How to find the right product for you
This Product Comparison Calculator will allow you to compare products in one of two ways. Choose from the two dropdown menus below to auto-populate the product boxes with results, or click on the product boxes to activate your own personalized choices. Once the product boxes are shaded per your liking, click the “COMPARE NOW” button to retrieve a customized product comparison graph.
Currently there are eight product types:
– Watches (and bike computers!!!!)
– Trainers (for cycling indoors)
– Activity monitors (things like Fitbits and step counters)
– Power meters (for cycling)
– Action Cams (things like GoPro’s and the like)
– Heart Rate Sensors (Straps and Optical sensors that measure HR)
– Trainer Apps (for cycling indoors on trainers)
– Drones (primarily sport focused options)
For trainers, the focus is primarily on computer-integrated trainers that provide resistance control. Additionally, like the watches I only include units that I’ve personally reviewed and/or used.
Select product use/budget for a comparison from the drop down menus:
Note: While many running watches have a basic bike mode, only running units that are multi-sport focused are also included in the bike-only results (in addition to bike-specific units). Hiking units are those that include a Barometric Altimeter, Magnetic Compass and navigational functions.
Or select products for comparison by clicking the product boxes below:
Comparison Results:
Function/Feature | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
---|---|---|---|
Copyright DC Rainmaker - Updated March 24th, 2024 @ 12:32 pm New Window | |||
Price | $249/$299 (cellular) | $599/599EUR | $499/$599 |
Product Announcement Date | Sept 7th, 2022 | Apr 30th, 2019 | June 1st, 2022 |
Actual Availability/Shipping Date | Sept 16th, 2022 | Early May 2019 | June 1st, 2022 |
GPS Recording Functionality | Yes | Yes (with Galileo too) | Yes |
Data Transfer | Bluetooth Smart | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi |
Waterproofing | 50m | Yes - 50m | Yes - 50m |
Dive/Snorkel Feature | No | ||
Battery Life (GPS) | 12 hours GPS | 36hrs GPS, 60hrs UltraTrac | Up to 42hrs GPS only (49hrs+ with Solar) |
Solar Charging | No | Yes (on Solar edition) | |
Recording Interval | Varies | 1S or Smart | 1S or Smart |
Dual-Frequency GNSS | No | No | Yes |
Alerts | Vibration/Audio/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual |
Display Type | AMOLED | Transflective MIPS | |
Backlight Greatness | Great | Great | Good |
Ability to download custom apps to unit/device | Yes | YEs | Yes |
Acts as daily activity monitor (steps, etc...) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Voice Integration | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Has Mic/Speaker | Yes | No | |
Can make/receive calls | Non-cellular editions with phone/Cellular Editions without phone | No | |
Voice Assistant | Apple Siri | No | Music | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Can control phone music | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Has music storage and playback | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Streaming Services | Apple Music | Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, iHeartRadio | Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, | Payments | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Contactless-NFC Payments | Yes | Yes | Yes | Connectivity | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Bluetooth Smart to Phone Uploading | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Phone Notifications to unit (i.e. texts/calls/etc...) | Yes | Yes | Yes (with connected phone) |
Live Tracking (streaming location to website) | With 3rd party apps | Yes | Yes (with connected phone) |
Group tracking | No | Yes | Yes (with connected phone) |
Emergency/SOS Message Notification (from watch to contacts) | Yes | Yes (via phone) | Yes (with connected phone) |
Built-in cellular chip (no phone required) | Yes (with cellular version) | No | No | Cycling | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Designed for cycling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter Capable | With 3rd party apps | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter Configuration/Calibration Options | N/A | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter TSS/NP/IF | N/A | Yes | Yes |
Speed/Cadence Sensor Capable | No | Yes | Yes |
Strava segments live on device | No | Yes | Yes |
Crash detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Running | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Designed for running | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Footpod Capable (For treadmills) | With 3rd party apps | Yes | Yes |
Running Dynamics (vertical oscillation, ground contact time, etc...) | Yes | WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) | Yes WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI, HRM-PRO, HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) |
