Smartwatches can log a pool workout, but very few wearables are built specifically for swimmers. Speedo wants to change that with a new addition to its lineup: a removable smart module for Vanquisher goggles called Speedo iQ. The device tracks all four competitive strokes—freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, and breaststroke—and gives swimmers feedback on form, turns, and breathing.
How Speedo iQ Works
The module is small and triangular, fitting neatly into the corner of a pair of Vanquisher goggles. Swimmers can pop it out and transfer it to a new pair once their current goggles wear down. Built-in sensors track head movement, pace, distance, stroke type, breathing, and turns, then sync that data to a companion smartphone app. According to Speedo, the app lets swimmers review sessions, track training patterns over time, and receive technique tips designed to help them swim more efficiently. That depth of detail may matter more to competitive athletes than to casual swimmers doing laps for exercise.
How It Compares to Other Swim Wearables
Speedo iQ takes a simpler approach than rivals like Form, which builds a heads-up display directly into its goggles. Form’s lineup ranges from $149 to $259, while Speedo iQ starts at $189, a price that includes the goggles themselves. Speedo iQ doesn’t require a subscription, and it’s officially approved for World Aquatics competition use. Since the module can move to future goggles, it could also prove more cost-effective over time.
Is Speedo iQ Worth It?
Whether Speedo iQ makes sense really comes down to how seriously someone trains. Devices as common as the Apple Watch already track swimming pace, distance, and stroke count. Speedo iQ’s advantage is bundling those same features—plus extra technique feedback—into goggles swimmers already need to wear.
