little weird the Forerunner255 is getting System7 API5 and CIQ4 but not the Fenix6

I get that the new Forerunner 165 is actually newer than the rest of the series and even has AMOLED so makes sense it gets the newest software layers, maybe even aimed as a competitor to someone about to buy a coros, etc.

But the Forerunner 255 is from the Fenix5 era?

So this is basically forced obsolescence on the 6 series?

it's better hardware than the 255 but won't get the software support, we are stuck with CIQ3 etc.

That new BLE bonding sure looks great and rather important for watches.

https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/b/news-announcements/posts/connect-iq-sdk-7-1-0-is-now-available

API 5.0.0 devices can also pair with BLE devices using Just Works pairing.

The system will remember the bonded devices and allow you to reconnect with devices you have previously bonded with.

I think they broke the formatting for the comparison page but all we've got

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/compare/?compareProduct=641449&compareProduct=780139&compareProduct=1055469

Top Replies

LostEchoes over 1 year ago +1

The Forerunner 255 is not from the Fenix 5 era.

The Forerunner 255 was released on June 2022 and has the Elevate v4 HR sensor
The Forerunner 245 on April 2019 and has the Elevate v3 HR sensor

The Fenix 6…

All Replies

0 LostEchoes over 1 year ago

The Forerunner 255 is not from the Fenix 5 era.

The Forerunner 255 was released on June 2022 and has the Elevate v4 HR sensor
The Forerunner 245 on April 2019 and has the Elevate v3 HR sensor

The Fenix 6 on April 2019 (the 6 solar on July 2020) and has the Elevate v3 HR sensor
The Fenix 5 on January 2017 (the 5plus on on June 2018) and has the Elevate v2 HR sensor

0 socorsu over 1 year ago

Fenix 6 Series is running :

Connect IQ System 6
- with API level 3.4.x
- newer models like FRx55/x65 F7/E2 were using API level 4.2.x

https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/b/news-announcements/posts/welcome-to-system-6

https://developer.garmin.com/connect-iq/compatible-devices/

---

Forerunner x55/x65 are twice more performant than our respected F6 watches which is based on "old gen platform"

https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/fenix-6-series/318547/garmin---benchmark---fenix-6-series-and-f7-e2-comparison-positioning

0 socorsu over 1 year ago

i was more surprised by the difference regarding Instinct 2 Series than CIQ System 7 support, and if you read the announcement this recent I2 product line is not concerned ... or it's a mistakes

https://forums.garmin.com/beta-program/fenix-6-series/f/community-discussion/331591/fenix-6-series-compared-to-instinct-2-new-features---why-some-differences-garmin

0 rinserepeat over 1 year ago in reply to socorsu

the Forerunner 255 has all the features than the Fenix6 and a few more, it is very very surprising

And I bet because of the plastic housing the GPS signal is much better.

Even the 165 looks so much better. It doesn't have a barometer but the screen is great.

ALL the firstbeat metrics seem to be in 165 and 255

SatIQ seems silly because I don't want the watch to decide but the multi-sat feature is critical for runners/cyclists

Fenix6 could effortlessly enable support for BeiDou in North America, the models sold in China already have it but disabled here. There are BeiDou sats over North America and would add to the resolution.