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Happy?

tsprks
over 5 years ago

I know that the majority of people that have purchased the 945 are perfectly happy (I'd assume anyways), but I'm just wondering of the people on these forums how many are happy.  I know I'm not especially.  I debated between the F5+, which I know was basically the 935 in a metal body, and the 945.  I chose the 945 based on the new Firstbeat metrics thinking that I would be wowed.  I like the new software (menus/animations) and the race predictor, but everything else is just sort of ehhh.  I came from a 935 to the 945 so I had about 95% of the functionality anyways. 

Now I'm considering returning the 945 and taking advantage of the sales on the F5+.  At least then I'd get a more rugged watch with a sapphire screen and consistent build versus the 945 that either has to have a screen protector or be 'babied' and has buttons that feel completely different from one minute to the next.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to phn55

    I'm holding up both my 935 and 945 side by side and they're the same color.  I don't know for certain, but the bezels appear to be made from the same materials.  The only difference I see between the two are the button colors and the the button labels imprinted on the 935 are filled with white, while the 945 has no coloring.   I've had my 945 since May 2nd.  Just as I do with my 935, I beat the hell out of it.  There's not a blemish on it.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to phn55

    During two separate recent mountain trail ultra marathons I ran I took some gnarly spills while wearing the 945. One I had to drop hands coming down a rock face and banged my arms off the rocks numerous times. The other time I was just running a rocky technical trail and tripped into a tumble end over end. I immediately went to look at the watch when I got up because I felt it took a direct hit and was for sure going to see it scraped up. Somehow there wasn't a scratch on it. No screen protector. I was probably a little lucky but the watch definitely isn't as delicate as most people think. This is coming from someone who daily uses a Fenix 5 plus but also uses the 945 mainly for ultrarunning due to the good battery life.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Browner40

    true i have the same impression

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    completely happy.

    having a F3 and a F5 before I´m not missing the "more rugged" design, neither is my 945 being "babied" and I don´t have probs with the buttons.

    maybe I´m just lucky. 

    changing from the 945 to F5+? never.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to phn55

    Guessing the same, was/am surprised by how rugged the 935 was... Bumped into walls and had some moments where I though 'ouch, this was a nasty one' and being surprised to not see a mark. 

    Only have the 945 for a month now, but gives me the same feeling...

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    3 things to be REALLY unhappy.

    1. HRM - very bad on my watch during activities, especially when start climbing it suddenly drops to minimum HR values. If not usefull during activities, and as a sensor, on which depend every calculation or report, then what it is for at all?

    2. Battery - Not even close to the technical specs they stated: Yesterday 1:30 hours of cycling, 19% down. And with a moderate activities like 4-5 hours a week I actually charge it twice per week, in order to be sure it will survive. 

    3. Garmin connect  - pretty much everything depends on HR, which is proven not accurate (hundreds of opinions on this matter), in addition, the reporting in the application are often not correct. So now we have wrong input data, and some wrong formulas (or bugs), actually it takes away some happiness points for me. What's the point at all?

    + The support ring on the strap is week, as always. Now they give you 1 extra in the box. But what happens after the second one is gone? 

    I opened many questions, difficult to answer as well. Auto pause, Anaerobic calculation. 

    I am writing this after one month of usage, and actually if I could return it, I would. And I would stay with my old Vivoactive HR, which is quite more accurate, except, that half marathon race is never 21.1 km :) But in my country (Bulgaria) this not possible legally, after the 7th day, and the local Garmin dealer would not make such a gesture to accept it. 

    600$ for an unreliable watch and incorrect reports, my friends are right that I'm crazy. 

    And yes, it's cozy and Garmin...and everything else, but I would go for uncozy, unfamous, but more reliable sports tracker the next time. For sure it will be cheaper. Price does not necessary means quality these days anymore. 

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    I love most things about it as an upgrade to the 935 I had EXCEPT two important things:

    1) The battery life seems way worse. I used to charge the 935 about once every two weeks and I used it for running, biking and golf. With the 945 it seemd to drain in about 5 days with almost no GPS or Music use. I have just turned the backlight setting to After Sunset to see if that helps.

    2) The buttons are sticky and/or spongy. I returned the first one I got for this reason but the second one seems worse now with the Up button being the worst. Funny enough the Start/Stop button is perfect. 

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    Yes! No problems with buttons for me. Best GPS watch have had in 15 years back to the original 201. I use the maps a lot which is probably my favourite feature improvement over the 935 although it does all the sports I regularly do - mostly running but also bike and golf.

    First Beat metrics much improved. Why even my race predictors are now pretty close to reality.

    "Rugged design". Never quite got that. If I drop it from a great height or brush it up against a concrete wall unlikely to fare well but what would.

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    Not really happy:

    1) buttons feeling is unforgivable, I wait a new device from Garmin

    2) garmin pay: nice idea BUT you must have the compatible bank

    3) maps: interesting for road cycling BUT if you want run in dirt tracks ... take a physical regional map it s safer. It unbelievable that so many tracks are missing.

    4) Ui is progressing but far from being perfect

    5) HR sensor finaly accurate for running... yes but only for running, for other sports I use a chest strap, and it doesn t work (yet) under water.

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    Overall happy. Button action seems inconsistent and GPS seems worse than my 230 which is disappointing - this is the biggest single shortcoming on the watch for me. Battery life doesn't live up to the optimistic pronouncements - but I don't mind charging my watch regularly. No worries about getting through a marathon.

    However, the improved metrics (and excellent feature set, incl. music) make up for much of this. I've had this watch for about 5 weeks and worn in 24/7 and have no regrets. I DO hope they improve GPS reception/tracking via software updates however.