As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
If you’re in the market for a GPS watch, you may be wondering which Garmin model to choose. The Garmin 255 and 745 GPS watches are two popular options with a range of features and capabilities to suit different fitness levels and training goals.
In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive comparison of the Garmin 255 and 745 GPS watches. We’ll explore their similarities and differences, features, specifications, reviews, and overall performance to help make your decision easier.
Key Takeaways:
- Garmin 255 and 745 are two top-performing GPS watches.
- Both watches have their own set of features and capabilities suitable for different fitness levels and personal preferences.
- Choosing between the two will depend on your specific requirements and expectations from a GPS watch.
- This article will provide you with all the necessary information to make a well-informed decision.
Similarities between Garmin 255 and 745
Both the Garmin 255 and 745 GPS watches share numerous similarities in their features and functionalities. For instance, they offer:
- Multi-Sport Activity Tracking: both watches can track various indoor and outdoor activities, including running, cycling, and swimming.
- GPS Navigation: you can use both watches to navigate unfamiliar routes and access preloaded maps to aid exploration.
- Smartphone Notifications: both devices can be connected to your smartphone to receive notifications on incoming calls, text messages, and social media alerts.
- Advanced Workout Metrics: whether you are a professional athlete or fitness enthusiast, both watches provide comprehensive metrics that allow you to track your performance metrics and progress over time.
- Water Resistance: the Garmin 255 and 745 are both suitable for swimming and can withstand immersion in water up to 50 meters deep.
Overall, the Garmin 255 and 745 share many similarities that make them both excellent choices for fitness enthusiasts and athletes. In the next section, we will explore their differences and help you understand which watch is better suited for your specific needs.
Differences between Garmin 255 and 745
While the Garmin 255 and 745 GPS watches share some similarities, they differ in several aspects. Here, we explore the unique features that set them apart, aiding you in selecting the ideal watch based on your requirements.
Design and Display
The Garmin 255 features a boxy design with a 1.4-inch display, while the 745 has a round case with a 1.2-inch display. The former is more suitable for those who prefer a larger screen size, whereas the latter is ideal for those who prefer a sleek and lightweight watch.
Battery Life
The Garmin 745 boasts an impressive battery life of up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and 6 hours in GPS mode with music. In contrast, the Garmin 255 has a battery life of up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode and 8 hours in GPS mode. Therefore, if you’re someone who uses their watch frequently for extended periods, go for the Garmin 255.
Activity Tracking
The Garmin 745 comes with advanced running dynamics, including VO2 Max, running dynamics, and training status. Additionally, it has multi-sport mode, making it an ideal choice for triathletes. In contrast, the Garmin 255 offers basic running features, including time, distance, and pace. If you’re into running, go for the Garmin 745, but if you’re a casual runner, the Garmin 255 should suffice.
Water Resistance
The Garmin 745 is water-resistant up to 50 meters, allowing you to wear it while swimming and engaging in water activities. On the other hand, the Garmin 255 is only water-resistant up to 5 ATM, making it less suitable for swimming. If you’re someone who loves water sports, go for the Garmin 745.
In summary, both the Garmin 255 and 745 have several unique features that cater to specific needs. Choosing between them primarily depends on your individual requirements and preferences.
Garmin 255 vs Garmin 745 Features
When it comes to features, the Garmin 255 and Garmin 745 GPS watches both offer an impressive range of functionalities. Let’s take a closer look at the key features of each watch:
Garmin 255 Features
The Garmin 255 boasts a 1.2-inch display that’s readable in sunlight and an impressive battery life of up to 16 hours with GPS mode on. It offers wrist-based heart rate tracking, GPS/GLONASS support, and a range of activity tracking features, including steps taken, calories burned, and distance traveled. The watch also provides smart notifications, music controls, and weather updates, making it an excellent companion for everyday use.
