For budget GPS running, choose Forerunner 225 for the lowest used price; pick Forerunner 235 for longer battery, VO₂ Max, GLONASS, and app add‑ons.
Garmin Forerunner 225
Garmin Forerunner 235
Best Under $80
- Basic GPS pace/distance
- Wrist HR with MIO tech
- Simple screens, easy read
Forerunner 225
Best Under $150
- Longer GPS runtime
- VO₂ Max + race predictor
- Watch faces & data fields
Forerunner 235
Choosing an older running watch still shapes how you train, upload, and glance at stats mid‑run. These two classics cover the same basics with different strengths. One wins on price; the other stretches battery and features. Below is the fast verdict plus the clean trade‑offs so you can buy with confidence.
In A Nutshell
If you want the lowest spend and simple GPS with wrist heart rate, the Forerunner 225 is the bargain pick. If you’d like longer GPS time, lighter weight, VO₂ Max and race predictor, and the option to add watch faces or data fields, the Forerunner 235 is the better long‑term fit. Battery and app flexibility tip the scales for many buyers.
Side‑By‑Side Specs
Prices reflect typical US used listings; specs drawn from Garmin manuals and product pages.
Garmin Forerunner 225 — What We Like / What We Don’t Like
✅ What We Like
- Lowest entry price on the used market while keeping GPS + wrist HR.
- Clear zone‑color gauge for heart rate—quick to read mid‑run.
- Up to 7–10 h in GPS and a long watch‑mode window for daily wear.
- 5 ATM water rating for swim‑safe daily use like showering and pool time.
- Works with an ANT+ foot pod when you want indoor distance without GPS.
⚠️ What We Don’t Like
- No Connect IQ add‑ons—no third‑party watch faces or data fields.
- GPS only; no GLONASS option for tricky urban routes.
- Heavier and thicker than the 235; the 42 g 235 feels noticeably lighter.
Garmin Forerunner 235 — What We Like / What We Don’t Like
✅ What We Like
- Longer GPS runtime—up to 11 hours, or 9 hours with GLONASS enabled.
- VO₂ Max estimates and race predictor baked in.
- Connect IQ lets you add watch faces, data fields, widgets, and simple apps.
- Lighter body (≈42 g) and a bigger, sharper screen (1.23″, 215×180).
- GPS + GLONASS setting for better satellite coverage in tough areas.
⚠️ What We Don’t Like
- Costs more on the used market than the 225.
- No native swim profile; you’ll need a Connect IQ pool app if you want pool tracking.
- Older optical HR generation; interval spikes can vary compared with newer watches.
ℹ️ Good To Know: Both models carry a 5 ATM rating. That’s fine for showering and pool time; avoid button presses underwater to keep seals happy. Wrist HR isn’t designed for swim metrics on these generations.
Garmin 225 Or 235: Which Fits You Better
Performance & Speed
For pace and distance, both handle standard GPS runs well. The 235 adds a GLONASS option that helps when tall buildings or tree cover make locks stubborn. That extra constellation can smooth tracks on city routes. The 225 sticks to GPS only, which is fine for open areas and suburban routes.
Training features diverge. The 235 calculates VO₂ Max and shows race‑predictor estimates for common distances, which helps you set targets and gauge fitness trends without third‑party tools. The 225 omits those estimates but still logs clean splits, custom intervals, and cadence when paired with a foot pod.
Display & Build
If you care about legibility, the 235 wins: a 1.23‑inch 215×180 panel offers more real estate for four‑field layouts. The 225 has a 1.0‑inch 180×180 display that’s still readable but shows fewer fields comfortably. The 235 also trims weight to about 42 g compared with the 225’s 54 g, which you notice on long runs.
Battery & Charging
The 225 lasts 7–10 hours in GPS mode, while the 235 reaches up to 11 hours on GPS (and around 9 hours with GLONASS). For daily wear, the 225 can stretch multiple weeks depending on settings; the 235 lands around 9 days with wrist HR and notifications active. If you prize longer GPS sessions without a charge, the 235 is the safer pick.
Cameras & Sensors
Both read heart rate at the wrist. The 225’s module was created with MIO, a respected optical vendor from that era; the 235 uses Garmin’s Elevate engine. For steady runs either can do well once seated properly on the arm. The 235’s optical system pairs with features like recovery time and training effect, fed by heart‑rate data.
For accessories, the 225 can pair an ANT+ foot pod for indoor distance, while the 235 works with a broader set of ANT+ accessories and can also broadcast wrist‑HR to other Garmin devices.
Software & Updates
This is the biggest feature split. The 235 taps Garmin’s Connect IQ catalog, so you can add watch faces, specialized data fields, widgets, and simple apps. That extends lifespan in 2025—runners still download alternate data pages or a pool‑swim app. The 225 doesn’t get Connect IQ, so what ships is what you keep.
Battery and water‑rating figures in this guide come straight from Garmin’s manuals: see the Forerunner 225 Owner’s Manual and the Forerunner 230/235 Owner’s Manual.
Ports & Connectivity
Both sync with the Garmin Connect phone app over Bluetooth for uploads and settings. Each can use ANT+ accessories. The 235 adds quality‑of‑life extras like HR broadcast and music controls, while the 225 keeps things simpler around run capture and daily steps.
Price, Value & Ownership
The 235’s extra battery and add‑on ecosystem carry a small price premium used; the 225 wins raw dollars saved.
Where Each One Wins
🏆 App Add‑Ons — Forerunner 235
🏆 Lowest Spend — Forerunner 225
🏆 Weight & Screen — Forerunner 235
Decision Guide
✅ Choose Forerunner 225 If…
- You want the lowest‑cost path to GPS pace, distance, and wrist HR.
- Your runs stay under ~10 hours GPS time per charge.
- You’re fine without Connect IQ add‑ons and just want a simple runner’s watch.
✅ Choose Forerunner 235 If…
- You want longer GPS time and a lighter watch.
- You care about VO₂ Max and race‑prediction tools built in.
- You’d like to add custom watch faces or data fields from Connect IQ.
Best Fit For Most Runners
Most buyers should start with the Forerunner 235. The extra GPS time, lighter build, sharper screen, GLONASS option, and VO₂ Max tools give it more headroom, and Connect IQ keeps it fresh with community watch faces and niche data fields. If you’re squeezing every dollar, the 225 is still a solid pace‑and‑distance tool with wrist HR, but the 235’s feature stack makes day‑to‑day training smoother.
Specs and capabilities in this piece were compiled from Garmin owner’s manuals and product pages and cross‑checked with long‑standing third‑party coverage. See the manuals for the 225 and the 230/235; launch pricing references came from DC Rainmaker and TechRadar; used price ranges reflect current US listings.