How accurate were the Garmin Forerunner 975/970 predictions made here?

More: Garmin forerunner 970 all you need to know

Here is a quick evaluation of the predicted features and hardware components made on this site for the Forerunner 970, which started about a year ago and firmed up toward Christmas 2024. Let’s start with he biggest surprises, which were

1. Several new, unexpected running features
2. Sapphire lens
3. The lack of Garmin Connect+ paywall features
4. The joint release of a cut-down Forerunner 570 model, rather than a direct replacement for the FR265 model.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. These were the detailed predictions.

• ✅❌Name: Initially predicted as the 975, a leak confirmed the new product would be the Forerunner 970. (I think that’s accurate enough)
• ✅❌Announcement Date: I predicted March 2025 towards the end of last year and later revised that to the March-June range. The date was not leaked until within two weeks of the actual date, and even then, it was not confirmed. As the actual date got closer, my most likely prediction still missed the exact date.
• ❌Probably the biggest mistake. I hedged my bets once rumours of ‘not a 975’ became more credible. However, I took that intel to mean a smaller 975 or a smaller 975 with LTE.
• ❌Forerunner 570 was incorrectly thought to be Forerunner 270/275 (I think we will see that later, alongside an entry-level running watch)
• ✅Flashlight. I predicted this was probable, but I had doubts.
• ✅Inductive button. I was not convinced FR970 would get these. It was doubtful FR970 was going to be a dive watch.
• ❌Sapphire lens. I failed to predict this and am glad I was wrong
• ✅Elevate 5 or a new Gen 6. I predicted it would have Gen 5, not a wholly new Gen 6
• ✅Wireless charging. I correctly doubted this omission. This is more likely to come to a new Venu-like watch (there is one coming), if at all.
• ✅❌4G LTE/5G RedCap. I did not predict this for FR975, but I hedged my bets once a 970 was leaked, but I remain confident it will first come to other models.
• ✅Next Gen GNSS. I correctly pointed out that no known component supplier makes next-gen chips – they don’t exist AFAIK. However, once it became known that Garmin has likely swapped its chip supplier to Synaptics, I refined my prediction that more efficient same-gen chips would be added.
• ✅New mic and audio
• ✅New smart features – I predicted big changes here that were essentially what transpired with voice commands and the ability to make and take calls via a connected phone.
• ❌New ECG features like unusual analyses and 247 monitoring (strap). Whilst we got the ECG because of the Gen 5 Elevate sensor, it seemed almost obvious that FR970 would get ECG, it became less obvious with hindsight, as the FR570 got the Gen 5 sensor with the ECG disabled. However, putting that aside, I was expecting new ECG-related features here, at least afib, which didn’t happen. I think Garmin will get these (new but vague intel has emerged on this in the last week)
• ✅❌ It was a safe bet to predict somewhat generic ‘new sport profiles’. I got the Obstacle Course Profile right (almost by accident, I just threw it in), but my main prediction of Hyrox was wrong. It will be added at some point.
• ✅No dive features. Dive is a Fenix feature.
• ❌Tides app
• ❌ Lap undo to cover workout step undo
• ❌BIG ERROR – I predicted there would be paywall features. There were none. That said, we all know these will eventually happen, as confirmed by garmin.
• ❌Multisport analyses behind the paywall. A double-no.
• ❌Improved group ride/race features. Nope. None of those. Perhaps Edge 850/550 will get them
• ✅Multisport as primary events and multisport coached workouts – this was perhaps the biggest call. Only 2 or 3 other sites make original predictions; the other mainstream tech sites copy our predictions and intel.
• ✅Updated UI to Fenix 8 style
• ❌Evening Report – predictable, but not that it would be revamped
• ❌Skin temperature   – predictable via ECG
• ❌Past Ovulation estimates – predictable
• ❌Running Tolerance  – not predictable
• ❌Impact Load Factor – not predictable
• ❌Running Economy  – not predictable
• ❌Step Speed loss   – not predictable
• ❌Autolap by Timing Gate – not easily predictable (Suunto has a similar feature)
• ❌Suggested Finish line  – not predictable
• ❌Projected race time predictor  – not predictable

Take Out

I make these predictions because I enjoy the research and thought process. I like to be right, and I am incentivised to make them for my entertainment, which the internet makes possible to share.

I think it was a pretty decent performance, but there are a lot of red crosses! The future tends to be unpredictable and uncertain 😉

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that the Forerunner 970 is now a complete multisport offering, at least if you exclude smart features. The sapphire lens makes the hardware package a ‘proper’ high-end package, and filling in the gaps in the multisport racing and training features plugs a gap that would have been a difficult task for Garmin to fill. But they did it. #Kudos. You will spot the genuine reviews from triathletes who make the point that Garmin’s offering is complete (more can be added, but complete in the sense that obvious gaps are filled).

Garmin Forerunner 970

Premium GPS triathlon smartwatch. Features a bright AMOLED touch screen and a built-in LED flashlight.

$749.99