When the Garmin Forerunner 935 was first released, it was one arguably the most popular GPS triathlon watch at the time. It has almost all the same features as the Garmin Fenix 5, with the exception of topographical maps.
The Garmin Forerunner 745 is technically the upgrade to the Forerunner 735XT, but it would be better to think of it as a Garmin Forerunner 945 Lite. It’s a massive upgrade on the FR735XT and the FR935.
Now let’s dive into the details of this particular product comparison.
Key Similarities - Forerunner 745 vs Forerunner 935
Forerunner 745
Forerunner 935
Key Differences - Forerunner 745 vs Forerunner 935
FR745
FR935
Sports Modes Comparison
Garmin Forerunner 745 Sports Modes
- Strength Training
- Cardio Training
- Elliptical Training
- Stair Stepping
- Floor Climbing
- Indoor Rowing
- Yoga
- Running
- Treadmill Running
- Indoor Track Running
- Trail Running
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- XC Skiing
- Stand Up Paddleboarding
- Rowing
- Cycling
- Indoor Cycling
- Pool Swimming
- Walking
- Pilates
- Outdoor Track Running
- Virtual Running
- Kayaking
- Mountain Biking
- Open Water Swimming
- Swimrun
- Triathlon Tracking
Garmin Forerunner 935 Sports Modes
- Strength Training
- Cardio Training
- Indoor Rowing
- Running
- Indoor Running
- Trail Running
- Hiking
- Climbing
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- XC Skiing
- Stand Up Paddleboarding
- Outdoor Rowing
- Jumpmaster
- Tactical
- Cycling
- Indoor Cycling
- Mountain Biking
- Pool Swimming
- Open Water Swimming
- Triathlon Tracking
- Golf Mode
Reasons To Choose The Forerunner 935
There are only 3 reasons to consider the Forerunner 935 over the Forerunner 745.
1. Longer GPS Battery Life
The differences in battery life are considerable. This is somewhat surprising, given that the FR745 is built with the Sony GPS chip that has allowed Garmin to massively improve GPS battery life specifically in most of their watches released from 2018 and onwards.
More importantly, the battery life differences are highlighted below.
Forerunner 935 Battery Life
- Smartwatch battery: Up to 14 days
- GPS battery: Up to 24 hours
- Ultratrac GPS: Up to 60 hours
Forerunner 745 Battery Life
- Smartwatch battery: Up to 7 days
- GPS battery: Up to 16 hours
- Ultratrac GPS: Up to 21
2. Golf Mode
From a functionality perspective, this is by far the biggest advantage that the FR935 has over the FR745. If you elect the Forerunner 935, you basically unlock all the features of a dedicated GPS golf watch, including:
- Yardage to the front, middle, and back of green
- Yardage to layups and doglegs
- Measures shot distances automatically
- Digital scorecard
- Stat Tracking
- Garmin AutoShot
- Green view with manual pin position
- Hazards and course targets
- TruSwing compatibility
- Round Timer (odometer)
3. It's more likely to be discounted
While these watches share the same recommended selling price (around $499), the simple truth is that the Forerunner 935 is far more likely to be discounted.
This is not to say that it will always be on special. However, if you’re a deal hunter, you’re far more likely to actually find a deal on the FR935.
Reasons To Choose The Forerunner 745
1. Music Storage & Apps
The Forerunner 745 supports 3.5GG onboard music storage, which works out to about 500 songs. The FR745 also supports popular apps like Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio.
2. Pulse Oximeter (Blood Oxygen Measurements)
This wrist-based heart rate monitor in the FR745 measures blood oxygen saturation levels to provide a clearer picture of how you’re sleeping and how you’re adjusting to altitude.
3. Under Water Heart Rate Monitor
The FR745 is built with Garmin’s V3 Elevate heart rate monitor. This is good news because it means you can use the optical HRM when swimming, without the need for a chest strap.
4. Payments From Watch
Like most of Garmin’s new activity trackers, the Forerunner 745 includes contactless payment technology. This is pretty convenient, especially when you want to get a drink or a coffee after a run, without taking your wallet along for the ride.
5. Daily Workout Recommendations
For training guidance that takes you and your fitness level into account, get daily run and ride recommendations based on your current training load and training status.
6. Body Battery Score
With Body Battery Score, the Forerunner 745 basically combines your heart rate data, training data, and sleep data into one overarching metric called body battery. It’s a nice way to keep tabs on your energy levels.
Final Thoughts
At this point it should be crystal clear that the Forerunner 745 is a better watch than the Forerunner 935. With that being said, if you’re still undecided, these final tips may help:
Go for the Forerunner 935 if:
- You play golf regularly
- You need a longer GPS battery life
- You can find the FR935 on special
Go for the Forerunner 745 if:
- You like listening to music while you train
- You want all the latest fitness technology that Garmin has to offer
- You want the better sports watch overall