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The Garmin Forerunner 945 is a top-notch multisport GPS watch. It’s perfect for athletes and outdoor lovers. This review will show you why it’s more than a fitness watch.
It has cool tech like LTE without needing a carrier. It gives detailed data for training, health, and finding your way.
It’s great for long-distance runners. The battery lasts up to ten hours with GPS and music. It also lasts 36 hours with just GPS.
It can go up to two weeks in smartwatch mode. This lets you track your heart rate every second. You can also use the Garmin Connect app for feedback.
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is easy to use and customize. It has over 30 sports activities, like running and swimming. It even has contactless payments with Garmin Pay.
Want to know more about its design and display? Keep reading to learn what makes it special in the wearables market.
Key Takeaways
- The Garmin Forerunner 945 features extensive battery life suitable for long-distance athletes.
- It offers over 30 preset indoor and outdoor sports activities.
- Garmin Pay enables contactless transactions directly via the watch.
- Real-time analysis and feedback are available through the Garmin Connect app.
- Customization options are available through Garmin Connect and the ConnectIQ Store.
- Designed to provide accurate health and fitness tracking with comprehensive metrics.
- The retail price is $599.99, but it is available for $289.99 to $299.99 on various platforms.
Overview of the Garmin Forerunner 945
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is a top-notch GPS watch for athletes. It was released in April 2019. It has advanced health features, training tools, and great navigation. It’s now priced at $399.99, making it a great deal for athletes and outdoor lovers.
Key Features at a Glance
The Garmin Forerunner 945 has LTE connectivity. It has many cool features:
- 1.2-inch full-color display
- Health metrics: respiration rate, Pulse Ox, heart rate monitor
- Activity tracking for over 30 different sports
- Music storage for up to 1000 songs and integration with Spotify and Deezer
- Battery life: up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode, 36 hours with GPS, 10 hours with GPS and music
- Garmin Pay for contactless payments
- Navigation and mapping features, including turn-by-turn directions
Target Audience
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is perfect for:
- Multisport athletes looking for a comprehensive training tool
- Outdoor enthusiasts who require reliable navigation and safety features
- Fitness enthusiasts seeking advanced health and activity metrics
It’s great for runners, triathletes, and anyone who loves sports. It tracks and analyzes your performance to help you get better.
Available Colors and Styles
The Garmin Forerunner 945 comes in:
- Black with a black strap
- Black with a blue strap
Both styles are tough for outdoor adventures and stylish for daily wear.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | Up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode, 36 hours with GPS, 10 hours with GPS and music |
| Display | 1.2-inch full-color screen |
| Weight | 50 grams |
| Dimensions | 47 x 47 x 13.7mm |
| Music Storage | Up to 1000 songs |
| Health Metrics | Respiration rate, Pulse Ox, heart rate monitor |
| Activity Tracking | Over 30 sports including running, cycling, swimming, and more |
| Navigation | Turn-by-turn directions, detailed maps, ‘Round-Trip Courses’ |
| Smart Features | Garmin Pay, smartphone notifications |
Design and Build Quality
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is known for its design and build quality. It’s both strong and light. The watch has a fiber-reinforced polymer case. This makes it tough but only weighs 50g.
Materials Used
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is made with top-notch materials. Its case is fiber-reinforced polymer, which is very durable. The lens is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass DX for clear reading in any light.
This mix of materials makes the watch strong and boosts its performance.
Dimensions and Weight
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is easy to wear. It’s 47 x 47 x 13.7 mm and weighs 50g. This makes it light and comfortable, even for long times.
It’s not too big or heavy, like some sports watches. This makes it great for athletes and fitness fans.
Comfort during Use
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is very comfortable. It has a silicon strap that stays comfy during long workouts. Its design is made for long wear, perfect for athletes.
It also has accurate GPS and heart rate monitoring. This is key for those who need precise data.
This watch has an ergonomic silicon strap, providing consistent comfort during extended use. It balances durability and usability, facilitating an excellent overall experience.
| Feature | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin 235 | Fenix 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 50g | 42g | 85g |
| Material | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Plastic | Stainless steel |
| Lens | Corning Gorilla Glass DX | Mineral glass | Sapphire glass |
| Strap | Silicon | Silicon | Silicon or Leather |
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is a top pick for fitness lovers. It’s durable and comfy. It meets the high standards of its users, whether it’s GPS accuracy or comfort.
