Looking for an in depth comparison between Vivoactive 3 VS Forerunner 235?
Well, this article is all about finding the differences and similarities between the two models and figuring out which one you should pick.
I am going to show you a solid hand in hand comparison for Forerunner 235 & Vivoactive 3. By the end of this article, I also recommend which one you should pick and why.
Garmin has had a good reputation for providing the market with amazing gadgets for a wide variety of functions. Among their line of products are smart GPS watches that are created and fashioned to keep track of your daily activity.
The functions from their smartwatches get you an accurate estimation of where you stand in terms of a healthy lifestyle. With over a dozen watches to choose from their store, we’ve picked two that almost anyone can find handy – Garmin vívoactive 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 235.
Which one is better than the other? Let’s find out.
[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074KBWL9J?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=cityryde04-20&linkId=18d21388561c9635ac155f54b4bf9b9e&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl” new-window=”true” addtocart=”false” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”4″ img-sizes=”0:0″ imgs=”%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB074KBWL9J%3Fie%3DUTF8%26linkCode%3Dli3%26tag%3Dcityryde04-20%26linkId%3Dafa38b87356a2b92458c273fd2f30584%26language%3Den_US%26ref_%3Das_li_ss_il%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%3E%3Cimg%20border%3D%220%22%20src%3D%22%2F%2Fws-na.amazon-adsystem.com%2Fwidgets%2Fq%3F_encoding%3DUTF8%26ASIN%3DB074KBWL9J%26Format%3D_SL250_%26ID%3DAsinImage%26MarketPlace%3DUS%26ServiceVersion%3D20070822%26WS%3D1%26tag%3Dcityryde04-20%26language%3Den_US%22%20%3E%3C%2Fa%3E%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fir-na.amazon-adsystem.com%2Fe%2Fir%3Ft%3Dcityryde04-20%26language%3Den_US%26l%3Dli3%26o%3D1%26a%3DB074KBWL9J%22%20width%3D%221%22%20height%3D%221%22%20border%3D%220%22%20alt%3D%22%22%20style%3D%22border%3Anone%20!important%3B%20margin%3A0px%20!important%3B%22%20%2F%3E” link-imgs=”false” specs=”Garmin Pay contactless payment solution lets you pay for purchases with your watch.~~~More than 15 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, including yoga, running, swimming and more.~~~Monitor your fitness level with VO2 max and fitness made estimates.~~~Keep an eye on how you handle stress.~~~Smart notifications, automatic uploads to Garmin Connect, Live Track and more.~~~Battery life Up to 7 days.” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”GET IT ON AMAZON NOW” alignment=”aligncenter” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”0″ hide-button=”0″ width=”750″]Garmin Vivoactive 3[/amalinkspro]
Comprehensive Match Up: Garmin vivoactive 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 235
General Differences
Description | Forerunner 235 | vivoactive 3 |
Lens Material | Chemically strengthened glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
Strap Material | Silicone | Silicone |
Bezel Material | Silicone | stainless steel |
Physical Size | 45 x 45 x 11.7 mm | 43.4 x 43.4 x 11.7 mm |
Display Size | 1.23″ (31.1 mm) diameter | 1.2″ (30.4mm) diameter |
Display Resolution | 215 x 180 pixels | 240 x 240 pixels |
Display Type | Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) |
Touchscreen | No | Yes |
Weight | 42 G | 43 G |
Battery Life | Smartwatch Mode: Up to 9 daysGPS mode: Up to 11 hours | Smartwatch Mode: Up to 7 daysGPS mode: Up to 13 hours |
Water Rating | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Color Display | Yes | Yes |
Memory / History | 200 hours of activity data | 7 timed activities, 14 days of activity tracking data |
Clock Features
Description | Forerunner 235 | Vivoactive 3 |
Time / Date | Yes | Yes |
GPS Time Sync | Yes | Yes |
Automatic DST | Yes | Yes |
Alarm Clock | Yes | Yes |
Stopwatch | Yes | Yes |
Timer | No | Yes |
Sunrise / Sunset Times | No | Yes |
Sensors
Description | Forerunner 235 | Vivoactive 3 |
GPS | Yes | Yes |
GLONASS | Yes | Yes |
Garmin Elevate Wrist Heart Rate Monitor | Yes | Yes |
Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
Galileo | No | Yes |
Barometric Altimeter | No | Yes |
Compass | No | Yes |
Thermometer | No | Yes |
Daily Smart Features
Description | Forerunner 235 | Vivoactive 3 |
Connect IQ (Downloadable watch faces, data fields, widgets, and apps | Yes | Yes |
Smart Notifications | Yes | Yes |
Connectivity | Yes | Bluetooth® Smart and ANT+® |
Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Weather | Yes | Yes |
Controls Smartphone Music | Yes | Yes |
Find My Phone | Yes | Yes |
Find My Watch | No | Yes |
Virb Remote | Yes | Yes |
Smartphone Compatibility | iPhone, Android | iPhone, Android |
Compatible with Garmin Connect Mobile | Yes | Yes |
Garmin Pay | No | Yes |
Activity Tracking Features
Description | Forerunner 235 | Vivoactive 3 |
Step Counter | Yes | Yes |
Move Bar (Alert after a period of inactivity) | Yes | Yes |
Auto Goal | Yes | Yes |
Sleep Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
Calories Burned | Yes | Yes |
Floors Climbed | No | Yes |
Distance Traveled | Yes | Yes |
Intensity Minutes | Yes | Yes |
Trueup | Yes | Yes |
Move IQ | No | Yes |
Fitness Age | No | Yes ( In-App ) |
All-day Stress Tracking | No | Yes |
Training, Planning and Analysis Features
Description | Forerunner 235 | Vivoactive 3 |
GPS Speed and Distance | Yes | Yes |
Customizable Data Pages | Yes | Yes |
Customizable Activity Profiles | Yes | Yes |
Auto Pause | Yes | Yes |
Interval Training | Yes | No |
Advanced Workouts | Yes | Yes |
Downloadable Training Plans | Yes | Yes |
Auto Lap | Yes | Yes |
Manual Lap | Yes | Yes |
V02 Max | Yes | Yes |
Training Effect | Yes | No |
Custom Alert | Yes | No |
Audio Prompts | Yes | No |
Finish Time | Yes | No |
Touch / Button Lock | Yes | Yes |
Auto-Scroll | Yes | Yes |
Physio Trueup | No | Yes |
Activity History on Watch | Yes | Yes |
Heart Rate Features
Description | Forerunner 235 | Vivoactive 3 |
HR Zones | Yes | Yes |
HR Alerts | Yes | Yes |
HR Calories | Yes | Yes |
% HR Max | No | Yes |
Recovery Time | Yes | No |
HR Broadcast | Yes | Yes |
Running Features
Description | Forerunner 235 | Vivoactive 3 |
Available Run Profiles | Yes | Yes |
GPS-Based Distance, Time, and Pace | Yes | Yes |
Cadence | Yes | Yes |
Run Workouts | Yes | Yes |
Race Predictor | Yes | No |
Foor Pod Capable | Yes | Yes |
Why Should You Pick Garmin Vivoactive 3?
