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Credit: Image courtesy of Garmin.
Garmin has unveiled two new entry-level running watches: the Forerunner 70 And Forerunner 170. Both are available from May 15, 2026, priced at $249.99 and $299.99 respectively, with the Forerunner 170 Music Edition coming in at $349.99. Right off the bat, the big selling points are the AMOLED touchscreen display, with a set of training tools that go beyond what I’d call “entry-level”. On paper, these watches are positioned as upgrades to the Forerunner 55 and Forerunner 165—but whether they actually deliver on that promise is more complicated. Here’s what we know so far.
What we know about the Garmin Forerunner 70
To quote a Lifehacker senior health editor Beth Skwerki“It’s about time Garmin offered a modern-looking watch under $250.” Forerunner 70 is definitely a glow-up Forerunner 55 (originally $199.99), adding a touchscreen AMOLED display, Garmin Run Coach, advanced training features, acute load and load ratio tracking, sleep score, morning and evening reports, and a quick workout option. The run/walk workout feature is a nice touch, especially for beginners who feel eased into a running routine.
That said, context is important. At $249.99, is the Forerunner 70 really competitive with other brands in this price range? This Pace 4 choirs Also $249 and includes dual-band GPS and 4 GB of offline music storage. This Suunto Run Even more affordable at $199, it also manages to offer dual-band GPS and 4 GB of music storage. The Forerunner 70, in comparison, has single-band GPS and only 0.5 GB of storage.
Now, where the 70 makes a name for itself is with Garmin’s software ecosystem. Some features that neither the Suunto nor the Koros typically offer include Glance with battery data, sleep coaching with suggested bedtimes, lifestyle logging, weight tracking, sports scores, and a fitness coach that mixes strength training with cardio without committing you to a specific sport. As with all things Garmin, this is for those looking for more than just tracking runs. (Although “track only runs” watches are fine Worn by London Marathon winners.)
A small note here: Garmin’s website currently lists the 70 and 170 as a single product, which is a bit odd. Whether it’s a placeholder or something more intentional, I’ll keep an eye on it.
What we know about the Garmin Forerunner 170
As the 70 is an upgrade of the 55, the forerunner 170 is positioned as an upgrade Forerunner 165 ($249.99 originally at launch in April 2024, with the Music Edition $299.99). However, comparing this watch to a fan favorite might be more accurate Forerunner 265which was originally $449, but is now regularly on sale for $349.99 (which is 170 Music’s current MSRP).
The 170’s battery is shorter than the 165’s: 10 days compared to 11-13. Considering all the software updates, that’s not a crazy trade-off. As Garmin says, the Forerunner 170’s advantage is an expanded feature set.
However, the 170 is missing some features that the 265 has. It doesn’t have dual-band GPS, supports fewer GPS networks overall, doesn’t have cycling workouts or multisport support, and it’s unclear whether it can connect to a power meter (the 265 can; the 165 can’t). This is a more complicated trade-off for those hoping for an outright upgrade.
What do you think so far?
Now, what the 170 brings to the table is what kind of software features the forerunner 570 gets, which the -65 series missed out on. That means things like Garmin Run Coach (the newer, more capable version), advanced training features, faster workout functionality, calculators, and lifestyle logging. Advanced training features include, for reference, training readiness (which scores your recovery), training status (which monitors training load), HRV status (heart rate variability tracking), and daily suggested workouts.
The heart rate sensor is the same as the 165, which is completely solid and on par with its competitors. However, the Forerunner 570 and 970 have significantly better optical HR sensors than the 165/265 generation.
Bottom line (for now)
On paper, both watches have their merits, especially for true beginners who want a reliable GPS smartwatch with solid Garmin software support. But for runners upgrading from previous Garmin models, or anyone considering a Corros or Suunto, the value proposition isn’t ideal. To quote Google Chat for me from Beth: “I’m not impressed.”
Luckily, we’ll be putting both to the test soon. Beth Forerunner will compare with the 70’s Other Low Price Running Watches To see how it stacks up. And I have the forerunner 165 Music, so I can see how the 170 Music fares as a direct successor. Stay tuned for our in-depth verdicts.
