Garmin has reworked its entry-level watch line-up with the Garmin Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170.

They are follow-ups to the Forerunner 55 and Forerunner 165 , released in 2021 and 2024 respectively, but Garmin has been careful in the features these models do and do not adopt.

At the bottom of the range, the Garmin Forerunner 70 gets a heart rate sensor upgrade. It has four light sensor panels, compared to two in the now ancient Forerunner 55. This should help improve heart rate accuracy, which feeds into most of the stats the watch produces.

It’s the same style of heart rate sensor as that seen in the Forerunner 170. The watch also offers the Training Status and Training Readiness metrics, missing from not just the Forerunner 55 but the Forerunner 165 too.

This may be seen as a reaction to other brands adopting training readiness in their affordable watches.

It also has the effect of compressing the gap between these two strata of entry-level Garmin watches.

Garmin Foreruner 170 Vs Forerunner 70

The Forerunner 70 and 170 are fairly similar. Both even offer features like running dynamics, which were once only available in higher-end Garmins.

“Purposefully designed with everything a runner needs to start their running journey, Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170 include premium running and training features pulled in from our more advanced Forerunners, plus popular health and wellness metrics,” says Garmin vice president Susan Lyman.

What’s the difference? The Garmin Forerunner 170 has a barometric altimeter, which unlocks counting of stairs climbed per day, as well as a compass and more advanced gyroscope motion sensor.

It also has NFC, for Garmin Pay wireless payments support, which is missing from the Forerunner 70. In plenty of situations, though, the two watches will be fairly evenly matched.

Neither watch has multi-band GPS, and their build is not too flashy. Garmin uses plastic “polymer” casings and bezels in both. Each has a 390 x 390 pixel, 1.2-inch, AMOLED screen.

The Garmin Forerunner 70 does have one clear advantage: significantly longer battery life. It is rated for 13 days of use, or five days in the always-on mode, compared to 10 days or four days (always-on) in the Forerunner 170.

Only the Forerunner 170 comes in a Music edition, though, which has 4GB storage for tracks and other audio. They can be streamed to Bluetooth headphones and speakers.

The Garmin Forerunner 70 costs $249.99 and will be available to order from May 15. You’ll pay $299.99 for the Forerunner 170, and $349.99 for the Forerunner 170 Music.