Garmin Forerunner 645

As current events demand, once again, the recent CES (Consumer Electronic Show) 2018 in Las Vegas has been the perfect showcase to learn about the new technologies that are coming this year. In the sports gadgets section, and although it may not seem so, heart rate monitors are still going strong and maintain their validity in being the perfect ally in the training of every athlete. Aware of this basic premise, Garmin has taken advantage of this technology fair to bring out its innovative Garmin Forerunner 645, a high-end sports watch that comes with everything (or almost everything)!

This new heart rate monitor from the Kansas brand makes it clear that the prolific and successful Forerunner saga does nothing but give satisfaction to Garmin. Not long ago we published information related to the Garmin Forerunner 30 as an entry-level GPS sports watch option. But the new good news is that Garmin already has a new member of the family: the Garmin Forerunner 645 This new device is expected to be available from the first quarter of 2018. Its price is already a serious indicator that we are talking about a high-end device from Garmin. The Forerunner 645 is available in two versions, and therefore with their respective selling prices. Thus, the options are to include or not music in the device, which means an investment of 449.99€ with music, and 100€ less, if you opt for the option without integrated music (399.99€).

What's new in the Garmin Forerunner 645

Trying to answer the question of what's new in the Garmin Forerunner 645, we can say that this Garmin FR645 is not the first sports watch that bets on including the option of music in an integral and integrated way in the watch itself, and independently without having to carry a player device, but its bet is more than interesting. In this way, Garmin returns to fill one of the gaps in its extensive catalog of gadgets for athletes.

In the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music option, it has a storage capacity of 4GB, which in practice means that you can carry in the watch up to a total of 500 songs. In this sense, its big plus point is that all this playlist is stored in the watch itself, and if you're wondering: How do you play the music? Plain and simple with good bluetooth headphones, synchronized with the Garmin FR645, and avoiding the obligation to carry additional devices.

In addition, and without leaving the musical plot, if you are in the group of runners who need to tune in to your own pace, you should know that the Garmin Forerunner 645 also gives you the option to connect to music services in the cloud, such as Deezer.

Another innovation introduced by the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music is that it also incorporates the so-called Garmin Pay contactless payment method. Through which you can pay comfortably, simply using your own watch.

This functionality is already operational since the presentation of the Garmin Vivoactive 3. The Garmin Pay system works through wireless NFC payments. Although the nuance to add is that you have to look at its development and collaboration agreements with banks in Spain. The matter is still somewhat green, and we will have to give it time to find out whether or not this works in real practice.

Functionalities and sports features of the Garmin Forerunner 645

Regarding the features, the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music includes everything we have already seen in previous Garmin models, and which are real heavyweights in this sector. Some examples can be the Vivoactive 3 and the Garmin Fenix 5 In fact, it must be said that the American company has bet on the FR645 as the replacement for the Garmin Forerunner 630, which has already become somewhat obsolete.

With this it must be said that most of the novelties of the Garmin Forerunner 645 are further away from the sports side. Moreover, this Forerunner 645 brings nothing new from other reference models of the brand.

To summarize the Garmin Forerunner 645 is a combination of the good things that has the Garmin Vivoactive 3 and the Garmin Forerunner 935, aesthetics included. It brings with it integrated GPS and the Garmin Elevate optical pulse sensor. Two features that will give you detailed performance metrics, offering advanced running dynamics data, and positioning it as a perfect running watch for the runner.

By incorporating aheart rate monitor (HRM Run), or alternatively the Running Dynamics Pod, you will have under control all biomechanical measurements such as cadence, balance, vertical oscillation, stride length and ground contact time.

The Garmin Forerunner 645 also incorporates the new training status function. A section that can come in handy to monitor your performance, and if your training plan is really being effective. The device is able to automatically evaluate your most recent exercise history, as well as your performance indicators.

But not only that, because the Garmin Forerunner 645 offers more training profiles to carry out more personalized physical activity sessions, including cycling, swimming in the pool (distance, pace, number of strokes, etc.) or training exercises in the gym, among others. However, the first drawback is that it is not suitable for multisport or triathlon activities, for example.

In addition, the Garmin Forerunner 645 also incorporates compass, accelerometer, barometric altimeter, gyroscope and thermometer. Not to mention the option of route navigation, either previously created in Garmin Connect, or imported from an app from Connect IQ (Strava type).

Other technical specifications of the Garmin Forerunner 645

On the other hand, the Garmin Forerunner 645 allows you to exercise and stay connected at all times, thanks to its smart features. Synchronized with your smartphone, and through this GPS running watch you can manage your emails, text messages, and even what is cooking in your nearest social networks.

Obviously, and as with all Garmin 600 series, this FR645 is enabled to be used with the Garmin Connect online community to train and share at the same time; or also from the Connect IQ store to customize the device to taste.

On another note, and continuing with the specifications, the Garmin Forerunner 645 features the Garmin Chroma Display, which means you'll have easy and visible reading under the sun with a 12 and 240x240 pixel resolution. It is also protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and a stainless steel bezel that provides resistance. The autonomy of the Garmin FR645 is up to 7 days in smart saving mode, and 5 hours if the GPS is activated and if music is played.

The weight of this Garmin Forerunner 645 is approximately 42 grams, and has dimensions of 42.5x42.5x42.5x13.5mm.

First reviews of the Garmin Forerunner 645

Finally, and as it is clear that it does not always rain to everyone's liking, the staging of the new Garmin Forerunner 645 also comes with criticism, and is that the latest model of Forerunner saga there are aspects that could be better than they are.

For starters it is striking that the FR645 has discarded the use of the touch screen for a classic one, and that it comes with 5 built-in buttons. As we have already noted above, it is also missing that the Garmin Forerunner 645 does not include multisport mode, for example to perform a triathlon or duathlon. Another basic shortcoming is that this GPS sports watch cannot be synchronized with potentiometers.