Garmin Forerunner 645 Specs (Detailed) – Comparison to FR 630 and FR 235

It’s pretty obvious that the new Forerunner 645 Music has, errr, music. But is there anything else to tickle your running fancy? Let’s do some detailed comparisons and compare to other Forerunners.

I think it’s interesting to compare the ‘proper’ run-focussed Forerunners ie the 235 and 630.

The 735XT and 935 just have all the multisport stuff to get in the way and befuddle our brains. Plus many of you simply won’t swim and run (you strange lot !! 😉 ) Just in case you are interested in the multisport comaprisons check the follwoing link out first…

ESSENTIAL READING: Forerunner 645 vs 935 vs 735XT Comparison & Specs

LIKELY AVAILABILITY: Now

Back to the proper running watches…235 and 630.

The detailed comparison is further below (Source: garmin.com) but here is my takeaway summary and headlines if you are pushed for time.

Opinion

• It looks to have everything a running watch could ever ‘need’.
• Personally I would prefer a sports watch appearance, but Garmin have probably made the right call with this design for the broader target market of runners
• It’s expensive BUT the onboard MUSIC could make this a ‘Kerching moment’ for Garmin’s accountants.
• The Forerunner 645 is clearly different from other Garmins in the Forerunner range.

Summary

The Forerunner 645 has notably more functionality than the 630 and 235 although on pure ‘competitive’ running features the 630 and 645 are similar. You might have to think about justifying your upgrade from your 630 but the upgrade from the 235 is a much easier call with many obvious differences. If you don’t do multisports then there is no real reason to go for the 935/Fenix 5 alternatives (discussed yesterday; link to: the5krunner.com). For customers, the big pull of new stuff in the 645 will come from ONBOARD MUSIC and GARMIN PAY, both will be highly desirable features for MANY casual to serious runners.

• New format compared to style of the Forerunner 630 / 235
• Strong glass yet overall ‘lightweight’ form
• Standard bands
• Improved screen resolution at 240x240px, but this still lacks behind smart watches and most Suunto Spartan models.
• It looks like the touchscreen from the 630 is no more – but that is NOT confirmed.
• Battery life looks low. But without MUSIC playing I *HOPE* it will be well over 10 hours.
• Lots of connectivity – probably every key function
• Music with c800 onboard songs and BLE headphone connectivity
• Garmin Pay (contactless effectively won’t be widely avaialble until 2018)
• It’s a cycling watch BUT it will NOT support your power meter
• It’s a pool swim watch BUT will not cache underwater HR from HRM-TRI. Not really designed for open water use with restricted functionality there.
• It’s not a triathlon watch ie it does not have multi-sport profiles
• It has all the activity tracking functionality.
• Supports both BLE and ANT+ sensors
• Has all the clever Firstbeat physiological functionality
• Will support CIQ 2.4 – so you will get access to any new apps as they are made available
• ‘Obviously’ it will support Garmin’s Running Power

Advice to Garmin Stockists

Go long young padawan

There are LOTS more runners than triathletes. Don’t be too worried about runners’ relative reluctance to spend money on gadgets as the 645 is opening up previously untapped market segments with GARMIN PAY and MUSIC. You won’t be able to get all the stock you want anyway 🙁 And when you can the price undercutting will start, albeit surupticiously at first.

I adapted the table from Garmin.com and have corrected some errors I spotted there, please let me know if there are any more.