| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Garmin |
| Type | Entry/mid-range GPS running smartwatch |
| Series | Forerunner |
| Released | 15 May 2026 (announced 12 May 2026) |
| Price at launch | Forerunner 170: GBP 259.99 / USD 299.99. Forerunner 170 Music: GBP 299.99 / USD 349.99. |
| Predecessor | Forerunner 165 |
| Successor | Not yet announced. See Release Radar. |
| Sizes | 43mm (small) |
| Variants | Forerunner 170, Forerunner 170 Music (adds 4GB music storage) |
| Colours | 170: Black with Black/Amp Yellow band, Whitestone with Whitestone/Cloud Blue band. 170 Music: Black, Whitestone, Teal Green with Teal Green/Citron band, Red Pink with Red Pink/Mango band. |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Jump to: Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Activity profiles | Further reading
Expert opinion
The Garmin Forerunner 170 is the plus version of the company’s entry level option, introducing modern hardware and major firmware upgrades to Garmin’s budget tier.
The Forerunner 170 succeeds the Forerunner 165 and sits above the Forerunner 70 in Garmin’s 2026 entry lineup. It is a software-led upgrade: the case, the 1.2 inch AMOLED display and the Elevate Gen 4 sensor carry over from the 165, while the modern Garmin software stack arrives, Training Readiness, Training Status, wrist-based Running Power and Dynamics, Garmin Cycling Coach and Quick Workouts. Over the Forerunner 70 it adds a barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope and thermometer, Garmin Pay, open water swimming, and cycling power-meter support. The Music edition adds 4GB of onboard storage for offline playback. Battery life is up to 10 days in smartwatch mode and 17 hours in GPS, slightly behind the 165 in some modes. The 43mm case is small.
What’s new versus the Forerunner 165
Hardware
- Gyroscope added
- Case, 1.2 inch AMOLED display and Elevate Gen 4 sensor carried over from the 165
- Approximately 41g, 2g heavier than the 165
Software
- Training Readiness
- Training Status with Acute Load
- Wrist-based Running Power
- Wrist-based Running Dynamics
- Garmin Cycling Coach
- Cycling power-meter and smart-trainer support
- Quick Workouts on-device generator
- Garmin Coach run and walk adaptive plans
- Open Water Swim and Floor Climb profiles
- Guided Meditation
- Expanded activity profile library, 80+ sports apps
- Modern Garmin watch interface shared with the Forerunner 570, 970 and Fenix 8
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Size | 1.2 inch (30.4mm) |
| Type | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 390 x 390 pixels |
| Lens | Chemically strengthened glass |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Physical | |
| Case size | 43mm (small) |
| Weight | 41g (170 and 170 Music) |
| Case material | Fibre-reinforced polymer |
| Lens material | Chemically strengthened glass |
| Water rating | 5 ATM (50m) |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GPS | Multi-GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS), single-frequency |
| Heart rate | Elevate Gen 4 |
| Other sensors | Pulse Ox, barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, thermometer, accelerometer, ambient light sensor |
| Connectivity and storage | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+ |
| Music storage | Forerunner 170 Music only: 4GB, offline Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer |
| Onboard maps | No |
Battery life
| Mode | Battery life |
|---|---|
| Smartwatch | Up to 10 days (5 days always-on display) |
| GPS only | Up to 17 hours |
| GPS and music (170 Music) | Up to 7 hours |
Features
Feature explanations are covered in the relevant the5krunner Garmin features hub.
Plan
- Daily Suggested Workouts with run-walk option
- Garmin Coach adaptive training plans
- HRV Status
- Morning Report
- Evening Report
- Recovery Time
- Sleep Coach
- Nap Detection
- Body Battery
- Courses
- Course Planner
- Race Predictor
- Breathing Variations
- Women’s Health Tracking
Prepare
- Wrist-based heart rate
- Wrist-based running dynamics
- VO2 Max
- Intensity Minutes
- Acute Load
- Pulse Ox
- Quick Workout on-device generator
- Voice alerts
- Stress Tracking
- Health Snapshot
- Lifestyle Logging
- Health Status
- Cross Training
- Activity Tracking
- Fitness Age
- Mobility
Perform
- Built-in GNSS, multiple satellite systems
- Wrist-based Running Power
- Garmin Cycling Coach
- Cycling power-meter and smart-trainer support
- 80+ built-in sports apps
- PacePro pacing strategies
- Track Running
Connect
- Garmin Pay contactless payments
- Music: Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer offline (170 Music only)
- Safety and incident detection with live location
- LiveTrack location sharing
- Smart Notifications
- On-wrist texting (Android or Garmin Messenger)
- Garmin Connect app
- Connect IQ Store
- Google Maps app turn-by-turn on wrist (Android)
- Garmin Share
- Colour filters and watch face customisation
Activity profiles
| Category | Profiles |
|---|---|
| Outdoor running | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Ultra Running, Obstacle Racing |
| Indoor running | Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Virtual Running |
| Cycling | Biking, Road Biking, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Bike Commuting, Bike Touring, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking, Cyclocross |
| Swim | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming |
| On the water | Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Snorkeling |
| Gym | Strength, HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Jump Roping |
| Wellness | Walking, Pilates, Yoga, Indoor Walking, Mobility, Breathwork |
| Outdoor recreation | Hiking, Rucking, Mountaineering, Horseback Riding, Disc Golf, Archery |
| Racket sports | Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball |
| Snow and winter | Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, XC Skate Skiing, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing |
| Team sports | Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball |
| In the ring | Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts |
| Motor sports | Motorcycling, Overlanding, Motocrossing, ATVing, Snowmobiling |
| Other | Inline Skating |
Further reading
- the5krunner Forerunner 170 launch coverage
- Garmin watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming Garmin watches
Related watches
Looking at alternatives to the Forerunner 170?
- Predecessor: Garmin Forerunner 165, the previous entry/mid model.
- Also consider: Coros Pace 3 or the Polar Pacer, two entry-level alternatives.
