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 | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Copyright DC Rainmaker - Updated September 12th, 2021 @ 3:29 pm New Window | ||||
Price | $499 | $599 | $399/$449 (with music) | $499 |
Product Announcement Date | January 5th, 2015 | Jan 4th, 2017 | Jan 8th, 2018 | Mar 29th, 2017 |
Actual Availability/Shipping Date | February 2015 | March 2017 | Late January 2018 | Mar 29th, 2017 |
GPS Recording Functionality | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Data Transfer | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi (Sapphire only) | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi |
Waterproofing | Yes - 100m | Yes - 100m | Yes - 50m | Yes - 50m |
Battery Life (GPS) | Up to 50hrs in GPS | Up to 24hrs in GPS-on, up to 75hrs in UltraTrac GPS | 14hrs GPS/5hrs GPS-Music | Up to 24hrs in GPS-on, up to 50hrs in UltraTrac GPS |
Recording Interval | 1S OR SMART | 1S or Smart | 1S or Smart | 1S or Smart |
Alerts | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual |
Backlight Greatness | Great | Great | Great | Great |
Ability to download custom apps to unit/device | Yes | YEs | Yes | Yes |
Acts as daily activity monitor (steps, etc...) | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | Music | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
Can control phone music | Yes | Yes | Yes (FR645 Music version) | YEs |
Has music storage and playback | No | No | Yes (3.5GB) | No |
Streaming Services | No | Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, iHeartRadio | No | Payments | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
Contactless-NFC Payments | No | Yes | No | Connectivity | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
Bluetooth Smart to Phone Uploading | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Phone Notifications to unit (i.e. texts/calls/etc...) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Live Tracking (streaming location to website) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Group tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Emergency/SOS Message Notification (from watch to contacts) | No | No | No | No |
Built-in cellular chip (no phone required) | No | No | No | No | Cycling | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
Designed for cycling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter Capable | Yes | Yes | No | YEs |
Power Meter Configuration/Calibration Options | Yes | Yes | N/A | Yes |
Power Meter TSS/NP/IF | Yes | Yes | N/A | YEs |
Speed/Cadence Sensor Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Strava segments live on device | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Crash detection | No | No | No | Running | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
Designed for running | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Footpod Capable (For treadmills) | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Running Dynamics (vertical oscillation, ground contact time, etc...) | With HRM-TRI or HRM-RUN | WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) | WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) | WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) |
Running Power | With extra sensor | Yes with RD-POD or 3rd party apps | WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (or 3rd party Stryd/RunScribe) | |
VO2Max Estimation | Yes | YEs | YEs | Yes |
Race Predictor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Recovery Advisor | Yes | Yes | YEs | YEs |
Run/Walk Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Swimming | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
Designed for swimming | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Openwater swimming mode | Yes | YEs | No | Yes |
Lap/Indoor Distance Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Record HR underwater | WITH HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM | WITH HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM (Not with optical HR) | No | WITH HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM (Not with optical HR) |
Openwater Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Indoor Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | YEs | YEs | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Drill Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indoor auto-pause feature | No | No (it'll show rest time afterwards though) | No (it'll show rest time afterwards though) | No (it'll show rest time afterwards though) |
Change pool size | Yes | YEs | YEs | YEs |
Indoor Min/Max Pool Lengths | 17M/18Y TO 150Y/M | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M |
Ability to customize data fields | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes |
Captures per length data - indoors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Triathlon | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
Designed for triathlon | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Multisport mode | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Workouts | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
Create/Follow custom workouts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
On-unit interval Feature | YEs | YEs | YEs | YEs |
Training Calendar Functionality | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | Functions | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
Auto Start/Stop | Yes | Yes | YEs | YEs |
Virtual Partner Feature | Yes | YEs | YEs | YEs |
Virtual Racer Feature | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Records PR's - Personal Records (diff than history) | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Tidal Tables (Tide Information) | No | No | No | No |
Weather Display (live data) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Navigate | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
Follow GPS Track (Courses/Waypoints) | YEs | YEs | Yes | Yes |
Markers/Waypoint Direction | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Routable/Visual Maps (like car GPS) | No | Yes (5X Only) | No | No |
Back to start | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Impromptu Round Trip Route Creation | No | Yes (5X Only) | No | No |
Download courses/routes from phone to unit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Sensors | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
Altimeter Type | Barometric | Barometric | Barometric | Barometric |
Compass Type | Magnetic | Magnetic | Magnetic | |
Optical Heart Rate Sensor internally | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
SpO2 (aka Pulse Oximetry) | No | No | ||
Heart Rate Strap Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Heart Rate Strap Capable | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes |
ANT+ Speed/Cadence Capable | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes |
ANT+ Footpod Capable | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes |
ANT+ Power Meter Capable | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
ANT+ Lighting Control | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Bike Radar Integration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Trainer Control (FE-C) | No | No | No | No |
ANT+ Remote Control | No (can control VIRB though) | No (can control VIRB though) | No | No (can control VIRB though) |
ANT+ eBike Compatibility | No | No | No | No |
ANT+ Gear Shifting (i.e. SRAM ETAP) | Yes | No | YEs | |
Shimano Di2 Shifting | Coming in update | Yes | No | YEs |
Bluetooth Smart HR Strap Capable | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence Capable | No | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Bluetooth Smart Footpod Capable | No | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Bluetooth Smart Power Meter Capable | No | YEs | NQo | YEs |
Temp Recording (internal sensor) | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Temp Recording (external sensor) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Software | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
PC Application | Garmin Express | Garmin Express | PC/Mac | Garmin Express |
Web Application | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect |
Phone App | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android/Windows Phone |
Ability to Export Settings | No | No | No | No | Purchase | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
Amazon | Link | Link | Link | Link |
Backcountry.com | Link | Link | ||
Competitive Cyclist | Link | Link | ||
REI | Link | DCRainmaker | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Forerunner 645/645 Music | Garmin Forerunner 935 |
Review Link | Link | Link | Link | Link |