Garmin Vivoactive 4, 4S & Venu vs Forerunner 245 vs Vivoactive 3 – How do the models compare and which is the best?

Now that Garmin has updated all its watches for the year, you may be wondering which is the best buy and how models are different.

In particular, the pricing and features of the Vivoactive 4 and Forerunner 245 are quite close and if you are looking for an upgrade, or this is your first Garmin watch, then I hope the below will help you choose.

Related content:

• Garmin Fenix 6 vs Fenix 5 Plus vs Forerunner 945

Price

[content-egg module=Amazon template=list]

The current pricing on the Garmin website states:

• Venu – £299
• Vivoactive 4 – £279
• Vivoactive 4S – £259
• FR245 Music / None music – £299 / £249
• Vivoactive 3 Music / None Music – £249 / £19

If you are on the lookout for a bargain, buying older products will yield the best results. The Vivoactive 3 is available on Amazon for just £149 and £199 for the music version.

The Forerunner 245 Music is £284.99 and none music is £227.99

Design & Build

The overall look is one of the defining features of the models. The FR245 does look considerably nicer than its previous generation, but it can’t compete with the sleek appearance of the Vivoactive or Venu.

Then with the Venu, you also have that bright AMOLED display. Again, this shows how the watches are positioned for different people. If you want a smartwatch that looks great but also has some great fitness features, the Venu is a good solution.

Physical Dimensions

• Venu
  • 432 x 43.2 x 12.4 mm Fits wrists with a circumference of 125-190 mm
  • 46.3 g
• Vivoactive 4
  • 45.1 x 45.1 x 12.8 mm – Fits wrists with a circumference of 135-200 mm
  • 50.5 g
• Vivoactive 4S – £259
  • 40 x 40 x 12.7 mm – Fits wrists with a circumference of 110-175 mm
  • 40.0 g
• Forerunner 245
  • 42.3 x 42.3 x 12.2 (mm); Fits wrists with a circumference of 127-204 mm
  • 38.5 g
• Vivoactive 3
  • 43.1 x 43.1 x 13.6 mm, fits wrists with a circumference of 127-204 mm
  • 39.0 g

Display

• Venu – 30.4 mm diameter 390 x 390 pixels AMOLED
• Vivoactive 4 – 1.3″ (33.0 mm) diameter 260 x 260 pixels Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)
• Vivoactive 4S – 1.1″ (27.9 mm) diameter 218 x 218 pixels Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)
• Forerunner 245 – 1.2″ (30.4 mm) 240 x 240 pixels Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)
• Vivoactive 3 Music – 1.2″ (30.4 mm) 240 x 240 pixels Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)

HRM & GPS

All the models launched this year include the new Garmin Elevate V3 optical HR sensor which allows the PulseOx for 24×7 blood oxygen tracking.

They have also all been upgraded to the Sony GPS chipset which is supposed to offer lower battery drain.

Music & Pay

As the pricing above indicates, the FR245 and Vivoactive 3 have models with and without music. The newer devices all have music as standard (which is odd for the Fenix 6 to now have music and none music models).

FirstBeat Features

The FirstBeat features is where you really see how Garmin cuts back on the features of the Vivoactive & Venu range.

The new models gets five Firstbeat features including:

• VO2max Fitness Level
• All-day Stress & Recovery
• Body Resources
• Fitness Age
• Calories Burned

The older Vivoactive 3 had four features, lacking body Resources

The Forerunner 245 models have 11 features in total, including all the above features plus:

• Training Effect: Aerobic
• Training Effect: Anaerobic
• Real-Time Performance Condition
• Training Load
• Training Status
• Recovery Time Advisor
• Race Time Predictor

This shows you how Garmin position the different models, Vivoactive is a casual fitness tracking watch, competing more with the smartwatch segment than the multisport watch niche.

The Forerunner 245 is a fantastic entry point for serious runners and athletes, giving you much more data about your sports performance.

Battery

For many, the battery performance can make it or break it with a fitness watch. All of the watches have a good battery life. Some of the stats look a little odd, the Vivoactive 4 has 8-day battery life, and 18 hour GPS life, then the FR245 has 7 days battery life but can do 24 hours GPS.

• Venu
  • Smartwatch mode: Up to 5 days
  • GPS mode with music: Up to 6 hours
  • GPS mode: I can’t find any reference for this
  • AMOLED always on – (I was told about 2 days)
• Vivoactive 4
  • Smartwatch mode: Up to 8 days
  • GPS mode: Up to 18 hours
  • GPS mode with music: Up to 5 hours
• Vivoactive 4S
  • Smartwatch mode: Up to 7 days
  • GPS mode: Up to 15 hours
  • GPS mode with music: Up to 5 hours
• FR245
  • Smartwatch Mode: Up to 7 days
  • GPS mode: Up to 24 hours
  • GPS mode with music: Up to 6 hours
• Vivoactive 3
  • Smartwatch mode: Up to 7 days
  • GPS – 13 hours
  • GPS with Music – 5 Hours

Compatible accessories

The official Garmin list states the Vivoactive and Venu are compatible with HRM Dual, then speed and cadence sensor for the bike.

The FR245 is compatible with HRM-Run, and the various footpods.

None of the models are compatible with cycling power meters.

[content-egg module=Amazon template=list]

Which is the best buy?

Overall, there is no stand out watch, each one caters for a different user.

If you are looking for a smartwatch that looks great and offers superior battery life plus fitness tracking features than WearOS or other brands, then the Venu or Vivoactive are a good choice. The Venu appealing to people that want that bright AMOLED display found on most smartwatches.

For people more into fitness, and wanting better insight on their performance, then the FR245 will be better suited to you.

Comparison Chart

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.