In a world where technology is literally everywhere around us, a smartwatch actually makes sense, But with so many manufacturers and models, choosing a specific one can be super confusing.
The Garmin 245 and 645 are two of the most popular smartwatches released by the American manufacturer. But which of them is worth your hard-earned cash? That’s exactly what we’re going to uncover in this head-to-head comparison, so stick around!
Table of Contents
Garmin 645
PROS
- Has a built-in barometric altimeter
- Can track 18 different sports
- Supports Garmin Pay
CONS
- Battery life in GPS mode could be better
Garmin 245
PROS
- Better battery life in GPS mode
- More affordable
- Has a body meter score
- Has an Oximeter Pulse for oxygen level tracking
CONS
- No altimeter
- Doesn’t support Garmin Pay
Compare Garmin 645 and Garmin 245
Feature | Garmin 645 | Garmin 245 |
Bezel | Stainless | Polymer-reinforced |
Altimeter | Yes | No |
Activity Tracking | 18 sports | 13 sports |
Oximeter Pulse | No | Yes |
Body Meter Score | No | Yes |
Garmin Pay | Yes | No |
Battery Life | 1 week in smartwatch mode, 5 hours in GPS mode | 1 week in smartwatch mode, 6 hours in GPS mode |
Design and Display
At first glance, the Garmin 645 and 245 look quite similar. The only noticeable difference is probably the bezel. The 645 has a stainless steel bezel, while the 245 uses a black polymer-reinforced one.
Other than that, they look and feel the same. The Garmin 645 measures 42.5 x 42.5 x 13.5 mm and weighs 42.2g, while the Garmin 245 measures 42.3 x 42.3 x 12.2 mm and weighs 38.5g.
Both the Garmin 645 and 245 have the exact same 1.2” 240p MIP display that offers excellent sunlight readability.
The bands on both models are of the quick-release type, making it easy for you to switch bands to match your watch with your outfits.
They’re also quite durable and have a nice look and feel. They’re made of silicone, but you can always opt for third-party straps if you prefer a different material like leather or polycarbonate.
The screens on both watches are protected against scratches and dents with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. But neither of them has touch functionality. And while a touchscreen would’ve been nice, many people still prefer buttons. They can be quite handy when your hands are wet or when wearing gloves.
The Garmin 645 and 245 fit nicely on the wrist. Whether yours is small or big, you should have no problem wearing either watch for prolonged periods while doing rigorous activities.
Winner: Tie
Performance
Garmin usually doesn’t specify the type of chipset it uses in their Forerunner smartwatch series, but from day to day use, both the Garmin 645 and 245 perform pretty well. You’ll rarely experience any glitches or lag.
The interface is buttery smooth, and no matter how hard you try to push it, you’ll still get decent performance.
Winner: Tie
Read Reviews
Activity Tracking
The Garmin 245 is capable of tracking and providing metrics for 13 different sports, which include swimming, yoga, cardio, and biking.
On the other hand, the Garmin 645 can track all types of activities that the 245 can track, plus 6 more sports that include skiing, XC skiing, rowing, stand-up paddleboarding, and snowboarding.
The Garmin 645 has a barometric altimeter, which provides you with accurate elevation stats. This makes the 645 a great choice for hikers. Also, if you like to climb stairs or run over hills, this smartwatch will give you correct insights into your performance and progress.
Not to mention, the altimeter is pretty helpful in gathering Running Power Data, which is essential for pro runners.
Winner: Garmin 645
Music
Both of the Garmin 645 and 245 Music editions support music streaming over Spotify and Deezer. You can even save your favorite songs and playlists for offline listening. If you’re a music lover, you can’t go wrong with either of these.
Just make sure that you opt for the Music version because Garmin offers these watches in Regular and Music editions.
Winner: Tie
Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, the Garmin 645 and 245 aren’t that different. Both of them can last you a week in the smartwatch mode. However, the Garmin 245 has a slight edge in GPS mode, lasting up to 6 hours compared to just 5 hours on the Garmin 645.
However, you can get more runtime out of the Garmin 645 by using the Ultratrac Mode, which saves power by updating your location less frequently. This results in less accurate sports tracking, though.
Winner: Garmin 245
Connectivity
Both the Garmin 245 and 645 support GPS, GLONASS, ANT+, Wi-Fi, and GALILEO. They also support Bluetooth, which lets you connect your watch to your smartphone via the Garmin Connect app to get notifications in real-time. The app is available on iOS and Android.
Winner: Tie
Read Reviews
Health Features
The Garmin 245 has an Oximeter Pulse that can measure your blood oxygen saturation level, providing you with more accurate data about your overall health and sleep quality.
What’s more, the Garmin 245 has a Body Battery Score feature that helps you identify how intense your next workout should be by measuring activity, recovery, and stress. For example, if you had a night of poor sleep, drank lots of alcohol, were sick, or ate late, your Body Battery will be low.
Both smartwatches have health tracking features for women. For example, you can track your menstrual cycle and pregnancy, as well as input your symptoms to get insights about your condition. Both watches also suggest nutrition and exercise plans for your health condition.
Additionally, both smartwatches can track your sleep and provide vital information about your sleep patterns and ways to get better quality sleep.
Winner: Garmin 245
Related Article: Garmin Forerunner 235 Review and Guide
Contactless Payment
The Garmin 645 supports Garmin Pay, which basically allows you to make contactless payments in many stores across the country. In other words, you don’t necessarily have to bring your wallet when you’re out for a morning jog or cycling session.
The Garmin 245 doesn’t support this feature, which can be a letdown for people who don’t like relying on taking their credit cards everywhere.
Winner: Garmin 645
Color Options
The Garmin 645 or 245 have many color options, but the dial remains black throughout all the models. The Garmin 645 offers several bezel colors. On the other hand, the Garmin 245 comes in all-black only.
Of course, you can order your Garmin 645 or 245 with a custom band color.
Winner: Garmin 645
Safety
Garmin has taken safety pretty seriously with its 645 and 245 models. If you suspect that you’re in danger, you can send your location to your emergency contacts by pushing the side button. This feature is handy for older people and those who have conditions like diabetes.
Additionally, you can use the LiveTrack feature to share your location with friends and family in real-time.
Winner: Tie
Price
Price-wise, the Garmin 245 is much cheaper than the 645, retailing at around $100 less. This makes the Garmin 245 a more favorable choice for those on a budget. Yes, you’ll miss out on some features, but if you can do without them, the Garmin 245 is a very good deal.
Winner: Garmin 245
Garmin 645 vs. 245: Final Verdict
Choosing between the Garmin 645 and 245 can be quite tricky. Even though the Garmin 245 is the Garmin 645’s predecessor, it actually has some positives that can make it a worthy option for you. Things like Body Battery Score, Oximeter Pulse, and better GPS battery life are all exclusive to the Garmin 245. Not to mention, the price tag is quite attractive.
This doesn’t mean that the Garmin 645 doesn’t bring anything new to the table. It’s still capable of tracking more types of activities, and thanks to the barometric altimeter, you can get more accurate data when climbing stairs or hiking. Garmin Pay support is a big plus too.
So, which one should you get? It’s simple. All you have to do is ask yourself which features would be more useful for you and get the one that offers them. Alternatively, if you’re on a tight budget, the Garmin 245 would be your best bet.
Related Reading: Garmin Descent MK1 Review
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