Move from Garmin Instinct 2 to Series 10

[deeddawg]

I had a vivoactive and a forerunner. There were problems for almost a year with the heart rate tracking, Garmin even said that and wrote a trouble shooting page about it. Only their tips didn’t work. If I remember correctly there were more affected models, not only vivoactive, forerunner and venu 3 but also some other watches for outdoor.

Not disputing you, but for clarity you may want to specify the affected models.

Forerunner is a product line with myriad models since the first release in 2003.

 

[Pixels7]

Not disputing you, but for clarity you may want to specify the affected models.

Forerunner is a product line with myriad models since the first release in 2003.

Unfortunately all the ones you can buy now and in the last year(s). I tried a vivoactive 5 and forerunner 265, but the 955 has the same problems and other models too. You can read it on the Garmin forums.

 

[Indianwin2001]

Unfortunately all the ones you can buy now and in the last year(s). I tried a vivoactive 5 and forerunner 265, but the 955 has the same problems and other models too. You can read it on the Garmin forums.

I had horrible HR readings with the 965 and the Epix Pro.

 

[Pixels7]

I had horrible HR readings with the 965 and the Epix Pro.

Those have an elevate 4 sensor too, or did they have the 5?

As far as I could tell, all or most watches with elevate 4 had the same OHR problems. But there were also problems with the venu 3 and that watch has the 5. So at some point I figured it’s their software.

The Garmin watches were reading the same heart rate during almost the whole duration of hikes and walks, regardless of how fast or slow I was walking. My Apple Watch reads my heart rate lower as I walk slower and higher when I walk faster. So it’s much more accurate (I think/ hope 😄).

 

[Indianwin2001]

Those have an elevate 4 sensor too, or did they have the 5?

As far as I could tell, all or most watches with elevate 4 had the same OHR problems. But there were also problems with the venu 3 and that watch has the 5. So at some point I figured it’s their software.

The Garmin watches were reading the same heart rate during almost the whole duration of hikes and walks, regardless of how fast or slow I was walking. My Apple Watch reads my heart rate lower as I walk slower and higher when I walk faster. So it’s much more accurate (I think/ hope 😄).

They both have the elevate 5 sensor. I’ve had Garmins since 2010 including the forerunner 305, if I remember correctly, and always had problems with them. Great hardware, bad software. They push out model after model BUT are not interested in fixing their software. And yes, Apple’s heart rate is much better and more accurate.

 

[Pixels7]

They both have the elevate 5 sensor. I’ve had Garmins since 2010 including the forerunner 305, if I remember correctly, and always had problems with them. Great hardware, bad software. They push out model after model BUT are not interested in fixing their software. And yes, Apple’s heart rate is much better and more accurate.

Yes that’s my experience too, it’s a shame, because the hardware is indeed great.

They also replaced several watches for me, but it was clear for me it was their software. For example the optical HR sensor worked fine on my vivoactive 5, until there was a software update! Never got fixed after that. I was super nervous about software updates from Garmin, because on my watches they installed automatically. I only could postpone and could not cancel it. And automatic updates was also ‘on’ and it had no ‘off toggle’/ manual option. I was feeling like a beta tester all the time.

I’m very happy with my Apple Watch