Garmin Forerunner 745 is a runner’s watch. Fenix 7 is a more complete watch with multiple sports modes. We compare the Forerunner 745 with the Fenix 7 standard edition below.
Forerunner 745 was released in September 2020 and Fenix 7 was released in January 2022.
Main differences
- Garmin Forerunner 745 costs $499.99 and the Fenix 7 standard edition comes for a list price of $649.99.
- Garmin Fenix 7 is broader than the Forerunner 745.
- Garmin Forerunner 745 uses DX-coated Corning Gorilla Glass and Fenix 7 uses Corning Gorilla Glass.
- Garmin Fenix 7 has a water rating of 10 ATM (100 meters) and Forerunner 745 (50 meters) has a water rating of 5 ATM.
- Fenix 7 has a touchscreen functionality.
- Fenix 7 has a higher device storage of 16 GB while Forerunner 745 has a device storage of 4 GB only.
- Garmin Golf is available in Fenix 7. Forerunner 745 is not compatible with Garmin Golf.
- There are additional running, outdoor recreation, and cycling profiles in Garmin Fenix 7. We have listed these in the activity profiles section below.
- The battery backup provided by Fenix 7 is almost twice the backup offered by a Forerunner 745.
These are significant differences between the Garmin Fenix 7 and Forerunner 745. There are other minor differences that we have not touched upon.
We discuss the main features and capabilities of Garmin Fenix 7 and Forerunner 745 below.
Display specifications
Forerunner 745 is designed to offer a better display readability experience under bright sunshine. The DX coating on Corning Gorilla Glass is an anti-reflective coating on the display lens of Forerunner 745.
Fenix 7 uses a regular Corning Gorilla Glass display lens.
The other display specifications for Forerunner 745 and Fenix 7 are shared below in a side-by-side table comparison.
| Display specifications | Garmin Forerunner 745 | Garmin Fenix 7 (Standard edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Display lens | Corning Gorilla Glass DX | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Display size | 1.2″ or 30 mm | 1.3″ or 33 mm |
| Display type | MIP (Memory-in-pixel) | MIP (Memory-in-pixel) |
| Display resolution | 240 x 240 pixels | 260 x 260 pixels |
| Color display | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen | No | Yes |
| Ambient light sensor | No | No |
| LED Flashlight | No | No |
Physical specifications
Garmin Fenix 7 is a broader and bigger watch. It has a bezel made of stainless steel. There are a few significant differences between the Garmin Forerunner 745 and Fenix 7 standard edition smartwatches.
Let us list the main physical specifications of Forerunner 745 and Fenix 7 standard edition below.
| Physical specifications | Garmin Forerunner 745 | Garmin Fenix 7 (Standard edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Watch size | 43.8 x 43.8 x 13.3 mm | 47 x 47 x 14.5 mm |
| Thickness | 13.3 mm | 14.5 mm |
| Watch weight | 47 g | 56 g |
| Watch body | Fiber-enforced polymer | Fiber-enforced polymer |
| Bezel material | Fiber-enforced polymer | Stainless steel |
| Band material | Silicone | Silicone |
| Band size | 22 mm | 22 mm |
| Recommended wrist circumference | 135-200 mm | 125-208 mm |
| Band material options | Silicone | Silicone, Metal, Leather, Fabric |
| Water rating | 5 ATM | 10 ATM |
| Device storage | 4 GB | 16 GB |
| NFC or Contactless Payments | Garmin Pay | Garmin Pay |
| Swimming profiles | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Swimrun | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Swimrun |
| Wireless Connectivity | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Multi-band GPS | No | No |
| Barometric altimeter | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | Yes | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Thermometer | Yes | Yes |
| iOS Compatibility | iOS 15 or higher | iOS 15 or higher |
| Android compatibility | Android 7 or higher | Android 7 or higher |
A summary of main differences in physical attributes of Fenix 7 and Forerunner 745 include:
- Stainless steel bezel in Fenix 7
- Higher device storage of 16 GB in Fenix 7 compared to 4 GB in Forerunner 745
- Higher water resistance of 10 ATM or 100 meters in Fenix 7. Forerunner 745 has a 5 ATM or 50-meter water resistance.
- More band material options are available for Fenix 7 standard edition as you could get the bands made of silicone, metal, fabric, or leather materials.
Battery
Garmin Fenix 7 standard edition offers twice the battery backup offered by a Forerunner 745. The backup offered by Fenix 7 and Forerunner 745 in different watch modes is shared below.
| Watch mode | Garmin Forerunner 745 | Garmin Fenix 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | Up to 7 days | Up to 18 days |
| GPS mode without music | Up to 16 hours | Up to 40 hours |
| GPS mode with music | Up to 6 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Max Battery GPS | – | Up to 136 hours |
| Expedition GPS | – | Up to 40 days |
| Battery Saver mode | – | Up to 57 days |
Fenix 7 does support the battery saver mode. You can continue to use the watch under low power settings to prolong the battery backup.
GPS
Garmin Fenix 7 and Forerunner 745 support the GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO satellite networks. Both watches provide reliable, accurate, and dependable GPS data.
Fenix 7 and Forerunner 745, however, do not support the multi-band GPS mode. The multi-band GPS or dual-frequency GPS is available on higher-end smartwatches like the Pro series Fenix 7 smartwatches.
Music
Forerunner 745 and Fenix 7 Standard Edition are compatible with full music functionality. This implies that the Forerunner 745 and Fenix 7 can offer the following music features:
- You can control music on the paired smartphone using the watch interface.
- You can store audio content on the watch storage for offline listening.
- The music storage on the watch storage can be directly managed from the watch interface.
- You can download music streaming apps like Spotify from the Connect IQ store. These apps can be used to stream music over the Wi-Fi connectivity.
Activity profiles
Fenix 7 and Forerunner 745 differ in terms of activity profiles supported. A brief list of activity profiles that are supported by Forerunner 745 and Fenix 7 Standard edition is shared below.
| Profiles | Garmin Forerunner 745 | Garmin Fenix 7 (Standard edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Cycling | Biking, Indoor Biking, Mountain Trail Biking | Biking, Road Biking, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Bike Commuting, Bike Touring, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking, Cyclocross, Triathlon |
| Outdoor recreation | Hiking, Skiing, Snowboarding, Backcountry Skiing, XC Classic Skiing, XC Skate Skiing, Stand up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking | Hiking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Climbing, Mountain Biking, Skiing, Snowboarding, Backcountry Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Surfing, Hunting, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Snowshoeing, Fishing, Horseback Riding, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Wakesurfing, Tubing, Sailing Expedition, Jumpmaster, Obstacle Course Racing, Tennis, Pickleball, Tactical, Disc Golf |
| Running | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Trail Running, Virtual Running | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Trail Running, Virtual Running, Ultra Running |
Costs
Garmin Forerunner 745 has a list price of $499.99. However, you may be able to get the watch at discounted prices as it is a dated model.
Fenix 7 Standard edition costs $649.99.
Final Verdict
For an additional $150 spent on Fenix 7 Standard edition smartwatch, you get the following benefits:
- Steel bezel that renders a better look to the watch
- Higher water resistance rating of 10 ATM or 100 meters
- Touchscreen functionality to manage watch functions
- Golf support with preloaded golf-course data for 43000 courses
- Higher device storage of 16 GB
- Bigger and broader watch
- More watch band options that include metal, leather, silicone, and fabric.
The additional money, thus spent, can be justified in terms of the improved functionality and features available in the Garmin Fenix 7 standard edition.
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