Garmin Forerunner 945 and Fenix 6 are two premium smartwatches by Garmin, and both watches comes with tons of great features. In this guide, I will compare the Garmin Forerunner 945 vs Fenix 6, and we will see which one is a better option for you.
Garmin is a popular company, and it offers a variety of great watches. Garmin Forerunner 945 and Fenix 6 are top of the line smartwatches by the company, and many people are comparing both watches because of their same price point.
Here is an article on my website that you must read, its about Garmin Connect VS Samsung Health VS Apple Health – Our Pick.
That’s why I decide to make this comparison so that you could know which one is a better option for you. Let’s take a look at the comparison.
Table of Contents
Let’s Compare The Garmin Forerunner 945 VS Fenix 6
Pricing
Let’s start with the pricing of both watches. Garmin Forerunner is a premium watch, and you can get it for $599, almost $600. On the other hand, Garmin Fenix 6 comes in three different versions, and the pricing of each version varies depending on the features you want to get.
The Fenix 6S is available for $599, Pro version is available for $699 with maps, and if you add the sapphire glass, then it would cost you $799. Similarly, Fenix 6, which is the 47mm version, comes with a price tag of $599, pro version cost $699, and the addition of sapphire glass would cost you an additional $100.
The Fenix 6X, which is 51 MM version, is available for $749.99, and if you want the sapphire glass on your watch, then it would cost you an additional $100.
So, in terms of pricing, both watches start at the same price, but if you want additional features such as maps or sapphire glass, then it will cost you an additional $200.
I have written a post that will explain to you what is Garmin Sapphire edition? is it worth it?
Design & Material Choices
The designs of Garmin Forerunner 945 and Fenix 6 are very different from each other. Garmin Forerunner 945 comes with minimalistic design, and it looks good.
The watch uses the fiber-reinforced polymer on the sides and Corning Gorilla Glass on top for protection. The problem with Forerunner 945 is that it only comes in 47mm Size, which means it will be very large for people with small wrists.
On the other hand, Fenix 6 comes with great design. The 6S version comes with a simple bezel, but the other versions come with a bezel that has screws.
The body of Fenix 6 features the fiber-reinforced polymer with a metal cover on the rear side. Fenix 6 also comes in 3 sizes: 42mm, 47 mm, and 51mm. You also get the option to add the sapphire glass instead of corning gorilla glass.
In terms of design, both watches are equivalent, but in terms of material choices & choice in general, Fenix 6 has the edge over the Forerunner 945.
Display
The Forerunner 945 comes with 1.2”, 240 x 240 resolution display, and it is similar to the one which you get on the Garmin Fenix 6S.
However, Garmin Fenix 6 comes with 1.3”, 240 x 240 resolution display, and Fenix 6X comes with 1.4”, 280×280 resolution display.
In terms of Display, Fenix 6 has the edge over the Garmin Forerunner 945, and this extra resolution drastically changes the quality of the display and viewing angles.
So, if you want a watch with a better display, then you should go for Garmin Fenix 6.
Sensors
Garmin Forerunner 945 and Fenix 6 are premium watches, and both of them are equipped with tons of great features. The watches come with these sensors.
| Sensors | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Fenix 6 |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| GLONASS | Yes | Yes |
| GALILEO | Yes | Yes |
| GARMIN ELEVATE | Yes | Yes |
| BAROMETRIC ALTIMETER | Yes | Yes |
| COMPASS | Yes | Yes |
| GYROSCOPE | Yes | Yes |
| ACCELEROMETER | Yes | Yes |
| THERMOMETER | Yes | Yes |
| PULSE OX | Yes | Yes |
As you can see in the above table, Garmin Forerunner 945 and Garmin Fenix 6 are equipped with a lot of sensors, so no matter which watch you choose, you will have access to all necessary sensors.
Weight & Durability
When it comes to smartwatches, weight is a very important factor because if you pick a heavier watch, then it will be difficult for you to wear it all day. That’s why it is always recommended to go for a lightweight, which you could wear all day.
The Garmin Forerunner 945 has a weight of 50g, and it can vary if you attach the metal band with it. On the other hand, the weight of Fenix 6 varies depending on the version you pick. The Fenix 6S weighs only 44g without the band, and with the silicone band, it weighs 61g.
