Garmin Forerunner 45 vs Garmin Forerunner 45S

What Forerunner 45 does better (0) and where Forerunner 45S wins (0) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2019Forerunner 45

3.5Score

0 advantages≈ $200

3.5Score

0 advantages≈ $200

2.4Display2.4

2.1Battery life2.1

3.9Build & durability3.9

Dimensions

Size comparison

Forerunner 45Forerunner 45S

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

Forerunner 45 has no measurable advantages in this pair.

Forerunner 45S has no measurable advantages in this pair.

Specifications

Only differences	Garmin Forerunner 45≈ $2003.5	Garmin Forerunner 45S≈ $2003.5
Design & durability
Case size	42 mm	40 mm
Weight	32 g	32 g
Thickness	11.4 mm	11.4 mm
Height	42 mm	39.5 mm
Width	42 mm	39.5 mm
Sapphire crystal	No	No
Lens / cover glass	chemically strengthened glass	chemically strengthened glass
Strap material	silicone	silicone
Water resistance	5 ATM	5 ATM
Water rating (maker)	5 ATM	5 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.04″	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)	208 px	208 px
Resolution (height)	208 px	208 px
Pixel density	200 ppi	200 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	7 days	7 days
GPS battery life	13 h	13 h
Wireless charging	No	No
Charging	Garmin proprietary plug charger	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Accelerometer	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Accelerometer
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO	GLONASS, GALILEO
Sport profiles	9	9
Smart features
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android