I'm not even sure if it's an upgrade, but I do like the touch screen and the golf feature. Is it work the upgrade from the Forerunner 235 to the Vivoactive 3? I really only use the Forerunner 235 for running.
As a strictly running watch it's a lateral move at best. It's missing some features of the 235 in that regard, but the display is better and doesn't have the flat top and bottom.
The biggest running feature that it lacks as far as I can tell is not having the Training Effect stat but that's a post run feature and I don't know if that's anything that you pay attention to. Being touchscreen with only 1 physical button means that the interface is quite different and would take some adaptation. While the screen is bigger and fully round you don't have as much flexibility with your data screen set up as you do with the 235.
In short, if you only use it for running but are looking to replace your 235 I'd wait until the next generation of Forerunners comes out which could be any time between now and February.
Had the FR235 since mid November, 2015. Been using the VVA 3 since 9/17. I really like the watch. So much so that my 235 is getting a rest and my Series 2 Apple Watch( which I used only as a Smart Watch) has remained in power off status. Have run about 75 miles with it and my only complaint is the weak buzzer for mile alerts. Wrist HR seems spot on as well as GPS. Grabs GPS in about 5 seconds. Have had some issues with my Tempe staying connected- but no big deal. The Tempe goes nuts when I run in the sun. Tuff to avoid here in Florida. Ran with my Garmin HR strap today and HR was spot on compared to other runs on the same course and temp with the VVA 3 wrist HR. Feels lighter, looks and feels more solid than my 235. Jazzed it up with a Fantek band. Screen seems a little sharper and the touch screen works like magic. I turned of the side "slider", no need for it. It does lack manual laps, but that hasn't been an issue for me. I was going to wait for the FR"245" but at 74, I have developed an issue I call immediate gratification of wants. I am a lot closer to the finish line now. i also suffer from an addiction to running tech stuff. I call myself a senior citizen metro sexual body metrics running geek. Nick
I went from a 230 to the VA3, and really like it so far. I had gone from the original Vivoactive to that 230 about a year ago. Compared to the 230, the VA3 is a far better device, which of course makes sense, being a much newer unit. For me, the only item I miss from the 230 when running (and biking) is spoken status alerts (yes I use stereo BT headset when I do my stuff - put the hate away people haha) - the VA3 does not speak or announce lap alerts/heart rate zone, etc. Training effect was mentioned above, but I hadn't been using that. (I look at the Strava Suffer Score for that type of thing). Everyone's needs are different..... Good luck!
I was going to wait for the FR"245" but at 74, I have developed an issue I call immediate gratification of wants. I am a lot closer to the finish line now. i also suffer from an addiction to running tech stuff. I call myself a senior citizen metro sexual body metrics running geek. Nick
