Both Apple watch and The Garmin Forerunner 245 are brilliant smartwatches. Both of them are packed with some great features that makes them best smartwatches for runners, athletes and fitness freaks. But which one is best out of these two. Read on as we compare and take on Apple watch vs Garmin Forerunner head to head.
You can run without a watch, or simply with your smartphone when you are just starting out as a beginner.
But if you don’t want to “just run” but want to train effectively and keep a track of your performance then these smartwatch play a very important role,
A smartwatch that keeps a track of all your activities like stairs climbed, VO2 max, sleep patterns, time taken for each kilometer of run, step count etc. will really help you to improve your performance over a period of time.
But again it comes to which out of these two are better – Garmin Forerunner or Apple Watch Series 5.
Comparison of Garmin Forerunner 245 vs Apple Watch (head-to-head)
Table could not be displayed.Design
The obvious difference between these both watches is their shape and case size. The apple watch has a square shape with two variations of 40mm and 44mm, whereas the Garmin forerunner watch is round in shape with 42.3mm.
I personally like a round shaped watch, although I’ve used Huami Amazfit BIP in the past which is a square shaped watch. But it’s all about your taste…
Screen
Apple watch series 5 has a touchscreen that allows you to operate it easily, even on the go.
However, Garmin Forerunner 245 doesn’t have a touchscreen, and you have to use the 5 buttons to access its functions. That makes it quite tricky to use. The Forerunner 245 has a ton of features therefore it will take you some time to understand which features are activated using which buttons.
I personally prefer the buttons as they are easier to operate as compared to touch screens. Since the screens of smartwatches are not that big it is sometimes a hassle to touch a specific area on the watch. Also touch screen devices get damaged pretty easily.
Plus in case of rain or if you’re swimming it gets very difficult to operate a touch screen device, be it mobile or a watch.
Weight
The Apple watch weighs 48.19g as it has a 48% larger screen than the Forerunner 245 and provides a better user experience.
And Garmin Forerunner 245 weighs 38.5g, which is quite tiny for a standard sports watch, but at the same time, it is the lightweight that also makes it a best watch for runners.
Watch Glass
Apple watch screen is made up of ION- X strengthen glass, whereas Garmin Forerunner 245 is made up of Corning’s gorilla glass 3. Both of them stand a high degree of external impact.
Sensors
Apple watch series 5 has an electrical heart sensor( ECG), Optical heart sensor, Ambient light sensor, accelerometer, barometer, GPS, and a Compass.
Garmin Forerunner 245 has a Heart sensor, Pulse Ox, compass, accelerometer, and GPS/Glonass/Galileo.
ECG sensors
ECG sensor is the need of the hour, and you will get it in an Apple watch by just placing your finger for 30sec on the screen; it displays the waveform in real-time and notifies you with your heartbeat status.
However, you won’t get this feature in Garmin Forerunner 245.
Barometer
Apple Watch Series 5 comes with a barometric altimeter that measures the atmospheric air pressure. It can predict changes in the weather. For example, a sudden drop in air pressure could indicate an impending storm.
Garmin Forerunner doesn’t have a Barometric altimeter feature, but it has Glonass GPS that provides real-time position and velocity determination.
Export Data
Apple Watch doesn’t allow you to export the activity data, but you can access the data stored in Apple Health App.
Garmin Forerunner 245, on the other hand, allows you to export activity data to many popular services, including Strava, Nike Run etc.
Accuracy
Most end users reported that the heart rate accuracy of Forerunner 245 was very close to 100 percent. Few users even tested the accuracy by using an oximeter and comparing the heart rates shown in both devices. Forerunner came out to be very close to showing accurate heart rates.
Apple watch also provides heart rate data but the accuracy rate was close to 90 percent. It also notifies you of abnormal heart rates that are too high even when you’re not doing anything. Garmin is a clear winner in heart rate tracking.
Personalized training
Apple watch 5 has a cycle tracking app that helps to log information on menstrual cycles. Also, you can compete for challenges with your friends through the smartwatch. Though it doesn’t have the VO2 max feature.
Whereas with Garmin Forerunner, you can track your daily activities with VO2max that offers you personalized training and recovery insights for smarter training decisions. Its exercise history and performance indicator let you know if you’re training productively. Garmin clearly comes out as the winner in this category as well.
Call Feature
Call feature is the one of the most important features that most people look for in a smartwatch. Apple 5 allows you to connect easily with your loved ones through calls even on the go.
But with Forerunner 245, you can only get notification of the call; though, you have to use your phone to receive the call.
Compatibility with Android and iOS
The Apple series 5 is compatible with an iphone. If you want to use this smartwatch, then you need to have an iphone. It does not work with Android devices because it is an Apple product and Apple have their own operating system called iOS.
Garmin Forerunner 245 is compatible with both Android and iOS. It connects very easy and seamlessly to your Android or iPhone via Bluetooth
NFC / Payments
You get NFC (Near Field Communication) function with Apple watch series 5 for easy transactions. You can easily use this function to pay bills at the counter where Apple pay is accepted.
The Apple Pay function is not available in Forerunner 245. However you can still use Garmin pay but there are very few places that accept Garmin pay.
