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Garmin Forerunner 245 vs 735
If you’re an avid runner or a beginner who is hoping to become more serious about your fitness, GPS watches are an excellent tool for tracking your training progress. Garmin GPS watches offer plenty of impressive features and useful technology, depending on your needs.
If you’re an athlete looking to track and improve your progress in running marathons, triathlons, and more, read on to find out more about the Garmin Forerunner 245 vs. 735 and see which one is right for you.
The Garmin Brand
Garmin has been in business, creating technology since 1989, bringing their specialized GPS navigation systems to the United States and eventually to Europe and Asia. Initially, as a brand, Garmin aimed to deliver its GPS navigation and technology across several industries, not only fitness. These industries include marine, automotive, aviation, sports, and the outdoors as well.
More recently, Garmin began to compete with other smartwatches in the market. However, unlike other smartwatches, Garmin’s Forerunner line (and many of their other watches) is focused on training for marathons, swimming, and cycling. They aim to be innovative, and a creator of the best products on the market; Garmin works hard to bring their navigation and technology to the outdoors.
Garmin Forerunner 245
The Forerunner 245 offers users plenty of technology and helpful apps to help enhance your running experience. This watch allows you to stay in touch with the fitness community, as you can automatically upload your stats and achievements through Garmin’s online fitness community. The GPS of the 245, though its prime function is as a running watch, has features to help you train and collect your progress data with its multisport feature.
The Forerunner 245 includes Corning Gorilla Glass 3, fiber-reinforced polymer, and a silicone strap. Its overall size is 42.3 x 42.3 x 12.2 millimeters and can fit wrist sizes up to 204 millimeters. It also has a transflective MIP and a display that is visible in the sunlight. The overall weight of the 245 is 38.5 grams.
Pros:
- Built-in Garmin Coach training plans
- Lightweight
- Several features that keep track of how you train
- Built-in GPS
- Long battery life
- Replaceable watch bands
Cons:
- Does not track elevation
- No compass
Garmin Forerunner 735
The Forerunner 735 helps you keep track of every part of your performance, from your stats to your training and goals. The 735 does the work for you by tracking your numbers and giving you the results. It is also light and comfortable to wear (helped by the silicone sweatproof band) while running or everyday use.
The 735 is a 44.5 x 44.5 x 11.9-millimeter watch made of chemically strengthened glass. It offers a helpful display that is still visible in sunlight and has a 215 x 180-pixel resolution. The total weight of the watch is just over 40 grams. In addition to these watch elements, you can keep the GPS mode on for up to 14 hours. You can also track your progress with UltraTrac mode for up to 24 hours without your wrist heart rate.
Pros:
- Exceptional customization
- Nine day-long battery life
- Convenient display size
- Garmin Coach training feature
- Offers many different metrics and types of data
Cons:
- More expensive
- Older of the two models
Garmin Forerunner 245 vs 735: Feature Comparisons
When it comes to the Forerunner 245 vs. the 735, both have impressive technology and features. Both watches have a long battery life, built-in GPS, and plenty of technology and apps for sincere athletes who want to improve their training progress and improve their performance.
They both have settings for health and fitness, safety and activity tracking, and planning and analysis. Also, both offer excellent specs on their running, outdoor recreation, cycling, and swimming features. But how do the features of these two watches compare?
Battery Life
These watches have quite a long battery life on both their GPS modes and the smartwatch mode. When using the Forerunner 245’s smartwatch mode, it allows you up to 9 days of battery life. Using it on GPS mode can give you up to 24 hours of battery life.
The Forerunner 735 has a slight edge, as it offers a battery life of up to 11 days on smartwatch mode while keeping the same 24 hours on GPS mode as the 235.
The Winner – Garmin Forerunner 735
MAPS/GPS
GPS and map features for the Garmin Forerunner 245 vs. the 735 specs don’t seem all that different at first glance. Both watches offer a built-in GPS and a GPS mode setting and are both equipped with features such as GPS time sync, sensors, and speed and distance. Both also have GPS coordinates and GPS-based time, pace, and distance.
The 245 boasts its built-in GPS as one of its most important selling points, encouraging runners to let the watch do all the work for you. The GPS can track and calculate your stats to help you improve your form, goals, and overall training.
The 735 model also takes pride in its GPS technology and focuses on providing you with even more in-depth stats about your progress. However, it seems to focus on “doing it all” rather than the GPS features alone.
The Winner – A draw
Apps and Device Compatibility
The Forerunner 245 includes the Garmin Coach feature. This feature allows you to try out different training plans for 5K, 10K, or marathons. While training, you receive advice from expert running coaches and plans that sync to your watch for free. You can also make sure to keep safe with the 245 thanks to its incident detection and assistance abilities.
The Forerunner 245 is compatible with iPhone, Android, Bluetooth, and Ant. However, certain features are only compatible with one or the other when it comes to smartphones. For example, if you’d like to share your running journey, the Life Event Sharing option is only compatible with android.
