Garmin Forerunner 35 vs 45 vs 45S: Full Specification And Features

Garmin Forerunner 35 vs 45 vs 45S are three great running watches from the same family.

But which one of these should you buy if you are looking for a new running watch?

In this post, we will take a look at all the features and specifications of each of these watches to help you decide.

General  Features: Garmin Forerunner

Device NameGarmin Forerunner 45Garmin Forerunner 45SGarmin Forerunner 35
Device TypeSporty/Fitness smartwatchSporty/Fitness smartwatchSporty/Fitness smartwatch
GenderUnisexUnisexUnisex
Predecessor Garmin Forerunner 35Garmin Forerunner 35
SuccessorGarmin Forerunner 55Garmin Forerunner 55Garmin Forerunner 45
Release DateAugust 2019August 2019August 2016
Box ItemsForerunner 45, USB, Straps  Charging cable, Quick start guideGarmin Forerunner 45S, Straps, USB charging cable, Quick start guideForerunner 35, Charging cable, Manual
SensorsGPS, Garmin Elevate Wrist Heart Rate Monitor, AccelerometerGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, Garmin Elevate Wrist Heart Rate Monitor, AccelerometerGPS, Garmin Elevate Wrist Heart Rate Monitor, Accelerometer

Design:

Device NameGarmin Forerunner 45Garmin Forerunner 45SGarmin Forerunner 35
Dimensions42 x 42 x 11.4 mm39.5 x 39.5 x 11.4 mm35.5 x 40.7 x 13.3 mm
WeightSmall: 32g Large: 36 gSmall: 32 g Large: 36 g37.3 g
ShapeCircularCircularCircular
Casing MaterialThermoplasticThermoplasticPolymer
Strap MaterialSiliconesiliconesilicone
Strap Size129-197 mm124-185 mm140-200 mm
ColorsBlack, redWhite, purpleBlack, Blue, White, Limelight
Water Resistance5 ATM5 ATM5 ATM

 Display:

Device NameGarmin Forerunner 45Garmin Forerunner 45S
Screen Size1.04″ (26.3 mm) diameter1.04″ (26.3 mm) diameter0.93″ x 0.93″ (23.5 x 23.4 mm)
Screen technologysunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)
Screen Resolution208 x 208 pixels208 x 208 pixels128 x 128 pixels
Screen Protectionchemically strengthened glasschemically strengthened glasschemically strengthened glass
Touchscreen
Always on DisplayYesYesYes
Wake up

Smartwatch Features:

Device NameGarmin Forerunner 45Garmin Forerunner 45SGarmin Forerunner 35
Operation SystemGarmin OsGarmin OsGarmin Os
Companion AppGarmin ConnectGarmin ConnectGarmin Connect
CompatibilityiPhone, AndroidiPhone, AndroidiPhone, Android
ConnectivityBluetoothBluetoothBluetooth
MusicNoNoNo
Contactless Payment:NoNoNo
App Stores: Garmin Connect IQYesYesYes
CallsYesYesYes
SMSYesYesYes
EmailYesYesYes
CalendarYesYesYes
Weather ForecastYesYesYes
TimerYesYesYes

Health & Safety Features:

Device NameGarmin Forerunner 45Garmin Forerunner 45SGarmin Forerunner 35
Heart RateYesYesYes
Daily Resting Heart RateYesYesYes
Abnormal Heart Rate AlertsYesYesNo
Respiration Rate (24×7)NoNoNo
Pulse Ox Blood Oxygen SaturationNoNoNo
Fitness AgeYesYesNo
Body Battery™ Energy MonitorYesYesNo
Sleep TrackingYes (advanced)Yes (advanced)Yes (advanced)
Sleep Score And InsightsNoNoNo
Stress TrackingNoNoNo
All-Day StressYesYesNo
Relaxation RemindersNoNoNo
Relaxation Breathing TimerYesYesNo
Menstrual TrackingNoNoNo
Fall DetectionNoNoNo
HydrationNoNoYes (in Garmin Connect™)
Women’s HealthNoNoYes (in Garmin Connect™)
Health SnapshotNoNoNo

Activity Tracking:

