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Descent Mk2S vs Forerunner 945 LTE

Garmin Descent Mk2S vs Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE

What Descent Mk2S does better (3) and where Forerunner 945 LTE wins (4) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2021Descent Mk2S

4.5Score

3 advantages≈ $1,000

Higher score

Garmin · 2021Forerunner 945 LTE

4.4Score

4 advantages≈ $600

2.9Display2.9

2.2Battery life5.2

4.9Health tracking4.9

4.8Sports & outdoor5.2

6.5Smart features9.8

9.6Build & durability2.7

Dimensions

Size comparison

Descent Mk2SForerunner 945 LTE

	Descent Mk2S	Forerunner 945 LTE	Difference
Height	43 mm	44.4 mm	−1.4 mm
Width	43 mm	44.4 mm	−1.4 mm
Thickness	14.2 mm	13.9 mm	+0.2 mm
Weight	60 g	49 g	+11 g

Drawn to the same scale from the official dimensions (front and side).

Why is Descent Mk2S better than Forerunner 945 LTE?

Water resistance10 ATM vs 5 ATM2×
Sapphire crystalYes · Forerunner 945 LTE: No
Storage32 GB vs 16 GB2×

Why is Forerunner 945 LTE better than Descent Mk2S?

Battery life (smartwatch mode)7 days vs 14 days2×
GPS battery life18 h vs 35 h+94%
Weight60 g vs 49 g+22%
Sport profiles44 vs 60+36%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Descent Mk2S≈ $1,0004.5	Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE≈ $6004.4
Design & durability
Case size	43 mm	44 mm
Weight	60 g	49 g
Thickness	14.2 mm	13.9 mm
Height	43 mm	44.4 mm
Width	43 mm	44.4 mm
Case material	Stainless steel	Plastic / polymer
Sapphire crystal	Yes	No
Lens / cover glass	sapphire crystal	Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 DX
Strap material	silicone	silicone
Water resistance	10 ATM	5 ATM
Water rating (maker)	Dive (100 meters)	5 ATM
Rated dive depth	100 m	—
Display
Screen size	1.2″	1.2″
Display technology	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)
Panel	Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel	Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel
AMOLED / OLED display	No	No
Always-on display	Yes	Yes
Resolution (width)	240 px	240 px
Resolution (height)	240 px	240 px
Pixel density	200 ppi	200 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	7 days	14 days
Battery saver mode	21 days	—
GPS battery life	18 h	35 h
Wireless charging	No	No
Charging	Garmin proprietary clip charger	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
Temperature sensor	Yes	Yes
HRV tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer, Depth sensor	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO	GLONASS, GALILEO
Offline maps	Yes	Yes
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	Yes	Yes
Sport profiles	44	60
Dive mode	Yes	—
Connectivity
NFC payments	Yes	Yes
LTE (cellular)	—	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 4	Wi-Fi 4
ANT+ sensors	Yes	Yes
Smart features
Music on the watch	Yes	Yes
Storage	32 GB	16 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android