Garmin 745 Features
The Garmin 745, on the other hand, features a smaller but higher-resolution 1.2-inch display and an even more impressive battery life of up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and 6 hours with GPS and music on. It offers advanced running dynamics, as well as cycling and swimming tracking features, making it a great watch for triathletes. The watch also provides detailed maps, contactless payments, music storage, and more, all geared towards helping you achieve your fitness goals.
Overall, both watches offer an impressive range of features, but the Garmin 745 may be better suited for athletes who require more advanced tracking and performance metrics. The Garmin 255, on the other hand, may be a better option for those who prioritize everyday usability and smart features.
Garmin 255 vs 745 Reviews
Before investing in a GPS watch, it is essential to hear from users who have tried and tested the products. To provide a well-rounded view of the Garmin 255 vs 745 comparison, we have collated reviews from customers who have owned and used both models.
Many users praised the Garmin 255 for its affordability and user-friendly interface. According to one user, “The 255 is a great entry-level GPS watch that has all the necessary features for tracking my runs and workouts.” However, some customers noted that the battery life was shorter than they had hoped.
On the other hand, the Garmin 745 received high marks for its advanced features and extensive activity tracking capabilities. One customer commented, “The 745 is a great investment for serious athletes or fitness enthusiasts who want more detailed data about their workouts.” However, some users found the watch to be overly complex and difficult to navigate.
Overall, both the Garmin 255 and 745 have received positive reviews from customers, each appealing to different types of users. It’s important to consider your fitness needs and budget when selecting between the two models.
Garmin 255 vs 745 Specifications
In this section, we will closely examine the technical specifications of the Garmin 255 and Garmin 745 GPS watches, so you can make an informed purchasing decision. The following table highlights their key differences:
| Specification | Garmin 255 | Garmin 745 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 42 x 42 x 13.8 mm | 43.8 x 43.8 x 13.3 mm |
| Weight | 38.5g | 47g |
| Display Size | 1.2 inches | 1.2 inches |
| Display Resolution | 240 x 240 pixels | 240 x 240 pixels |
| Water Resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 hours | Up to 7 days |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+ | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
As you can see, the Garmin 255 is slightly smaller and lighter than the Garmin 745, with a shorter battery life. However, both watches offer the same display size and resolution, as well as strong water resistance and GPS capabilities. While the Garmin 745 has a superior connectivity range, it may trade off against some of its battery life.
Other Specifications
In addition, the Garmin 745 sports a pulse oximeter and a raft of additional health and sports tracking features, while the Garmin 255 is relatively self-contained in its functionality. If you are looking for a watch specifically for running, swimming, or triathlons, the Garmin 745 may be more suitable for you. However, for more daily and general use, the Garmin 255 should provide all the tracking functions you may need.
Which Garmin GPS Watch Should You Choose?
By now, you have a good understanding of the similarities and differences between the Garmin 255 and Garmin 745 GPS watches, as well as their features and specifications. But which watch is the right choice for your fitness and training needs? Let’s take a closer look.
Garmin 255 vs 745: Performance Comparison
When it comes to performance, both the Garmin 255 and Garmin 745 offer reliable data tracking for various types of exercises and activities. However, the Garmin 745 has an advantage over the Garmin 255, equipped with more advanced running dynamics and also offers support for a wider range of training features, such as swimming, cycling and triathlon.
Battery Life Comparison
If battery life is a concern, the Garmin 745 has a definitive advantage with up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and up to 6 hours in GPS mode. While the Garmin 255 offers a range of up to 9 days in smartwatch mode and up to 14 hours in GPS mode, the battery life is still impressive and should be enough for most fitness enthusiasts.
Design and Display Comparison
The design of both watches is sleek and professional, but the Garmin 745 has a larger 1.2 inch display (240 x 240 pixels) compared to the Garmin 255’s 0.9 inch display (88 x 88 pixels). The bigger display of the Garmin 745 provides clearer visibility of data and also has the option of customizing watch faces.
