Garmin is almost synonymous with fitness and health technology. They have undoubtedly produced the most innovative and high-tech devices that sports enthusiasts all over the world use.
You don’t even have to particularly be a sportsperson to enjoy the advantages of Garmin.
These devices can be used to keep track of your health, and every careful person will benefit from using them.
With that in mind, we are doing a much-awaited Garmin Forerunner 45 vs Vivoactive 3.
These two are among their best watches within the affordable range, so if you’re wondering which one will better serve your requirements, you’re at the right place.
Table of Contents
Garmin Vivoactive 3 vs Forerunner 45 – Comparison of 2021
| Model | Garmin Vivoactive 3 | Garmin Forerunner 45 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Garmin | Garmin |
| Screen Size | 1.2 Inches | 1.04 Inches |
| Human Interface Input | Touchscreen | Buttons |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Item Dimensions | 1.7 x 0.5 x 1.7 inches | 1.65 x 1.65 x 0.45 inches |
| Item Weight | 1.41 ounces | 1.28 ounces |
| Battery life | Up to 7 days; 13 hours GPS | Up to 7 days in smartwatch mode; 14 hours in GPS mode |
| Smart notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Price: | Check Price | Check Price |
Garmin Vivoactive 3
The Vivoactive 3 has some of the best features of their high-end watches placed into an affordable bundle.
And the first thing to love about the watch is its touch display. The touch screen display is smooth and easy to operate.
Therefore, you don’t need to press buttons to work with it, small gestures will let you function it with supreme ease.
On top of that, you also have a side swiping option to scroll through the interface.
So in case your hands are sweaty and the touch is not reacting, you can use the swiping option to check the stats.
It has many dynamic metrics for you to look at, but that doesn’t mean you will be bombarded with stats.
Because of the preloaded sports apps, you can select anything from yoga to hiking, it will show you only the relevant metrics.
But it can also track your activity. So using the tracking option, whether you’re running, cycling, or exercising, the tracker will identify and show the stats that you need.
You can use this to connect with your smartphone and receive notifications from social media apps and other apps.
And you can even receive Uber notifications to know if your driver has arrived.
But it doesn’t stop at notifications. You can also reply and message through the small device.
If you think the Garmin Connect app is only for showing you stats, then you haven’t been keeping up.
The app gets improved constantly, and with it, you can share and compete with others through the app.
You can easily upload your data on the social media of your choice with the app.
Finally, you can use it to track your fitness and stress. It can detect your heart rate and use that to analyze the level of stress you’re under.
Further, it has other fitness indicators to let you know where you stand and where you need to improve.
Specifications:
| Water rating | SWIM, 5 ATM |
| Wrist-based heart rate | Yes |
| Connect IQ support | Yes |
| Wellness Monitoring | Yes |
| Wireless Communication Standard | 802.11g/n |
| Garmin Pay | Yes |
| Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth, GPS |
| Rep counting | Yes |
| Supported Application | Email, GPS, Heart Rate Monitor |
PROS
CONS
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Garmin Forerunner 45
Whether you’re just trying to stay fit or trying to develop yourself, this watch has all the necessary stats and metrics that a runner could need.
You may be a professional sprinter or a casual runner, but this device has got your covered.
With a very accurate GPS, this uses its smart techniques to calculate your pace, heart rate, etc.
This is very user-friendly and has all the features a runner could possibly need. You can wear it 24/7 to track your daily activities.
It can track the steps you take, calories burned, and many other activities. On top of that, it also has a stress monitor to analyze your daily stress levels so that you can understand your physical fitness.
Hence, this isn’t just a support device for when you run, but it can keep track of your health and activities all throughout the day to give you a complete analysis of your health.
For professional runners, is perfect for maintaining and improving their fitness.
But its features don’t stop at analyzing, as it can also use the information to create a personalized training regimen for you.
The adaptive device will plan your routine in the best way to maximize your training when you’re looking to improve yourself.
It has many other features like notifications and emergency contacts. You can view your phone notifications on it.
Also, with the incident detection, it can detect accidents and inform your emergency contact.
Furthermore, you can use it for cycling, exercising, walking, and even yoga by adjusting to specific modes. You can read the full review of this watch.
Specifications:
| Are Batteries Included | Yes |
| GPS | Yes |
| Display Type | LCD |
| Map Type | North America |
| Memory Storage Capacity | 1 GB |
| Other display features | Wireless |
PROS
CONS
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Forerunner 45 or Garmin Vivoactive 3?
If you look at features alone, then the Vivoactive 3 clearly leads, but we wouldn’t rule out the Forerunner 45 either.
Display
While the Vivoactive 3 has a touch display along with a swiping option, the Forerunner 45 uses buttons.
So, if you’re one of the kindred spirits who doesn’t like getting into technicalities, then the Forerunner 45 will be the easier choice.
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Notification
Vivoactive 3 has a lot more going on when it comes to notifications. Not only can you view your notifications, including your social media notifications, but you can also reply to them as well.
On the other hand, with the Forerunner viewing and dismissing, it is pretty much your only option.
Activity Tracking
Forerunner is mainly for running-related features, and they don’t tell you otherwise.
Hence, their features have limitations. So, if you do more than running and are into more diverse sports like hiking, swimming, cardio, and elliptical exercises, then the Vivoactive would be better for you.
However, if you don’t want to be puzzled with too many features and only want to keep an eye on your running stats, then the Forerunner is going to keep it simple for you.
Battery
Both have decent battery life. But the Forerunner edges slightly as it has a 14 hour GPS life.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are the most commonly asked queries regarding the Garmin Vivoactive and the Forerunner:
Which one is better for tracking your daily activities?
Both will be able to track your daily activities in the GPS mode. But if you want more variables, then the Vivoactive will have it.
Can you pay for your purchases on both devices?
No, Vivoactive is the first device to have Garmin Pay features.
For running, which has more features?
For running, the Vivoactive has more features as you can calibrate and set distances. It is also more efficient at customizing to your preferences.
Can you track on the treadmill with the Forerunner?
Yes, you can track exercising and other training activities with the Forerunner.
How accurate are the devices?
Both of the devices are pretty accurate. If you compare it to other devices of a similar price range, then surely these are more accurate.
Final Words
To say we have a clear victor in this Garmin Vivoactive 3 vs Forerunner 45 clash is a bit inaccurate.
Because both the devices are great at doing what they were intended for.So, in the end, it all depends on your preferences.
There are still many who prefer simplicity in their smartwatches, and for them, the Forerunner is still the better of the two.
But if you look at features alone, then surely it’s hard for any device to compete against the feature-studded Vivoactive.