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Forerunner 245 Music vs Forerunner 45

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music vs Garmin Forerunner 45

What Forerunner 245 Music does better (4) and where Forerunner 45 wins (2) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2019Forerunner 245 Music

3.7Score

4 advantages≈ $350

Higher score

Garmin · 2019Forerunner 45

3.5Score

2 advantages≈ $200

2.9Display2.4

2.4Battery life2.1

3.7Build & durability3.9

Dimensions

Size comparison

Forerunner 245 MusicForerunner 45

	Forerunner 245 Music	Forerunner 45	Difference
Height	42.3 mm	42 mm	+0.3 mm
Width	42.3 mm	42 mm	+0.3 mm
Thickness	12.2 mm	11.4 mm	+0.8 mm
Weight	38 g	32 g	+6 g

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

Why is Forerunner 245 Music better than Forerunner 45?

GPS battery life24 h vs 13 h+85%
Screen size1.2″ vs 1.04″+15%
Sport profiles16 vs 9+78%
Resolution (width)240 px vs 208 px+15%

Why is Forerunner 45 better than Forerunner 245 Music?

Weight38.5 g vs 32 g+20%
Thickness12.2 mm vs 11.4 mm+7%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Forerunner 245 Music≈ $3503.7	Garmin Forerunner 45≈ $2003.5
Design & durability
Case size	42 mm	42 mm
Weight	38.5 g	32 g
Thickness	12.2 mm	11.4 mm
Height	42.3 mm	42 mm
Width	42.3 mm	42 mm
Case material	Plastic / polymer	—
Sapphire crystal	No	No
Lens / cover glass	Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3	chemically strengthened glass
Strap material	silicone	silicone
Water resistance	5 ATM	5 ATM
Water rating (maker)	5 ATM	5 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.2″	1.04″
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	208 px
Resolution (height)	240 px	208 px
Pixel density	200 ppi	200 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	7 days	7 days
GPS battery life	24 h	13 h
Wireless charging	No	No
Charging	Garmin proprietary plug charger	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	—
Temperature sensor	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, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Accelerometer
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO	GLONASS, GALILEO
Compass	Yes	—
Sport profiles	16	9
Connectivity
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 4	—
ANT+ sensors	Yes	—
Smart features
Music on the watch	Yes	—
Storage	4 GB	—
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android