DUEL: Garmin Forerunner 745 vs. Forerunner 255

Tags: Fight | Garmin | Smart

4.10.2022 | 6 MIN

For a lot of people, this will be the fight they've been waiting for. The old versus the new, or the "young generation" is taking over the old. Is it still worth buying the Forerunner 745 after the overwhelming arrival of the Forerunneru 255?

We will start the battle between these two professional runners by taking a look at the features the watches share. And if you haven't read the reviews of these two models yet, I would recommend looking at them first.

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Now for the main question. Is it even worth it making this duel or is the result clear? Find out below.

Plastic everywhere

Probably no one would say "Wow, those are beauties! I'd love to wear them when I get married," about either of the models. And I'm honestly not surprised. Functionality is definitely superior to design, so it's not a big deal. In terms of size, it is almost a draw. The 25's are a bit bigger, but it's nothing major.

The buckle is made of titanium, which is one of the few metal parts. Another metal part is the buttons, which are roughened so they don't slide, and on the 745, the basic settings are still engraved on them. With its weight of 47 g, the FR 745 is 2 grams lighter than its younger successor.

Although it may not seem like a difference to you, the older model has a "fixed" strap and the FR 255 has a Quick Release. Thanks to the fixed attachment (pull the pins out of the strap), you can use the Quick Fit attachment from the "phoenix" strap, which is a small advantage.

In terms of design, it is entirely up to you which of the plastics you are more likely to get used to. :-)

A slightly better display

As it happens, everything grows and gets bigger. The same applies to the Garmin Forerunner 255 watch display. The watch has a 1.3" display with a resolution of 260 x 260 pixels. The 745 has a 1.2" display with a resolution of 240 x 240. You might think that those few pixels aren't that terrible, but really, you can tell . Both models otherwise use transflective LCD displays characterized by excellent readability in direct sunlight and permanent illumination.

You will also see the difference in sports monitoring, because the 745 can display "only" 4 data fields, while the 255 model can have up to 6 data fields. I write the word "only" because it's some kind of maximum that only a handful of people use. Most "normal" ones use around 4 data fields for greater clarity.

Sensors are a tie with FR255 gaining an advatange

If you've read the headline, you've surely noticed a hint of illogical phrasing. Both models have the same sensor equipment, but this year's novelty is equipped with a new type of heart rate sensor as well as a multi-frequency GPS, which, like the heart rate monitor, is much more accurate.

Although we considered the Forerunners 745 to be the most accurate, with the advent of multi-band GNSS, the scales have tipped in favor of the new piece. During all kinds of testing, it could be seen that the seven-forty-five simply couldn't keep up. Not that it would be somehow terrible, but the novelty can cope better both in the city and in the forest.

As far as heart rate goes, I still stand by the idea that a chest strap is the best. However, if you were to lean towards a certain model, it will be this year's newcomer. The watch reacts faster to changes and is really a bit more accurate.

No comment on the battery

The older Forerunner 745 was an excellent model that could do almost anything. Unfortunately, Garmin engineers did not adapt the battery to this. They tried to fix it for the new model. And mind you, they succeeded.

Have you noticed that too? If you turn on Multi-GNSS on the FR 255, you get the same time as just running GPS on the Forerunner 745. Is this a coincidence, or is Garmin trying to tell us something? Well, you can clearly see that the new model has won over the old one. In all respects. The only thing where you can argue about a draw is GPS + music.

Running watch "for runners"

New watch, new features, that's for sure. Some are great, like a better training status widget, and some like a muscle map or animated exercises are... Well, decide for yourself.

I really like the Race wigdet where you can plan your season and Garmin adjusts your workouts accordingly. And on some websites it is already written that the watch should also receive functions from the new Garmin Enduro 2 model, which unfortunately the older model does not have.

At least in the last update, Forerunners 745 received the Run / Walk / Stand function, which after training evaluates how much you ran, walked and stood. Naturally.

What is not missing in both watches is, for example, VO₂ Max from trail running, a barometer for recording height, training recommendations and, for example, workload. Both models are built for maximum performance and you, therefore, can't go wrong with either of the two models.

And the older Forrunner 745 also offers Strava and Garmin Live segments, which the new model lacks as of now.

Both of them are equally smart

None of the devices lack basic smart equipment from Garmin, such as notifications, NFC payment, music directly in the watch (both 500 songs or streaming services) and, for example, quick replies. In this industry, both models deserve applause, because they are at the same level as, for example, the Garmin Fenix 6. The map materials are missing in both pieces, but you will find navigation along the curve there, and with it, for example, the PacePro or ClimbPro functions.

Fitness functions led by VST

For fitness functions, the winner is already sure in advance. Heart rate variability is an important value that can tell you a lot about your health. If an illness is coming, you are tired or overtrained... It is a really important value and unfortunately, the Forerunner 745 cannot work with it. The Forerunner 255 does a great job with this value and can measure it throughout the night and judge how you're doing.

Apart from the VST and the health picture, the functions are identical, and the basics in the form of steps, stress, heart rate during the day and night, sleep measurement and other conveniences are a part of the watch.

Is buying the Forerunner 745 still worth it?

With all my heart and in all honesty... No, unfortunately the Forerunner 745 is no longer worth buying. The prices of both models are very similar, so it is not worth going for a "worse" model at a lower price. I put the quotation marks there on purpose, because the watch still has a lot to offer in terms of sports and functions, but in this battle the Forerunner 255 is the clear winner with its battery life, functions and other features such as the new heart rate sensor or Multi-GNSS.

As I said above, on the paper the winner is the Forerunner 255, even for me personally it is. If I were to buy a multi-sport watch under €400 now, I would definitely choose the Forerunner 255, which is sufficient in all respects for almost any activity from triathlon to ultra trails. What I appreciate most about it is the navigation, card payment, new fitness functions and, above all, the huge battery life.

What do you think about these models?

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