Forerunner 955 and Forerunner 945 have the same list price. Forerunner 955 was released in June 2022 while the Forerunner 945 has been around since April 2019.
Should you buy a Forerunner 955 or Forerunner 945? Or, maybe, spend another $100 and get a Forerunner 965?
We try to answer your queries about the Forerunner 955 and 945 and help you decide the more suitable Forerunner for you.
Main differences between Forerunner 955 and Forerunner 945
- Forerunner 955 supports multi-band GPS while the Forerunner 945 does not have multi-band GPS
- Forerunner 955 has a touchscreen feature. Forerunner 945 lacks the touchscreen function.
- Forerunner 955 has higher device storage.
- Forerunner 955 supports the spectator messaging feature for safety.
We look at the feature and specifications of Forerunner 955 and 945 below.
Physical specifications
The differences in physical specifications between Forerunner 955 and 945 are marginal. We look at the hardware specifications of both watches below.
| Specifications | Forerunner 955 | Forerunner 945 |
|---|---|---|
| Watch dimensions | 46.5 x 46.5 x 14.4 mm | 47 x 47 x 13.7 mm |
| Display diameter | 1.3″ or 33 mm | 1.2″ or 30.4 mm |
| Watch band size | 22 mm | 22 mm |
| Band material | Silicone | Silicone |
| Weight | 52 g | 50 g |
| Device storage | 32 GB | 16 GB |
| Watch body | Fiber-enforced polymer | Fiber-enforced polymer |
| Bezel | Fiber-enforced polymer | Fiber-enforced polymer |
| Touchscreen | Yes | No |
| Recommended wrist circumference | 130-220 mm | 130-220 mm |
| Water rating | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Forerunner 955 is marginally bigger than the Forerunner 945, and it does have 32 GB of device storage.
Display
Forerunner 955 and 945 use the traditional MIP or memory-in-pixel screen to power the display of the watches.
The display specifications of Forerunner 955 and 945 are shared below in a concise form for quick reference.
| Specifications | Forerunner 955 | Forerunner 945 |
|---|---|---|
| Display screen | 1.3″ | 1.2″ |
| Display type | MIP (memory in pixel) | MIP (memory in pixel) |
| Color Display | Yes | Yes |
| Display resolution | 260 x 260 pixels | 260 x 260 pixels |
| Display Lens | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX |
GPS
The biggest reason for you to buy a Forerunner 955 over a Forerunner 945 is the improved GPS performance.
Forerunner 955 has a multi-frequency positioning sensor. This sensor helps in providing multi-band GPS support on the Forerunner 955 watch.
With multi-band GPS, you can get GPS data from multiple satellites of a satellite system at a given point of time. Multi-band GPS is very useful in remote areas or in areas with tall structures.
Apart from multi-band GPS, the SatIQ technology also helps in improving the performance of your Forerunner 955 watch. SatIQ allows the watch to automatically toggle between multi-band GPS or the standard GPS mode.
SatIQ technology helps in the judicious use of the battery and improves GPS performance without draining the battery.
Multi-band GPS and SatIQ technology are the biggest benefits of the Forerunner 955 in comparison with Forerunner 945.
Battery
The difference in battery backup offered by Forerunner 955 and 945 is marginal. On the GPS modes, both provide almost equivalent battery backup.
We look at the battery backup provided by Forerunner 955 and 945 on the various watch operation modes hereunder.
| Watch mode | Forerunner 955 backup | Forerunner 945 backup |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | up to 15 days | up to 14 days |
| GPS mode | up to 42 hours | up to 36 hours |
| GPS mode with music | up to 10.5 hours | up to 10 hours |
| GPS mode with multi-band without music | up to 20 hours | multi-band GPS not available |
| GPS mode with multi-band with music | up to 8.5 hours | multi-band GPS not available |
The battery life of Forerunner 955 and 945 does not pose any major differentiating factor. Especially, the battery backup on the GPS modes is identical in almost all respects.
Activity profiles
Forerunner 955 does offer additional activity profiles in comparison with the Forerunner 945.
Some of these activity profiles are given below.
- Forerunner 955 has additional outdoor recreation profiles for Backcountry Skiing, Backcountry Snowboarding, XC Skate Skiing, Snowshoeing, Mapping, Navigating, Tennis, Pickleball, Padel, Track Me, Project Waypoint, Disc Golf.
- Forerunner 955 has additional cycling profiles for Road Biking, Gravel Biking, Bike Commuting, Bike Touring, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking, Cyclocross
- Forerunner 955 has the additional profile of ‘Ultra running’.
For serious runners, it may be prudent to check the profiles available for running and outdoor activities. Some of these profiles could be useful for trail runners and pro-level cyclists.
On a similar note, there are special profiles for biking that one could be interested in.
Final verdict
The cost of Forerunner 955 and 945 is the same. Without any cost difference, I will prefer a Forerunner 955 over the Forerunner 945 for two main reasons.
- Multi-band GPS feature support on Forerunner 955
- Touchscreen feature of Forerunner 955
The accuracy of GPS data on Forerunner 955 could add value to the data collected by serious runners.
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