Certain other running features require a compatible accessory as well. You can still make activity profiles for other sports or workouts for swimming, rowing, cycling, and workout equipment like elliptical machines and stair masters.
So how does the Garmin 735 vs. the Forerunner 245 compare?
The 735, according to Garmin themselves, is the “ultimate smartwatch for athletes.” It earned this name thanks to its ability to send you notifications from your phone directly to your watch while you are training. Garmin Connect is also available on this watch, meaning you can share your progress and receive encouragement from friends and family. The 735 is also an easily personalized watch with free watch face designs, apps, and data.
While the 245 is excellent for training, it seems that the 735 is more tailored to suit your specific progress and aesthetic. The smart notifications also mean you don’t need to check your phone while you’re training, allowing you to check your notifications more easily but opt out of answering them when you don’t want to pause your routine.
The Winner – Garmin Forerunner 735
Training Aids
Both of these watches have a slew of helpful tech and features to help you train.
The Forerunner 245 has the following training aids available:
Running dynamics, VO2 Max, Pulse OX Sensor. You can access Running dynamics with a compatible accessory. It allows you to measure running metrics. At the same time, VO2 Max is a metric to help you understand changes in your performance caused by outside factors. The Pulse OX Sensor estimates your blood oxygen level through your wrist.
The 245 also has Training Status, Training Effect, and Training Load. The first helps you evaluate your history and see if you’re progressing in the right direction. Training Effect keeps track of your development with things like speed and endurance and offers feedback. Lastly, The Training Lode logs the last week’s worth of your training and compares it to the rest of your recent training history.
So how does the Forerunner 735 compare to the Forerunner 245 when helping you train?
Like the 245, it also has Running Dynamics (but you need a compatible device to use it), VO2 max estimates, and a way of receiving feedback. (These seem to be critical features in Forerunner series watches.)
However, as the slightly more upscale version, the 735 has additional helpful metrics to help you progress.
For example, you can change your exercise or training routine with built-in activity profiles for running, swimming, biking, and even triathlons. You can even keep track of your underwater heart rate. You can also receive live feedback as the 735, according to Garmin, is the first training watch to be compatible with Strava Live Segments. You can also view ranking, receive alerts for segments, and see how you compare!
This watch claims to do it all, and it certainly seems to be true. In addition to its customizable look, training features, and apps, it even offers a multisport feature that allows you to change your sport just by pressing a button.
The Winner – Garmin Forerunner 735
Stand Out Features
The Forerunner 245 and 735 both have plenty of great GPS and stat tracking technology and several customizable options. Check below to see what each of the watches focus on.
Unique Features for Garmin Forerunner 245
- Garmin Coach training plans
- Sports apps to change up your routine
- GPS and accurate stats
- Training status, effect, and load metrics
Unique Features for Garmin Forerunner 735
- Offers you advanced running dynamics in addition to cycling and swimming dynamics.
- Tracks things like time balance, stride length, and more.
- Allows you to receive smart notifications on your watch.
- Automatically uploads data to your community.
- Customizable look, apps, and more
Garmin Forerunner 245 vs 735: Conclusion
The Garmin Forerunner 245 vs. 735 is a tough comparison. The 245 is newer, while the 735 could arguably be the better model because of its numerous features. Both are used by active training athletes who want to continue to train and improve their running, swimming, or cycling performances.
When deciding between the two, it might depend on what is more important to you, whether it’s GPS capabilities and training features or the level of customization and in-depth, specific-to-you stats.
When You Want the Garmin Forerunner 245
The Forerunner 245 prides itself on its GPS capabilities. It also promises to be the watch that has everything you need to help you improve your performance. You might prefer this watch vs. the Forerunner 735 if:
- You want to oversee your training load
- You would live to use the training plans provided by Garmin Coach.
- You are focused on athletics and want to switch sports easily.
If you are leaning towards a watch that can double as a training coach, purchase this watch!
When You Want the Garmin Forerunner 735
You can tune the Forerunner 735 to your specific needs for a smartwatch. It also emphasizes its features like Live Track and Garmin Connect, which help keep you connected to friends and family. You may prefer this watch over the Forerunner 245 if:
- You plan on sharing your activities and keeping track of leader boards.
- You want to have insights that are specific to your workouts and habits.
- You want to connect with other users.
- You want to monitor other things, including sleep and calorie intake.
- You’d like to use more compatible devices for activities aside from running, such as biking.
If you are looking for a multifunctional watch that can double as a social platform, purchase the Garmin Forerunner 735!
Both are excellent choices for serious athletes training for important events and are sure not to steer you wrong in your training and progress.
Robby McClung
This article was written by the editorial staff of the Canaan Valley Running Company and Robby McClung. Robby is the founder of the Canaan Valley Running Company. You can read more in the about section of the website on Robby and the Canaan Valley Running Company.
