Garmin Forerunner 245 vs Vivoactive 5
Size, specs & wrist fit compared
Which one fits you
Both need much the same wrist: neither overhangs from 15 cm (5.9 in) round, and both are in their sweet spot around 16–17.5 cm. Wrist size will not decide between these two.
What else differs
- Screen: the Forerunner 245 uses a memory-in-pixel screen that is easy to read in sunlight and sips battery, the Vivoactive 5 a bright AMOLED screen.
- Battery: 11 days for the Vivoactive 5 against 7 days for the Forerunner 245 in everyday use; 24 hours for the Forerunner 245 against 21 hours for the Vivoactive 5 with GPS on.
The Forerunner 245 and Vivoactive 5 share a near-identical 42.3mm case, so on the wrist the difference is thickness and weight.
The Forerunner 245 is 0.1mm wider and 1.1mm thicker than the Vivoactive 5.
Forerunner 245
Vivoactive 5
Case width
42.3mm
42.2mm−0.1mm
Thickness
12.2mm
11.1mm−1.1mm
Forerunner 245 or Vivoactive 5 by wrist size
| Wrist round (mm left each side) | Forerunner 245≈48.5mm lug to lug, est. | Vivoactive 5≈48.5mm lug to lug, est. |
|---|---|---|
| 14 cm / 5.5 in | Overhangs (1.7mm over) | Overhangs (1.7mm over) |
| 15 cm / 5.9 in | Overhangs (0.1mm over) | Overhangs (0.1mm over) |
| 16 cm / 6.3 in | Sweet spot (1.6mm) | Sweet spot (1.6mm) |
| 17 cm / 6.7 in | Sweet spot (3.2mm) | Sweet spot (3.2mm) |
| 18 cm / 7.1 in | Balanced (4.8mm) | Balanced (4.8mm) |
| 19 cm / 7.5 in | Balanced (6.4mm) | Balanced (6.4mm) |
| 20 cm / 7.9 in | Balanced (8mm) | Balanced (8mm) |
Switch or add watches
Garmin
Forerunner 245
Garmin
Vivoactive 5
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Battery life compared
Forerunner 245Vivoactive 5
Smartwatch
7 days11 daysGPS only
24 hours21 hours
More comparisons
2D Dimension Schematics
- Garmin Forerunner 245 42.3mm × ≈48.5mm (est.) · 12.2mm thick
- Garmin Vivoactive 5 42.2mm × ≈48.5mm (est.) · 11.1mm thick
3D preview
Forerunner 245 vs Vivoactive 5 on a wrist
Specifications
The short version
6 key specs| Spec | GarminForerunner 245 | GarminVivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Case Width | 42.3mm | 42.2mm |
| Thickness | 12.2mm | 11.1mm |
| Shape | Circular | Circular |
| Display type | Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | OLED/AMOLED |
| Battery life | Smartwatch Mode: Up to 7 daysGPS mode: Up to 24 hours | Smartwatch mode: Up to 11 days (5 days display always-on) Battery Saver Smartwatch mode: Up to 21 days GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 21 hours All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 17 hours All-Systems GNSS mode with music: Up to 8 hours See details |
| Released | 2019 | 2023 |
Where the specifications differ
26 differences| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Battery life | Smartwatch Mode: Up to 7 daysGPS mode: Up to 24 hours | Smartwatch mode: Up to 11 days (5 days display always-on) Battery Saver Smartwatch mode: Up to 21 days GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 21 hours All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 17 hours All-Systems GNSS mode with music: Up to 8 hours See details |
| Bezel Material | fiber-reinforced polymer | anodized aluminum |
| Display resolution | 240 x 240 pixels | 390 x 390 pixels |
| Product Info | ||
| Main SKU | 010-02120-00 | 010-02862-11 |
| Product ID | 628939 | 1057989 |
| Product Name | Forerunner® 245 | vívoactive® 5 |
| Release Date | 4/30/2019 | 9/21/2023 |
| Product Variation | Slate Gray | Cream Gold Aluminum Bezel with Ivory Case and Silicone Band |
| Cycling Features | ||
| Speed and cadence sensor support (w/sensor) | Yes | yes (using ANT+ or BLE) |
| What You'll Love | ||
| Display type | Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | AMOLED (optional always-on mode) |
| Water rating | 5 ATM | Swim, 5 ATM |
| Pulse Ox blood oxygen | yes (spot-check and optionally in sleep) | yes (spot-check, and optionally all-day and in sleep) |
| Battery life (smartwatch mode) | Up to 7 days | Up to 11 days (5 days display always-on) |
| Activity Profiles | ||
| Gym | Strength, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Indoor Rowing | Strength, HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Indoor Rowing, Jump Roping |
| Swim | Pool Swimming | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming |
| Cycling | Biking, Indoor Biking | Biking, Indoor Biking, eBiking, Handcycling, Indoor Handcycling |
| Wellness | Walking, Yoga | Walking, Pilates, Yoga, Indoor Walking |
| Indoor running | Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Virtual Running | Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running |
| Outdoor running | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running | Running |
| Daily Smart Features | ||
| Connectivity | Bluetooth®, ANT+® | Bluetooth®, ANT+®, Wi-Fi® |
| Smartphone compatibility | iPhone® and Android™ | iPhone®, Android™ |
| Activity Tracking Features | ||
| Garmin Connect™ Challenges app | yes (optional Connect IQ app) | Yes |
| Health & Wellness Monitoring | ||
| Hydration | yes (in Garmin Connect™ and optional Connect IQ™ widget) | Yes |
| Fitness age | yes (in app) | Yes |
| Women's health | yes (in Garmin Connect™ and optional Connect IQ™ widget) | Yes |
| Training, Planning and Analysis Features | ||
| Improved recovery time | Yes | yes (limited) |
The other 89 specifications both list are identical.
Full Garmin Forerunner 245 specifications →Full Garmin Vivoactive 5 specifications →