We’ve created this Garmin comparison so you can find out which of these high-quality Forerunner GPS watches is best for you or whether you should purchase the previous range while it’s still on sale.
You likely know about Garmin and their GPS running watches if you’re a runner. They produce the finest GPS running watches on the market and provide a broad range of running wearables to suit every category of runner and price range.
The Garmin Forerunner 55 and 945 are the latest additions to the Forerunner range, one of the most acclaimed and dependable brands.
If you don’t require the latest and best, you may want to pick one of the Forerunner 45 watches before they are sold out indefinitely.
Integrated music, full-color onboard maps (for the 945), enhanced training, and emergency contacts are just a few of the new features in the revised Forerunner range. Garmin took what made the Forerunner range so popular and added even more functionality.
This may make deciding which is best for you and your bank balance, as well as improving your fitness, difficult. So, let’s see whether all of these new developments are the best!
The Newest from Garmin
All the newer timepieces feature a 5 physical button build that makes them simple to use in any weather. They all have an always-on color display that can be seen in direct sunlight, smartphone notification support (both Android and iPhone), and a wrist-based heart rate sensor.
Garmin has included a useful safety function that identifies problems throughout your activities and transmits your position to up to 3 emergency contacts. Meaning, if you got into a car accident that knocked you out, the watch will automatically notify someone. All you need is a phone with a data connection to pair it via Bluetooth. This is critical for anybody who, for example, loves to be deep in the woods. Assistance, LiveTrack, and Live Event Sharing are examples of additional safety precautions (so your pals can follow along).
They’ve also added multi-satellite network capabilities to their navigation system, which now supports GLONASS and Galileo in addition to GPS.
If you want to receive free training programs and guidance from Garmin’s professional coaches, they’re all compatible with Garmin Coach. The GPS trackers all come with around 12 profiles for various activities, so it’s not only for monitoring jogging.
All of the new devices are water-resistant, which is a great benefit (5ATM).
So, apart from pricing, what distinguishes them? Let’s look at a detailed Garmin comparison for their running smartwatches, the Forerunner series.
Garmin Forerunner 55
As the newer model of Garmin’s 45, the Forerunner 55 is a great choice for a reliable and durable running watch that a) won’t break your budget, and b) has all the features you need in a smartwatch to get in a successful workout.
It will run you about $100 more than the Forerunner 45, but is still significantly cheaper than their 945 and 245 smartwatches. Since the 45, Garmin upgraded the advanced features for runners and joggers, added a women’s health tracking feature, and added an altimeter- all for the Forerunner 55!
You won’t find high-level connectivity in a Forerunner 55 like you would the Forerunner 945, but with its Bluetooth abilities and smart notifications, you can still stay connected in case of emergencies with a 55.
The 45 and 55 alike are simple choices from a watch brand who can make some rather expensive watches and smartwatches. Just keep in mind that with the 55’s upgrades and added features comes a shorter battery life than its predecessor.
Advantages
- Accurate GPS tracking
- Advanced features compared to a simple fitness tracker
- Fair price
- Durable
Disadvantages
- simple features compared to other smartwatches on the market
- battery runs out quickly when GPS is in use
Garmin Forerunner 45 and Forerunner 45S
The 45s is just a more compact version of the standard 45, which is far from big. The 45s have a case size of 39mm, while the 45 has a case size of 42mm.
The watch has a battery life of up to a week in smartwatch mode. Though in GPS mode, it’s 13 hours. And that’s for both sizes. That’s the same battery capacity as its predecessor, the Forerunner 35, but with a full-color display.
The bands come in four different colors, and the watch faces may be changed.
These gadgets are accessible to everyone. It’s a small and inexpensive entry-level GPS watch with all the essential functions and more. This watch offers all you need if you’re satisfied with daily wellness/heart-rate/stress monitoring and basic training statistics. Although it doesn’t have internal storage for music, you may still control music by pairing it with your phone. It’s a solid entry-level GPS wristwatch for around $200.
Advantages
- Great value for money
- Lightweight and compact (32g and 36g respectively)
- Colour display
- Handy controls for your music
Disadvantages
- No swim tracking
- No onboard music storage
- Bands are fixed
Garmin Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 245 Music
With a width of 43mm and a weight of 38.5 g, the Forerunner 245 is still very light. It has all of the same features as the Forerunner 45, plus a few more.
The music version, which costs $50 more, can hold up to 500 tracks and syncs with music streaming providers directly (like Spotify). For that reason, it also supports Wi-Fi.
The bands come in five different colors and have Quick Release so that they can be changed quickly.
In Smartwatch Mode, the battery lasts up to 7 days, 24 hours in GPS mode with no music, and 6 hours in GPS mode with music.
No Garmin comparison would be complete without looking at fitness features. This Forerunner 245 includes extra sensors, including a compass and pulse oximeter, to monitor your blood oxygen levels. This enables a far more in-depth study of heart rate. It may, for example, track your VO2 max and adapt your workout appropriately.
The 245 includes a lot more sophisticated training capabilities and running dynamics, so you can get a lot more comprehensive feedback on your runs.
When connected with your phone, the 245 allows you to reply to phone calls using text if you can’t or don’t want to ever disconnect.
In contrast to the Forerunner 45, you may monitor your swimming, but the wrist-based heart rate sensor is not waterproof.
Finally, in comparison to the Forerunner 45, the clock provides dawn and sunset times.
Anyone who wears a GPS watch on a regular basis will benefit from this Garmin. It’s particularly useful for long runs with music and for those who want to keep track of performance and general activity in great detail. This is the watch for serious runners and data junkies.
Advantages
- Lightweight build
- Optional onboard music
- Gorilla Glass 3 screen
- Quick Release Bands
- Swim tracking
Disadvantages
- No maps, barometric altimeter or gyroscope
Garmin Forerunner 945 AND 945 LTE
This top-of-the-line watch, the Forerunner 945, comes with up to 1000 tracks of onboard audio.
It boasts a record-breaking battery life of up to two weeks in Smartwatch Mode, 36 hours in GPS mode with music switched off, and 10 hours in GPS mode with music.
Also, it offers a lot more activity and fitness monitoring options. For example, it can calculate heat and altitude acclimatization. It also includes golf and ski in its list of activities.
One of the best features of this watch is its multisport support: you may switch between sports/activities with a single button push. It is thus excellent for triathletes.
Interestingly, it’s the sole Forerunner watch with color maps already on the watch. Garmin PayTM contactless payments are also available.
There is a bundle option around $750 that includes an additional black band, an HRM-Tri monitor, and an HRM-Swim monitor. The watch band in this instance is blue. Aside from that, it’s all black.
The Forerunner 945 is a real powerhouse targeted for serious runners/athletes who need a lot of data and monitoring on their training, performance, and health. It’s particularly beneficial for individuals who participate in several sports, such as triathletes. It is excellent for endurance athletes and triathletes due to its long battery life.
The 945 LTE is an upgrade over the 945. It includes the newest generation ELEVATE heart rate sensor, as well as all of the necessary technology for cellular connection.
Advantages
- Superior build
- More advanced data than you could ever dream of
Disadvantages
- Expensive for a mid-range tracker
Conclusion
A Garmin comparison shows the Forerunners as GPS watches built to suit every runner’s needs and budget. It’s now up to you to pick what kind of activity you want to undertake and what you want to find. Comparing the Garmin Forerunners and making your decision is all about balance.
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Last Updated on February 3, 2022
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