If you’re trying to decide between the Forerunner 735XT and the Forerunner 935, you’re in the right place.
While they are both excellent multisport GPS watches designed primarily for triathletes, the simple reality is that the Forerunner 935 is the better quality product. It’s the upgraded version of the FR735XT, and Garmin did a particularly good job.
But that doesn’t mean you should discard the possibility of the 735XT. It still gives you almost all of the same core triathlon features, and it’s significantly cheaper than its upgraded counterpart.
Now that the intros have been made, it’s time for this product battle to begin. To get things started, let’s take an in-depth look at some of the key features that can only be found in the Forerunner 935.
Features that are only found in the Forerunner 935
Barometric Altimeter - FR935 Only
Unlike the 735XT, the Forerunner 935 has an altimeter built into the watch. This means that the watch uses changes in atmospheric pressure to calculate vertical movements when you are running, cycling or hiking.
Now, technically the 735XT will also give you incline and decline data during your training runs, using the built-in GPS. But the simple reality is that barometric altimeters outperform GPS when measuring this information.
So, if you want the most accurate incline and decline data, the Forerunner 935 is definitely the better choice. This is particularly relevant for trail runners, mountain bikers and hikers. Most road runners and road cyclists will still be fine with GPS measurements.
Quick Release Mechanism - FR935 Only
This is another feature that is limited to the FR935.
The quick release mechanism allows you to quickly move your watch from your wrist to your bike and back to your wrist, during the cycling leg of your triathlon. Why is this useful?
This is useful, because it means you can easily view all your cycling stats like speed, pace and time, without having to glance at your wrist all the time (not necessarily the safest thing to do when cycling).
Super Long Battery Life - FR935 Only
Super Long Battery Life: For most people, the GPS battery life in the 735XT will be more than adequate. You get:
- Up to 14 Hours in GPS Mode with HRM
- Up to 21 Hours in UltraTrac GPS mode with HRM
- Up to 11 days in smartwatch mode.
However, there’s no question that the Forerunner 935 has the better battery life. You essentially get:
- Up to 24 Hours in GPS Mode with HRM
- Up to 60 Hours in UltraTrac GPS mode with HRM
- Up to 14 days in smartwatch mode
Golf Mode - FR935 Only
Interestingly, the Forerunner 935 is the only watch in the Forerunner series that includes a Golf Mode. Even though this is only relevant for golfers, if you do play 18 holes regularly, the Forerunner 935 is definitely the right choice. It’s basically a triathlon watch and a golf watch, wrapped into the same package.
Side note – The release of the Forerunner 945 means that there are now two Garmin Forerunners that support golf mode.
WiFi Connectivity - FR935 Only
WiFi Connectivity: This feature can only be found in the Forerunner 935. This might not seem like such a big deal, but when you want to sync data seamlessly with your laptop or your phone, it can be super helpful.
Obviously bluetooth is standard in the FR735 and the FR935, but the wireless connection (935 only) makes syncing your workout data a lot faster when you are ready to review your training sessions.
So on the surface, this isn’t a train smash, but over time, the time saving convenience of WiFi adds up.
Key Differences
What advantages does the FR735XT have over the FR935?
Sadly, the 735XT doesn’t have any technical advantages over the 935. The FR935 is literally the upgraded version of the FR735, and Garmin did a sterling job.
The only thing you could say is that the 735XT is a lot cheaper than the 935, and it still gives you almost all of the same triathlon features.
So the biggest advantage for the FR735XT is definitely price.
What advantages does the FR935 have over the 735XT?
We’ve already covered all the main advantages, but just to provide a bullet point summary of the main benefits.
- Better battery
- Better design
- Better screen (sharper and brighter)
- WiFi
- Quick Release Mechanism
- Barometric Altimeter
- Golf Mode
- Garmin Running power
Side note, in order for the Forerunner 935 to measure running power, you need to have one of the following accessories:
Which one would I buy, if I had to choose today?
If I was on a super tight budget and passionate about triathlons, I would opt for the 735XT.
It’s a fully fledged multisport triathlon watch, that gives you almost all of the same core functionality from a triathlon perspective.
But if my budget was a bit broader, I would definitely choose the FR935.
It’s better looking, it has significantly more features, and it destroys the 735 in terms of battery life.
In essence, the Forerunner 935 is what the 735 wishes it could be. It’s as simple as that.