Display and Interface
The Garmin Forerunner 945 has a 1.2-inch display that’s always on. It’s perfect for seeing your stats, even in bright light. This is great for daily life or intense workouts.
Screen Quality
The screen quality is top-notch on the Garmin Forerunner 945. It’s easy to see lots of data at once. You can see pace, heart rate, and GPS data clearly.
Customization Options
Customizing the Garmin Forerunner 945 is easy. You can change watch faces and data metrics from the Connect IQ store. This lets athletes make the watch fit their needs.
User Interface Experience
The Garmin Forerunner 945 uses classic buttons. This is good for keeping the screen clean during workouts. It also has a design that’s easy to use.
| Feature | Apple Watch Series 4 | Garmin Forerunner 945 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | 18 hours | 2 weeks (smartwatch mode), 36 hours (GPS mode) |
| Display | 1.78-inch OLED | 1.2-inch always-on |
| Navigation | Touchscreen | Five side buttons |
| Waterproof | 50 meters | 50 meters |
Fitness and Health Tracking Features
The Garmin Forerunner 945 has lots of features for fitness and health. It’s great for people who care about their health and athletes. It gives detailed insights and accurate health metrics.
Activity Tracking Precision
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is known for its activity tracking precision. It tracks many sports like running, swimming, and cycling. It shows distance, pace, elevation, and heart rate.
This accuracy is key for those who want to analyze their performance. It gives insights into running, like cadence and stride length. These details help improve training.
Advanced Health Metrics
The Forerunner 945 has many health metrics. It monitors heart rate, sleep, and stress all day. It also checks blood oxygen with a Pulse Oximeter.
It looks at exercise history and gives feedback. It tracks menstrual cycles and pregnancy too. This makes it useful for many health needs.
Compatibility with Other Devices
The Forerunner 945 works well with other devices. It connects with power meters and fitness gear. This makes it easy to track training data.
Its battery lasts a long time. It goes up to two weeks in smartwatch mode. It lasts 36 hours in GPS mode and 10 hours with music.
This long battery life is perfect for long activities. It’s great for anyone serious about fitness and health.
Navigation and GPS Capabilities
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is great for adventurers and athletes. It was released in April 2019. It’s known for being very accurate and reliable.
This device works with many satellite systems. This makes it easy to find your location anywhere.
Satellite System Support
The Garmin Forerunner 945 supports GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO. This means you get a strong signal everywhere. It’s perfect for different places, like cities or forests.
Route Planning and Navigation
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is great for planning routes. You can make and follow detailed paths. It has colored maps and can sync workouts from the Garmin Connect app.
This feature is great for exploring new places or running in the city. It makes the watch even better.
Accuracy in Various Environments
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is accurate in all places. It works well in forests or cities. It connects to GPS in under 30 seconds.
It also gets better over time. It offers daily training tips and recovery time. It was first priced at $599.99 but now costs $399.99.
Battery Life and Performance
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is great for long activities. It has a battery life of up to 14 days in smartwatch mode. This means you can keep using it without needing to charge it often.
Typical Usage Scenarios
This watch is perfect for long runs or training. It tracks for up to 36 hours in GPS mode. But, if you listen to music, it lasts about 10 hours.
This is a big improvement over the old model. It shows the watch is better at saving battery for long activities.
Charging Time
The Garmin Forerunner 945 charges fast. This is important because time is precious. You can get back to using it quickly, so you don’t lose any time.
Power-Saving Features
The watch has special features to save battery. You can make the screen dimmer or use GPS less. These help the watch last longer, which is great for long trips or adventures.
The watch is priced at $600. This is a good deal for its many features. It’s a top choice for those who want a high-performance smartwatch.
Smart Features and Connectivity
The Garmin Forerunner 945 has cool smart features. It works well with phones, sends important messages, and lets you stream music. This makes it great for staying connected and enjoying music.
Smartphone Integration
The Garmin Forerunner 945 works great with phones. It’s good with both iOS and Android. You can connect it easily.
It also uses Wi-Fi and ANT+ for better connection. This makes it good for fitness fans and casual users.
Notifications and Alerts
The Garmin Forerunner 945 sends messages right to your watch. You get calls, texts, social media, and calendar updates. This keeps you updated without needing your phone.
