Garmin Forerunner 935 vs 945 – Comparison of 2023

As the population in the world is ever-growing, people who choose to include fitness and good health into their lives are making the demand for sports watches massive.
At this day and age, the modern youth would insist on saying that these sports watches are becoming essential for having their analytical abilities.

Today, we have the Garmin 935, and its new brother the Garmin 945 to take a close look.
With an in-depth comparison and overview of the two products, we hope we will be able to help you grab the one that you think will be better around your wrist.
Enough rambling here, so without further ado, let us delve right into the details of Garmin 935 vs. 945.
Garmin Forerunner 935 vs 945 – Comparison of 2023
Garmin Forerunner 935
Although the Garmin 935 may not be the newest product on the market, it does not mean that this is a piece of trash; you do not want to undermine this bad boy here.
It has a fantastic plastic body, and you may think that stainless steel would be better.
Well, no, the plastic body of the Garmin 935 allows it to have swimming functionalities, meaning that it is waterproof that is also up to 5 ATM.
It boasts a great 22mm silicone band, which is very comfortable, and the adjustability makes it only better, but you can still switch it up to your personal preference.
You will be getting a 1.2 inches display with 240×240 resolution, which is ample for checking your analytics.
The screen does not support touch capacity, which is not actually bad because trying to swipe with sweat dripping off your fingertips is difficult nonetheless.
There are physical buttons on the left and right side of the watch to navigate the watch’s interface.
The wrist-based heart rate monitor works great, and the GPS is no less in the hardware. To say the least, this sports watch is loaded with sensors, including gyroscope, thermometer, compass, barometer, and altimeter.
Out of all these sensors, the altimeter really makes the 935 stand out because it allows 3D distance and speed, which is great news for athletes such as cyclists.
If that wasn’t enough, it supports external sensors such as heart-rate chest straps.
Along with Bluetooth, the Garmin 935 also has built-in wifi, so you can easily connect your watch to a wifi network and transfer its data to your phone using their app – Garmin Connect.
The accurate distance, heart-rate, and elevation monitoring are marvelous for everyday use, and the GPS works almost flawlessly.
In addition to all that, the 24/7 activity, the 24 hours location tracking, and INSANE battery life make this product noteworthy.
You must also keep in mind that it measures your stress level and shows your workout schedules and your sleep cycle, which is impressive.
PROS
CONS
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Garmin Forerunner 945
If you thought the Garmin 935 had too many features, the Garmin 945 would stretch the list even more.
With its large but sleek and slim design, the Garmin 945 has gotten praises from its customer base for its aesthetics and everything else that it packs.
The 22mm silicone band allows for a nice and secure fit, and it is also adjustable as expected.
Needless to say, you can swap out the silicone bands for something custom and of your own choice.
Moreover, the 240×240 resolution 1.2-inch display of the Forerunner 945 identical to the 935 may not be the sharpest in the market, but it is more than enough for its purpose. Also, the good thing is that it has a low glare and is scratch resistant.
Only physical buttons are present on this model as well, with 3 on the left and 2 on the right, and the good thing is that they fit in smoothly as they aren’t protruding.
This watch is jam-packed with sensors starting from heart rate sensor, barometer altimeter, thermometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, and a new pulse oximeter that has been added, which introduces acclimatization.
The new acclimatization changes how everything is analyzed taking the temperature and altitude into consideration, making this so accurate. Built-in wifi is also present in this watch for ease of connection.
Along with your entire sleep cycle analysis, this watch can analyze over 30 different outdoor and indoor sports making it incredibly precise.
You can also get a reading of your stress levels, thanks to its 24/7 activity measurements.
The GPS feature in this product can be of great help, especially for runners and cyclists who love to explore.
With the additional features, Garmin has also managed to fit some extra battery life.
This little monster can last up to 36 hours with location tracking on up to two weeks of regular use.
You may be glad to hear that this model supports offline listening, so you can store about 1,000 audio tracks for you to have on the go!
PROS
CONS
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Difference between Garmin 945 and Garmin 935 Running watch

Here, we’ll put Garmin 935 and Garmin 945 against each other.
Audio Tracks
You can control your audio tracks with both of the watches, but only the 945 can store tracks for offline listening. Although offline listening is a cool feature, it is a bit of a hit or miss because downloading tracks to your watch isn’t that easy.
Garmin Pay
It isn’t enjoyable to carry your wallet with you when you are going for a run, which is why the Garmin pay might be a good feature to pay with the NFC system. Quite unfortunately, only the forerunner 945 supports this.
Maps
The maps on these two smartwatches are similar, but still, the newer model has a slight upper hand with a few extra details and some more color.
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Sensors
Although the Garmin 935 and 945 have almost all the same features, the 945 has an advantage because of its pulse oximeter, which enables your body analysis to adapt to the surroundings.
The newer model also has an improved heart-rate sensor and better water tolerance.
You should also keep in mind that the battery of the Forerunner 945 is ever so slightly better than the 935.
Cost
Price is an important factor while making a purchase, and we can assure you that both watches is completely budget smartwatches.
However, the newer 945 will cost you about an extra 100 USD over its predecessor.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the diameters of the watch faces?
Both watches have the same diameter of 46.5mm, and the diameter of the watch face is 40.5mm.
Which of the watches can be used to listen to audiobooks?
The Garmin 945 allows you to store and listen to audiobooks.
Can these watches track swimming?
Yes, both of these watches can monitor your burnt calories while swimming, but it is recommended not to be used for long swims.
What are the restrictions on the maps?
The maps of both these products will be of the region you purchase it from.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eHowever, the Forerunner 945 does have an overall better mapping system.
What kind of charging cable is used for the two watches?
The Garmin 945 and 935 both support USB-A charging cables.
Conclusion
Our Garmin 935 vs. 945 guide has provided you with all the essential details about both of these products, and we leave it up to you to decide which one you prefer.
We say, if you have some extra cash lying around, then the upgraded Garmin 945 could be an excellent option for you.
However, if you are on a tight budget, then no worries because the Forerunner 935 is also a solid choice!