Quick correction: The Fenix 6 has a Pro version, a Sapphire version or a Sapphire and Titanium version. As well as the Fenix 6X and Fenix 6S. In the video, I make it sounds like the Sapphire version comes with the titanium housing which an option but isn't always the case. 👍
so when people or online seller just say fenix 6 they are referring to the pro version instead of the sapphire version? and the x and s after the 6 is just the size of the watch circumference?
I don't know exactly which item online sellers are referring. If they're competing on price, it's probably the most basic version. The main difference in the X and S is the size. But along with the size difference you'll have different screen resolutions and pricing differences as well. I think you can also show more data fields on the larger displays. Thanks so much for the question. This stuff is a bit confusing. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help! 👍
I’m an ultrarunner and have relied A LOT on my 945 for training and racing. Thanks to my watch, I didn’t get lost during a 50k that was poorly marked. The navigation function works really well if you’re trail running in unknown territory.
Wow Kennth, that's high good to know. Thanks for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it and I think it helps the community when an ultra runner feels confident with the 945. I wonder how long you can make the battery life last on the 945 if you turn off as many non-needed features for a long event.
Thanks for doing this! I feel like Garmin’s website isn’t great about letting you know the real differences between their watches without having to do a lot of digging.
Yeah, I was even confused while doing the video. 🤦♂️ But it’s nice to go over some of the differences if you’re thinking about either of these two watches. Thanks for watching and taking the extra time to comment. 👍
I had Fenix 5 Sapphire and to be honest my current 945 looks a lot better after year of intensive usage. This plastic is really solid. I use glass screen protector 🙂
I also use a glass screen protector on my 945. I love how clean it looks right now. I'm still guessing that the Sapphire would hold up to more smashing if it somehow came to that. 🤷♂️
I upgraded from fenix 5 Plus Sapphire to Fenjx 6 Sapphire Titanium. Beautiful watch that I use primarily for swimming in pool and sea. I also hike and walk. The statistics available are very comprehensive and valuable in planning training. The weight at 72g is hardly noticeable and it's on my wrist 24/7. The 1.3 screen is clear and readable. I use lots of other Widgets, Apps and a variety of watch faces. Amazing watch and highly recommend.
I agree! So true. And that sapphire face is almost indestructible. I agree that the extra weight didn't bug me at all. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Raizan Rosli - Awesome! Hope the reviews help. Thank you much for watching and taking the extra time to comment. Yeah, I’m sticking with the 945 for a while. But I do enjoy reviewing all these different watches. 👍
@@mlegrand my friend tells me that if i run just go with 945 also since its lighter and when you do longer runs will notice the difference. he has the fenix 5x plus version.
I’m really enjoying my 945. Music option for long runs is awesome. I use the pulse ox which is cool. I also like the fact that the swimming function you can actually set it to show the actual swim time instead of total swim duration without rest. 😊
Very cool! Yeah, I'm loving the 945 but I actually don't use the music or the pulse ox. Now that I think about it, I really would be ok just using a 935. 🤷♂️ Also, your channel is amazing! Keep up the good work 👍
@@mlegrand thanks Matt. Yea I enjoy the music feature and Pulse ox just to see what happening. 935 is definitely the best race day watch but I think Garmin has slowly stopped producing them which is unfortunate. thanks Matt, enjoy your content too
Scott Bayvel can you suggest the earbuds/earphone you use for your runs (paired with the 945)..this is the next think i need since all this while i just use wired one connected to my phone.. it is time to leave the phone behind.. thnx in advance 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Fenix 6 pro, absolutely love it and the battery life and management is a big selling point for me especially on multi day expeditions. Excellent video 👍🏼
Yeah, great watch for people doing multi-day expeditions excursion. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👌
I have the fenix 6x sapphire specifically for the durability. I’m a triathlete and love the size of the forerunner, but not having a tough screen is a deal breaker for me
Solid review Matt. Last year I purchased the Fenix 5 and the Polar Vantage M and compared them for their multisport / triathlon capability. The Vantage M is probably more similar to the Forerunner 945, a bit lighter and more compact. At that time I chose the Polar over the Fenix due to size, weight, comfort. Now I'm doing a lot of open water swimming (pools have been closed for months, just reopening). I've found that the Polar is pretty lousy in its GPS accuracy and tracking. It seems to give consistent and sometimes large GPS jumps that then inflate distance measurements and pace calculations by a non-trivial margin. My swim buddies are telling me the Garmin's are much more accurate, hence I'm considering the 945 vs. Fenix 6S.
