For athletes looking for the best possible performance, GPS smartwatches have become an essential piece of their training.
These devices can track everything from heart rate to distance covered and can be a valuable training tool.
However, with so many different brands and models on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for you.
In this article, we’ll pit two leading brands: Garmin and Coros, plus their top-tier smartwatches, Garmin Forerunner 945 vs. Coros Apex Pro, against each other.
We’ll discuss the key features of these smartwatches and compare them side-by-side to help you choose the right GPS watch for your needs.
Garmin forerunner 945 vs. Coros Apex Pro: General comparison
| Product Name | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Coros Apex Pro |
| Predecessor | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Coros Apex |
| Successor | Garmin Forerunner 955 | – |
| Release date | April 30, 2019 | September 17, 2019 |
| Parent company | Garmin | Coros |
| Operating system | Garmin OS | Proprietary OS |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
| LTE connectivity | Yes | No |
| Music Storage | Up to 1000 songs | Not specified |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, or LTE (with subscription) | Bluetooth, ANT+ |
| Sensors | GPS/GLONASS/Galileo, HR monitor, ABC (Altimeter, barometer, Compass) sensors, Thermometer, Gyro, Pulse OX | GPS/GLONASS/Galileo, Beidou/QZSS, HR monitor, ABC (Altimeter, barometer, Compass) sensors, Gyro, Thermometer, Pulse OX |
| Water-resistance | Yes, 50m | Yes, 100m |
Probably nothing much you can get from the generalized comparison, so it’s time to dig deep into their features.
Garmin forerunner 945 vs. Coros Apex Pro: Price Comparison
| Garmin Forerunner 945 | Coros Apex Pro | |
| Standard | 499$ | $399 |
| LTE | $599 | doesn’t doesn’tLTE variant |
The Garmin Forerunner 945 falls around $499, while the Coros Apex Pro has a suggested retail price of $399. Another difference is that the Garmin Forerunner 945 is available in an LTE variant, while there is no LTE variant of the Coros Apex Pro.
If you’re going for the 945’s LTE variant, this might set you back another $100, making the total $599, which doesn’t include the network carrier charges you will have to pay each month.
So, if you’re looking for the best value in a GPS running watch without being a standalone smartwatch, Coros Apex Pro is a clear choice.
But if you’re willing to spend a bit more to get the un-tapped two-way communication and extra perks, Garmin Forerunner 945 is the watch for you.
Garmin forerunner 945 vs. Coros Apex Pro: Design and display
| Garmin Forerunner 945 | Coros Apex Pro | |
| Colors | Black Whitestone (For LTE only) | Silver |
| Dimensions | 47 x 47 x 13.7 mm (Standard) 44.4 x 44.4 x 13.9 mm (LTE) | 47 x 47 x 13.4mm |
| Strap Size | 22mm, Quick Release | 22mm |
| Bezel material | fiber-reinforced polymer | Grade 5 Titanium Alloy |
| Display Type | sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | Touch Screen Always-On Memory LCD |
| Display Size | 1.2″ (30.4 mm) diameter | 1.2 Inch |
| Touchscreen | No | Yes |
| Display Resolution | 240 x 240 pixels | 240 x 240 (64 colors) |
| Screen Material | Corning® Gorilla® Glass DX | Sapphire Glass |
| Buttons | Five buttons | Three buttons |
| Band Material | Silicone | Silicone/Nylon |
| Weight | 50g (Standard) 49g (LTE) | 49g (Nylon Band) and 59g (Silicone Band) |
Garmin Forerunner 945 and the Coros Apex Pro have a sporty smartwatch look that sets them apart from other more rugged watches such as Coros Vertix 2 and Garmin Fenix 7.
Forerunner 945 comes with 1.2 Inch color display, 240 x 240 pixels, and five buttons that allow you to quickly access all of the watch’s features. Unfortunately, there’s no touchscreen functionality compared to its successor: Garmin Forerunner 955.
Coros Apex Pro, on the other hand, has a more traditional design with two buttons and a crown. It has the same 1.2 Inch display, with 240 x 240 pixels, but it beats Forerunner 945 with a touch screen display and has a clear edge over it.
In addition, these watches come in just one standard size, 22mm silicone/Nylon straps, and are generally lightweight.
Garmin Forerunner 945 vs. Coros Apex Pro: Health monitoring
| Garmin Forerunner 945 | Coros Apex Pro | |
| Heart rate tracking | Yes | Yes |
| ECG tracking | No | No |
| Sleep monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| HRV alerts | Yes | No |
| Respiration Rate | Yes | No |
| Pulse Ox | Yes | Yes |
| Stress tracking | Yes | No |
| Hydration/Body battery monitoring | Yes | No |
| Women health tracking | Yes | No |
Regarding health monitoring, the Garmin Forerunner 945 and the Coros Apex Pro offer good health-tracking features, as these watches come with heart rate monitors, can track sleep and pulse ox levels.
