Garmin has launched their new Forerunner 645 Music, a watch that does it all.
This new watch seems to take all of the best features from the watches on the market and fit them all into one.
If you like listening to music when you run, you can store up to 500 songs on the watch. Deezer Premium+ users can download offline playlists4 or transfer music from a computer directly to the watch. Once the playlist is loaded, you pair it with a set of compatible Bluetooth® headphones (sold separately) and go.
The Forerunner 645 Music allows for a geeky amount of running data. Clipping the Running Dynamics Pod to the waistband allows users to see all six running dynamics, including cadence, ground contact time, stride length and more on their watch without the need for a chest strap. Built-in GPS and GLONASS let athletes track how far, how fast and where they run – no phone connection required. You can also view and follow download courses on the watch, race a previous activity and train with simple intervals or follow complex workouts. In the pool, the Forerunner 645 Music will track distance, pace, stroke, personal records and more.
You can prepare for a race or training cycle with the help of training features provided by Firstbeat. Training status automatically evaluates previous exercise and fitness levels to let athletes know if they are training productively, peaking or overreaching. Measuring exercise volume from the last seven days, training load helps users determine if they are training in the right zone and whether their sessions are too easy or hard. Additionally, the anaerobic training effect metric will tell you how your hard work and training is improving your ability to push the limits.
Probably the biggest innovation is the inclusion of Garmin Pay Ready, a contactless payment solution. Imagine how handy that will be when you fancy a mid-run snack or a coffee stop! Using their Garmin Pay wallet, users have the same rewards and benefits of the physical cards, with the convenience of having them right on the wrist for contactless payment. For supporting banks see
here.
But what about battery life? The Forerunner 645 Music features up to 7 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 5 hours in GPS mode with music.
The Forerunner 645 Music also does 24/7 heart rate monitoring, when paired with a compatible smartphone, it automatically uploads to Garmin Connect™, and you can customise it through the Connect IQ store, downloading free data fields, watch faces, widgets and apps including UBER ETA, SmartThings, AccuWeather MinuteCast and more.
All in all a very clever watch, if you like lots of features. It negates the need to take your phone running, unless you’re one of those old-fashioned types who uses their phone to make phone calls.
