Garmin Forerunner 645 Music

Long-lasting battery ; Improved /more comfortable design than older models ; Legible screen ; Tracks wide variety of exercises

Finicky Bluetooth connection ; Limited music app compatibility

If you're willing to take a chance on a finicky music stream and phone-free tunes are very important to you, by all means spend the extra $50 on the Forerunner 645 Music. Otherwise, the regular Forerunner 645 is a capable all-day fitness companion.

Offline music playback ; Extensive fitness tracking capabilities ; Doesn’t require a tethered smartphone for its full features ; 5- to 7-day battery life

Expensive ; Buckle showed wear and tear after two weeks

The biggest draw of the Forerunner 645 Music lies in the name: It’s Garmin’s first wearable capable of storing music. That means musical motivation for days without the hassle of carrying a bulky smartphone. Meanwhile, Garmin’s strong heritage shines...

Excellent accuracy in testing. Lots of useful sensors. Advanced fitness metrics. Holds up to 500 songs. Swimproof design. Long battery life.

Expensive. Steep learning curve.

Long battery life, in-depth metrics, excellent accuracy, and a strong phone-free experience make the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music one of the best trackers we've tested for outdoor training. If you spend a lot of time prepping for marathons, triathalons,...

Lovely design ; Rapid GPS

No music streaming service ; Poor battery life

The Forerunner 645 Music is a watch that can track a huge variety of sports and look good while doing it. However, the headline music playback feature feels very half-baked and the battery life isn't as good as we've experienced on other Garmin watches.

Compact design ; Comfortable to wear ; Excellent sports and activity tracking ; Can use Bluetooth headphones

Music not fully realised ; Garmin Pay not widely supported ; Battery life could be better ; Price a little high

Hardcore fitness skills in a smaller watch ; Great screen for sunny days ; Excellent fitness and HR tracking

Interface lag ; High price ; Battery life doesn’t match Garmin’s best

A serious runner’s watch without the intimidating design, but the price will put many off

Very comfortable to wear ; Excellent outdoor visibility ; Lasts up to a week between charges with the screen always on ; 5ATM water resistance ; Compatible with standard bands ; Mobile payments support is nice having

Screen isn't particularly beautiful ; Doesn't work with the most popular music services ; Software can be confusing at first ; Expensive at $450

Lightweight and very comfortable ; Multi-day battery life ; Music and payment support without a phone ; Accurate GPS and activity tracker ; Clear and crisp color display ; Easy to use interface ; Five button navigation with no touchscreen ; Outstanding...

Music setup is a bit clunky

Hardcore fitness skills in a smaller watch ; Great screen for sunny days ; Excellent fitness and HR tracking

Interface lag ; High price ; Battery life doesn’t match Garmin’s best

A serious runner’s watch without the intimidating design, but the price will put many off