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Forerunner 245 vs old Fenix 3?

b3nb123
over 4 years ago

Now the 245 is on sale on Amazon, I'm getting tempted! I've been using a slightly battered Fenix 3 HR for a couple of years and as far as I can see it does everything I could ever want, the usual metrics, basic nav, hr etc.

Is there anything, other than smarter and faster menus that I'd gain from upgrading? I'd love to know people's thoughts. 

Any cleverer widgets or watchfaces I wouldn't get on the fenix? Any cleverer running data screens or fields than I'm used to? 

Is it much smaller than the fenix? I quite like the bulky feel of this old thing. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Have a look at DC rainmakers incredibly thorough review. From that you should be able to decide. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    You'll lose a baro sensor, I don't know if that's important to you..  If you like the bulky feel, why don't you look at a Fenix 5?  You can get them pretty cheap now

  • +1 over 4 years ago

    In a nutshell, you'll get the Body Battery, Stress and SpO2 metrics. But you'll lose maps/nav/altimeter/barometer.

    The 245 comes in a plastic shell and have a GorillaGlass face (pretty sturdy) and weighs about half the F3. HR is measured constantly, usually precise readings.

    I've been using the 245 for a year, and it went through some hard times, including a bike crash. Minor scratches aside, still good to go and ready for fun haha (note: no cracks on OHR as the 935/945).

    What can you say about the F3 on the other hand? I've started triathlon training and the bargain-ish Fenix 3 prices caught my attention. Really interested because of the multisport mode.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to 3155563

    Thanks 3155563. That's an extremely helpful answer. As mine is the old fenix 3 I believe the mapping acts about the same as the 245 (just a line to follow, no map) so nothing gained there. 

    If I'm losing a couple of sensors and only really gaining blood o2 then I'm thinking, despite a newer and faster interface, it's no upgrade at all to spend money on the 245. Cheap as it is right now at £170!

    My old Fenix 3 wears its patina quite well, and dresses up or down with leather, perhaps better than a 245 would. 

    I'll try and get over my new gear obsession! 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to b3nb123

    F6 is correct upgrade. Replace F3 by Fr245 is not a good way by me. I don't know where are you from, but in my country is F6 cheaper than Fr745 or 945.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to PavelV

    I did start looking at used Fenix 6 models instead of the 245... but now I'm seeing Forerunner 645 music available for £200 in the UK as it's Black Friday season. So tempted! Literally my only concern is it might feel too dainty now I'm used to the Fenix 3 size.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to b3nb123

    I'm afraid you don't get any new with Fr645 vs F3. By me, nothing. Fr645 is older article than Fr245. Fr245 have Body Battery, Stress Score, Pulse Ox, PacePro. Fr645 not. Many other features have F6. Fr645 nothing from this.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to b3nb123

    I don't recall where it was, but 645 owners were complaining about discontinued or late support/updates for this series.

    245's allegedly were receiving more firmware updates - thus improving it's funcionality - whereas the 645 wasn't.

    Since it all calls for speculation, more research on the topic would be advisable!

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to 3155563

    My old Fenix 3 got an update just a couple of days ago, weird they would support such an old device and not the newer one. Perhaps the 645 already did things right! 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to PavelV

    From what I can see, the 645 is the cheapest of the models that does include all the Fenix 3's features, altitude etc. Also has music, and... I use dwMaps quite a bit... the 645 with dwMaps has Google Maps graphical overlays on navigation. I'm yet to see how well it performs though