How to find the right product for you
This Product Comparison Calculator will allow you to compare products in one of two ways. Choose from the two dropdown menus below to auto-populate the product boxes with results, or click on the product boxes to activate your own personalized choices. Once the product boxes are shaded per your liking, click the “COMPARE NOW” button to retrieve a customized product comparison graph.
Currently there are eight product types:
– Watches (and bike computers!!!!)
– Trainers (for cycling indoors)
– Activity monitors (things like Fitbits and step counters)
– Power meters (for cycling)
– Action Cams (things like GoPro’s and the like)
– Heart Rate Sensors (Straps and Optical sensors that measure HR)
– Trainer Apps (for cycling indoors on trainers)
– Drones (primarily sport focused options)
For trainers, the focus is primarily on computer-integrated trainers that provide resistance control. Additionally, like the watches I only include units that I’ve personally reviewed and/or used.
Select product use/budget for a comparison from the drop down menus:
Note: While many running watches have a basic bike mode, only running units that are multi-sport focused are also included in the bike-only results (in addition to bike-specific units). Hiking units are those that include a Barometric Altimeter, Magnetic Compass and navigational functions.
Or select products for comparison by clicking the product boxes below:
Comparison Results:
Function/Feature | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
---|---|---|---|---|
Copyright DC Rainmaker - Updated May 14th, 2021 @ 3:18 pm New Window | ||||
Price | $139 | $299 | $139 | $169 (on sale) |
Product Announcement Date | May 5, 2014 | May 12th, 2015 | Aug 5th, 2015 | January 5th, 2015 |
Actual Availability/Shipping Date | May/June 2014 | July 2015 | Q3 2015 | March 2015 |
GPS Recording Functionality | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Data Transfer | USB | USB, Bluetooth Smart | USB, Bluetooth Smart | USB, BLUETOOTH SMART |
Waterproofing | 50 meters | 50 Meters | 50 meters | 50 meters |
Battery Life (GPS) | 8 hours | 7-10 hours | 8-10 hours (depends on model) | 10 hours GPS on |
Recording Interval | SMART RECORDING (VARIABLE) | SMART RECORDING (VARIABLE) | SMART RECORDING (VARIABLE) | Smart Recording (Variable) |
Alerts | Sound/Visual | VIBRATE/SOUND/VISUAL | Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Visual |
Backlight Greatness | OK | Great | Ok | Good |
Ability to download custom apps to unit/device | No | No | No | Yes |
Acts as daily activity monitor (steps, etc...) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Music | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
Can control phone music | No | No | Yes | |
Has music storage and playback | No | No | No | Connectivity | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
Bluetooth Smart to Phone Uploading | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Phone Notifications to unit (i.e. texts/calls/etc...) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Live Tracking (streaming location to website) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Group tracking | No | |||
Emergency/SOS Message Notification (from watch to contacts) | No | No | No | No |
Built-in cellular chip (no phone required) | No | No | No | No | Cycling | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
Designed for cycling | BARELY (SPEED MODE ONLY) | Barely (Speed mode only) | BARELY (SPEED MODE ONLY) | Yes |
Power Meter Capable | No | No | No | With some Connect IQ apps (but cannot record data) |
Speed/Cadence Sensor Capable | No | No | No | Yes |
Strava segments live on device | No | No | No | No |
Crash detection | No | Running | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
Designed for running | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Footpod Capable (For treadmills) | Yes | Yes (also has internal accelerometer) | YES (ALSO HAS INTERNAL ACCELEROMETER) | YES (Also has INTERNAL ACCELEROMETER) |
Running Dynamics (vertical oscillation, ground contact time, etc...) | No | No | No | No |
VO2Max Estimation | No | No | No | No |
Race Predictor | No | No | No | No |
Recovery Advisor | No | No | No | No |
Run/Walk Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Swimming | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
Designed for swimming | NO (PROTECTED THOUGH JUST FINE) | No (protected though just fine) | NO (PROTECTED THOUGH JUST FINE) | Yes |
Openwater swimming mode | N/A | N/A | N/A | No |
Lap/Indoor Distance Tracking | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
Record HR underwater | N/A | N/A | N/A | No |
Openwater Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | N/A | N/A | N/A | No |
Indoor Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
Indoor Drill Mode | N/A | N/A | N/A | No |
Indoor auto-pause feature | N/A | N/A | N/A | No |
Change pool size | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
Indoor Min/Max Pool Lengths | N/A | N/A | N/A | 17M/18Y TO 150Y/M |
Ability to customize data fields | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
Captures per length data - indoors | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
Indoor Alerts | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Triathlon | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
Designed for triathlon | No | No | No | No |
Multisport mode | N/A | No | N/A | No | Workouts | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
Create/Follow custom workouts | No | Yes | No | No |
On-unit interval Feature | No | Yes | No | No |
Training Calendar Functionality | No | Yes | No | No | Functions | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
Auto Start/Stop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Virtual Partner Feature | Pace Alerts | No | Virtual Pacer | No |
Virtual Racer Feature | No | No | No | No |
Records PR's - Personal Records (diff than history) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Only on Garmin Connect |
Tidal Tables (Tide Information) | No | No | No | No |
Weather Display (live data) | No | No | No | Via Connect IQ app | Navigate | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
Follow GPS Track (Courses/Waypoints) | No | No | No | No |
Markers/Waypoint Direction | No | No | No | No |
Routable/Visual Maps (like car GPS) | No | No | No | No |
Back to start | No | No | No | Yes |
Impromptu Round Trip Route Creation | No | No | No | No |
Download courses/routes from phone to unit | No | No | No | No | Sensors | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
Altimeter Type | None | GPS | None | GPS |
Compass Type | N/A | N/A | N/A | GPS |
Optical Heart Rate Sensor internally | No | Yes | No | No |
Heart Rate Strap Compatible | Yes | YES (ALSO INTERNAL OPTICAL HR SENSOR) | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Heart Rate Strap Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Speed/Cadence Capable | No | No | No | Yes |
ANT+ Footpod Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Power Meter Capable | No | No | No | No |
ANT+ Lighting Control | No | No | No | No |
ANT+ Bike Radar Integration | No | No | No | No |
ANT+ Trainer Control (FE-C) | No | No | No | No |
ANT+ Remote Control | No | No | No | Yes for Garmin VIRB |
ANT+ eBike Compatibility | No | No | No | No |
ANT+ Gear Shifting (i.e. SRAM ETAP) | No | No | ||
Shimano Di2 Shifting | No | nO | No | No |
Bluetooth Smart HR Strap Capable | No | No | No | No |
Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence Capable | No | No | No | no |
Bluetooth Smart Footpod Capable | No | No | NO | No |
Bluetooth Smart Power Meter Capable | No | No | No | No |
Temp Recording (internal sensor) | No | No | No | No |
Temp Recording (external sensor) | No | No | No | Yes (Tempe) | Software | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
PC Application | Garmin Express | Garmin Express | Garmin Express | Garmin Express |
Web Application | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect |
Phone App | Garmin Connect Mobile | iOS/Android | iOS/Android | iOS/Android/Windows Phone |
Ability to Export Settings | No | No | No | No | Purchase | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
Amazon | Link | Link | Link | Link | DCRainmaker | Garmin Forerunner 15 | Garmin Forerunner 225 | Garmin Forerunner 25 | Garmin Vivoactive |
Review Link | Link | Link | Link | Link |