So MARQ Athlete is just a Forerunner 945 that costs 40% more (and is heavier)

Thank you for correcting the price from 40% more expensive to 150% more expensive.

"Menu animations with a turning Globe"? lol

Yes, 50 m further water resistance and more memory storage is added functionality as I mentioned. But a revolving animated globe is not.

All the features and functions regarding training and everything else is exactly the same.

And according to the specs you get slightly better battery life on 945, so it is not exactly the same.

Well, to be fair to MARQ, you get a domed sapphire which isn't only more scratch resistant, but also might provide better clarity and thus visibility. I think there were pics in another thread comparing Fenix 5 Plus and MARQ side by side, and the latter looked a tad crispier.

Then, in addition to spinning globes, we have a new font, which arguably is better looking, especially at small sizes.

Also, how about ski resort maps on the MARQ?

Last but not least, never underestimate the awesome power of performance indicators right on the watch face, along with a hot-key recall of race predictions screen!.. You know, the world should be cowed by an impressive VO2 Max of 22.

Sarcasm off... I'm somewhat confused too as to why Garmin would undercut MARQ so quickly out of the gate? The watch's not even available for sale in the US yet. They could have held on some Firstbeat goodies for a quarter or more.

Sarcasm off... I'm somewhat confused too as to why Garmin would undercut MARQ so quickly out of the gate? The watch's not even available for sale in the US yet. They could have held on some Firstbeat goodies for a quarter or more.

Different markets. Most people who will buy MARQ Athlete won´t be athletes and they´re not interested in a plastic fantastic GPS running watch. But in board meetings they can look at their MARQ Athlete and reminiscence of their college years when they actually were athletes (and slim).

The athletes on the other hand want a lightweight watch and will go with the 945. The lighter weight will decrease motion artifacts and increase HR accuracy.

So I´m thinking MARQ is for the high-end market and the added "functionality" is knowing that you have paid a higher price and the premium feel(ing) of exclusivity.

The winner is Garmin who can sell the same watch in a different wrapper to different markets with a +150% increase in price.

It’s kind of a lot of VQ2 for anyone. I’m kind of in the “VO2 is maybe not the best measurement for the front of the watch, but, hey, we needed something”.

What the 945 really is, is my Fenix 5+ in plastic, just like DCRainmaker said. I’m probably still gonna Expedition, but it’s hard to realize that I’m going to buy something that’s going to drop more than $1,000 in resale value the moment I put it on my wrist. These guys aren’t going to be collectibles.

It’s also meant as a direct competitor to the Apple Watch, note the fall detection. At this price point, and lets face it, it’ll be down 20% at an REI sale coming to us soon, it’s aimed directly at the AW4.

The MARQ begins and ends with the presentation, the materials, the feel, etc. That's what it's about, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Swiss watches costing many thousands of $/£/€ are often based on a movement that can be had for a fifth of the price in another watch.

Is this the Garmin forum or Let's Run? We're just short of someone calling MARQ owners hobby joggers.

Seriously folks, if you don't see the value in the MARQ series don't buy one. Just because it doesn't meet your use case, price range, or perceived image of what a "Real Athlete" should be wearing doesn't mean that those who buy one aren't training.

Last but not least, never underestimate the awesome power of performance indicators right on the watch face, along with a hot-key recall of race predictions screen!..

More useful feature you can reassign this Race predictor widget call to any another hotkey, and use long press START to more useful feature, like waypoint save or coordinates, or Navigation menu.

Neat feature that now Garmin Pay wallet call can be assigned to hotkeys too. Miss this on f5+.

Next step is to allow implement any user Connect IQ app to be called with hotkeys.

Neat feature that now Garmin Pay wallet call can be assigned to hotkeys too. Miss this on f5+.

Surely this is something Garmin can backport to the 5+ ??? This would be really useful for people who use Pay a lot.