Upgrade guide: The Forerunner 945 is no longer available for purchase. This comparison is intended for existing Forerunner 945 owners considering whether to upgrade to the Forerunner 970.
Garmin · Forerunner Series · 2025
Forerunner 970
AMOLED · Sapphire Glass · Multi-band GPS · ECG · Titanium Bezel · Speaker & Mic · 32 GB · 36 mm
VS
Garmin · Forerunner Series · Discontinued
Forerunner 945
MIP Display · Gorilla Glass 3 DX · Standard GPS · No ECG · Polymer Bezel · No Speaker / Mic · 16 GB · 33 mm
454 × 454 px
Display Resolution
Multi-band GPS
GPS Type
240 × 240 px
Display Resolution
Standard GPS
GPS Type
⭐
Feature Scores at a Glance
Display
GPS Accuracy
Health & ECG
Build Quality
Features
Display — AMOLED vs MIP
Forerunner 970
AMOLED display — the Forerunner 970 uses an AMOLED panel, delivering vivid colours, deep true blacks, and significantly higher brightness than the MIP screen on the Forerunner 945. The step up in display quality is one of the most immediately noticeable improvements in the upgrade.
454 × 454 px · 36 mm dial — nearly four times the pixel count of the Forerunner 945, rendered across a larger 36 mm display. Maps, data fields, training metrics, and watch faces all appear dramatically sharper and more detailed.
Touchscreen — the Forerunner 970 supports touchscreen input alongside the physical buttons, enabling more intuitive navigation of menus, maps, and workout data during and outside of activities.
Ambient light sensor — automatically adjusts display brightness based on surrounding light conditions, improving outdoor readability and conserving battery in low-light environments without manual intervention.
Forerunner 945
MIP (Memory-in-Pixel) display — the Forerunner 945 uses a MIP screen, a reflective low-power technology. MIP panels are always-on by nature and perform well in direct sunlight, but lack the brightness, contrast, and colour depth of AMOLED displays.
240 × 240 px · 33 mm dial — the Forerunner 945's resolution is adequate for numeric data fields and basic Garmin watch faces, but map rendering and graphical elements appear noticeably less detailed compared to the Forerunner 970's display.
No touchscreen — the Forerunner 945 is button-only, with no touchscreen support. All navigation is performed via the five physical buttons, which is efficient for training but less flexible than the hybrid interface on the 970.
Excellent sunlight readability — the MIP display's reflective technology is inherently readable in bright sunlight without needing high brightness. This remains a practical advantage for outdoor athletes over multi-hour sessions in full sun.
GPS, Multi-band & Satellite Systems
Forerunner 970
Multi-band GPS — the Forerunner 970 pulls positioning data from multiple satellite frequencies simultaneously. When signal quality from one system is weak, the watch draws from another, delivering more reliable and accurate GPS across all environments and conditions.
Superior urban and trail performance — multi-band GPS is especially valuable in dense cities with tall buildings, deep forest trails, and remote mountain terrain where single-band GPS is prone to drifting or losing lock during workouts.
GPS · GLONASS · Galileo · QZSS · BeiDou — additional sensors for QZSS (Japan) and BeiDou (China) provide meaningfully improved GPS connectivity and accuracy for users training or competing in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.
SatIQ technology — automatically manages multi-band mode, switching it on only when signal conditions require it. This protects battery life while ensuring maximum GPS accuracy is available whenever it is genuinely needed.
Forerunner 945
Standard single-band GPS — the Forerunner 945 uses standard single-band GPS, which is reliable and accurate in open-sky conditions. For road running and cycling on clear routes, it performs well for most training needs.
No multi-band GPS — without multi-band capability, the Forerunner 945 is more susceptible to GPS drift in challenging environments such as city canyons, dense woodland, and remote terrain where signal quality is compromised.
GPS · GLONASS · Galileo — three-network satellite support provides solid and reliable global coverage for users across Europe, North America, and most of the world in standard training conditions.
Proven and dependable — the Forerunner 945 has delivered consistent GPS performance for athletes over several years. In open conditions, the gap with the 970 is minimal, and the 945 remains a capable GPS device for most training environments.