User Reviews
According to user reviews, the Garmin 745 has received higher ratings overall than the Garmin 255. Many users have praised the Garmin 745 for its comprehensive tracking features, durable build, and long battery life.
| GARMIN WATCH | PRICE | PROS | CONS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin 255 | $199.99 |
|
|
| Garmin 745 | $499.99 |
|
|
As shown above, the Garmin 255 is significantly more affordable than the Garmin 745 at $199.99, while the Garmin 745 is significantly more expensive at $499.99. However, the Garmin 745 has more advanced tracking features and a larger and customizable display, which might justify its higher price point for serious athletes who require detailed performance monitoring.
Overall, choosing between Garmin 255 and Garmin 745 will depend on your needs, preferences, and budget. While the Garmin 255 is ideal for basic fitness tracking at an affordable price, the Garmin 745 is perfect for those who require advanced performance metrics and customizations.
Conclusion
After comparing the Garmin 255 and Garmin 745, it is evident that both watches offer unique features and functionalities that cater to different user needs. The Garmin 255 is a reliable GPS watch with a long battery life and user-friendly interface, making it an excellent choice for daily use. On the other hand, the Garmin 745 is a more advanced model with additional features like training load focus and recovery time, making it ideal for serious athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
Ultimately, the choice between the Garmin 255 and Garmin 745 will depend on your specific fitness and training needs. If you’re looking for a basic watch with reliable GPS tracking and long battery life, the Garmin 255 is the perfect fit. However, if you’re a serious athlete who wants advanced training data, the Garmin 745 is the way to go.
We hope that this comparison guide has helped you make an informed decision regarding the Garmin 255 vs 745 dilemma. Keep in mind the aspects that matter the most to you and choose the one that aligns with your fitness goals.
If you have any further questions or feedback about the Garmin 255 vs 745 comparison, please reach out to us. We’re always happy to help!
Thank you for reading this guide!
FAQ
What are the similarities between Garmin 255 and 745?
Both the Garmin 255 and 745 GPS watches offer advanced tracking features, such as heart rate monitoring, step counting, and distance tracking. They also have built-in GPS capabilities, allowing you to accurately track your outdoor activities. Additionally, both watches are compatible with Garmin Connect, a platform that enables you to analyze and share your fitness data.
What are the differences between Garmin 255 and 745?
The Garmin 255 offers a more basic set of features compared to the Garmin 745. While both watches have GPS tracking, the 745 provides more advanced performance metrics and training tools, making it better suited for serious athletes. The 745 also has a longer battery life and supports more sports profiles compared to the 255.
What are the key features of Garmin 255 and 745?
The Garmin 255 and 745 GPS watches both offer features such as heart rate monitoring, GPS tracking, sleep tracking, and smartphone notifications. They also have activity tracking capabilities, including step counting and calorie tracking. However, the Garmin 745 offers additional features like advanced performance metrics, customizable training plans, and recovery advisor.
What do users say about Garmin 255 and 745?
Users generally praise both the Garmin 255 and 745 GPS watches for their accuracy, durability, and ease of use. Many users appreciate the comprehensive tracking features and find the watches helpful for tracking their workouts and achieving their fitness goals. However, some users have reported that the Garmin 745 has a steeper learning curve due to its advanced training features.
What are the specifications of Garmin 255 and 745?
The Garmin 255 has a 1.2-inch color display, weighing approximately 44 grams. It is water-resistant up to 50 meters and offers a battery life of up to 7 days in smartwatch mode. On the other hand, the Garmin 745 has a 1.2-inch color display, weighs around 47 grams, and offers water resistance up to 100 meters. It has a longer battery life of up to 1 week in smartwatch mode.
Which Garmin GPS watch should I choose between the 255 and 745?
The choice between the Garmin 255 and 745 GPS watches depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you are an occasional exerciser looking for basic tracking features and extended battery life, the Garmin 255 could be a suitable choice. However, if you are a serious athlete in need of advanced training tools, performance metrics, and better water resistance, the Garmin 745 would be a better fit.