This makes working out and daily life easier. You stay connected and focused.
Music and Streaming Options
The Garmin Forerunner 945 lets you stream music from Spotify. You can listen with Bluetooth headphones. This means you don’t need your phone during workouts.
It adds fun and motivation to your workouts. You can enjoy your favorite tunes while exercising.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Smartphone Integration | Compatible with iOS and Android, supports Wi-Fi and ANT+ |
| Notifications | SMS, calls, social media, calendar alerts |
| Streaming Services | Supports Spotify, direct music streaming |
| Battery Life | 14 days in smartwatch mode, 36 hours with GPS, 7 hours with GPS and music |
| Charge Time | 2 hours |
| Weight | 50 grams |
| Price | $300 |
These features make the Garmin Forerunner 945 a top choice. It’s smart, connected, and fun.
Customization and Apps
The Garmin Forerunner 945 lets you make it your own. It supports many apps through Connect IQ. This makes your watch fit your style perfectly.
Personalization Options
Customizing your Forerunner 945 is easy. You can change watch faces and data fields. It’s like making your own unique device.
Download widgets and data screens from the Connect IQ store. This way, your Forerunner 945 shows what you like. It tracks workouts and has cool watch faces.
Available Third-Party Applications
The Forerunner 945 works with lots of apps. The Connect IQ store has apps for fitness, navigation, music, and more. You can get Strava, Spotify, and Garmin Coach.
These apps make your watch better. They help you manage your fitness and life.
Syncing with Other Platforms
Syncing with other platforms is easy. It works with MyFitnessPal, Apple Health, and Google Fit. This keeps all your health data in one place.
This makes your Forerunner 945 more than a fitness tracker. It’s a tool for your health and lifestyle.
Comparisons with Other Garmin Models
When we look at the Garmin Forerunner 945, we see it’s a top pick. It’s compared to other Garmin models. This helps us see why it’s a great choice for those who love sports.
Forerunner 245 vs. Forerunner 945
The Forerunner 945 has more features than the Forerunner 245. The 245 is good for basic tracking. But the 945 has advanced health tracking and smart features.
The 945 also has LTE connectivity. This means you can get updates and stay safe in real-time. Plus, it has better navigation, like topographic maps and directions. This makes it perfect for outdoor activities.
How It Stacks Up Against Forerunner 745
The Forerunner 945 has upgrades that make it worth more. It lasts longer, up to 36 hours in GPS mode. The 745 lasts 16 hours.
The 945 also has more music storage and supports streaming services. It has Pulse OX sensors, which the 745 doesn’t. These sensors track your health.
Unique Selling Points of the Forerunner 945
The Forerunner 945 has special features. It can store music, so you can listen without your phone. It also has safety features like incident detection.
It has better navigation tools, like topographic maps and ClimbPro. These are great for athletes who do many sports. It tracks everything well.
| Feature | Forerunner 945 | Forerunner 245 | Forerunner 745 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Life (GPS Mode) | 36 hours | N/A | 16 hours |
| Music Storage | Yes | No | Yes |
| LTE Connectivity | Optional | No | No |
| Pulse OX Sensors | Yes | No | Yes |
| Navigation Aids | Advanced | Basic | Intermediate |
| Incident Detection | Yes | No | Yes |
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is a top choice. It has advanced tracking, safety, and connectivity. It’s the best in the Garmin lineup.
Pricing and Value for Money
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is a top choice for serious athletes. It costs about $600. But it’s worth it for its many features like music storage and GPS.
It also has a long battery life. This is thanks to the Sony GPS chipset. It lasts up to 36 hours in GPS mode and 60 hours in UltraTrac mode.
Market Positioning
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is a standout in the fitness tracker market. It has features like optical heart rate sensors and music storage. These make it a top pick for athletes, even though it’s more expensive than some other models.
Best Places to Buy
You can find the Garmin Forerunner 945 online and in stores. Places like Amazon, Best Buy, and Garmin’s website often have good deals. If you want to try it out, REI stores are a good place to visit.
Warranty and Support Options
Garmin offers a one-year warranty with the Forerunner 945. This covers defects and some performance issues. Their customer support is also very helpful.
For extra protection, you can buy an extended warranty. This gives you more peace of mind.
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