- Garmin Forerunner 935 is a smart, waterproof, and state-of-the-art GPS watch in the latest Forerunner series. If you are a professional in activities like running, gym workouts, golf, this is the number one device for you. Stay tuned for an in-depth analysis of why it claims the top spot.
When it comes to style, other smartwatches find it challenging to compete with the Apple Watch. However, the Apple Watch is more suitable for those heavily engaged with smartphones, lacking the training support that Garmin Forerunner 935 excels in. These two products belong to different segments, one as a SmartWatch and the other as a SportsWatch, making direct comparisons somewhat awkward.

Nói về tính thời trang thì các dòng đồng hồ thông minh khác khó có thể so sánh với Apple Watch. Tuy nhiên, dòng đồng hồ của Apple chỉ thích hợp cho những người làm việc trên Smartphone nhiều là chính và việc hỗ trợ trong tập luyện thì dòng Apple không thể nào so sánh được với Garmin Forerunner 935 vì cơ bản 2 sản phẩm này thuộc 2 phân khúc khác nhau, 1 cái là SmartWatch và 1 cái là SportsWatch cho nên so sánh với nhau thì cũng hơi khập khiễng.

Surrounding the smart sports watch Garmin Forerunner 935 is an ecosystem of innovation and functionality.
Specifically tailored for athletes, Garmin watches stand out as the top choice today. Let's delve into the features that make this smartwatch a preferred companion for sports enthusiasts.
Watch the instructional video for usage guidance.
Exploring the watch's design aspects.
While sharing many features with its sibling, the Fenix 5, the Forerunner 935 boasts a completely distinct appearance. If you admire the luxurious design of the Fenix 5, you might be a bit disappointed, but fear not, the Forerunner 935 will offer you other equally deserving compensations, even if it looks a bit like smartwatches for kids 😀

Similar to other Forerunner running watches, the 935 features a plastic design with a replaceable strap. Thanks to this characteristic, the watch is incredibly lightweight, weighing only 49g and measuring just 13.9mm in thickness. It might look slightly larger than the Forerunner 235, but the finesse of the 935 puts it in a league of its own.
Due to its 'ideal weight,' wearing the 935 throughout the day is virtually hassle-free, whether you're out for a walk, taking a swim, or even sleeping. You can keep it by your side as it's a water-resistant smartwatch with a 5ATM rating (swim-proof up to 50m underwater).

Although lacking in the 'swipe and tap' extravagance seen in other models from the brand, it is equipped with five buttons around the casing, each marked with specific functions.
On the back of the device, you'll find the charging port alongside optical heart rate sensors. What sets these sensors apart is their sleek and seamless integration, a departure from the rugged look of other heart rate monitoring devices.
Activity tracking feature of the device.
As previously revealed, the Garmin Forerunner 935 houses all the power needed to measure your workouts. Equipped with GPS + GLONASS, a Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, and a Thermometer, it also includes a Barometric Altimeter to measure altitude as you move.

The smartwatch with GPS and GLONASS positioning ensures more accurate location and speed tracking, enhancing GPS signal acquisition speed. Compared to the TomTom Spark 3, the 935 consistently outperforms in various trials.
A notable advantage of the Forerunner 935 is its robust GPS positioning, even navigating through obstacles like towering buildings and dense foliage.
The sports activity tracking features, including running, treadmill running, indoor running, indoor cycling, outdoor cycling, and swimming, are fully supported by the Garmin Forerunner 935.
Furthermore, it keeps tabs on activities like hiking, trail running, kayaking, skiing, and golfing, catering to a wide range of enthusiasts.
Here, the running feature of the Garmin watch takes the spotlight, being the most utilized, so let's delve into this aspect of the device.
The running support capability of the device provides standard metrics such as running speed, distance, and elevation. For enhanced features, you can invest in the Running Dynamic Pod from the brand.
This accessory expands functionalities, including metrics like vertical oscillation, ground contact time, stride length, and your lactate threshold. While these metrics may seem excessive for casual runners, professional athletes find them crucial for improving their competitive performance.

