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HEADS UP!!
The full analysis of the Garmin 645 has been published. presentation of the model.
Click here to see all the details and opinion of Garmin's GPS watch.
Garmin is present at the 2018 CES, and has taken a new model under its arm: the Garmin Forerunner 645. This is the renewal of the 630 range, a model that has been quite forgotten within the Garmin range. So forgotten that it has not even been seen during Black Friday, which means that Garmin is not worried about having an excessive stock either.
This presentation includes two different models: the Forerunner 645 and the Forerunner 645 Music.
Usually the watches of the 6xx range have always meant the arrival of new features with respect to running, but this time the novelty is on the less sporty side. Or less technologically sporty. The possibility of playing music is added, but there are no new functions associated with the new model (there will be power measurement when running, but this is common for much of the range).
One thing it has lost is the touch screen, returning to the classic five-button layout - a little strange when the 600 series has always been accompanied by a touch screen, and after the good results of Vivoactive 3 I wouldn't have been so uncomfortable.
Garmin Forerunner 645, new
To be clear and concise, here is a list of what is new in the FR645. I want to emphasize that not all of them are new "per se", simply that the model with which I compare is with the 630 and there are things that were not available before. In fact, except for music playback (in the Music model), there is nothing that we have not seen in other Garmin watches.
- Logically, the 645 Music can play music independently. It is the first model of the brand to allow this, being able to store up to 800 songs (or 4GB, in other words) in memory. The music is stored directly on the watch and will be played through Bluetooth headsets connected to the watch, without carrying any other device with you. You can also synchronize music from cloud services. At the moment it is only available iHeartRadio Plus and Deezer.
- Compatible with Garmin Pay, wireless payments through NFC. Garmin Vivoactive 3 It is logical to think that we would see it in each and every one of the firm's new models, but as I indicated in the test of the Vivoactive 3, at the moment there are no banks with which to use it in Spain.
- Garmin Elevate optical pulse sensor.
- Performance metrics, which are also making inroads across the Garmin range.
- More training profiles. The Garmin FR630 was limited to offering running and cycling along with a generic profile for everything else. In the new FR645 we also have swimming pool profiles, rowing sports, gym training, skiing and snowboarding, etc.
- Barometric altimeter, basic for ski and snowboard modes, and of course for the new Running Power application.
- Route navigation.
- Compass, thermometer and gyroscope.
- Higher quality of materials by using glass lens (Gorilla Glass 3) and stainless steel bezel
- Compatible with Bluetooth sensors (previously ANT+ only).
The specifications are as follows.
- Size: 42.5×42.5×13.5 mm
- Weight: 42.5 grams
- Screen resolution: 240×240 pixels
- Autonomy of 5 hours using GPS and music playback.
So the most important new feature of FR645 is the ability to play music. In December another important new feature came from Garmin, the race power measurement (similar to what is offered by Stryd), but since it requires an external sensor that the clock does not include (HRM-Run, HRM-Tri or race dynamics pod), it is not possible to announce it jointly.
There are other interesting details, such as navigation that will allow you to follow a route previously created in Garmin Connect (or imported through a Connect IQ application such as Strava). We are beginning to see this as a basic function of any mid-range model and not just reserved for the more expensive models.
The addition of Garmin Pay to a Forerunner is also interesting, and it's a feature that will be passed on to the Forerunner range, making it clear what Garmin's intentions are with respect to Garmin Pay. It's clear that they want to promote it and we'll continue to see how the rest of the range will receive it in future launches. They'll need to continue their efforts to be able to reach agreements with more banks and payment service providers.
The FR645 is, in short, a mix between the Garmin Vivoactive 3 and the Garmin Forerunner 935. In fact, the aesthetics are completely similar to the first one, as well as the supported sports profiles. But it is below the FR935 as it does not support triathlon or multisport activities (such as duathlon). It also cannot connect with potentiometers, regardless of whether they are ANT+ or Bluetooth.
Availability and price
The price is £399 for the Garmin Forerunner 645 and £50 more for the FR645 Music (£449) and will be available throughout the first quarter of this year.
As for the colours there are two options for each of the models. The cheaper Forerunner 645, without the possibility of reproducing music, will be offered with a black strap and a beige strap.
The Forerunner 645 Music will have the same black colour plus a red strap.
And if you play the difference game, you'll notice that the color of the buttons changes too.
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It's already available for purchase, both the normal version and the music version. I've already started with the test, so you'll have it published in the next few weeks, stay tuned!
Opinion Garmin Forerunner 645 Music
The new Garmin FR645 will be well received because it completes the huge leap between the Vivoactive 3 and the Forerunner 935. And there is finally a watch in the Garmin lineup that offers the ability to play music independently. It's a model that simply combines things from the Vivoactive 3 and FR935, I think it lacks that "plus" that has always accompanied Garmin's advanced running model.
The list of functions and features do not leave anyone with their mouths open, starting with the 5 hours of autonomy with use of GPS and music that I think is scarce. But we can not expect large numbers when we consider that it is a relatively small watch (the size of a Vivoactive 3) and that the GPS and Bluetooth transmission 3.0 represent a very high consumption.
This launch leaves me wondering if there's room for a future Garmin Forerunner 245. Knowing the Garmin range, I'm sure there is, but... what are they going to take away from it? The competition is tightening and for example the Suunto Spartan Trainer offers a lot for what the replacement for FR235 will presumably cost.
In short... I am left with the feeling that pod could have offered "something more".
And with that... thanks for reading!
Phew, those five hours of battery life will knock anybody off their feet...
Let's hope it's the first of many to incorporate offline music. I have a garmin Fenix 3 and it's the only feature I miss sometimes. I was really hoping for the renewal of the fenix range. Don't they usually present new models of the fenix in El ces de las vegas? I was hoping they would have presented the new garmin 6 with music support and maybe also with Galileo support.
No, the Fenixs have a 2-year "refresh" rate, so it was not due this year.
I think it's a continuation of the Vivoactive 3, in fact, the same watch but with offline music and buttons.
Thanks for the article, I'll pass on that clock, the autonomy leaves a lot to be desired.
Hi, first of all thank you very much for the articles you uploaded, they are really good, they provide a lot of information and you can tell that you devote a lot of "mime" to them, congratulations.
My doubt comes because I'm about to buy a new heart rate monitor. I was looking forward to seeing this new 645, but now I'm getting a cheaper Garmin Fenix 3hr. The use is 80% running and 20% mountain, bike, fitness. Do you think the 645 has improvements over the Fenix 3 that make the 645 a better choice? Like the optical sensor being more accurate because it's newer.
Thank you very much in advance.
Greetings
They are quite different, the Fenix 3 is more intended for mountain use while the 645 is an asphalt race clock. It is basically like the Fenix 5 or the FR935 but with some less software features.
I'm already finalizing the test, it will be available in the next few days.