However, the Forerunner 945 goes a step further with its respiration rate tracking, stress tracking, women’s health tracking, hydration tracking, and body battery feature.
In addition, the Forerunner 945 also offers advanced performance metrics for runners, such as VO2 max and recovery time. This makes it the ideal choice for runners who want to monitor their health and performance.
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is the better choice for those who want comprehensive health monitoring in a single device.
Garmin Forerunner 945 vs. Coros Apex Pro: Sports and fitness features
| Garmin Forerunner 945 | Coros Apex Pro | |
| All-day activity tracking | Yes (Steps, distance, calories) | Yes (Steps, distance, calories) |
| Multi-sport modes | Yes | Yes (more than 200+ sports modes) |
| Colored TOPO Maps | Yes, colored mapping guides | Yes, (supports offline topo maps as well) |
| Activity modes | Running, Hiking, Golfing, Open water/Pool Swimming, Cardio, strength training, cycling, etc. | Running, biking, hiking, Pool/Open water swimming, Skiing, Cardio, trail running, triathlon, etc. |
| Training features | Advanced workouts, Virtual partner, Audio prompts, Training Status/Load, etc. | Virtual Run, Altitude Mode, Touch Scroll, Action Camera control (Supports GoPro and 360 degrees cameras) |
| Satellite-systems | GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS |
| GNSS chipset | Not specified | Single-frequency |
The Garmin Forerunner 945 and the Coros Apex Pro are both watches designed for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
Both watches have built-in activity tracking, room to track multi-sport modes, colored TOPO maps, and other activity profiles.
That said, FR 945 has comprehensive profiles for sports such as golf, swimming, and running. In addition, it also offers more robust training analysis tools, making it the better choice for serious athletes who want to fine-tune their performance.
On the other hand, Apex Pro has higher water resistance (100m) as compared to Forerunner 945’s (50m), making it an ideal choice for being the best swimming smartwatch to use in open and pool water.
In terms of the navigation system and more accurate tracking, Apex Pro has not only GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS but also the Beidou/QZSS satellite navigation systems. In contrast, the Forerunner 945 only has GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS.
Garmin Forerunner 945 vs. Coros Apex Pro: Smartwatch and daily features
| Garmin Forerunner 945 | Coros Apex Pro | |
| Smart notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes | No |
| Speaker | No | No |
| Find my Phone/Watch | Yes | Yes |
| Music storage | Yes, up to 1000 songs | No |
| Calendar/Weather | Yes | Yes |
| NFC payments | Yes, Garmin Pay | No |
The Forerunner 945 is available in both GPS and LTE versions. The LTE version allows you to use the watch as a standalone device, meaning you can make calls, send texts, and access certain apps without your phone.
It also offers NFC payment support via Garmin Pay, so you can leave your wallet at home when you go for a run; plus, with the built-in storage for saving songs, you can enjoy music when you’re on the go.
Coros Apex Pro, on the other hand, has more of an essential feature at best. Yes, it will receive smart notifications and give you weather updates, but not so much regarding two-way communication, music streaming, or NFC payment option.
Garmin Forerunner 945 vs. Coros Apex Pro: Battery life
| Garmin Forerunner 945 | Coros Apex Pro |
| Smartwatch Mode: 14 days GPS mode (with music): up to 10 hours GPS mode (without music): up to 36 hours Charging time: Almost 2 hours | Daily Use: 30 days Standard Full GPS: 40 hours UltraMax GPS mode: 75 hours Charging time: less than 2 hours |
Finally, when it comes to battery life, there is a clear winner between the Garmin Forerunner 945 and the Coros Apex Pro.
The Forerunner 945 can only last for 14 days in everyday use, while the Coros Apex Pro can last for 30 days.
The Coros Apex Pro can also last longer in GPS mode, around 70+ hours, while Forerunner 945 can only go on for 36 hours.
Hence, if you are looking for a watch with better battery life, the Coros Apex Pro is the way to go.
Garmin Forerunner 945 vs. Coros Apex Pro: Who wins the battle?
After reading all this, the only genuine question that might be coming to mind would be, which one should you choose? Well, here’s what you should decide.
If you’re looking for a watch with all the bells and whistles, whether its smart features or critically accurate in-depth fitness monitoring, the Forerunner 945 is probably the better option.
However, if you’re looking for a more affordable watch with plenty of features to help you meet your fitness goals, then the Coros Apex Pro is probably a better option.