Health Monitoring & ECG
Forerunner 970
Garmin ECG App compatible — the Forerunner 970 supports Garmin's FDA-approved ECG app, enabling on-demand electrocardiogram readings that can be taken at any time and shared with a medical specialist. Valuable for detecting and monitoring heart rhythm irregularities.
24/7 heart rate monitoring — continuous optical heart rate tracking for daily wellness, training load, and recovery monitoring.
Pulse Ox, stress & Body Battery — HRV-based stress monitoring, SpO₂ blood oxygen tracking, and Garmin's Body Battery energy gauge for comprehensive daily health awareness.
Advanced sleep tracking — multi-stage sleep monitoring with Garmin Sleep Score, providing detailed nightly insights into sleep quality and overnight recovery.
Forerunner 945
No Garmin ECG App support — the Forerunner 945 is not compatible with the Garmin ECG app and cannot record electrocardiogram data. Users who need wrist-based cardiac rhythm monitoring should consider upgrading to the Forerunner 970.
24/7 heart rate monitoring — same continuous optical heart rate tracking as the Forerunner 970 for training and daily health monitoring.
Pulse Ox, stress & Body Battery — same SpO₂, HRV stress, and Body Battery tracking as the Forerunner 970 for everyday wellness management.
Advanced sleep tracking — same multi-stage sleep monitoring and Sleep Score as the Forerunner 970 for nightly recovery insights.
Glass, Bezel & Build Quality
Forerunner 970
Sapphire crystal display glass — Sapphire is the second hardest naturally occurring mineral, making it highly scratch resistant. Sapphire glass watches maintain a pristine display through normal wear and tear over years of use, and are widely considered the premium standard for sport watch glass.
Titanium bezel — the Forerunner 970 features a titanium bezel, offering a premium aesthetic combined with an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Together with the Sapphire glass, it positions the 970 at the top tier of Garmin's build quality.
Thinner despite a larger dial — despite having a bigger 36 mm display, the Forerunner 970 is notably thinner than the Forerunner 945 thanks to modern manufacturing. The Sapphire glass and titanium bezel give it a larger and more premium appearance on the wrist.
Forerunner 945
DX coated Corning Gorilla Glass 3 — the Forerunner 945 uses Gorilla Glass 3 with a DX anti-reflective coating. The DX coating improves display readability by reducing glare and reflection, which is a practical advantage over Sapphire glass in certain lighting conditions.
Polymer bezel — the Forerunner 945 uses a polymer bezel, keeping the watch lightweight and functional without the premium finish of the Forerunner 970's titanium construction. Well-suited to athletes who prioritise low weight during long events.
Better display readability in bright light — the DX anti-reflective coating on the Forerunner 945 can offer marginally better display clarity in very bright outdoor light compared to Sapphire glass, which lacks this coating. A small but real difference in direct sunlight conditions.
Speaker, Mic, Storage & Other Upgrades
Forerunner 970
Built-in speaker and microphone — the Forerunner 970 includes both a speaker and mic, enabling you to answer or reject calls directly from your wrist and issue voice commands to the watch without stopping your activity.
Voice commands — the onboard microphone supports voice input, allowing hands-free control of key watch functions during workouts, runs, or daily use.
32 GB internal storage — double the storage of the Forerunner 945, providing significantly more space for offline music, detailed navigation maps, apps, and watch faces. Ideal for athletes who use the watch for extended expeditions or music-heavy training.
Forerunner 945
No built-in speaker or microphone — the Forerunner 945 lacks an onboard speaker and mic. Audio output relies on paired Bluetooth headphones, and phone calls cannot be answered from the watch. Voice commands are not supported.
Bluetooth audio supported — while there is no onboard speaker, the Forerunner 945 pairs seamlessly with Bluetooth headphones for music playback from its internal storage, covering the core audio need for training sessions.
16 GB internal storage — 16 GB is adequate for a solid offline music library and standard map and app data. Users with larger storage requirements — particularly for extensive offline maps or very large music collections — will benefit from the 970's 32 GB capacity.
