Garmin 935 VS 735 : Complete Comparison Based On My Test

Most premium GPS running and triathlon watches deliver an exceptional advantage for today’s sports enthusiasts – the goal is to help you train like a pro.

It takes care of monitoring your performance in precise and intelligent detail, but for all their technical features, they don’t come cheap.

So yes, a premium GPS watch on your wrist is an intelligent and sizeable investment.

Garmin forerunner 935 vs. 735 : A Closer Look

Why Go for a Garmin Forerunner Multisport GPS Watch?

You’re not alone if you’re currently out to purchase a Garmin Forerunner GPS watch. These GPS watches are formidable champs when it comes to advanced training wearables.

So, if you are unsure which one to choose between the Forerunner 935 and Forerunner 735XT, our guide will help you decide.

The Garmin Forerunner 935: The Pack Leader

Say hello to the Garmin Forerunner 935, an advanced running and multisport GPS watch. The FR935 is a good option for hardcore triathletes; it’s a thinner model for less price.

This Smartwatch is a robust activity tracker capable of letting you know if you’re undertraining or overclocking your fitness goals.

Whether it’s swimming, cycling, running, or other active sports, the FR935 has impressive performance monitoring features. From pace count, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 Max) for aerobic endurance, training effect, calories, foot strike rate, stride length, strokes per length, and the time for the length (SWOLF), and workout alerts.

You also get precise metrics on interval training, step counting, and even sleep monitoring based on heart rate monitoring.

Of course, the barometric altimeter will log all elevation gains and losses for serious athletes and outdoors people. So when it comes to performance tracking, the FR935 doesn’t miss a beat.

The battery life does not disappoint, and you got more long worry-free hours to enjoy the outdoors, something ultra runners would appreciate.

Battery life has three modes: Watch mode, GPS mode, and UltraTrac™ mode. It can last you almost a full day, 21 hours in GPS mode, and two weeks downtime in watch mode.

You get 50 hours of battery juice when using it in UltraTrac™ saver mode.

In terms of connectivity, it can send you alerts and notifications from your phone, plus Strava integration. You can also select your playlist directly from your mobile; however, you can’t save any of your music on the watch, so don’t expect a mobile-free workout.

If you want tunes, you have to bring your phone along. You can also plug it into an external heart rate strap, power strap, ANT+, and Bluetooth accessories.

The Garmin Forerunner 935 has a transflective screen (1.2-inch round display) at 64 colors, 240 x 240 resolution.

The screen is always visible under direct light or low light conditions. The screen is neither too big nor small, and you can see four data screens at a time.

However, it is not a touchscreen display. Instead, it’s reliant on buttons; this is not a downgrade, but from a practical standpoint, the controls are convenient. For example, suppose you’re feeling your way through the dark or dealing with your sweaty fingers; you can easily configure the watch in those instances.

The navigation is the standard user interface you’d find on other Garmin devices, and it’s pretty intuitive to use; you’ll figure out most of the settings as you train along.

There’s still a lot to consider with the Garmin Forerunner 935, but it has everything you need to be a better multisport athlete in terms of functionality.

The Garmin Forerunner 735XT: Dynamic and Robust

The Forerunner 735XT is an early version of Garmin’s multisport triathlon watches. However, for a 2016 model, it can still hold ground against the 2018-released FR935.

It’s still a warhorse in the running for a lightweight Smartwatch. In terms of display, it has a large 215 x 180 pixels open face screen with a single button you can use to view your data quickly.

It has everything you need to track your run, swim, and cycle routines. You get the tracking features you would expect from a Garmin multisport wearable; it covers pace, distance, cadence, heart rate, elevation, and stride length, for starters.

[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B01DOJDPQY” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DOJDPQY?tag=cityryde04-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”true” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”4″ img-sizes=”500:324″ imgs=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41tTDC78y9L._SL500_.jpg” link-imgs=”false” specs=”GPS running watch with multisport features~~~Estimates heart rate at the wrist so you can run freer on race day.Shock resistant. Battery life : Smartwatch Mode Up to 11 days. GPS mode Up to 14 hours. UltraTrac mode Up to 24 hours without wrist heart rate~~~Provides advanced dynamics for running, cycling and swimming7, including ground contact time balance, stride length, vertical ratio and more (when paired with a Running Dynamics Pod, HRM Run or HRM Tri Monitor, sold separately)~~~Offers VO2 max estimate, lactate threshold (when used with a chest strap heart rate monitor), race predictor and recovery advisor~~~Connected features4: smart notifications, automatic uploads to Garmin Connect, live tracking and more~~~Customize with free watch faces, apps and more from our Connect IQ st” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”aligncenter” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”0″ hide-button=”0″ width=”750″]Garmin Forerunner 735XT[/amalinkspro]

Read also:Garmin Forerunner 235 Review

Also, the Forerunner 735XT is known for its built-in heart rate tracking via a wrist-based optical sensor, and it has the indispensable Strava integration.

