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Battery life on FR 230

Former Member
Former Member over 6 years ago
Hey guys, I have a question for you, I bought my FR 230 in December 2015, so it's not even 3 years that I have it.
Battery started lasting for one and half day, without: activity tracking, bluetooth, GPS, everything off, just wearing it as regular watch.

I tried factory reset, hard reset, updating to 7.74 and then same thing with battery, then back to 7.70... still battery the same.

If I turn on Bluetooth, or activity tracking, I don't think it will last a day. What should I do? Hate to say that I'm a bit disappointing, this wasn't a cheap watch....

What's your battery life? Can I change battery on it? Should I take it to Garmin for repair? Should I just throw it in trash?

I tried everything online, and there is no help. I am from Croatia, so not sure what's Garmin support here, so just to see if you guys can give me few pointers, before going to service center. And btw. warranty is gone, 7 months after warranty expired...

thank you in advance....

Goran
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    I am not sure what your options are for Garmin support in Croatia. I too purchased my FR230 in December 2015, but am still getting 2-3 weeks with activity tracking but no BT.

    I would say figure out how to contact the support center and see what your options are. That will determine if it is time to upgrade or replace.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    Ok, so I contacted Garmin, they say that battery can not be changed, but if I want.... now check this out, I give them my watch FR230, and they give me new FR235 for same almost the price (8 euros difference) as in stores?!?!?!

    I think this is last time that I'll be purchasing Garmin stuff... At least they could have said, we'll give you a new watch FR235 for same price in store and I could keep mine.... So disappointing, I thought Garmin was company that stays behind their products, btw, watch is not even 3 years old.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    Mine has suddenly started doing the same, running down in less than 24 h with essentially nothing turned on!

    6 November - hard reset (if that's what it's called - turning off for 15 sec, then on) seems to have worked!
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    Ok, so I contacted Garmin, they say that battery can not be changed, but if I want.... now check this out, I give them my watch FR230, and they give me new FR235 for same almost the price (8 euros difference) as in stores?!?!?!

    I think this is last time that I'll be purchasing Garmin stuff... At least they could have said, we'll give you a new watch FR235 for same price in store and I could keep mine.... So disappointing, I thought Garmin was company that stays behind their products, btw, watch is not even 3 years old.


    I've had about 5 replacements for the 230, all of which had problems - they only send you a second hand replacement one and you never know how old it is or what was wrong with it and if it's been sorted. I offered to pay the difference for a replacement secondhand 235 and they refused.....


    GOD I HATE THESE CAPTCHAS THAT NEVER WORK!!!!!
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    Had my Garmin FR 230 for 2.5 years and battery normally lasts around weeks as a normal watch with Bluetooth activated. BUT NOW (this week) the 230 lasts about 5 hours as normal watch and can just get a 30min run out of it before it switches off on low battery after charging it to max. So disappointed in Garmin support as they sounded so used to my enquiry.
    I am not paying £80 for a second model with 3mths warranty.
    Will inform some TV consumer programmes as they might want to feature this issue.
    Looks like its a goodbye to Garmin.
    Is any other manufacturer any better on the after sales such as Suunto?
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    Not sure if this is what is happening here, but there is a finite life to lithium-ion batteries. Typically this is around 500 recharge cycles. Full charge to zero charge to full charge = 1 cycle. Any fraction of that adds up. As the battery reaches end-of-life, the charge it can hold is reduced.