Similarly, the steel version of Fenix 6 weighs 60g without strap and 83g with the silicone strap. The titanium version of the Fenix 6 weighs only 49g and 72g with the silicone strap. The steel version of the Fenix 6X weighs 66g without the strap, and with the silicone strap, it weighs around 93g.
So, in term of weight, Fenix 6 is lighter than the Forerunner 945. If you pick the Fenix 6S, then it is 6g lighter than the Forerunner 945, and it may not seem a huge difference, but in real life, it can have a great effect.
If we compare the durability of both watches, the body of both watches is durable. However, if we compare the glass options you get, Fenix 6 with sapphire glass is more durable as compared to Forerunner 945 with Gorilla Glass. So, if you are willing to spend an extra $100, then you should pick the sapphire glass option for extra durability.
Water Resistance
Water Resistance is another essential attribute which you should consider when buying a smartwatch. As we suppose to wear the smartwatch, all day, it should be able to handle the water. Most smartwatches these days come with water resistance, but their ability to handle water depends on their water-resistant rating.
Garmin Forerunner 945 comes with a water rating of 5 ATM, which means it can handle water pressure equivalent to a depth of 50 meters. The water rating of 5 ATM means that you can wear the watch during swimming, rain, showering, and diving into the water.
On the other hand, Garmin Fenix 6 comes with the Water Rating of 10 ATM, which means it can handle the water pressure equivalent to a depth of 100 meters.
It means that you can wear it in the rain, snow, swimming, diving into the water, and high-speed water sports. So, if you are planning on using the watch around water and looking for the one with the higher water resistance rating, then Garmin Fenix 6 is a solid option for you.
Battery Life
The good thing about Garmin watches is that most of them offer excellent battery life, and there is no exception with Garmin Forerunner 945 and Fenix 6.
Garmin Forerunner 945 promises the battery life of up to 14 days (Two Weeks) without GPS. If you enable the GPS, then it will last for 36 hours, and if you use the music along with GPS, then it will last for 10 hours.
On the other hand, Fenix 6s promises the battery life of 9 days with no GPS. If you enable the GPS, then it will offer around 25 hours of battery life, and if you use the music with GPS, then it will last for 6 hours.
Fenix 6 promises the battery life of 14 days, which you can extend to 48 days with battery saver mode. If you enable the GPS, then it will last for 36 hours, and with music, it will last for 10 hours.
Fenix 6X Promises the battery life of up to 21 days, which you can extend to 80 days with battery saver mode. If you enable the GPS, then it can last for 60 hours, and with music, it will offer the battery life 15 hours. In terms of Battery performance, Garmin Forerunner 945 and Fenix 6 are very similar, but Fenix 6X offers better battery life.
You can check out my post on Which Garmin Watch Has The Best Display & Best Battery Life?
Health Features
The Health Features of Garmin Forerunner 945 and Fenix 6 are very similar, and both devices have a lot of common features. These are some of the Health Features which are available on both devices.
- Step Counter
- Move Bar
- Auto Goal
- Calories Burned
- Floors Climbed
- Distance Traveled
- Intensity Minutes
- True Up
- Move IQ
- Incident detection (select activities)
- Live track
- Cardio Workout
- Yoga Workout
- Strength Workout
- Automatic Rep Counting
Conclusion
Garmin Forerunner 945 and Fenix 6 are two excellent smartwatches, and both of them come with a lot of great features, but there are some major differences that I explained in the above section.
If we have an overall look at both watches, then we notice that Fenix 6 offers better features, and it is a great package overall.
Fenix 6 also offers more options as compared to the Forerunner 945, so if you want to pick the durable add-ons such as Maps & Sapphire Glass, then Fenix 6 is the best option for you.
Another post that will interest you is about the Best 8 Garmin Watches To Use With Strava In 2024.
As a professional trainer and a gadget lover, I’ve spent a lot of money and time buying wearable activity trackers, smartwatches, and gadgets, and checking them out. My site is focused on helping you with your activity tracking and smart technology journey. I try to provide the most helpful updated content on this subject. Hopefully, you will love my blogs and be a regular around here.