The decent 11-day battery life in “everyday mode” and a solid 21 hours in UltraTrac GPS mode are not bad.

However, the tracking and metrics of the 735XT may seem rudimentary at times compared to the recent Garmin 935 Forerunner.

But the 735XT has many feature-rich functions that are better than most GPS watches in its class.

It’s just that the FR935 is an undeniable prime and well-calibrated version- it is the premium standard among Garmin’s running and triathlon watches.

Stand-Out Differences

At this technical level, one might find the 735XT a bit underwhelming, but to be upfront, it’s not underperforming either; the 735XT delivers what it needs to do.

But when it comes to a side-by-side performance between the two, the Forerunner 935 is a stand-out hands-down.

The manufacturer designed FR935 to keep up with the competitive spirit of its user. As a result, the latest Garmin wearable is perfect for the triathlete on a quest to break records.

But that doesn’t mean you should take no notice of the 735XT.

It still has most core triathlon features of the FR935, yet packed with the rugged and essential functions of a triathlon-focus Garmin, it’s pretty budget-friendly, but of course, if you want the latest true-to-form upgrade, then the Garmin FR935 is the one to choose.

To cut to the chase, the main difference between the two is the Barometric Altimeter; the Forerunner 935 has this built-in feature, while the 735XT can only give you incline and decline data relying on its built-in GPS.

Simply put, a barometric altimeter can measure changes in the atmospheric pressure while at the same time calculating variations in elevation.

But as far as wearable aesthetics go, the Garmin 735XT and FR935 are a line of thin, rounded models that are not clunky like earlier Garmin models.

Both are stylish enough for everyday wear. However, the Forerunner 935 is practical and affordable in terms of price, while the sleek Garmin Forerunner 735XT is still pretty steep.

Garmin 935 vs. 735: Final Verdict & Which One You Should Get

The technically advanced Forerunner 935 is the supercharged deluxe version to prefer.

It’s the most popular Smartwatch due to its powerful triathlon-specific functions.

For anyone serious about their technique and routine, the FR935 is a powerhouse tracker. The customization features alone allow an incredible peek into your performance.

The advanced insights will help you gauge when you should push for more and take your routine to the next level.

The prolonged battery life at 50 hours tops is another win on this great outdoor GPS watch.

Plus, its quick-release mechanism appeals to triathletes in a rush, and you don’t lose time adjusting gear and metrics as you transition from the open water swimming to cycling to running.

You would be excited to lace up and hit the trails with a watch like this.

Summary

Between the Garmin 935 and 735, the technically advanced Forerunner 935 is the supercharged deluxe version.

It’s the most popular Smartwatch due to its powerful triathlon-specific functions. I feel like it’s a powerhouse tracker.

[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B06XGD6CS4″ apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XGD6CS4?tag=cityryde04-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”true” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”4″ img-sizes=”500:324″ imgs=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31KLB0yLlIL._SL500_.jpg” link-imgs=”false” specs=”Premium GPS running/triathlon watch with wrist based heart rate; Strap material: Silicone; Smartphone compatibility: iPhone, Android, Windows; Designed for sale and support in North America only~~~Offers advanced running and multisport Features in a comfortable watch you can wear all day, and it only weighs 49 grams~~~Provides elevation changes with a built in barometer; altimeter and electronic compass help you keep your bearings~~~Evaluates your training status to indicate if you’re undertraining or overdoing it and offers additional performance monitoring Features~~~Provides advanced dynamics for running, cycling and swimming, including ground contact time balance, stride length and more. Bezel Material: Fiber reinforced poly” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”aligncenter” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”0″ hide-button=”0″ width=”750″]Garmin Forerunner 935 Running GPS Unit[/amalinkspro]

The customization features alone allow an incredible peek into your performance. The advanced insights will help you gauge when you should push for more and take your routine to the next level.

The prolonged battery life at 50 hours tops is another win on this tremendous outdoor GPS watch. Plus, its quick-release mechanism appeals to triathletes in a rush, and you don’t lose time adjusting gear and metrics as you transition from the open water swimming to cycling to running. You would be excited to lace up and hit the trails with a watch like this.

If you think of taking your training to the next level, I strongly recommend the FR935 model. It is technically more advanced and robust. I wrote this review after using it for around 43 days & my experience was fantastic. I did chat with a few folks who initially wanted to go with the other model but purchased this one. Also, the verified purchasers from amazon itself are saying the same thing.

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