configured with many watch faces from Garmin Connect IQ store. ... "
" ... She gets compliments on it and its a big enough screen so she can read the time with no problem. ... "
Returns
17returned, send, refund, 30 days, returning
+6%
-94%
" ... Now, I have to go through Gring to get it fixed or get a replacement. ... "
" ... And no way to replace it. ... "
" ... I am returning the watch. ... "
" ... please i want to return the i item and get a different one. ... "
" ... Returning this item., ... "
" ... I returned it both times. ... "
" ... Didn't have time to check out other stuff, as only had 30 days to return it. ... "
" ... So, I returned it immediately. ... "
Controls
15button, watch, touch screen, press, hitting
+40%
-60%
" ... To big wrist kept hitting the buttons ... "
" ... I told them I would rather buy a new one, and the same problems happened with the new one, and the up and down buttons did not work unless the my phone was disconnected from the app. ... "
" ... The vivo was touch screen, this has buttons. ... The buttons engage without me pressing them. ... "
" ... I purchased this watch in August and needed tech support for the time and for the failure of the buttons to work. ... "
" ... Power button does not work. ... "
" ... You press a button and have to wait for the action to appear/begin. ... "
" ... Also no touch screen you have to press buttons for everything. ... "
" ... I would have to hold the power button down for 20-25 seconds every time for a hard reset. ... "
Design
15looks, design, watch, sold, feels
+87%
-13%
" ... Good price and love the look of it. ... "
" ... It's simple to use and looks good. ... "
" ... Look, im an amutur runner. ... "
" ... Got sold on its sleek design as well as its use. ... "
" ... Works perfectly well for what I needed, looks pretty good too. ... "
" ... I love this watch it’s very nice and looks good even when you go out. ... "
" ... may look into buying different material. ... "
" ... The look of it is nice. ... "
As Gift
11bought, disappointed, christmas, boyfriend, watch
+100%
" ... bought for a gift to a runner, loved it. ... "
" ... I had purchased it as a gift, and was grateful to find the item here, at a very competitive price. ... "
" ... Bought it as a gift for my daughter . ... "
" ... Gift for my son who’s a college athlete. ... "
" ... Bought as a Christmas gift for my boyfriend, he loves it. ... "
" ... Great gift idea. ... "
" ... It was a Christmas gift. ... "
" ... Good gift as well for any runners ... "
Bluetooth
10notifications, watch, via bluetooth, sync, garmin
+70%
-30%
" ... You can connect your calendar, weather, and notifications via bluetooth. ... "
" ... Bluetooth works very well and receives phone notifications with no issue, even with iPhones. ... "
" ... I don't leave bluetooth on unless I plan to sync it to my phone ... "
" ... I waited for the release of the 230 just so I could get one of Garmin's early "smart watches"- specifically, the BT connection to my phone so I'd get alerts as my phone was on silent all day at work. ... "
" ... Plus you can get all your notifications from your phone on it (when connected via bluetooth) which I have really found helpful! ... "
" ... The Bluetooth on the watch is easy to toggle on and off, and it is easy to sync the watch with Garmin's iPhone app. ... "
" ... Syncing with an iPhone over Bluetooth takes about 5-10 seconds as well - amazing. ... "
Build Quality
10durable, plastic, forerunner, feels, face
+80%
-20%
" ... may look into buying different material. ... "
" ... This Forerunner 235 replaces an old 230 that I broke on a rock 2 months ago. ... "
" ... The only real gripe is the physical watch does not have a rugged feel and is very lite (although this is a selling point for some). ... "
" ... Durable because I accidentally hit my wrist on things and no damage has been done so far. ... "
" ... I did buy a silicone sleeve and face protection for it and I recommend everyone considering any workout watch to do that as there’s always opportunities to bang these things around. ... "
" ... Exelente watch i really recommend is made with materials and easy to operate i will buy again if i deeded ... "
" ... The watch seems both super light and durable. ... "
Marketplace
9delivered, bought, told, monday, item
+33%
-67%
" ... Dead on arrival. ... "
" ... Bought this back in June 2019. ... in October 2019. ... Missed the amazon return window. ... "
" ... Not ready for prime time. ... "
" ... I received the unworking item. ... "
" ... I'm wondering if maybe I got a lemon because I bought it on Amazon. ... "
" ... It'd be ok except I bought it on Cyber Monday ... "
Delivery
8delivery, received, package, ordered, monday
+75%
-25%
" ... I was very surprised by the quality and time it took to arrive 2 days early. ... "
" ... Fast delivery and package in good condition. ... "
" ... excellent, fast delivery, exactly what i wanted love it ... "
" ... This product came on time and had a speedy delivery time. ... "
" ... I ordered it and it told me it will be delivered by Friday. ... "
Size
7dislikes, carry, watch, size, simple
+86%
-14%
" ... Perfect size for him. ... "
" ... I do kind of wish it was a bit more attractive / less bulky but is what it is. ... "
" ... Very lightweight, pleased with my purchase ... "
" ... I like how it is so simple and easy to carry but it does so much. ... "
" ... But it picks up my walking & bicycle from my phone as long as I am using & carry my phone around! ... "
" ... It's a little large, I loved it while I had it. ... "
For Kids
6bought, loves, got, daughter
+100%
" ... Got this for my son (teenager). ... "
" ... What my son wanted/needed. ... "
" ... I bought this for my daughter. ... "
" ... Bought this for my son and he loves it! ... "
" ... Great product for college runners. ... "
" ... I gave it to my mother- she loves it. ... "
Notifications
6watch, notification, text messages, text, getting
+67%
-33%
" ... you can simple use the watch for notification purposes. ... "
" ... I was able to quickly set alert prompts and notifications. ... "
" ... Love that I get my text messages on my watch. ... "
" ... Love the notifications of text messages. ... "
Lagging
6loses, data, crashes, reset, point
-100%
" ... It crashes and loses data occasionally but nothing major. ... It crashes and loses data continuously to the point where it is unreliable. ... "
" ... But it freezes all the time. ... "
" ... Sometimes it turns off by itself and reboots. ... "
" ... The lag between functions is ridiculous. ... "
" ... restart the device 2.) ... "
" ... I would have to hold the power button down for 20-25 seconds every time for a hard reset. ... "
Ports
6ports, different, tried, recognized, outlets
+17%
-83%
" ... The USB cable is not recognized by either of my computers and, after wasting an hour restarting, updating and troubleshooting, this damn watch is still dead. ... "
" ... When I first got it, it charged to about 30% then disconnected from charging, spent over an hour trying different outlets, USB ports, and external batteries and nothing works. ... "
" ... The charging cable is not a normal micro USB - it's a special shape, and not easy to find a replacement for. ... "
" ... I tried plugging the USB into multiple ports in three different laptops and continued to receive the same error message. ... "
" ... However, I tried two computers, a PC and a MacPro, I also tried three USB ports, it wasn’t connected/charged at all. ... "
Water Resistance
6water, shower, water proof, pool, waterproof
+83%
-17%
" ... I'm not certain that it records indoor running/indoor swimming data very well, although I usually figure out my indoor pacing on my own. ... "
" ... Very good with waterproof performance ... "
" ... It can be in the water more, the battery lasts longer, it has WAY more options and settings to personalize it and it wasn't much more then this one was cost wise. ... "
" ... It's pretty good with water resistance, and measures workouts with high precision. ... "
" ... Easy to use, water proof, and comfortable to wear. ... "
Fit
6woke, watch, months, love, look
+83%
-17%
" ... Set-up and iPhone syncing were fairly easy, and it holds a change nicely. ... "
" ... Despite that, it's held up magnificently. ... "
" ... It fits comfortably and seems to track reasonably well. ... "
" ... Now the whole family can inspire and push each other to workout and stay fit! ... "
Setup
5setup, use, simple, watch, follow
+100%
" ... It was easy to setup. ... "
" ... Simple easy low cost, I use it for cycling I just wanted someting easier to connect that can save to strava. ... "
" ... It is a nice watch, looks good, feels comfortable, easy to use app that goes with it, easy setup, and you can personalize it a bit to how you like things. ... "
Screen Protection
5watch, protector, glass, watch face, touch screen
+60%
-40%
" ... If you do buy this watch, I would suggest buying a screen protector for it. ... I suggest you buy this watch and a screen protector. ... "
" ... I also bought a protection plan. ... "
" ... I also ordered couple of bands and screen guard. ... "
Color
4mode, color, background, white, watch
+75%
-25%
" ... Promotional and marketing photos of the watch while in timing mode show a bright white background with black numbers and letters. ... "
" ... Loved the color. ... "
Defective Delivery
4defective
-100%
" ... The product I order gave no indication that it was used or opened. ... "
" ... I probably received a defective product. ... "
" ... I feel I should receive a full refund since this was a defective product. ... "
" ... Item was defective. ... "
Weight
4light, use, easy, battery life
+100%
" ... Light Weight, excellent for mobile connection with my iPhone. ... "
" ... Simple to use, long battery life, light weight ... "
" ... Light weight, easy to read, nice that you can set it up how you want. ... "
" ... Light weight, easy to read, nice that you can set it up how you want. ... "
Sound Quality
3would, care
+100%
" ... I don't listen to music when I run on the road so this watch is perfect for me. ... "
" ... That probably sounds weird because, how can a small piece of technology actually inspire people to take care of themselves? ... "
" ... I bought both the Forerunner 235 and the Vivoactive 3 Music. ... "
Clock
3+67%
-33%
" ... This is a WATCH style tracker, and setting the clock should be a no brainer. ... "
Cables
3charging cable, usb, charging
+67%
-33%
" ... I cleaned the contacts, and the voltage output at the end of the charging cord is correct. ... "
" ... It is a different shape and unlike other ones, so you can't interchange cords, etc. ... "
Touch Sensitivity
3buttons, watch face, touch, see, screen
+33%
-67%
" ... The vivo was touch screen, this has buttons. ... "
" ... Also no touch screen you have to press buttons for everything. ... "
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Specifications
Connectivity
GPS: Yes
Display
Display Size: 1.23 inches