Garmin has launched two new budget-friendly running watches that sit at the affordable end of their Forerunner range. The Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170 look nearly identical on the outside, but I’ve been testing both watches to work out what actually separates them beyond the £40 price difference.
I’ve worn both watches side by side during my runs to see how these differences play out in real-world use. Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first proper running watch or someone who wants solid tracking without paying premium prices, understanding what you’re actually getting for the extra money matters.
Key Hardware and Design Differences
The Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170 share nearly identical external designs, but the £40 price gap (or £90 for the music edition) reflects some meaningful internal hardware differences. Both watches feature the same screen technology and basic sensors, though the Forerunner 170 packs extra navigation tools and payment features that the cheaper model lacks.
AMOLED Displays and Touchscreen Experience
Both watches use the same 1.2-inch AMOLED display with touchscreen functionality. The screen quality is identical between models, which is quite impressive given the price difference.
You get Garmin’s standard 5-button layout on both watches alongside the AMOLED touchscreen. This combination lets you choose whether to tap the screen or use physical buttons during workouts. I find this flexibility helpful when my hands are sweaty or I’m wearing gloves.
The always-on display feature works on both models. The Forerunner 70 lasts up to 5 days with always-on display enabled, whilst the Forerunner 170 manages 4 days. Both watches measure 43mm in size with identical dimensions, so there’s only a single gram of weight difference between them.
Sensors and Navigation Capabilities
The sensor package is where these watches start to differ more noticeably. Both include Garmin’s Elevate Gen4 wrist-based heart rate sensor (not the newer Gen5 with ECG) and PulseOx for blood oxygen tracking. They also share the same built-in GPS capabilities, though neither offers multiband GPS.
The Forerunner 170 adds several sensors that the Forerunner 70 lacks:
- Barometric altimeter for elevation tracking
- Magnetic compass for navigation
- Gyroscope for improved motion detection
- Temperature sensor (integrated with the altimeter)
These extra sensors enable features like the ABC widget (Altimeter, Barometer, Compass) and Storm Alert on the Forerunner 170. The compass helps rotate maps instantly during navigation, whilst the barometer provides more accurate elevation data during activities.
Battery Life and Durability
The Forerunner 70 actually outlasts the Forerunner 170 in most battery tests, despite being the cheaper model. This happens because both watches use the same physical battery, but the Forerunner 170’s extra sensors consume more power.
In smartwatch mode, the Forerunner 70 lasts up to 13 days compared to 10 days on the Forerunner 170. For GPS tracking, you’ll get up to 23 hours on the Forerunner 70 versus 20 hours on the Forerunner 170 in GPS-only mode.
Battery Saver mode extends life to 28 days on the Forerunner 70 and 19 days on the Forerunner 170. The difference becomes smaller during activities using all satellite systems, with 16 hours versus 14 hours respectively.
Music and Contactless Payment Options
The Forerunner 170 Music edition is the only model that stores and plays music directly. It supports Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer for offline listening, plus you can load MP3 files. You’ll need to connect Bluetooth headphones to listen, as there’s no built-in speaker beyond a basic beeper.
Garmin Pay for contactless payments comes standard on all Forerunner 170 models but isn’t available on the Forerunner 70. You can load supported credit cards onto the watch and tap to pay at card readers. The Forerunner 170 Music also includes WiFi for syncing music, activities, and firmware updates wirelessly.
The music edition costs £2999, whilst the standard Forerunner 170 is £259 and the Forerunner 70 is £219. Each model comes in different colour options, with 6 choices for the Forerunner 70 and 4 for the Forerunner 170.
Sports Tracking, Training Features and Wellness
Both watches share the same core training platform found in pricier models like the Forerunner 265 and Forerunner 570, bringing surprisingly advanced metrics to budget-friendly prices. The main differences come down to cycling-specific features and a few hardware-dependent tools rather than fundamental training capabilities.
Training Readiness and Advanced Metrics
Training Readiness appears on both the Forerunner 70 and 170, combining your HRV status, sleep quality, recovery time and recent training load into a single daily score. I’ve found this genuinely useful for deciding whether to push hard or take it easier on any given day.
Both watches track HRV status automatically during sleep, giving you insights into how well your body is recovering. You’ll also get Training Status, which categorises your current training load as productive, maintaining, peaking or other states based on your recent workouts.
The Forerunner 170 adds cycling-specific metrics like cycling VO2 max and FTP estimates because it supports power metres. If you’re primarily a runner, this won’t matter. Both watches estimate running VO2 max equally well.
Daily Suggested Workouts appear on both models, adapting to your training load and recovery status. The suggestions update based on whether you complete them or do your own thing. You can also access Garmin Coach training plans for 5K, 10K and half marathon distances, which provide structured guidance over several weeks.
In-Depth Health Monitoring
Sleep Coach and sleep scoring work identically on both watches, breaking down your sleep stages and offering personalised insights each morning. I appreciate that the system now considers your recent activity levels when evaluating sleep quality.
Body Battery tracking runs throughout the day on both models, showing how your energy reserves drain and recharge. Pulse Ox monitoring (blood oxygen saturation) is available on both, though I typically keep this for spot checks rather than all-day tracking to preserve battery.
The Forerunner 170 includes a temperature sensor and barometer, adding ambient temperature readings and Storm Alert functionality. The Forerunner 70 lacks these sensors entirely. Neither watch includes ECG capability or the newer Elevate Gen5 sensor with skin temperature found in the Forerunner 965.
Both track stress levels, breathing rate and menstrual cycle data through Garmin Connect.
Workout Tools and Daily Suggestions
Both watches estimate your running power right from your wrist, so you don’t need extra sensors. But if you want details like ground contact time or vertical oscillation, you’ll still need a compatible footpod or the Running Dynamics Pod, since neither watch tracks those with its built-in sensors.
The sports modes are almost the same, but the Forerunner 170 adds open water swimming and floor climb. The Forerunner 70 handles running (track, trail, treadmill, ultra—pretty much all the bases), walking, cycling, pool swimming, strength, cardio, yoga, HIIT, and a bunch of others.
You can jump into quick workouts or set up your own intervals on both watches. Run/walk sessions are there too, which is handy if you’re just starting out or coming back from a break. The Forerunner 170 Music also lets you hear audio prompts through your headphones during workouts, but the Forerunner 70 doesn’t connect to headphones at all.
If you’re into cycling, the Forerunner 170 supports power meters and can control smart trainers for structured indoor rides. That’s a real bonus if you take your bike sessions seriously.