Jon, I have noticed that my 945 seems to give me very optimistic swim distances 🤦♂️ and the 935 was more accurate. That should correlate to the Fenix 5 and Fenix 6 respectively. Interestingly, I’ve also been swimming in the Polar Grit X and I’ve found that to be accurate so far. (review to come) I think of it was me, I’d look to see what some of the best deals were around Black Friday but that’s a ways away. 🤷🏻♂️
@@mlegrand Thanks Matt. Interesting that an older version of the Garmin's seem to be more accurate on GPS. I would have assumed they'd improve, perhaps due to newer GPS processors and improved software. My Garmin friends definitely get straighter, smoother tracks for their OWS swim paths. We'll see.
Thanks! If it's ok with you, I'd like to link your video in the description. I figure people watching this will be shopping and want another video comparing the two watches. (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xK9O5yncUeo.html)
Also, just re-watched this video of yours and I'm not going to lie. I kind of like your review better than mine 🤔 I added it to this video description so you should see traffic from this video going to that one. 👍
I was realllllly close to getting the 945 but it was almost $1000 after tax here. Found a Fenix 5 at Costco for $400 and never looked back. Definitely can see the Fenix 6 being clutch for ultras! Great video man.
I have a feeling you're going to start doing ultras after your marthoning. The features that the fenix 6 have over the fenix 5 aren't all that compelling. Good call.
I settled on the forerunner 945 for myself. To me it seemed as if the price difference was only really getting me a prettier watch. I have already put the 945 through a lot in the past 6 months and it still looks like new so not sure if the more durable features are totally worth it. 🤷🏼♀️
@@mlegrand i missed father day sale it went down to $549 this fenix 6 and few other sellers online i found it going for $449 lol...cheapest 945 went for was $499 and $479 which is refurb... now $599 for forerunner 945 and not sure about the fenix 6 think its $699. the fenix 6 series still have few more features than the 945 watch? but 945 has yoga feature which fenix 6 dont have and no music?
Great video, Matt. I own a Fenix 5 Sapphire, and it is tempting to upgrade but the key incremental features seem to be PacePro and Body Battery that unfortunately my 5 will never get 😞. Great content- thanks!
Good review as ever mate - both good watches - I really would like to upgrade my 920xt at some point but it’s still fit for purpose right now. I have to say - the post on this was amazing - that morph tradition at the start was just... wow..!! I have tiny wrists too..!
1st Element Endurance - Thank you!. Part of me thought the morph thing was a little gimmicky. Kind of has that bad FXs feel to it. But I think it’s ok to try some fun stuff in these videos. Yeah, I say rock the 920 until it falls apart. There will always be deals. Hope your week went ok. 👍
Great Willem! Did you already make an order? I'll be super curious as to what you think of it once you get it. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand I await the next Canadian Garmin sale before I purchase the Fenix 6 Pro!FYI: I will be replacing my Apple Watch Series 4 when the sale happens. As an Apple user since the 70’s, it’s a great smartwatch given its connectivity with my iPhone 12 Pro Max, and having an excellent heart rate sensor! Currently, I track all my 5k runs using the Polar10 HRM Chest Strap but do-not use the HRM Chest Strap during my weight lifting routines given its reasonable accuracy! However, the Apple Watch’s lack of battery life is a serious issue. I cannot wait to get the new Fenix 6 Pro, and use the Garmin Connect App to provide me with more extensive analytic Run data using the Garmin HRM PRO. However, the extra weight of the Fenix 6 Pro compared to the Forerunner 945, I plan to track my heart rate using the Polar 10 HRM during my weight training! More to follow after my new purchase!
@@willemplikett8556 - I was just thinking that the Fenix 7 could be due out at some point in the near future. I have no insider info but if I was in the market to buy, I'd be curious.
Fenix 6 has slightly better resolution, double the water rating, More memory, Relaxing reminders, Batter Saver, Customizable power modes, Way more golfing features, preloaded ski resort maps, expedition gps activity, Tides, time and distance swimming alerts.
One thing I haven’t looked at is the golfing features. Have you used any of those? Is it pretty nice? Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Great comparison, buddy. I’m a forerunner fan all the way. But the one metric that does wind me up on all of these watches is the sleep tracker!! I tried it once for a week and a) hater wearing a watch in bed b) started to get frustrated with my lack of deep sleep 😂 sleep tracking is the devil!! 👹😂
I am training for an IronMan. These two seemed the best choice. I chose the Fenix 6 pro for the looks. Can't really tell how it is performing because it'll arrive tomorrow. But I did wear the hell out of my FR235 for two years and broke it. and I absolutely loved that watch. High hopes for the Fenix
Bart, yes! There was an amazing deal on that Fenix 6 Pro for Black Friday. It's a great watch and I think you'll enjoy it. Should be just fine for Ironman training. What race are you thinking? 👍
Great review and comparison.. i prefer FR945.. (mostly because of price point, weight, and smaller wrist size) BTW, i think FR945 already have the option to display the widget in “list” display like the F6..
😆 - If you really can't make up your mind, I'd say snag that Fenix 6 on mega sale. The sapphire titanium is extremely durable. Or if you want something lighter weight, go for the 945. Features wise, the 935/945 or Fenix will do all the things that you need. But it you can wait, I'd wait and see what options you have late this fall. Maybe around all Black Friday sales right before Christmas 👍🏻
Matt LeGrand please can you purchase a few of the Garmin Marq range to review before I take the plunge 😏😜. A friend had the fenix but said it’s too heavy, I think I’ll end up with a 945, there aren’t really any offers on over here at the minute though 🤷♂️
@@mlegrand Do you think the 955 will come out this year or next year possibly? then the 945 watch probably drop another $100 - 150 lol. the 935 can be brought from other sellers for 320 to 330 ish i been seeing lately.
No matter the watch, if it can link to an external heart monitor, do it if that's a priority. Otherwise you are not getting the best out the watch. Moreover, don't waste money if you want simplicity. The forerunner 45 will do just fine. The Fenix 6 series is tough but so is the Instinct for 60% less with quality features. Set your budget and your needs. The gritx if tough as nails and cheaper too. Again, if heart rate is a priority get a chest strap. Cheaper watch with cheat strap is better than expensive without
Perfect comment. 👌 There are so many watches that will do everything that you need at a more affordable price. And wrist based heart rate is always going to be less accurate. Thanks for posting this!
The price of the 945 hasn't dropped a bit for the EU market. I think the 6s is now way more attractive than the 945, especially it's fitting my smaller wrist better with 42x42 dimensions.
Thanks for the review! What kills me about spending this kind of money on these watches (regardless of model) many of the reviews say how inaccurate the HRM is. I really hate the thought of spending another $100 on a chest strap after plunking down $500-600 on a watch. IDK, am I just being paranoid…..?
It has to do with the technology. Wrist based optical heart rate monitors are always going to be less accurate. I made a video talking about all the details if you want more background but I’d say if you are training based on HR than it’s worth getting a chest strap. They do make some really affordable options ($30ish) but if you’re not super into HR accuracy then I wouldn’t worry about it too much.
I have both and do notice the weight differences. So for races, hard workouts and LRs, I wear the 945. Other times, I often wear the Fenix 6 Sapphire Titanium.
@@mlegrand hehe. Just a heads-up. When I updated, the battery was being drained very fast, so I had to delete all maps (except the base map) manually. I still need to re-install the maps. I read on Garmin forums that a few other users had this issue. So, if you have battery problems, you'll have to reinstall the maps. An inconvenience, but at least you know what's going on. Take care :)
Not due if you have a comparison of the FR745 vs the Fenix 6S, but that’s what I’m looking at. They seem like the same overall size, but I like the build quality of the fenix (and battery life). Thx for the videos!
I don’t have that video but it’d be a fun one to make. I think your ideas on size and battery life are spot on. I think you might be able to get some details from both the 945 vs the Fenix 6 video and the 945 vs the 745 video. That’s the best I’ve got currently 😬 Hope it helps and thanks so much for watching!
I have the Fenix 6 Sapphire, I love the weight and robustness of the 6, as a mountain biker I like to know a tumble won't damage the case too much. Good run through Matt
Great review Matt, this is your field. I'm a proud owner of a Polar Vantage M. I'm no triathlete or such, I hike, swim, bike and run 10K max so this is probably the way to go. However a Fenix has always been my desire watch. But I tend to think FR945 it is. I wish that bezel wasn't there. I like big watches but the Fenix 6 is probably too bulky. If money really wasn't a things I'd buy one of these for sure.
Zotmund Szele - I love Polar. They make great products! I’m going to review the Grit X at some point. It’s a really nice watch! The Fenix series watches are super nice and I love a good deal but there’s always going to be sales. Black Friday will be big as always. Thanks for watching and commenting and let me know if I can ever help in any way! 👍
Every Garmin user knows the Fenix Series will always be superior and most pro athletes will run a Fenix. Love for the hobby shouldn’t have a price tag on it. Absolutely love my Fenix 6X Pro Solar
I know a few pro triathletes but not one that wears the Fenix. But I agree, the Fenix series watches are fantastic and the pro solar is excellent! I hope Garmin brings that solar power glass to more watches in the future. I’m a big fan! Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Yeah, I love putting little random LEGO guys in these videos! We have a few extra in my house with three kids. 🤦 The sapphire edition is crazy durable but 200 extra. 😬
@@mlegrand Tactix Delta Solar with Ballistics is neat because it has the ballistics as well as a sapphire solar display (tactix delta solar is the first to have that). Thanks for the video!
We actually had a garmin rep come out and talk to our tri club about this a while back. Even he was unable to really pinpoint the differences. The Fenix series is more "watch-y" and stylish in my opinion. I use about 20% of what the watches do ... so it's all silly.
Ok, I think that's my thought also. I really don't use all of these features. The 935 would be more than enough watch for any Ironman athletes. But it's fun to get to know all of these little subtle differences even if I'm not going to use them.
BTW The Forerunner 945 model now no longer has only full screen "widgets", but allows the newer type scrolling, according to other sites, due to an update. Can someone confirm? Also, does it show sleeping now too?
Yes, I can confirm that. There's been a few updates since this video and the 945 continues to improve. 🙌. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
As an update, it does seem that there are multiple versions of the Fenix 6 Sapphire 47mm. It can come with a DLC (Diamond-like carbon coated steeel?) bezel, a Titanium bezel or a Stainless steel bezel. It's all very confusing on Garmin's website.
Matt, since I changed my garmin from fenix 5 to 6, I have lost 5 points in my VO2. I have mantained And even increased my trainning. Is it because My monitor? Or perhaps I need some rest? My last trainning sessions have been qualified as “not productive” And The garmin encouraged me to do “more low intensity trainning” Thank you very much for your support. I feel very disappointed because of this decrease.
Great question Ernesto! I actually have no idea why that would have gone down by 5 points. Seems like it could be for a variety of reasons and it'd be hard to track to down why. I would post the question on the Garmin forums and ask that collective group for any ideas on why there would be a difference. Keep in mind that this is just an estimation of VO2 max and not an actual value. You could go to a lab to get a real calculation if it's really important to you. Best of luck and keep me posted on what you figure out. 👍🏻
thanks Matt. Next monday (holiday in Mexico) I will try the Cooper test, running for 12 minutes and I will compare the “manual” outcome vs the watch. I will let you know the difference, if any
@@leonardogoracci6520 - Yeah, bud! One of the best parts about making these videos is connecting with the people. Thanks again for checking out the video 👍🏻
I went with the 935. Nothing about the 945 excited me enough to pay the extra cost. I used it for two 15 hour IM races with plenty of battery left. Buying the Fenix is out of the question.
Ezra, good call. I actually think the battery life is a little better on that 935 and I don't tend to use the music, maps or some of the other features that differentiate the 945 from the 935. 👍. Thanks for watching and commenting.
