Garmin Watches Lineup the Difference Explained: Fenix vs. Forerunner vs. Vivo vs. Venu

Garmin watches are known for battery performance, fitness tracking activities available, topographic maps, etc. But there are so many different models available which make it hard to comprehend the difference between them and choose the best.

Garmin Forerunner: 35 vs. 45S vs. 235 vs. 245 vs. 645 vs. 935 vs. 945 vs. 735XT

Garmin Forerunner model line is mostly designed for runners and multi-sport athletes. They have a sport-ish look and many fitness activities. None of these watches has a touchscreen. 

The Garmin Forerunner 45/45S have baseline options like tracking runs, notifications, and sleep data and overall is good for those who don't want to pay more for data they don't need. It also has 7 days of battery life.

The Garmin Forerunner 235 is a simpler version of the 935 and 735XT and can be ideal for those who are into fitness and don't need extra smartwatch features.

The Garmin Forerunner 245 is a newer model from 2019, it comes either as a straight update to the 235 or as a Music edition, which adds support for Bluetooth headphones and offline music from services like Spotify or Deezer. Elsewhere, the Forerunner 245 comes in at a strong price, ideal for those who want a full range of sports and performance tracking, as well as smartwatch notifications and lifestyle tracking like sleep.

The Garmin Forerunner 645 is close to the Vivoactive 3 being more as a smartwatch. It is an old version that offers music storage and phone compatibility, has plenty of sports features. The 645 model does not have storage for music but also has a Music modification that comes with onboard music storage.

The Garmin Forerunner 935 with much the same feature set as the Fenix 5, but in a lighter and slightly more affordable package - with a more sporty design. The 935 is better as a sport watch with activity tracking while the 945 is a better smartwatch.

The Garmin Forerunner 945 is the latest top-tier watch from Garmin that takes everything that the Forerunner 935 offers and fills in the gaps. You get music storage, Garmin Pay support, and different sports activities.

The 35 model is the cheapest and has a square shape.

Only the 245/Music, 645/645 Music, 935, and 945 models support Wi-Fi. 

The 245/Music, 645/Music, and 945 models have the most preloaded gym activity profiles while the Forerunner 735XT and 235 have none.

For those who want to listen to music on their watch, have a look at the 245 Music, 645 Music, and the latest top-line 945 model, which has twice as much space as the other two have. These models also support Garmin Pay (except for the 245)), give you an ability to respond to notifications.

To conclude:

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Gamin fenix 5S/5/5 Plus vs. 6s/6/6 Pro vs. 7S/7/7 Sapphire Solar

Recently Garmin released the newest series in its fenix lineup, the fenix 7. Read more about it here.

The fenix lineup is a premium model line with many sport activities for those who need lots of sport data.

Fenix 5 is an updated version of the fenix 3 that has shorter battery life, cheaper price, and lack of some latest features. Also, no heart rate sensor except for the fenix 3 HR which might be hard to find online.

The fenix 5 misses Garmin Pay, and music via Bluetooth headphones offering great sport performance and tracking.

The fenix 5 Plus supports Garmin Pay, and music tho considering all the features the battery life is not as good as the fenix 5 model.

The Garmin fenix 6 offers the top Garmin experience, but also is one of the most expensive. It has three main modifications: the fenix 6S, fenix 6, and the fenix 6X Pro. Each of these models have additional versions: Standard, Pro, and special editions such as Sapphire, Titanium, and Solar. Standard versions miss music storage, wi-fi and other extra features. The Pro options have it all and special editions normally come with a durable display and different bracelets but not different from the Pro modification in terms of features. Read the full Garmin Fenix 6 lineup comparison.

The Garmin fenix 7 works longer and all models are Wi-Fi capable. It also has a touchscreen.

To conclude

epix

The Garmin epix is similar to the fenix lineup but has a better display with higher screen resolution. The watch is made of premium materials. The bezel is passivated stainless steel which is a widely-used metal finishing process that prevents corrosion. The Sapphire Edition bezel is made of carbon gray DLC titanium or pure titanium.

Compared to the fenix series, the epix watch does not last as long.

vívo

Vivo Series includes two big model lines: vívoactive and vivomore. The vívoactive is more like a smartwatch with all the smart features while the vivomore is cheaper, has a different design and the most important part that these are hybrid watches. vívomove is geared towards more day-to-day wear, focusing on features like notifications, sleep monitoring, and remote music controls. The vívoactive is much more of a fitness-focused device.

vívoactive 4 vs. 4S

The vívoactive Series is more like a smartwatch than the Forerunner devices, offering touchscreen rather than button-only control and having the most fitness features to track your data. The vívoactive Series has two modifications: vívoactive 4 and 4S. 