All this information is promptly displayed on the watch screen for immediate access.
One feature I appreciate is the ability to measure heart rate directly on the watch, providing extensive support for training. For instance, it helps me monitor heart rate zones during workouts and understand their impact on the body, distinguishing between anaerobic and aerobic states. To delve deeper into how these factors affect training, you might want to explore further.
While swimming, the 935 offers you features such as:
The sleep tracking feature is particularly beneficial for those with irregular sleep patterns. It informs you about the duration of your sleep, the hours of deep sleep, providing detailed insights.

Sleep tracking feature
Another useful feature of the Garmin smartwatch is its ability to alert you if you are pushing yourself too hard during workouts. Based on your training and sleep data, it notifies you about the intensity of your exercise, helping you ensure proper rest in your fitness routine.
The Training Effect feature assigns workout scores based on your achieved heart rate. Weekly data is integrated into the Training Load section to inform you about the suitability of your routines.
Regularly utilizing this feature is advisable to gauge the effectiveness of your workouts, allowing you to adjust training plans for better results.
Heart rate monitoring capability of the Garmin Forerunner 935
While the hardware of the Garmin Forerunner 935 remains unchanged, the heart rate monitoring software has been upgraded to a new version, enhancing the speed and accuracy of your heart rate measurements.

The device consistently monitors your heart rate upon skin contact, so wearing the watch correctly significantly influences its measurement accuracy.
During a treadmill run with the assistance of the monitoring device, the 935's calculation capabilities have notably improved compared to its predecessors.

Garmin also offers a chest strap for heart rate measurement, providing deeper insights such as stress levels. You can try this out to assess your stress levels.

The optical heart rate sensor of the device
The activity tracking feature of the 935
With various accompanying features like step counting, distance tracking, daily stairs climbed, active hours, sleep duration, and continuous 24/7 heart rate monitoring, it provides the most comprehensive overview of your daily activities.

Calorie consumption calculation
Despite regularly collecting data from you, Garmin also cares about your well-being by consistently encouraging you to stay active. Hence, the set goals automatically adjust based on your daily efforts. When your activity level drops, the 'Move' bar appears, reminding you to get moving.

Number of floors climbed

Detailed insights into your steps

Total steps throughout the day
It must be noted that the Garmin Forerunner 935 encompasses all the features found in other smartwatch lines of the brand. Regarded as the best sports activity tracker, with the guidance of this 'virtual coach,' you'll find the extra motivation to 'surpass yourself.'
Below is an image of a 15km run I undertook to test the device's measurement capabilities.

Another noteworthy feature of the waterproof Garmin Forerunner 935 smartwatch is its ability to sync notifications with your phone. When connected, notifications are displayed clearly on the screen.

Although, in most cases, your interaction with notifications is limited to clearing them, in some instances, you can take additional actions, such as returning a call.
It also assists in adjusting your phone's music volume, locating your phone, setting reminders, and displaying the work schedule on the screen.
Epic Battery Life
The battery life of the Garmin Forerunner 935 is truly remarkable. It can continuously operate in GPS mode for 24 hours or in UltraTrac mode for 60 hours. If used solely as a watch, it can last up to half a month before needing a recharge.
With moderate intensity workouts, receiving basic message notifications, it remains robust with a continuous 10 days of usage. Garmin ensures your data is never lost due to a low battery; when it reaches a critical level, it promptly saves all your activities before shutting down, guaranteeing your data is always preserved in full.
Empowered by the Garmin Connect app
All Garmin watches connect through the company's Connect app. With this app, it records the details of your daily activities and compiles them into charts or specific figures for easy interpretation.

Though initially overwhelming due to its differences, mastery comes effortlessly after just a few days of use. A notable feature appreciated by many fitness enthusiasts is the ability to track daily calorie intake, supported by the 935's integration with MyFitnessPal, helping you manage your daily food intake precisely.
Garmin has also developed its own 'app store' exclusively for its devices, featuring numerous extensions that can enhance the capabilities of your device beyond your expectations.
Conclusion
The Garmin Forerunner 935 is truly a waterproof smartwatch, a GPS tracker, and the most stylish watch tailored for athletes, especially runners, thanks to its outstanding features.
Additionally, if the Garmin 935 is not within your reach, you can consider the Garmin Vívosport, which also performs excellently, meeting all the basic requirements. Stay tuned for our upcoming review of this women-centric smartwatch in the next article.
Summary
Posted by: Hiền Đỗ
Keyword: Review of Garmin Forerunner 935 – The Top Choice for Sports Enthusiasts