Garmin’s New Offering for Runners: An In-Depth Look at the Forerunner Series
Are you eager to kickstart your running journey? You’re in luck! Garmin has recently launched three new running watches that are affordably priced and packed with features tailored for runners. The Garmin Forerunner 70, 170, and 170 Music will officially hit the market on May 15. If you’ve pre-ordered one, great! But if you’re still considering which model to choose, let’s delve into the key comparisons between these models to help you make an informed decision.
Price and Model Overview
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Garmin Forerunner 70 | Garmin Forerunner 170 | Garmin Forerunner 170 Music |
Price | $249.99 / £219.99 / AU$399 | From $299 / £259.99 / AU$479 | From $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549 |
Dimensions | 42.6 x 42.6 x 11.9mm | 42.6 x 42.6 x 11.9mm | 42.6 x 42.6 x 11.9mm |
Weight | 40g | 41g | 41g |
Case/bezel | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Fiber-reinforced polymer |
Display | AMOLED 390 x 390px | AMOLED 390 x 390px | AMOLED 390 x 390px |
GPS | GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, SatIQ | L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou | GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo |
Battery life | Up to 13 days, all-systems GNSS mode: Up to 16 hours | Up to 10 days, all-systems GNSS mode: Up to 14 hours | Up to 10 days, all-systems GNSS mode: Up to 14 hours (6.5 with music) |
Connection | Bluetooth, ANT+ | Bluetooth, ANT+ | Bluetooth, ANT+ |
Water resistant | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM |
Among these, the Garmin Forerunner 70 stands as the most budget-friendly option, succeeding the older Forerunner 55 as Garmin’s entry-level running watch.
Design and Display
All three models share a sleek design and similar physical dimensions, weighing in at just a gram apart. Each watch boasts a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, ensuring visibility in various lighting conditions. The user-friendly five-button configuration is designed for ease of use, even when wearing gloves, making these watches ideal for all weather conditions.
The Garmin Forerunner 70 (Image credit: Garmin)
With a variety of colors offered, each watch features distinct color options. The Forerunner 70, for instance, is available in a vibrant Citron yellow, alongside classic Black and Whitestone options.
Running Features and Fitness Tracking
All three models are equipped with essential heart rate and fitness-tracking capabilities, such as calorie tracking, sleep monitoring, step counting, and a wealth of sports profiles—specifically, 80 sports profiles tailored for varied activities. Moreover, they all include advanced GPS functionalities, ensuring accurate tracking during your runs.
Each watch also supports Daily Suggested Workouts and personalized training plans through the Garmin Coach feature accessible in the Garmin Connect app. Runners will appreciate the advanced metrics available, including stride length, cadence, elevation, and a unique Running Power metric, which measures the mechanical power output during a run rather than relying solely on heart rate data.
Garmin’s Running Power feature utilizes motion sensors, GPS data, and barometric readings to help provide a detailed understanding of your performance.
(Image credit: Garmin)
Comparison of Features
While all three models share a foundation of features, the Forerunner 170 enhances capabilities with Garmin Pay and Smart Notifications support. These additional features allow you to respond to texts (Android users) while on the move, filter notifications from apps, and utilize a virtual wallet for seamless transactions.
The Forerunner 170 Music takes it a step further by offering 4GB of internal storage for music, allowing users to listen to their favorite tracks directly from the device when paired with Bluetooth headphones. With Garmin Pay functionality, runners can leave their phones behind, enjoy music, and even grab a post-run coffee effortlessly.
Conclusion: Which Model is Right for You?
The Garmin Forerunner 70 is an excellent choice if you’re focused solely on running and don’t require smartwatch functionalities like notifications or mobile payment capabilities. However, if you seek those enhanced features, the Forerunner 170 or 170 Music would better suit your needs, unless you’re looking to explore higher-tier options and consider the Garmin Venu 4 or similar models.
In conclusion, whether you are a budding runner or looking to enhance your running experience, Garmin’s new Forerunner series offers varied options that can meet your specific needs. Each model delivers not just on performance but on style and usability too.
You can find more detailed information on these models Here.
Image Credit: www.techradar.com
