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Is Garmin ever going to get the Forerunner buttons consistently tactile?

So: very subjective survey for those of you who are on the bleeding edge with me and have recently gotten a 955: how are your buttons?

mine are ok. i'll give them a "B." not mushy, but not a smooth simple click like i had on my 935. my first 945LTE was awful...one mushy button, another one that triple clicked (for lack of better description), another one that double clicked, 2 that felt great. my 2nd 945LTE was better...probably a B+/A- .... 3 out of 5 buttons excellent, 2 good.

my 955 Solar: an inconsistent mix of button feel. nothing awful but certainly my complaint lives on with all of the 900 watches i've used in the past 5+ years...not consistent and not what i would hope for in a $600 watch.

but i probably won't complain/exchange unless i hear regularly that people are getting excellent units. i'm just surprised after all these years, Garmin hasn't improved in this area.

i guess regardless of feel, they work so that's what they would say is important.

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0 psyklic over 3 years ago

All of my 955 buttons "double click." You feel resistance as you apply force to press in. The button travels some then hits a stopper. Additional force is then required to fully click the button. Strangely, when you let up you feel it releasing to the stopper position, then releasing a second time all the way. I found that if I press the buttons with a quick impulse, I don't notice the double clicks as much.

I tested my 935 and it also has initial travel, but it is significantly less noticeable. The initial travel requires almost no force, so it doesn't feel like you're pressing the real button yet. And when you let up, you don't feel two releases.

0 jmto over 3 years ago

Top buttons are not as nice as the rest of middle and lower ones, but generally better than 945.

0 caiddd over 3 years ago in reply to psyklic

Just received my FR955 today, same issue with the start/stop button. Are u going to return or replace it?

0 derek87 over 3 years ago in reply to caiddd

i think i would suggest returning it if you don't feel you can live with the buttons. i don't think any of my watches have had what i would call perfect buttons. i think my 955 has evolved to B+ buttons. the function well enough and i have tactile feedback. i tried out the 945LTE again (gave to my friend) and i would say it's comparable...not super buttons but liveable as i've been used to not perfect buttons from Garmin all of these years. i am starting to use the touch screen a bit more too.

unless my situation worsens considerably, i'll live with these buttons. if they got worse in the coming few years (i have 2 years extended warranty with my credit card), i'd have Garmin replace it. but in my experience, even with my complaints, i've never had any of my Garmin's not function even after many years of ownership. (although i should note that i didn't start using a Forerunner watch as a "daily watch" (24/7) until my 735Xt, followed by the 935, and 945LTE. i had the 935 for over 4 years and it served me well.

0 caiddd over 3 years ago in reply to derek87

Thanks for sharing. Btw, how Garmin Warranty works? Mine was purchased from RunningWarehouse, if things go worse, can I reach Garmin Customer Support? Or have to purchase from garmin.com?

0 Former Member over 3 years ago

I have problem with my back button. If I release it slowly it feels sticking and then I’m not having the click when pressing again.

0 webvan over 3 years ago

It seemed promising compared to the Epix but the consistent buttons on the FR955 did not last long, the bottom right one now doesn't "click back" consistently, what a pain...

0 Ciantic over 3 years ago in reply to psyklic

My buttons are like this too.

I characterize them going in "two steps". First step is useless, and second is the real deal. It's annoying only sometimes, I too didn't notice it first because usually I press the buttons in single pulse.

But on occasion I press them too gently and then notice this since first step ain't doing anything.

I wonder why did they choose switches like this? It's odd choice, most certainly this will annoy people who don't use more force when pressing buttons as it gives feedback even though it's not actuating.

0 Former Member over 3 years ago in reply to webvan

I have my second FR955 in use now. They both have exactly the same problem. At first bottom right button was Ok, then it went worse.

0 webvan over 3 years ago in reply to Former Member

Yeah for some reason Garmin buttons (except for those on the cheaper ones like the FR55 and Venur 2) appear to have a "life of their own" ! Sometimes giving them a hard press "resets" them but it doesn't last.