The vívoactive 4S has a smaller size and slightly worse battery performance.

Vivo 4 is similar to both the Garmin Venu (which has an AMOLED display) and the Forerunner 645 Music in terms of functionality, but it's a little more smartwatch when it comes to design.

vívomove 3S vs. 3 vs. Style vs. Sport vs. HR

vívomove watches have all the basic sport data you need as counting calories burnt and stuff like that but more classy-looking and is actually a hybrid. These watches have an OLED display and average battery life.

There are vívomove HR Sport with a silicone band that has a sporty design, and a Premium modification with a leather/suede band that has a classy body.

Other modifications would be vívomove 3S, vívomove Sport, vívomove Style, and vívomove 3. The difference would be the design, colorful display, screen size with the 3S and Sport being the smallest, Style is average and the vívomove 3 is the biggest, they also have different straps. The Sport modification is the lightest and has the most activities.

The vivomove 3S and 3 are different wrists sizes. The vívomove HR sport is made of cheaper materials while the HR Premium has more expensive straps and cases. The vívomove Style has a bright and sharp AMOLED display that is colorful. The Luxe is made of premium materials.

More about the vivomove models' difference.

To conclude

Venu

The Venu series is the newer fitness-related watch similar to the vívoactive Series but has a better display and a touchscreen. There are three modifications, the venu 2S, 2, and 2 Plus. As always the difference between the three is in size and weight when the 2S is for a smaller wrist and the 2 Plus is for a bigger one.

The Venu is equipped with an AMOLED display, slightly smaller than its brother vívoactive, but with a higher resolution. It has four color options to choose from.

Because of the better display, the Venu has shorter battery life but includes music, Garmin Pay, and other sport activities.

Garmin Legacy Hero and Saga

The Hero watches are fashioned after Captain Marvel and Captain America, while the Saga offer Rey or Darth Vadar themed devices. Also, have themed app. Similar to Vivo and Venu in terms of features.

Instinct

There is the Standard & Tactical Edition

These watches are more rugged. Mil-Std 810G protection, proofed to 100m and also being shock-resistant - but this watch also offers 14 days of use. It offers many features but loses some smart options like music, or Garmin Pay support.

Tactical Functionality

Enable stealth mode to stop storing and sharing your GPS position and disable wireless connectivity and communication. Access projected waypoints and a dual-format GPS coordinate data page that supports display of MGRS, degrees/minutes/seconds and more

The Tactical Edition also includes night vision mode which means you can read the screen while you have night vision goggles on.

Tactix

The tactix series brings with it a suite of tactical and military-focused apps. You also have a night vision mode which allows the watch to remain readable while wearing night-vision goggles.

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D2 Air X10 vs. D2 Mach 1

 

Enduro

Specs/Models	Enduro	Enduro 2
Price	$475.49	1079.99
Lens material	Power Glass	Power Sapphire
Strap material	ultra light-weight elastic nylon hook and loop	ultra light-weight elastic nylon hook and loop
Physical size, mm	51 x 51 x 14.9	51 x 51 x 15.6
Display size	1.4	1.4
Resolution	280 x 280	280 x 280
Display type	sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel	sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel
Battery life	up to 50 days/65 days with solar	up to 34 days / 46 days with solar
NFC	yes	yes
GPS	yes	yes
Bluetooth	yes	yes
Wi-Fi	no	yes
Connectivity	Bluetooth, ANT+	Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi
Garmin Pay	yes	yes
Memory	64 MB	32 GB
Water rating, ATM	10	10
Pulse Oximetry	yes	yes
Compass	yes	yes
Accelerometer	yes	yes
Gyroscope	yes	yes
Thermometer	yes	yes
Music storage	N/A	up to 2,000 songs
Text response/Reject phone call with text	yes	yes
Available gym activity profiles	strength, cardio and elliptical training, stair stepping, floor climbing, indoor rowing, breathwork, pilates, yoga	strength, HIIT, cardio and elliptical training, stair stepping, floor climbing, indoor rowing, breathwork, pilates, yoga
Cardio workouts	yes	no
Strength workouts	yes	yes
Automatic REP counting	yes	yes
Compatibility	iPhone, Android	iPhone, Android
Weight, g	71	70

Durable, lightweight with good battery life.

 

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