Despite being $100 cheaper than the Forerunner 945, the Forerunner 745 packs almost all of the same technology and features as the FR945.
For this reason, you can think of the Forerunner 745 as a Forerunner 945 Lite. There are a few important differences, but the simple truth is that these watches are extremely similar. To classify each watch in one sentence.
Forerunner 745 – Premium GPS Triathlon watch with music storage.
Forerunner 945 – Premium GPS Triathlon watch with music storage, topographical maps, golf tracking and a much better battery life.
Now let’s dive into the nitty gritty.
Table of Contents
Key Similarities - Forerunner 745 vs Forerunner 945
Forerunner 745
Forerunner 945
GPS, GLONASS & GALILEO
Wrist-based HRM
Optical HRM Under Water
Triathlon Mode
Indoor + Outdoor Running
Indoor + Outdoor Cycling
Indoor + Outdoor Swimming
Indoor + Outdoor Rowing
Music Storage
Payments from Watch
Garmin Running Power
3rd Party Running Power
Advanced Running Metrics
Garmin Running Coach
Garmin PacePro
Body Battery Score
Barometric Altimeter
Gyroscope + Accelerometer + Compass
Pulse Oximeter
Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi
Garmin Connect IQ
Garmin ClimbPro
Temperature + Altitude Acclimation
Training Load + Training Focus Metrics
Respiration Rate
Safety/Incident Detection
Point-to-Point Navigation
Screen Resolution
Lens Material
Display Size
Waterproof Rating
Key Differences - FR745 vs FR945
FR745
FR945
Dimensions
Weight
Smartwatch Battery
GPS Battery
UltraTrac GPS Battery
Music Storage Capacity
Daily Workout Suggestions
Golf Mode
40,000+ Pre-loaded Golf Maps
Topographical Maps
Sports Modes Comparison
- Strength
- Cardio Training
- Elliptical Training
- Stair Stepping
- Floor Climbing
- Indoor Rowing
- Pilates
- Yoga
- Running
- Treadmill Running
- Indoor
- Outdoor Track Running
- Virtual Running
- Trail Running
- Hiking
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Backcountry Skiing
- XC Classic
- Skate Skiing
- Stand up Paddleboarding
- Kayaking
- Rowing
- Cycling
- Indoor Cycling
- Mountain Trail Biking
- Pool Swimming
- Open Water Swimming
- Swimrun
- Triathlon
- Strength
- Cardio Training
- Elliptical Training
- Stair Stepping
- Floor Climbing
- Indoor Rowing
- Pilates
- Yoga
- Running
- Treadmill Running
- Indoor
- Outdoor Track Running
- Virtual Running
- Trail Running
- Hiking
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Backcountry Skiing
- XC Classic
- Skate Skiing
- Stand up Paddleboarding
- Kayaking
- Rowing
- Cycling
- Indoor Cycling
- Mountain Trail Biking
- Pool Swimming
- Open Water Swimming
- Swimrun
- Triathlon
- Golf Tracking
Summary of Differences
- Topographical Maps – The Forerunner 945 includes full-color onboard maps to guide you on your run, hike or mountain biking session. This tech is usually reserved for the Fenix and Marq range, but it sits very well in the FR945. It is particularly valuable for trail runners, but it’s also great for city running.
- Golf Mode – The Forerunner 945 is basically a triathlon watch that doubles as a dedicated golf watch. You get almost all the golf features that you can access in the Garmin Approach S60 (premium Garmin golf watch).
- Additional Music Storage – The Forerunner 745 can store up to 500 songs. The Forerunner 945 can store up to 1000 songs. The extra space should come in handy if you’re passionate about training with music.
- Better Battery Life: The battery life of the FR945 is twice as long as the battery life of the FR745. This applies to smartwatch mode, standard GPS battery life and GPS + music mode.
- Daily Workout Suggestions: Only the FR745 gives you daily workout suggestions (at this point in time). These are run and ride recommendations based on your current training load and training status
- Price – The recommended selling price of the FR745 is $100 cheaper than the RSP of the FR945. If you don’t play golf and you’re not into trail running, it should be pretty safe to just opt for the cheaper unit (FR745).
Final Thoughts
In the end, this product battle boils down to a few key points. These final buying tips may help you make a decision if you’re still on the fence.
Go for the Forerunner 745 if:
- You want a budget friendly Forerunner 945
- You don’t play golf
- You don’t mind the shorter battery life
- You are unlikely to use the full color TOPO maps
Go for the Forerunner 945 if:
- You want a Garmin Fenix 6 packaged into a Forerunner 945 frame
- You play golf regularly
- You are likely to use the full color TOPO maps reasonably often
- You want a much bigger battery life
- You training with music often and want additional storage space