Garmin is one of the biggest brands in the smartwatch industry and they also have some of the best fitness smartwatches to their name. In this comparison chart, we’re comparing three low-priced Garmin GPS smartwatches; the Garmin Forerunner 35 vs 45 vs 45S to find out the differences. These three have a lot of features in common, however, while the Forerunner 35 is a bit older and lacks some features found in the 45/45S, it’s quite cheaper.
Garmin Forerunner 35 vs 45 vs 45S: Specifications Compared
| Product Info |
 Garmin Forerunner 35 Specifications, Features and Price |
 Garmin Forerunner 45 Specifications, Features and Price |
 Garmin Forerunner 45S Specifications, Features and Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $169.99 | $179.95 | $159.99 |
| ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE |
| Device name | Garmin Forerunner 35 | Garmin Forerunner 45 | Garmin Forerunner 45S |
| Device type | Fitness/Sport smartwatch | Fitness/Sport smartwatch | Fitness/Sport smartwatch |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex | Unisex |
| Release date | August, 2016 | April, 2019 | April, 2019 |
| Predecessor | — | Garmin Forerunner 35 | Garmin Forerunner 35 |
| Successor | Garmin Forerunner 45 | Garmin Forerunner 55 | Garmin Forerunner 55 |
| Versions | Garmin Fenix 5, Garmin Fenix 5S, Garmin Fenix 5X | Garmin Forerunner 45, Garmin Forerunner 45S | Garmin Forerunner 45, Garmin Forerunner 45S |
| BODY | BODY | BODY | BODY |
| Dimension | 35.5 x 40.7 x 13.3 mm | 42 x 42 x 11.4 mm | 39.5 x 39.5 x 11.4 mm |
| Weight | 37 grams | 36 grams | 32 grams |
| Shape | Rectangular | Circular | Circular |
| Case material | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Strap material | Silicone | Silicone | Silicone |
| Bezel material | Ceramics | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Strap size | 140 – 200 mm | 20 mm | 20 mm |
| Interchangeable strap | Yes | 20mm, Yes | 20mm, Yes |
| Screen protection | Chemically strengthened glass | Chemically strengthened glass | Chemically strengthened glass |
| Water resistance | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM |
| Durability test | — | — | — |
| Swim-proof | Yes, recommended | Yes | Yes |
| Color | Black, Blue, White | Black, Red | Purple, White |
| DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY |
| Display size | 0.93 inch | 1.04 inches | 1.04 inches |
| Display type | LCD, Memory-in-pixel (MIP), transflective | LCD, Memory-in-pixel (MIP), transflective | LCD, Memory-in-pixel (MIP), transflective |
| Display resolution | 240 x 240 px | 208 x 208 pixels | 208 x 208 pixels |
| Pixel density | — | 282.8 PPI | — |
| Always on | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom watch face | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Input type | (not touchscreen), 4 Physical buttons | (not touchscreen), 5 Physical buttons | (not touchscreen), 5 Physical buttons |
| CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | ANT+, Bluetooth |
| Bluetooth calling | No | No | No |
| GPS | Yes | Galileo, GLONASS, GPS | Galileo, GLONASS, GPS |
| NFC | No | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | No | No |
| MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY |
| RAM | — | — | — |
| ROM | — | — | — |
| Memory card slot | No | No | No |
| CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY |
| Technology | None | None | None |
| SIM type | None | None | None |
| Band | — | — | — |
| NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calls alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Email alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Event reminder | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party apps alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reply to Notifications | - | - | - |
| MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA |
| Audio | No | No | No |
| Bluetooth music | No | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | No | No | No |
| Microphone | No | No | No |
| Camera | No | No | No |
| Radio | No | No | No |
| SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS |
| Sensor(s) | — | — | — |
| ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING |
| Blood oxygen | — | No | No |
| Blood Pressure | No | No | No |
| Calories | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ECG tracking | No | No | No |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Steps | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | No | No | No |
| Stress | — | Yes | Yes |
| Fall detection | No | Yes | Yes |
| Menstrual cycle | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Swim-tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Underwater heart rate tracking | No | No | No |
| On-screen workout | No | No | No |
| Sport modes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY |
| Battery type | non-removable Lithium-polymer | non-removable Lithium-polymer | non-removable Lithium-polymer |
| Battery capacity | — | — | — |
| Battery life | GPS mode: 13hrs, Smartwatch mode: up to 9 days | GPS mode: 13hrs, Smartwatch mode: 7 days | GPS mode: 13hrs, Smartwatch mode: 7 days |
| Charging type | Charging dock | Charging dock | Charging dock |
| Charging time | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours |
| Solar charging | No | No | No |
| PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM |
| Chipset | — | N/A | — |
| CPU | — | N/A | — |
| GPU | — | N/A | — |
| Operating system | Proprietary OS | Proprietary OS | Proprietary OS |
| MISC | MISC | MISC | MISC |
| Companion app | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
| Payment system | None | None | None |
| Voice command | No | No | No |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Box content | Charger, Garmin Forerunner 35, Manual, Straps | Charger, Garmin Forerunner 45, Manual, Straps | Charger, Garmin Forerunner 45S, Manual, Straps |
SEE ALSO
Garmin Forerunner 35 vs 45 vs 45S: Battery Life
| Forerunner 35 | Forerunner 45 | Forerunner 45S |
| Smartwatch Mode: Up to 9 days GPS mode: Up to 13 hours | Smartwatch Mode: Up to 7 days GPS mode: Up to 13 hours | Smartwatch Mode: Up to 7 days GPS mode: Up to 13 hours |
Which is Better?
The Forerunner 35 has a lot of features in common with the 45/45s. Each of these three is equipped with an accelerometer and a heart rate sensor which enables tracking of your sleep, heart rate, calories, steps, VO2 Max. and the ability to track cadence for running and cycling activities. All three watches are rated 5ATM which means you can actually wear any of these to the pool or shower.
However, there are slight differences that come in the design, size, activity tracking features, and battery life.
- While the Forerunner 35 has a square shape, the Forerunner 45/45s are circular in shape. The Forerunner 35 is slightly more compact than the 45/45s, but it has a smaller display size. Nonetheless, all three watches are very compact and lightweight.
- The Forerunner 45/45s are equipped to measure your respiration rate. This feature is available on the Forerunner 35.
- Moreover, unlike the Forerunner 35, the Forerunner 45/45s can also measure your stress level.
- The Forerunner 45/45s feature incidental fall detection which isn’t available on Forerunner 35. This means that when your phone is nearby, the Forerunner 45/45s can detect a hard fall and will automatically start a call on your phone to a preset emergency contact. This has to be configured from the Garmin connect app.
- Furthermore, the Forerunner 45/45s also feature more preloaded workout profiles than Forerunner 35. So your chances of finding your preferred workout is more likely with 45/45s than 35.
- The battery life also differs. Surprisingly, the Forerunner 35 has a longer battery life than the 45/45s. You get about 9 days of battery life with the 35 compared to about 7 days with the 45/45s.
In all, the Forerunner 45/45s are better smartwatches than the Forerunner 35. These two have more features and a slightly bigger display.
On the other hand, the Forerunner 35 is a cheaper alternative with a slightly longer battery life.