Full Specifications — Side by Side
| Specification | Garmin Forerunner 970 | Garmin Forerunner 945 |
|---|---|---|
| Price & Availability | ||
| Price | $749.99 | Discontinued |
| Display | ||
| Display Type | AMOLED Brighter & Vivid | MIP (Memory-in-Pixel) |
| Resolution | 454 × 454 px ~4× More Pixels | 240 × 240 px |
| Dial Size | 36 mm Larger | 33 mm |
| Glass Protection | Sapphire Crystal Scratch Resistant | Gorilla Glass 3 DX Coated |
| Touchscreen | Yes Exclusive | No |
| Ambient Light Sensor | Yes Exclusive | No |
| Build & Design | ||
| Bezel Material | Titanium Premium | Polymer |
| GPS & Navigation | ||
| GPS Type | Multi-band GPS + SatIQ More Accurate | Standard single-band GPS |
| Satellite Systems | GPS · GLONASS · Galileo · QZSS · BeiDou 5 Systems | GPS · GLONASS · Galileo |
| QZSS & BeiDou | Yes Exclusive | No |
| Health & Sensors | ||
| ECG App | Yes — FDA approved Exclusive | No Not Available |
| Heart Rate | 24/7 continuous Same | 24/7 continuous |
| Pulse Ox (SpO₂) | Yes Same | Yes |
| Stress / Body Battery | Yes Same | Yes |
| Sleep Tracking | Multi-stage + Sleep Score Same | Multi-stage + Sleep Score |
| Communication | ||
| Speaker | Yes Exclusive | No |
| Microphone | Yes Exclusive | No |
| Voice Commands | Yes | No |
| Call Support | Answer / Reject calls on wrist | Not supported |
| Storage & Connectivity | ||
| Internal Storage | 32 GB 2× More | 16 GB |
| Offline Music | Yes Same | Yes |
| NFC Payments | Garmin Pay Same | Garmin Pay |
| Water Resistance | 5 ATM Same | 5 ATM |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi · Bluetooth · ANT+ Same | Wi-Fi · Bluetooth · ANT+ |
Should You Upgrade from Forerunner 945 to 970?
Upgrade to the Forerunner 970 if you…
✨Want a dramatically better display — the jump from 240 × 240 MIP to 454 × 454 AMOLED is one of the most transformative visual upgrades in Garmin's Forerunner history. Maps, metrics, and watch faces look entirely different on the 970
🫀Need ECG cardiac monitoring — the FDA-approved Garmin ECG app is exclusively available on the 970 in this comparison. If tracking heart rhythm is a priority for your health management, this alone justifies an upgrade
📡Train in cities, trails, or remote areas — multi-band GPS with SatIQ and five satellite networks deliver a significant accuracy improvement over the 945's standard GPS, particularly in environments where signal quality is challenging
💎Want a premium, future-proof build — Sapphire glass, a titanium bezel, touchscreen, ambient light sensor, speaker, and mic represent a substantial generational leap in hardware quality that will remain relevant for many years
📞Value wrist-based calling and voice commands — the built-in speaker and mic are features the 945 never had. If taking calls and issuing voice commands from your wrist is useful in your routine, the 970 enables this entirely
Keep the Forerunner 945 if you…
✅Are satisfied with your current training setup — if the 945 is meeting all your GPS, health, and training needs without issue, the upgrade is a significant cost for incremental benefits that may not change your day-to-day experience
☀️Train primarily in bright outdoor conditions — the MIP display with DX anti-reflective coating on the 945 can offer marginally better glare-free readability in very bright direct sunlight compared to the AMOLED on the 970
⚖️Prefer a lighter, polymer build — the polymer bezel keeps the 945 slightly lighter overall, which can matter for ultramarathon runners and triathletes where cumulative wrist weight over very long efforts is a consideration
💰Want to avoid a large outlay — the Forerunner 970 at $749.99 is a significant investment, especially for a device that overlaps heavily with the 945 on core training features. The 945 continues to perform well for standard athlete needs
🏃Train in open, clear-sky environments — if your running and racing takes place predominantly on roads, open paths, or tracks with good satellite visibility, the 945's standard GPS remains accurate and reliable without the multi-band advantage mattering in practice