[amalinkspro type=”image-link” asin=”B074KBWL9J” new-window=”true” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074KBWL9J?tag=cityryde04-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ img-size=”500,500″ addtocart=”true” nofollow=”true” alt=”Garmin 010-01769-01 Vivoactive 3, GPS Smartwatch with Contactless Payments and Built-In Sports Apps, Black with Silver Hardware” alignment=”aligncenter”]https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51NiUGimi5L._SL500_.jpg[/amalinkspro]
[amalinkspro type=”image-link” asin=”B074KBWL9J” new-window=”true” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074KBWL9J?tag=cityryde04-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ img-size=”500,500″ addtocart=”true” nofollow=”true” alt=”Garmin 010-01769-01 Vivoactive 3, GPS Smartwatch with Contactless Payments and Built-In Sports Apps, Black with Silver Hardware” alignment=”aligncenter”]https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51a5j5lnVsL._SL500_.jpg[/amalinkspro]
When you compare both watches, Garmin vívoactive® 3 gives you that contemporary feel, all thanks to its touchscreen and elegant design; aside from the fact that Garmin vívoactive® 3 was just released 2018 vs Garmin Forerunner® 235 that was from 2015.
Garmin vívoactive® 3 stands as a newer technology for Garmin for about the same price. It features a music storage function that you can connect to your Bluetooth headphones. The heart rate monitor for this watch is also easier to wear and stays put, unlike that of Garmin Forerunner® 235.
There are also numerous features this watch has that are not included in Garmin Forerunner® 235. These functions include tracking data during activities like golfing and swimming.
Overall, Garmin vívoactive® 3 is a versatile wearable GPS sports tracking watch that appeals mainstream. It is subtle, circular, and stylish. Plus, it has good GPS and heart rate monitor and can track wide ranges of activities.$
Read also: Garmin Vivoactive 3 vs. 4: Which One Is Better?
Why Should You Pick Garmin Forerunner 235?
Garmin Forerunner 235 picks GPS signal immediately, unlike Garmin vívoactive® 3. This is essential, after all, you want a GPS watch that tracks your position accurately at any given time.
While it doesn’t have touchscreen features, it works well during days when you have to wear gloves and a touchscreen isn’t really working with gloves. It also comes with a recovery advisor that advises you on the amount of rest and efforts you should take after a strenuous activity. A race predictor that projects race times based on your runs.
Generally, despite its age, Garmin Forerunner® 235 still manages to stand out. The lower price helps. But, more than that, its depth and breadth of its tracking abilities and training acumens make it a better competition against newer watches.
Read also: Everything You Need to Know About Virtual Race
Read also: Best Virtual Race for Your New Year Resolution
Conclusion:
Judging by today’s lifestyle where fitness enthusiasts don’t just use the sports watch for tracking daily fitness activities, the winner between the two is Garmin vívoactive® 3.
[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B074KBWL9J” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074KBWL9J?tag=cityryde04-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”true” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”5″ img-sizes=”500:500″ imgs=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41IddFtV31L._SL500_.jpg” link-imgs=”false” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”aligncenter” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”0″ hide-button=”0″ width=”400″]Garmin Vivoactive 3, GPS Smartwatch with Built-In Sports Apps[/amalinkspro]
[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B07DXGF1JD” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DXGF1JD?tag=cityryde04-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”true” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”5″ img-sizes=”500:500″ imgs=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/413J+7iiqWL._SL500_.jpg” link-imgs=”false” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”aligncenter” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”0″ hide-button=”0″ width=”400″]Garmin Vivoactive 3 GPS Smartwatch with Built-in Sports Apps – (Renewed)[/amalinkspro]
Fitness buffs, no longer just count calories, they want something that is advanced enough to give them what they need, like music, alarm clocks, good battery life. Most people have also gotten used to the idea that everything works when you touch the screen. And, that is what this watch features.
But, if you are a runner who doesn’t care about anything else but tracking your running data, Garmin Forerunner® 235 is still a better choice.
You might also like