Forerunner 245?

you guess is as good as mine! The refresh cycle is about right, but then again whose to say Garmin don't change their mind? I think they will keep the tiers but don't expect high end features on a mid range watch.

Also, I wouldn't hold your breath or you will always be waiting for the perfect watch. If you need a new watch, look at what's available, what you have to spend and pick one!

CW

I agree that they'll keep another tier between the 2XX line and the 935. The question will be whether it's the replacement 630 or the 735 that fills that spot.

I've seen speculation that the 630 is the last of that line but don't know what that's based on so it could be the last of that breed or it might not. If the 630 is replaced with a 640/645 where does that leave the 735? Was it just something new to throw at the tri crowd while the 935 was in development or is it meant to be a new long term second tier tri-watch line that's aimed at HIM and sprint/Olympic tri folks.

If there are updates/replacements for either, or both, of those watches I don't see a whole lot of new features in an update to the 235. Maybe the all day stress score from the VivoSmart 3 and the anaerobic TE being added. If the anaerobic TE is added it won't have all of the other TE 2.0 performance stuff like training load and productivity.

Just my 2 cents of course, but a little speculation is fun from time to time.

"sports watch"

My hope/thought - is that they will likely slowly steamline the watch line - many folks like logging multiple types of activity, and with todays tech there is no reason to have a 'running watch' when its exactly the same as a "Tri watch" with different firmware.

The watch flavors should be based on features (wrist HR, adv performance metrics, screen quality, and size)....not what activities you want to record.

… with todays tech there is no reason to have a 'running watch' when its exactly the same as a "Tri watch" with different firmware.

Market segmentation, and being able to meet customers at different price points by creating different offers, irrespective of the potential/capability of the hardware supplied to implement each offer. That's as valid a reason as any, and “todays tech” does not fundamentally change the business model.

I would love to see a cooperation with high end Swiss watch companies.
To take full advantage of sports watches one should wear them all day (tracking steps, sleep, HR etc.) but let's be honest, every Garmin watch is rather 'functionally' styled.

I would love to see a cooperation with high end Swiss watch companies.
To take full advantage of sports watches one should wear them all day (tracking steps, sleep, HR etc.) but let's be honest, every Garmin watch is rather 'functionally' styled.

Dunno if this is what you have in mind, but there is the Fenix Chronos....
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/08/garmin-fenix-chronos-details.html

I would love to see a cooperation with high end Swiss watch companies.

I had the same thought myself. I'd love to see one or two Tag Heuer and Omega models, for example, with Garmin-powered GPS/activity tracking capabilities, so that many of the voices (recently heard in the FR935 section of this forum) complaining that the lightweight, built-for-purpose sports watches aren't stylish enough to go with their professional attire or formal wear can satisfy themselves with such options at prices of $2,000+ or even $8,000+.

I had the same thought myself. I'd love to see one or two Tag Heuer and Omega models, for example, with Garmin-powered GPS/activity tracking capabilities, so that many of the voices (recently heard in the FR935 section of this forum) complaining that the lightweight, built-for-purpose sports watches aren't stylish enough to go with their professional attire or formal wear can satisfy themselves with such options at prices of $2,000+ or even $8,000+.

If you have loads of disposable income, sure, but given all the hell I put my Garmins through over the years, I'd be hesitant to wear an $8,000 watch on a trail run for risk of smashing it. :D

I will say, though, I use my 935 as almost a pure running watch (I track the odd bike ride, and yoga on it just for calorie burn), and I found it to be *well* worth the cash. It fixes literally every issue and annoyance I had with my 235; I can't imagine them adding anything else to any of their watches to make me want to upgrade for several years. IMO, it is the perfect running watch, with a "perfect running watch" price tag to match.

The 235 must be around 18 months old now and Garmin tend to replace units about every two years. So it's likely the 235 is getting replaced in the next 6-12 months.

Maybe around October, November? Chicago and NYCM marathons and then obviously Christmas.

Any ideas what we can expect? I imagine the HR sensor will be flatter, like the 935. Would be great if the advanced training metrics like the 935 has makes it's way down to the 245.

From what I understand is from now on there's not going to be a high end running watch. So does this mean there's the 235/245 and the 935? Is a real shame if you only run and don't do tri.

My wild ass guess. FR 245 will be very similar to current 235. Same screen, same general appearance and buttons. It will have newer HR monitor that the Fenix and 935 have. I don't know how much of a difference in hardware but I wouldn't be surprised if it was Connect IQ 2 capable as I'm sure Garmin wants watchface and app developers moving to that platform.

Garmin recently released the Approach S60 Golf Watch which is a Fenix with a touchscreen so I wouldn't be surprised if they put the innards for that in a plastic case and sell it as the Forerunner 645. However, I don't actually know how well the 630 sold. If the 630 was a dud it's possible that Garmin will tart up the 245 enough that there won't be anything between it and the 935. But I have to believe there will be a $400 watch between the 245 and 935, whether a 645 or 745.

Something I would like to see added to a future 245 or 640 or whatever Garmin has in mind below the 935 is onboard music storage. With so many bluetooth wireless headphones on the market now and with so many more in the pipeline this would be a feature I would definitely pay for.