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Forerunner 245 Music vs Forerunner 255

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music vs Garmin Forerunner 255

What Forerunner 245 Music does better (2) and where Forerunner 255 wins (5) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2019Forerunner 245 Music

3.8Score

2 advantages≈ $350

Garmin · 2022Forerunner 255

4.2Score

5 advantages≈ $350

Higher score

2.9Display3.5

2.4Battery life4.8

4.9Health tracking4.9

2.6Sports & outdoor5.0

3.6Build & durability2.7

Dimensions

Size comparison

Forerunner 245 MusicForerunner 255

	Forerunner 245 Music	Forerunner 255	Difference
Height	42.3 mm	45.6 mm	−3.3 mm
Width	42.3 mm	45.6 mm	−3.3 mm
Thickness	12.2 mm	12.9 mm	−0.7 mm
Weight	38 g	49 g	−10 g

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

Why is Forerunner 245 Music better than Forerunner 255?

Weight38.5 g vs 49 g+27%
Thickness12.2 mm vs 12.9 mm+6%

Why is Forerunner 255 better than Forerunner 245 Music?

Battery life (smartwatch mode)7 days vs 14 days2×
GPS battery life24 h vs 30 h+25%
Sport profiles16 vs 583.6×
Screen size1.2″ vs 1.3″+8%
Resolution (width)240 px vs 260 px+8%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Forerunner 245 Music≈ $3503.8	Garmin Forerunner 255≈ $3504.2
Design & durability
Case size	42 mm	46 mm
Weight	38.5 g	49 g
Thickness	12.2 mm	12.9 mm
Height	42.3 mm	45.6 mm
Width	42.3 mm	45.6 mm
Case material	Plastic / polymer	Plastic / polymer
Sapphire crystal	No	No
Lens / cover glass	Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3	Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3
Strap material	silicone	silicone
Water resistance	5 ATM	5 ATM
Water rating (maker)	5 ATM	5 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.2″	1.3″
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	260 px
Resolution (height)	240 px	260 px
Pixel density	200 ppi	200 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	7 days	14 days
GPS battery life	24 h	30 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	—	16 h
Battery type	—	Lithium ion
Wireless charging	No	No
Charging	Garmin proprietary plug charger	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
Temperature sensor	Yes	Yes
HRV tracking	—	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Compass, Accelerometer, Thermometer	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, SatIQ technology, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Dual-band GPS	—	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Barometric altimeter	—	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	—	Yes
Sport profiles	16	58
Connectivity
NFC payments	—	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 4	—
ANT+ sensors	Yes	Yes
Smart features
Music on the watch	Yes	—
Storage	4 GB	4 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android