Having a fitness companion like the Garmin Forerunner helps you in so many ways, from tracking workouts to monitoring health directly from your wrist.
Two of the popular models from the Forerunner series are the Garmin Forerunner 45 and the Garmin Forerunner 55. These entry level smartwatches have so much to offer for every individual.
If you are planning to buy either of these smartwatches, then read all the way to the end to choose your best personal fitness companion.
Key Takeaways
There’s hardly any difference between the FR 45 and FR 55, as both of them offer a 1.04” (208 x 208 pixels) transflective memory-in-pixel display with a super lightweight, rounded design and silicone band for comfort.
Garmin Forerunner 45 Vs. Forerunner 55: Comparison
| Device name | Garmin Forerunner 45 | Garmin Forerunner 55 |
|---|---|---|
| Device type | Smartwatch | Smartwatch |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Release date | April, 2019 | June, 2021 |
| Versions | Standard edition | Standard edition |
| Body | ||
| Dimension | 42 x 42 x 11.4 mm | 42 x 42 x 11.6 mm |
| Weight | 36 grams | 37 grams |
| Shape | Circular | Circular |
| Case material | Fiber-Reinforced Polymer | Fiber-Reinforced Polymer |
| Strap material | Silicone | Silicone |
| Bezel material | Fiber-Reinforced Polymer | Fiber-Reinforced Polymer |
| Strap size | 20 mm | 20 mm |
| Screen protection | Chemically Strengthened Glass | Chemically Strengthened Glass |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Swim-proof | Yes, recommended | Yes, recommended |
| Display | ||
| Display size | 1.04 inch | 1.04 inch |
| Display type | Transflective Memory-in-pixel | Transflective Memory-in-pixel |
| Display resolution | 208 x 208 pixels | 208 x 208 pixels |
| Pixel density | — | — |
| Always on | Yes | Yes |
| Custom watch face | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Connectivity | ||
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth calling | No | No |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | — | — |
| Internal Storage | — | 32 MB |
| Memory card slot | No | No |
| Cellular Connectivity | ||
| Technology | None | None |
| SIM type | None | None |
| Band | — | — |
| Sensors | ||
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Altimeter | No | No |
| Ambient light | No | No |
| Barometer | No | No |
| Compass | No | No |
| ECG | No | No |
| Gyroscope | No | No |
| HRM | No | No |
| Pulse oximeter (SpO2) | No | No |
| Thermometer | No | No |
| Battery | ||
| Battery type | non-removable Lithium-polymer | non-removable Lithium-polymer |
| Battery capacity | — | — |
| Battery life | 7 days | 14 days |
| Charging type | Plug Charger | Plug Charger |
| Charging time | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours |
| Solar charging | No | No |
Price
In terms of their pricing, both devices come with the same price tag of $199, but the only difference is that you get white, black, and aqua colour in the FR 55 and lava red and black colour in the FR 45.
The FR 45 also has a 39 mm (Forerunner 45S) model, which is suitable for women or individuals with a smaller wrist. It comes in iris, white, and black colorways.
Design
Both of these smartwatches are identical in every aspect except a few things, which we’ll save in the coming sections.
But if we talk about these designs, both devices come with the same rounded design with five buttons (two on the right and three on the left).
Both devices are housed in a fiber-reinforced polymer with chemically strengthened glass on top, providing scratch resistance and durability from wear and tear.
The Forerunner 45 measures 42 x 42 x 11.4 mm and weighs 36 grams, while the Forerunner 55 has a slight difference of 42 x 42 x 11.6 mm and weighs 37 grams meaning you can wear these devices for a long time without feeling them on your wrist.
In terms of display, both have a 1.4” (280 x 280 pixels) transflective memory-in-pixel display, and the display is bright so you can see the content even in direct sunlight.
They come with a water rating of 5 ATM, so you can wear them while swimming and showering.
Health and Activity Tracking
This is where the Garmin Forerunner 55 takes the lead, with a few additional features that are not available in the Garmin Forerunner 45.
But first, let’s talk about similarities. Both have a heart rate monitor, resting HR tracking, abnormal HR alerts, a body battery energy monitor, and stress monitoring.
Two additional features that are available in the FR 55 are hydration and women’s health monitoring.
In terms of sleep monitoring, both can track sleep in multiple stages, including deep, light, and REM stages, and sync them all in the Garmin app for a deeper understanding of your overall sleep metrics.
If we talk about activity tracking, the Forerunner 55 offers more sports modes compared to the Forerunner 45, which you can see in the chart below. So if you are an adventure seeker and play various sports, then the Garmin Forerunner 55 might be a way to go.
| Category | Garmin Forerunner 45 | Garmin Forerunner 55 |
|---|---|---|
| Gym | Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping | HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping |
| Wellness | Yoga | Walking, Pilates, Yoga |
| Indoor Running | Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running | Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Virtual Running |
| Outdoor Running | Running | Running, Outdoor Track Running |
| Cycling | Biking | Biking, Indoor Biking |
| Swim | — | Pool Swimming |
They both offer basic features such as a step counter, calories burned, distance travelled, and intensity minutes.
Plus, some additional training features such as HR zones, interval training, VO2 max, customisable training plans, and much more.
Smartwatch Features
Garmin devices are not designed for other smartwatch functionalities like mini apps, Bluetooth calling, and games that you get on other Android or Apple watches, but they do offer a few basic functionalities such as Connect IQ Store, smart notifications, calendars, weather forecasts, smartphone music control, find my phone, and find my watch.
They are also compatible with a wide range of iOS and Android devices and offer Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity as well.
Battery Life
In terms of battery life, the Garmin Forerunner 55 can last up to 2 weeks before needing to charge it again, while the Garmin Forerunner 45 can only last for up to 7 days, which is not bad but not as good as the later one.
They also have GPS mode, which decreases the battery life to 20 hours in FR 55 and only 13 hours in FR 45.
Both come with a Garmin proprietary plug charger, which takes 1.5 hours to fully charge the device.
Verdict
As I said earlier, both of these devices are identical in every aspect, but the Garmin Forerunner 55 offers various features that you don’t get in the Forerunner 45.
So if you are confused between these smartwatches, then the Forerunner 55 has all the features you’ll need without putting a dent in your pocket.
Read more Garmin Forerunner 55 comparisons below: