The Garmin Forerunner 645 was the best all-round GPS running watch in a 2018 road-running test. The Coros Pace was the runner-up for runners who valued quick GPS lock and straightforward multisport controls, while the Garmin Forerunner 35 was the lower-cost pick for basic run tracking. These are historical recommendations, not a 2026 buying guide: Garmin now lists the Forerunner 645 among discontinued products.
The original review was published on December 21, 2018, and was produced by Wirecutter and republished by Scroll.in. It tested eight watches over 15 weeks and about 350 miles, with a certified running coach and two competitive runners. Read the 2018 review and its testing details.
2018 picks at a glance
| Pick | Watch | Best suited to | Key trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Garmin Forerunner 645 | Runners wanting extensive customization, strong tested wrist heart rate and a comfortable daily wearable | GPS could still be affected by dense urban surroundings; the model is discontinued |
| Music option | Garmin Forerunner 645 Music | Runners who wanted phone-free music playback | Added cost, setup and time-sensitive service compatibility |
| Runner-up | Coros Pace | Runners and triathletes prioritizing fast GPS acquisition and simple controls | Weak optical heart rate and limited smartwatch and lifestyle features |
| Budget pick | Garmin Forerunner 35 | Beginners who mainly needed distance, pace, time and basic activity data | No swim tracking and fewer sports and training features |
The ranking was aimed primarily at road runners, including half-marathon and marathon trainees. It was not a universal ranking for trail navigation, ultramarathons, cellular safety features or general-purpose smartwatches.
How the 2018 test judged running watches
The reviewers considered more than a watch’s ability to display a GPS logo. Their evaluation covered comfort, button and interface usability, screen readability, phone pairing, app quality, workout controls, notifications, activity and sleep tracking, battery behavior, GPS acquisition, route distance and heart-rate readings. GPS and step-count results below are outcomes of that editorial test, not guarantees for every runner or route.
#1 Best Overall
- Easy-to-use running watch monitors heart rate (this is not a medical device) at the wrist and uses GPS to track how far, how fast and where you’ve run.Special Feature:Bluetooth.
- Battery life: up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode; up to 20 hours in GPS mode
- Plan your race day strategy with the PacePro feature (not compatible with on-device courses), which offers GPS-based pace guidance for a selected course or distance
- Run your best with helpful training tools, including race time predictions and finish time estimates
- Track all the ways you move with built-in activity profiles for running, cycling, track run, virtual run, pool swim, Pilates, HIIT, breathwork and more
A useful comparison separates three GPS questions: how quickly the watch gets a satellite lock, how close its final distance is to a known route, and how cleanly it draws the route or reports moment-to-moment pace. One can be good while another is imperfect.
Best overall in 2018: Garmin Forerunner 645
The Forerunner 645 earned the overall pick for combining a relatively slim, comfortable design with extensive data-field customization, button-controlled operation, detailed running and activity information, and integration with Garmin’s app and accessory ecosystem. It suited runners who wanted a dedicated training watch they could also wear through the day.
Heart rate and training data
In the review’s treadmill comparison against a chest-strap control, none of the Forerunner 645’s heart-rate readings differed by more than five beats per minute. That is a strong result for this particular test, not proof that wrist readings will be equally reliable for every person or workout. The owner’s manual documents configurable heart-rate zones, manual maximum-heart-rate and lactate-threshold settings, sport-specific zones, activity tracking and broadcasting wrist heart rate to compatible Garmin devices. Garmin Forerunner 645 owner’s manual.
Rank #2
- Easy-to-use running smartwatch with built-in GPS for pace/distance and wrist-based heart rate; brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display with traditional button controls; lightweight design in 43 mm size
- Up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode
- Reach your goals with personalized daily suggested workouts that adapt based on performance and recovery; use Garmin Coach and race adaptive training plans to get workout suggestions for specific events
- 25+ built-in activity profiles include running, cycling, HIIT, strength and more
- As soon as you wake up, get your morning report with an overview of your sleep, recovery and training outlook alongside weather and HRV status (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
GPS: strong overall, not infallible
The test recorded a median GPS acquisition time of 28 seconds for the 645. On a certified half-marathon course it measured 13.14 miles; separate eight- and 12-mile routes measured 8.01 and 12.02 miles. Reviewers nevertheless saw occasional errors in New York City, where dense buildings can obstruct or distort satellite signals. A close total distance does not guarantee a perfectly drawn track or stable instant pace.
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The standard Forerunner 645 and the Forerunner 645 Music are distinct versions. The Music model added onboard music storage and playback, Garmin Pay and support for selected music services. A contemporary comparison listed US launch-era prices of $399 for the standard model and $449 for Music; it also reported about 3.5 GB of music storage and up to five hours of GPS-plus-music battery life. These are historical launch figures, not current prices or a current battery guarantee. DC Rainmaker’s contemporary comparison.
Tom’s Guide reported capacity for up to 500 songs. Its review was updated April 13, 2018, after Garmin added iHeartRadio offline playlist support. Music-service support was specific to the services and software available at the time; it should not be read as a statement about present-day compatibility. Tom’s Guide’s 2018 review. The standard 645 was the value-oriented version; Music made more sense for phone-free playback if the extra cost and service limitations were acceptable.
Rank #3
- Easy-to-use running smartwatch with built-in GPS for pace/distance and wrist-based heart rate; brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display with traditional button controls; lightweight design in 43 mm size
- Up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode
- Reach your goals with personalized daily suggested workouts that adapt based on performance and recovery; use Garmin Coach and race adaptive training plans to get workout suggestions for specific events
- 25+ built-in activity profiles include running, cycling, HIIT, strength and more
- As soon as you wake up, get your morning report with an overview of your sleep, recovery and training outlook alongside weather and HRV status (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
Runner-up: Coros Pace
The Coros Pace was the alternative for runners who wanted fast GPS lock, uncomplicated controls, readable data screens and running, cycling, swimming and triathlon modes without prioritizing smartwatch polish. Its median acquisition time in the review was seven seconds, the quickest among the watches in the test.
Its optical heart-rate monitor was not dependable enough for serious heart-rate-guided training in the review, so a runner choosing the Pace for training precision should plan on a compatible chest strap. The watch was also less compelling for all-day wear, sleep tracking and lifestyle features. Its 2018 strengths were focused sports use and speed to GPS lock, not a broad smartwatch experience.
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Budget pick: Garmin Forerunner 35
The Forerunner 35 provided basic running and activity tracking—such as distance, pace and time—in a simple package suited to beginners. The 2018 review listed it at Rs 14,990 in India at publication; that is a historical December 2018 price, not a current offer. Its median GPS acquisition time in the test was 30 seconds.
Rank #4
- Easy-to-use running watch monitors heart rate (this is not a medical device) at the wrist and uses GPS to track how far, how fast and where you’ve run
- Battery life: up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode; up to 20 hours in GPS mode
- Plan your race day strategy with the PacePro feature (not compatible with on-device courses), which offers GPS-based pace guidance for a selected course or distance
- Run your best with helpful training tools, including race time predictions and finish time estimates
- Track all the ways you move with built-in activity profiles for running, cycling, track run, virtual run, pool swim, Pilates, HIIT, breathwork and more
The trade-offs were fewer sports and training features and no swim tracking. Its wrist heart rate was more useful as a rough guide during steady efforts than as a precise measure during demanding intervals. It made sense for a runner who wanted core run data without paying for the 645’s deeper feature set.
How the other tested watches compared
The remaining devices broaden the context, but the original ranking did not make them interchangeable choices for the same runner. The table reports median GPS acquisition and step-count variance from the 2018 editorial test. Step-count variance differed substantially by wrist and should not be treated as a ranking of health-grade step counters.
| Watch | Median GPS acquisition | Step-count variance, non-dominant wrist | Step-count variance, dominant wrist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coros Pace | 7 seconds | 11.93% | 30.48% |
| Garmin Forerunner 35 | 30 seconds | -1.11% | 9.33% |
| Garmin Forerunner 235 | 5 seconds | -1.80% | 11.85% |
| Garmin Vívoactive 3 | 24 seconds | 4.43% | -8.10% |
| Garmin Forerunner 645 | 28 seconds | 3.63% | 18.12% |
| Polar M430 | 14 seconds | 53.32% | 94.97% |
| Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR | 17 seconds | 32.19% | 8.39% |
| Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR | 14 seconds | 31.06% | 16.11% |
These figures came from one editorial test using repeated runs and comparisons that included known routes, MapMyRun, Strava, a certified half-marathon course, a treadmill chest-strap reference and a pedometer. They describe that test’s conditions, not universal product performance. The original review gives further methodology and model-by-model context.
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Best Value
- Brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display with traditional button controls; lightweight design in 46 mm size
- Up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode
- As soon as you wake up, get your morning report with an overview of your sleep, recovery and training outlook alongside HRV status, training readiness and weather (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
- Plan race strategy with personalized daily suggested workouts based on the race and course that you input into the Garmin Connect app and then view the race widget on your watch; daily suggested workouts adapt after every run to match performance and recovery
- Training readiness score is based on sleep quality, recovery, training load and HRV status to determine if you’re primed to go hard and get the most out of your workout (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
How to interpret GPS and wrist heart rate
GPS lock, distance and pace are different
Acquisition time is how long the watch takes to get a usable satellite fix. Distance accuracy concerns the final mileage against a known route. Track quality and instantaneous pace concern the route line and live speed estimate. In the 2018 test, several watches could deliver a reasonable total distance while drawing imperfect paths around buildings or near water.
- Sync the watch shortly before heading out; the review recommended this to reduce waiting for a GPS lock.
- Wait for the watch’s solid GPS indication before starting the run.
- Do not judge a watch from one anomalous route recording.
- Expect current pace to fluctuate in cities, under tree cover, near tunnels or wherever satellite signals are obstructed. Lap pace or average pace is usually steadier feedback.
Optical heart rate is convenient, but has limits
Wrist optical sensors can be affected by a loose fit, arm movement, cold conditions, tattoos and rapid changes in effort. Wear the watch snugly and allow a warm-up before relying on its reading. For intervals, threshold work or other precision-oriented heart-rate training, a chest strap is the safer practical choice. Maximum-heart-rate settings and zones also need to be reasonably accurate for zone-based feedback to mean much.
VO₂ max, calories, recovery and race-prediction figures produced by a watch are estimates, not clinical measurements or substitutes for laboratory testing. The 2018 review gave limited weight to VO₂ max estimates because their precision and training significance can be overstated.
Which 2018 pick fit each kind of runner?
- Beginner seeking core run data: the Forerunner 35 was the economical historical pick if swim tracking and advanced training features were not needed.
- Marathon trainee wanting customization and daily wear: the Forerunner 645 offered the strongest all-round balance in the test.
- Heart-rate-focused runner: the 645 had the strongest wrist-heart-rate result in this review’s treadmill comparison; use a chest strap when precision matters.
- Runner who wanted phone-free music: the Forerunner 645 Music added playback, with 2018-era service and battery trade-offs.
- Budget-minded triathlete: the Coros Pace combined quick lock with swimming and triathlon modes, but its wrist heart rate was a weakness.
- Trail runner or ultrarunner: this road-running ranking was not designed to judge serious navigation, elevation tools or very long GPS battery needs; seek a watch evaluated for those demands.
- Runner wanting a general smartwatch first: the 645 offered some smartwatch features, but the review favored dedicated sports use rather than treating it as a full replacement for a general-purpose smartwatch.
Availability and historical prices
The 2018 review listed the Forerunner 645 at Rs 42,197 and the Forerunner 35 at Rs 14,990 in India at the time of publication. Those prices are not current buying guidance. Garmin now places the Forerunner 645 Music in its discontinued-product area, and the regional product page may not provide an active listing. Used or old-stock units can have aged batteries, missing accessories, uncertain warranty coverage and changed software or service compatibility. Garmin’s discontinued Forerunner 645 Music listing.
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