The open-water navigation feature, previously locked behind a subscription, is now standard on all goggles
Form has announced a major update for its Smart Swim goggles, moving its SwimStraight feature from the premium subscription tier to the core, free experience.
Effective immediately, all users of the OG goggles, Smart Swim 2, and 2 Pro goggles can access the in-goggle digital compass without paying a monthly fee.
SwimStraight uses the goggles’ built-in sensors to display a live compass heading in the augmented reality display, allowing open-water swimmers to maintain a straight line without constantly lifting their heads to sight landmarks.
In a letter to users, CEO Dan Eisenhardt stated that customer feedback made it clear the feature “should be a standard feature,” calling the shift essential and overdue.
It also arrives after a relatively substantial software update in November, with the brand rolling out an improved version of its other flagship feature, HeadCoach.
Launched alongside the second-gen glasses a couple of years ago (with SwimStraight), the original coaching system focused on displaying real-time metrics and tracking skills. With the 2.0 upgrade (shown above), the coaching loop is more complete, providing tailored feedback in the app after sessions aligned with stated goals.
This also translates into the AR display during swims, enabling users to make real-time adjustments to their technique.
The Wareable take
This is a huge win for triathletes and open-water swimmers. In our original Smart Swim 2 review, we praised SwimStraight as a game-changing feature that solves one of the biggest challenges of open-water swimming: staying in a straight line.
By making it free for all, Form significantly raises the floor of its hardware. It removes the feeling that you’re simply renting the functionality of the device you just bought—a complaint that’s becoming increasingly common in the subscription-heavy wearables market.
And though it’s almost certainly a strategic move to get more users in on the ground floor with its hardware, it’s still refreshing to see a brand with essentially no competition opening up its platform for more people.
