Garmin's all-new Forerunner series. <br>Image source: Garmin
Garmin just unveiled a new Forerunner lineup of GPS running smartwatches that is designed to meet the needs of all types of runners. Each of the five new models is built with purpose in both form and function to help runners train smarter and harder.
Forerunner 45 and Forerunner 45S
The Garmin Forerunner 45s (left) and Forerunner 45 (right). <br>Image source: Garmin
The Forerunner 45 and Forerunner 45S are designed for runners who are training for their first race or starting a new exercise plan. The main difference between the two models is the size; the 45S comes in 39mm while the 45 is available in 42mm.
For US$199.99, you get a 1.04-inch display (208 x 208 pixels) made of chemically strengthened glass, waterproof rating of 5 ATM, GPS, heart rate monitor, all-day stress monitoring, Body Battery energy monitoring to gauge your energy reserves so that you can optimize the day for activity and rest, and the standard suite of activity tracking features (e.g. step counter, calories burned, distance traveled).
The Forerunner 45 series offer up to 7 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 13 hours in GPS mode. Retail availability will be sometime this month.
Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 245S
The Garmin Forerunner 245 (left) and Forerunner 245 Music (right). <br>Image source: Garmin
The Forerunner 245 series is slightly more advanced than the Forerunner 45 series; they come with performance monitoring tools like VO2 max and training status with adjustments for heat, recovery time, and aerobic and anaerobic training effects. There is also a wrist-based Pulse Ox sensor to help you gauge how oxygen is being absorbed.
Specs include a 1.2-inch display (240 x 240 pixels) with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, and battery life of up to 7 days in smartwatch mode, up to 24 hours in GPS mode and up to 6 hours in GPS mode with music.
The Forerunner 245 Music can store up to 500 songs and lets you sync playlists from select preloaded music streaming services such as Spotify, or transfer music from a computer. It is available for US$349.99. The Forerunner 245 is priced at US$299.99. Both models are available for purchase now.
Forerunner 945
The Garmin Forerunner 945. <br>Image source: Garmin
Designed for the driven, the qualifiers and the elite, the Forerunner 945 comes with a new feature called training load focus which will sort recent training history into different categories based on activity structure and intensity. There are also additional built-in activity profiles such as skiing, hiking and golfing.
For US$599.99, you get a 1.2-inch display (240 x 240 pixels) with Corning Gorilla Glass DX, music storage of up to 1,000 songs and support for Garmin Pay. The Forerunner 945's battery can last up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode, up to 36 hours in GPS mode, and up to 10 hours in GPS mode with music. It is available now and there is a triathlon bundle consisting of blue and black silicone bands, HRM-Tri, HRM-Swim, and a quick release kit for US$749.99.
Source: Garmin
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