The short version: Garmin's Forerunner 70 ($249.99) and Forerunner 170 ($299.99) are the same running watch for most purposes: the same 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, heart-rate sensor, training plans, run-walk workouts and race predictor. The extra $50 buys Garmin Pay, a barometric altimeter and more memory. The 70 gets longer battery life (23 GPS hours vs. 20). The 170 Music ($349.99) is the only one that stores songs. For a first 5K or half, the 70 is the better buy unless you want to pay with your wrist.
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Side by side
| Forerunner 70 | Forerunner 170 | Forerunner 170 Music | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin price | $249.99 | $299.99 | $349.99 |
| Display | 1.2-inch (30.4 mm) AMOLED, 390×390, touchscreen plus five buttons, optional always-on | ||
| Case | 42.6 × 42.6 × 11.9 mm, 20 mm quick-release silicone band, 5 ATM water rating | ||
| Weight | 40 g | 41 g | 41 g |
| Smartwatch battery | Up to 13 days (5 always-on) | Up to 10 days (4 always-on) | Up to 10 days (4 always-on) |
| GPS-only battery | Up to 23 hours | Up to 20 hours | Up to 20 hours (7.5 with music) |
| All-systems GNSS | Up to 16 hours | Up to 14 hours | Up to 14 hours (6.5 with music) |
| Satellites | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo (no multi-band) | ||
| Altimeter, compass, gyro, thermometer | No | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Pay | No | Yes | Yes |
| Memory | 512 MB | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Music on the watch | No (controls phone) | No (controls phone) | Yes: Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer |
| Wi-Fi | No | No | Yes |
All figures are from Garmin's spec pages. Both watches launched May 12, 2026, and went on sale May 15.
What they share
This is the part that matters for most new runners, and Garmin didn't split it between the two. Both watches get the wrist heart-rate sensor with HRV status and Pulse Ox, training readiness, training status and load, VO2 max, and Garmin's running coach plans. Daily suggested workouts can include run-walk intervals. Both also have the race predictor (including course- and weather-adjusted predictions), PacePro pacing, running dynamics, wrist-based running power, incident detection and LiveTrack.
DC Rainmaker, who tested both, called them "two of the most similar watches" Garmin has made and reported no heart-rate or GPS accuracy difference between them in his testing.
| Forerunner 70 | Forerunner 170 |
|---|---|
 |  |
Product images: Garmin.
What the extra $50 buys
- Garmin Pay. Tap to pay for a Gatorade at the gas station on a long run, without carrying a card. The 70 doesn't have it.
- A barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope and thermometer. That brings floors climbed, better elevation data, grade-adjusted pace and open-water swim tracking. Grade-adjusted pace helps on hilly routes and trails; on flat paths you won't notice it.
- 4 GB of memory instead of 512 MB. More room for apps and data; music still needs the 170 Music.
- Cycling extras: power-meter and smart-trainer support and Garmin's cycling coach, useful if you're eyeing a first Texas triathlon.
What you give up for those: about three days of smartwatch battery and three hours of GPS time. For a half marathon or marathon neither number matters; 20 GPS hours covers even a slow 26.2 several times over.
Which one to buy
- First 5K, 10K or half, phone in your pocket anyway: the Forerunner 70. Same coaching, longer battery, $50 back for shoes.
- You run hills or trails, or want to pay with your watch: the Forerunner 170.
- You want to leave the phone at home and still have music: the Forerunner 170 Music.
- You want multi-band GPS or ultra battery: neither. Look at the Forerunner 570/970 or our fēnix 9 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 4 comparison.
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About Garmin's September update
Garmin's Sept. 22, 2026 software update brought quick workouts and the new Run Coach plans (including run-walk and lower-volume training) to the fēnix 8 series, Forerunner 570 and 970, Venu 4 and vívoactive 6. The Forerunner 70 and 170 weren't on that list because they launched with those features in May. In other words, the cheapest Forerunners had Garmin's newest coaching before the 570 and 970 did.
Putting it to work this fall
A beginner watch is most useful with a date on the calendar. Thanksgiving is the classic first race: our turkey trot 5K plan pairs with the watch's suggested workouts, and turkey trots in Texas lists every Thanksgiving race. If you're ready for longer, half marathons in Texas has the winter calendar. Shorter days are coming, so read our guide to running in the dark too. And try a watch on before you buy at a Texas running store.
