Is the Garmin Forerunner 245 left behind?

You're now comparing a $300 watch to a $800-1000 watch.

Firmware update frequency itself doesn't really mean anything. If anything, it seems like the Fenix has had more issues that they decided needed fixing sooner rather than later.

FR245 has actually already a lot of new features added since launch (breathworks, widget glances etc.). Generally you shouldn't expect much more than what's advertised/available at launch, nobody buys a watch for new features it might get in the future. What features do you think are missing?

There's a very annoying bug when having widget glances enabled and entering a widget, when you scroll, it shows the widget twice. It's really annoying.

I would like some new visual changes like the new weather widget which was in a beta update but they eventually removed it.

When connecting an external heart rate monitor (like the HRM-Run), if I start an activity, the device's heart rate monitor is still active which it shouldn't.

When scrolling through the calendar widget, it's full of glitches and screen tearing.

There are still a lot of bugs with the music player.

I think if you look at this forum for like 5 minutes, you will find so many more issues...

Seems like YMMV. I haven't come across any of the bugs you list.

What about the "missing features"?

Mr_BananaPants said:

and missing features...

I'm pretty sure the 245 has every feature Garmin says it suppose to have with some additional one's after it's was released with no added cost to the consumer. I'm also interested in what missing features you're talking about?

Mr_BananaPants said:

I think if you look at this forum for like 5 minutes, you will find so many more issues..

You'll always find threads with people that have issues.  This doesn't mean every 245 has those issues. 

Sorry, I didn't really mean "missing features", I meant just new features / improvements. The Fenix series' software design has changed a lot. There are a lot of UI changes which the Forerunners don't have / get. If I pay €350 for my watch (around $400) I can at least expect it will get updates for longer than a year right? My phone which also costs $400 gets a new update every single month and a lot of new features every 3 months. It will also get updates for at least 3 years.

Keep in mind this watch is only 1 year old while older forerunners who are over 4 years old still get updates...

You're again comparing the top of the line high-end watches to what is essentially a (low)mid-end running watch for Garmin. What makes you think they have stopped with the updates? Garmin releases watch updates when they're ready, there's no set schedule.

And what new features have the 4-year-old Forerunners gotten recently?

Might also include so license cost to Firstbeat.

Mr_BananaPants said:

If they can add on-device sleep calculation on the Fenix series, they can also port it to the Forerunner series.

They probably could, but should they?  You purchased your watch for it's capabilities and what you thought was a fair price.  The "I bought my watch expecting new features in the future", or "my phone does this" doesn't cut it.  Future updates are a bonus, not a requirement.  Garmin, along with other companies, practice product differental. This of course makes money for Garmin, but also shows fairness to their customers. How? You'd be very happy to get the new on-device sleep calculations.  Now take look at it from someone who bought a F6.  Why should you get the same features they do when they spend $100's more?  And before you say you're not asking for all the same features, ask yourself where does it end?  You want just this, but I want just that.  If it's added, kudos.  If it isn't, I accept that. 

But. Garmins Sleep detection is one of the worst on the market. Its not a Firstbeat Feature, they caclulate it on its own.

And a question: How can you caclulate a "Body Battery" if you are not able to detect Naps?

As an example. Sleep detection on FR235 or Amazfit or Samsung or Huawei looks like different, but you can read some things. On Garmin? Since day one i changed to the VA3 (from FR235) my sleep breaks down to max 10 minutes REM or Deep Sleep. FR detects a good sleep if you wear it on the other hand. VA4/Venu contunius this horrible result.

On Venu/VA4 they need around 4-5 Weeks to solve massiv battery drain bug.

Garmin dosent care about the customers as they should. The take Apple-Prices for Entry-Level Watches (like VA4/FR235) and you get Amazfit-Features (60€). I opend ~4 cases at garmin. They dont know, they cant solve that.

Additional...pointed to the FR245. Do i have to say more as the "I have a display problem"?