The one that I have is actually from my 935. You could try something like the Ancool bands on Amazon but don’t forget that you’ll need that little screw driver to take the old band off the 945. Best of luck and let me know if there is anything I can do to help! 👍
thxx for the review , i rly like to have the fenix 6 as daily/running watch but the problem is that there is many complains about gps accuracy especially insta pace while the 745/945 are known for their spot on gps but i dont really like the design of the forerunners serie in general so am kinda lost here on what to buy, what do u think bud , is the difference on gps accuracy remarquable ?
There is a difference but I honestly wouldn't care too much if it was slightly off on each run. I don't know how much of a rush you're in for a new watch but the new Fenix 7 should be coming out at some point. Maybe this year? Who knows. 🤷🏻♂️
I wonder if that'll be part of the next iteration of the 945 or if that's something that they'll save to distinguish devices between the more expensive Fenix series. 🤷♂️ Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment.
Hi, I can't find the answer of this question anywhere could you please help me? Are the training status, the load the Vo2max ecc... of a garmin clock (fenix or forerunner) syncing whit the status, load or Vo2max of a garmin edge (530, 830...)? And i mean not only on the garmin connect app but also on the device itself. Because I both run and cycle, now I have a forerunner 945 and I want to know if it's worth to buy a garmin edge for cycling. Thanks for helping
good question, I've the 830 edge and curious if it's worth getting the 945 :). I run with an older fenix 3, but they don't seem to sync the finer details, as the older watch doesn't support the newer metrics. Connect shows distinct V02max values for cycling/running, and I believe it just adds the values to the Training Load. They do have what is called Physio TrueUp, which should try and gather all metrics together.. but not sure how well it works. support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=EjPECQK58qA0xzJ5X74vm7
Here’s what I found: www.garmin.com/en-GB/blog/keep-your-data-in-sync-with-updated-trueup/ I seem to always have my VO2 max on each device. I love having a running watch and bike computer but it’s definitely not needed. 🤷🏻♂️
Both of these watches are pretty solid. More accurate than the Vivo Active 3 but less accurate than the Garmin 745. I couldn't find a winner between these two. I think they use the same GPS chips in both watches. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Ha! Yeah, I love sneaking legos into these videos. And I agree with you that the battery life was actually better on the 935 but the 945 is working for me for now and I'm enjoying reviewing all of these different watch options. Thanks for always watching and commenting on these videos. I really do appreciate it! 👍
I'm not sure. I know the Fenix 6 has 32G and the 945 has 16G for maps and 4G for music. My guess is that they might start with the same 32G and the Fenix pre-loads more maps. Great question. Maybe someone else will chime in with the answer. Thanks for checking out the video and commenting!
The 945 is fantastic but I might also suggest you look at the Garmin 245. It’s built more specifically for running and isn’t as expensive. Do you ever swim, open water swim or bike?
@@mlegrand Yes, I do. I swim quite often and during winter I swim in cold water mainly. I do not bike, but maybe I will start. Moreover I do fitness, outdoor activities and hiking. Also I need them to be durable during working and gun shooting. I could bet the choose is between FR 945 and Fenix 6X?!
I would say a screen protector for the 945 or spring for the sapphire Fenix 6. That thing is indestructible. You could also take a look at the Polar Grit X. It’s an excellent running watch and seems to be accurate for me during open water swimming. 🤷🏻♂️ I’ll probably review it here in the next few weeks.
Optical heart rate is horrible at the wrist. The Apple Watch does a better job and Garmin has a new HR sensor that’s a little better on the Venu and 945 LTE. I just tell people to use a chest strap if they need accurate HR for workouts. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand I always use the chest strap for training, although I do use the OHR for my 'recovery walks', which it really struggles to record accurately! Pretty shocking given they're top tier watches! 🤦
@@mlegrand Trust me, I've tried every conceivable position, nothing works consistently to give accurate readings! I've known it to be as much as 25bpm out! Obviously inaccurate HR readings can have catastrophic consequences for anyone training with it! They really should include the strap as standard when purchased! I always use the HRM Run strap, very accurate, but also expensive! My gf uses a Coospoo chest strap on her Vivoactive 3, that's pretty good! Unfortunately the Coospoo arm strap is crap!