Running Power | Yes | With extra sensor | Yes WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI, HRM-PRO, HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) |
VO2Max Estimation | Yes | YEs | YEs |
Race Predictor | No | Yes | Yes |
Recovery Advisor | No | Yes | Yes |
Run/Walk Mode | With 3rd party apps | Yes | Yes |
Track Recognition Mode | Coming Dec 2022 | Yes | Yes | Swimming | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Designed for swimming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Openwater swimming mode | YEs | YEs | YEs |
Lap/Indoor Distance Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Record HR underwater | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Openwater Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | Basic stroke type only | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | Basic stroke type only | YEs | YEs |
Indoor Drill Mode | No | Yes | Yes |
Indoor auto-pause feature | Yes | No (it'll show rest time afterwards though) | No (it'll show rest time afterwards though) |
Change pool size | Yes | YEs | YEs |
Indoor Min/Max Pool Lengths | 1y/m to 1,500y/m+ | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M |
Ability to customize data fields | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Captures per length data - indoors | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Alerts | Yes (goals) | Yes | Yes | Triathlon | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Designed for triathlon | Not really | Yes | Yes |
Multisport mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Workouts | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Create/Follow custom workouts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
On-unit interval Feature | Yes | YEs | YEs |
Training Calendar Functionality | With 3rd party apps | Yes | Yes | Functions | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Auto Start/Stop | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Virtual Partner Feature | Yes | YEs | YEs |
Virtual Racer Feature | Coming Dec 2022 | Yes | Yes |
Records PR's - Personal Records (diff than history) | No | Yes | Yes |
Tidal Tables (Tide Information) | No | No | No |
Weather Display (live data) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Navigate | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Follow GPS Track (Courses/Waypoints) | With 3rd party apps | Yes | Yes |
Markers/Waypoint Direction | Yes (Backtrack) | Yes | Yes |
Routable/Visual Maps (like car GPS) | With 3rd party apps | Yes | Yes |
Back to start | Yes (Backtrack) | Yes | Yes |
Impromptu Round Trip Route Creation | With 3rd party apps | Yes | Yes |
Download courses/routes from phone to unit | With 3rd party apps | Yes | Yes | Sensors | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Altimeter Type | Barometric with real-time watch face | Barometric | Barometric |
Compass Type | Magnetic | Magnetic | Magnetic |
Optical Heart Rate Sensor internally | Yes | Yes | Yes |
SpO2 (aka Pulse Oximetry) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ECG Functionality | No | No | No |
HRV Recording | Yes | Yes (nightly and on-demand) | |
Heart Rate Strap Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Heart Rate Strap Capable | No | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Speed/Cadence Capable | no | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Footpod Capable | No | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Power Meter Capable | No | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Lighting Control | No | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Bike Radar Integration | No | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Trainer Control (FE-C) | No | No | Yes |
ANT+ Remote Control | No | No (can control VIRB though) | No |
ANT+ eBike Compatibility | No | No | No |
ANT+ Gear Shifting (i.e. SRAM ETAP) | No | Yes | Yes |
Shimano Di2 Shifting | No | Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart HR Strap Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence Capable | No | Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart Footpod Capable | No | Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart Power Meter Capable | No | YEs | YEs |
Temp Recording (internal sensor) | No | Yes | Yes |
Temp Recording (external sensor) | No | Yes | Yes | Software | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
PC Application | None | Garmin Express | Garmin Express |
Web Application | None | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect |
Phone App | iOS only | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android |
Ability to Export Settings | No | No | No | Purchase | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Amazon | Link | Link | Link |
Backcountry.com | Link | Link | |
Competitive Cyclist | Link | ||
REI | Link | Link | |
TPC | Link | DCRainmaker | Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar |
Review Link | Link | Link | Link |