Form’s Smart Swim 2 goggles add heart rate tracking

Nearly six years after introducing its original smart swim googles, Form has announced an upgraded version called the Smart Swim 2. The goggles carry forward the same features as the original, including a built-in 72 x 40-pixel display showing a swimmer’s various performance metrics. However, they’re now smaller and lighter, and while battery life is a little shorter, it’s because of new features like a digital compass and heart rate tracking.

The Smart Swim 2 goggles are available starting today through Form’s online store for $279. The company also offers a Pro version for $329 with upgraded lenses made from Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 that are more scratch resistant.

The display and small pod that hang off the side of the googles containing the rechargeable battery, optical heart rate sensor, and other electronics are now 15 percent smaller, according to Engadget, and can be worn on either side. Being able to see your heart rate in real time during a swim (in addition to metrics like distance, stroke count, and calories burned) is another new feature that will appeal to athletes and competitive swimmers. 

For those who prefer swimming in open bodies of water, the Smart Swim 2’s digital compass, which shows your current bearing on the goggle’s display, can help keep you swimming in a straight line or towards a specific destination without constantly having to break your stroke to check your progress. However, that SwimStraight feature is locked behind Form’s optional $9.99 per month Premium subscription, which also unlocks additional features that will appeal to athletes, such as guided workouts and training plans.

As a result of the new features, battery life maxes out at up to 14 hours for the Smart Swim 2, while the original version offered up to 16 hours. But given the smaller design, which potentially makes the new version more comfortable to wear, that feels like a minor trade-off.