Device NameGarmin Forerunner 45Garmin Forerunner 45SGarmin Forerunner 35
Calories Intake BurnedYesYesYes
DistanceYesYesYes
StepsYesYesYes
Sleep QualityNoNoNo
Active MinutesNoNoNo
Move Bar (Displays On Device After A Period Of Inactivity; Walk For A Couple Of Minutes To Reset It)YesYesYes
Auto Goal (Learns Your Activity Level And Assigns A Daily Step Goal)YesYesYes
Floors ClimbedNoNoNo
Intensity MinutesYesYesYes
Trueup™YesYesYes
Move Iq™YesYesYes
Garmin Connect™ Challenges AppNoNoNo

Sports Features:

Running:

Device NameGarmin Forerunner 45Garmin Forerunner 45SGarmin Forerunner 35
Available Run ProfilesRunning, Treadmill Running. Indoor Track Running may be added through the appRunning, Treadmill Running. Indoor Track Running may be added through the appRunning, Indoor Track Running, Treadmill Running
Gps-Based Distance, Time And PaceYesYesYes
Cadence (Provides Real-Time Number Of Steps Per Minute)YesYesYes
Run WorkoutsYesYesNo
Foot Pod CapableYesYesYes

Swimming:

Device NameGarmin Forerunner 45Garmin Forerunner 45SGarmin Forerunner 35
AVAILABLE SWIM PROFILESNoNoNo
Pool Swim Metrics (Lengths, Distance, Pace, Stroke Count, Swim Efficiency (Swolf), Calories)NoNoNo
Stroke Type Detection (Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly) (Pool Swim Only)NoNoNo
Basic Rest Timer (Up From 0) (Pool Swim Only)NoNoNo
Time And Distance AlertsNoNoNo
Underwater Wrist-Based Heart RateNoNoNo

Cycling:

Device NameGarmin Forerunner 45Garmin Forerunner 45SGarmin Forerunner 35
Alerts (Triggers Alarm When You Reach Goals Including Time, Distance, Heart Rate Or Calories)YesYesYes
Available Cycling ProfilesBiking. Indoor Biking may be added through the appBiking. Indoor Biking may be added through the appBiking, Indoor Biking
Compatible With Varia™ Radar (Rear-Facing Radar)NoNoNo
Compatible With Varia™ LightsNoNoNo
Speed And Cadence Sensor Support (W/Sensor)YesYesYes

Golfing Features:

Device NameGarmin Forerunner 45Garmin Forerunner 45SGarmin Forerunner 35
Yardage To F/M/B (Distance To Front, Middle, And Back Of Green)NoNoNo
Yardage To Layups/DoglegsNoNoNo
Measures Shot DistanceNoNoNo
Digital ScorecardNoNoNo
Stat Tracking (Strokes, Putts Per Round, Greens And Fairways Hit)NoNoNo
Garmin Autoshot™NoNoNo
Green View With Manual Pin PositionNoNoNo
Hazards And Course TargetsNoNoNo
PinpointerNoNoNo
Round Timer/OdometerNoNoNo
Automatic Club Tracking Compatible (Requires Accessory)NoNoNo

Gym & Fitness Equipment:

Device NameGarmin Forerunner 45Garmin Forerunner 45SGarmin Forerunner 35
Available Gym Activity ProfilesCardio TrainingCardio and Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Yoga may be added through the appCardio Training
Cardio WorkoutsNoNoNo
Strength WorkoutsNoNoNo
HIIT WorkoutsNoNoNo
Yoga WorkoutsNoNoNo
Pilates WorkoutsNoNoNo
On-Screen Workout AnimationsNoNoNo
On-Screen Workout Muscle MapsNoNoNo
Automatic Rep CountingNoNoNo

Battery and Charging:

Device NameGarmin Forerunner 45Garmin Forerunner 45SGarmin Forerunner 35
Battery LifeSmartwatch Mode: Up to 7 daysGPS mode: Up to 13 hoursSmartwatch Mode: Up to 7 days,GPS mode: Up to 13 hoursUp to 9 daysGPS mode: Up to 13 hours
Battery CapacityNot specifiedNot specifiedNot specified
Charging TypeCharging cradleCharging cradleCharging cradle
Charging TimeAbout 1-2 hoursAbout 1-2 hoursAbout 1-2 hours
Fast Charging SupportNoNoNo

Also check Apple series 7 watch vs Garmin Forerunner 945.