Battery
Battery life is a very important thing that most people look for when buying a Smartwatch, and to your surprise, the battery life of Forerunner 245 is more impressive than Apple watch series 5.
Garmin 245 can be used upto 7 days in smartwatch mode and upto 6 hours with music in GPS mode. Most end users gave feedback that the battery life of Garmin 245 is between 4-6 days with GPS. It depends on usage and if you switch on notifications throughout the day the battery will last only for a couple of days.
On the contrary, an Apple watch needs to work on its battery. You will need to charge it every second day, or we can say everyday as it can be used only upto 18 hours. So be ready to put it to charge every night before you sleep so that you can use it on the next day.
Wireless charging
Apple watch can be charged with a magnetic wireless charging dock which lets you go on a vacation without worrying about charging.
The Forerunner 245 uses a USB cable for charging that needs to be connected to either your laptop or an alternate USB source.
Comparison Of Features in Garmin Forerunner 245 And Apple Watch 5
Always on screen
If you look for Apple watch Series 4 vs Series 5, then only Apple watch series 5 has an always-on screen feature available that allows you to take a glance of the time without waking up the screen. Although it reduces the screen light for battery saving purposes, it can be seen clearly even in direct sunlight.
The Garmin Forerunner 245 has a transflective LCD that allows you to see the screen in direct sunlight without the need for a backlight, but it is pretty basic. You just need to raise your hand and the backlight turns on automatically. This really helps in conserving a lot of battery life for the forerunner 245.
Music Playback and Storage
One of the best features that I like about Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is that you can sync it with Spotify. You can actually download music and podcasts straight to your Garmin Smartwatch and listen without an internet connection, or even your mobile. This means that you just need to wear the Forerunner 245 and pair them with your headphones. You don’t even need to carry your mobile on your runs or when you hit the gym. Absolutely unbeatable feature that gets 5 stars.
On the other hand, the Apple watch still does not have that feature. While the Apple watch has a ability to download songs or podcasts and you can listen to them without the phone. However the ability to sync the apple watch with spotify and listen offline is still not there in the Apple Watch.
Therefore Garmin Forerunner scores high on this parameter.
Voice Assistant
Apple watch comes with its proprietary voice assistant service called “Siri”. For example If you want to call someone you just need to use the Siri feature on your iWatch and the number will be dialed. This is really helpful especially when you are driving or running. If you are running and getting a lot of calls you can just shout “siri switch on the do not disturb option” and you won’t get any calls, texts or email notifications.
The Forerunner 245 music lacks that feature and therefore Apple scores on this parameter.
GPS
The Forerunner use GPS and other satellite systems like Glonass and Galileo to track accurate location. You cannot beat Garmin when it comes to the GPS technology since they are one of the pioneers in the GPS device market.
It also has the ability to download various maps to your device, especially for travellers who love to explore new places.
The Apple series 5 comes with a GPS but doesn’t have Glonass and Galileo , however, doesn’t have this feature.
Pros And Cons – Apple Series 5 Watch And Garmin Forerunner 245 Music
Apple Watch series 5
- Touch Screen
- Always-on-screen
- ECG
- NFC
- Large screen
- Can answer calls, write messages, answer emails etc.
- Wireless charging
- Average battery life of max one day
- Compatible only with iOS (iPhone)
Garmin Forerunner 245
- Compatible with both Android and iOS
- Long battery life
- Accurate GPS
- Accurate Heart rate monitoring
- Lightweight
- Syncs with Spotify, stores songs and plays music standalone (without your phone)
- No Touchscreen
- No Barometer
- Can’t make or receive calls, send message or email without phone
- No NFC
Price Comparison
It is clear that both watches are superb but both smartwatches are not made for the same type of person. People who are willing to pay the price for a premium product can go for the Apple Smartwatch series 5.
Apple products are definitely world class and they don’t compromise on quality of their products. If you are looking for style, looks and classy smartwatch then the Apple Series 5 is your best friend. Although it comes with a price tag of 65000 rupees. But clearly, the investment is worth each and every penny in terms of functionality and performance.
However, The Garmin Forerunner 245’s price is Rs. 34,502 is comparably low. People, especially runners or athletes who are looking for a sporty, casual, rugged look smartwatch can opt for the Forerunner 245.
The Forerunner 245 beats all other smartwatches within the price point of 30,000 to 40,000 rupees. Undoubtedly the best smartwatch for runners.
Bottom line
Both Apple Series 5 and Garmin Forerunner 245 are fantastic smartwatches for runners. Ultimately it comes down to whether you need a smartwatch for running or whether you are looking for a good smartwatch for notifications.
If you’re a runner and looking for a good running smartwatch then hands down the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music comes on top. With features such as standalone music playback, spotify sync, VO2max, sleep tracking, silent alarm with vibration and a longer battery life it’s definitely the best option for runners. It is also cheap as compared to the Apple Watch 5.
If you are an iPhone owner and you really like smart, stylish Apple products then the Apple smartwatch is a better choice for you.
We would love to have your opinion, feedback or queries regarding our outlook on Apple vs Garmin Forerunner 245. Feel free to type in the comments section below.
