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My Forerunner 945 vs Fenix 5X Plus comments

I just got my Forerunner 945 so I can get rid of my cursed APAC Fenix 5X Plus

Here are my comments on first few hours vs Fenix 5X+ (Partly cross posted from 945 section - sorry but I think it has interest in both places)

Initial Positive : GPS seems a LOT better than 5x+ (only tested with 2.4 firmware on 2.5 km walk)

Better: Screen is more clear than 5X Plus (probably just sapphire vs not on 945 - so maybe more accident prone) - much better contrast as well - back-light at 20% on 945 is brighter than 5x+ at 50%.

Good - screens are a bit more "funky" designed - and have not decided if I like it or not
Good: WiFi seems to have gotten a speed boost at least in my environment (Spotify sync) Now if just Spotify had my podcasts.. :( (ohh - Spotify has updated so now it seems all my podcasts are available...)

Funky: Some fonts look like someone stood on them and slightly deformed them. (Walk default screen - mid data field)

Bad : Buttons does not "feel" as high quality as the 5X+ - buttons are very "plasticky"

Hmm: strap has a strange feel to it. Not the super soft material as the 5X+ (Which wears down quickly) - so maybe an improvement

Bug: Weather Widget - shows current wind-speed of 236 km/h (146mph) - that is a tad on the wrong side - about 10 times to much.

Bug2: Software update via iOS Connect - when screen blanks out on iOS data transfer stopped? But at least it tries to update. Never happened on the 5X+ for me via Wi-Fi.

Bug3: No Sight'N'Go - feature is MIA

Bug4?/Difference : Gesture feature for Backlight is very temperamental so far.

My normal app's:
Stryd apps are updated and compatible.
Datarun - hopefully soon :)
trainasone - hmm - they will probably wait to interface direct with Garmin Training Calendar? Don't know.
ActiFace - not there yet. Might try something new.

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0 R_Tellis over 6 years ago in reply to Heidstocker

I agree. I have 645, F5S+, F5+, and 945. The F5+ watches have the poorest tracks of the bunch but still not terrible.

I’ve been pretty impressed with the 945 GPS tracks so far even on a fairly wooded rail trail.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago in reply to R_Tellis

I also can say that the GPS at the Fenix 5x Plus is not that well than at the 945! Also in the forrest GPS and Galileo works prety well!

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Hi,

I couldn't agree more, kaz911 I too got rid of my Fenix 5s Plus. Never reached up to my expectations. So sad...

I had the 5s plus sapphire (799 euro), sold it and got myself a forerunner 945. Very pleased I made that choise...

Screen is so much more clearer.

The watch is so light and comfortable to wear and to sleep with it, you just don't feel it's on your wrist. I do like the strap also, it is very soft

And then, battery life, compared to my 5s plus, is amazing.

Some very nice features also and very good GPS.

So all in all, very happy with my choice.

I was expecting a lot from my 5s plus but it didn't happend to be, really sad story Garmin, real flaw :-(

0 DerDembo over 6 years ago

I am really not worried too much about the added feature in the 945 compared to my F5+ titanium. What worries me a bit is that Garmin appears to be moving to the Sony GPS chip for all their units. Consequently they will reduce the resources they put into the debugging/developing the GPS features of the older devices such as the F5+ (I think it was SiRF based but I am not sure). So I fear that we have now with regards to accuracy and battery consumption is what we are stuck with for the rest of the life cycle.

0 xv1234 over 6 years ago in reply to DerDembo

And that is a worry, gps on my 5x plus has got worse not better with updates,

0 Former Member over 6 years ago in reply to tigamilla

Hi! I’m thinking of buying the 945, how has it worked out for you? I’m between the Fenix 5x plus and the 945, but after reading all this thread, probably the 945 will be the one. Any thoughts?

0 Dr Phil over 6 years ago in reply to Former Member

Horses for courses but if you were looking at the 5x+ then perhaps consider hanging on for the F6 that will (apparently) be released at the end of the month. Going by the F5+ series it'll likely be a watch that is more robustly constructed than the 945 with features that don't exist on the 945 that you might want. Of course, if the feature set of the 945 is all that you need then go that way. I like my 945. I also like my Marq Athlete too.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago in reply to DerDembo

DerDembo said:
F5+ (I think it was SiRF based but I am not sure)

labs.mediatek.com/.../MT3333

0 sekarb over 6 years ago in reply to DerDembo

never had the 5x plus. But had/now have again 935 and got and returned 945. GPS on 945 seems worse than on 935 to me in terms of acquisition time and reliability under tree cover. May be 5X+ was worse than 935 to begin with?

0 Former Member over 6 years ago in reply to sekarb

I've had no complaints about the GPS on my 5x+ ..