| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Garmin |
| Type | Multisport GPS running watch |
| Series | Forerunner |
| Released | 21 May 2025 (announced 15 May 2025) |
| Price at launch | GBP 649.99 / USD 749.99 |
| Predecessor | Forerunner 965 |
| Successor | Not yet announced. See Release Radar. |
| Sizes | 47mm |
| Colours | Carbon Gray DLC Titanium, Titanium/Whitestone, Soft Gold Titanium/French Gray |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Jump to: Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Activity profiles | Further reading
Expert opinion
The Forerunner 970 has the most extensive running, triathlon and multisport features of any watch. Its capabilities will cover any Ironman race but its battery life and medium-sized screen might not meet the needs of every ultrarunner.
The full set of new running metrics, Running Tolerance, Running Economy and Step Speed Loss, launched first on the 970. Running Economy and Step Speed Loss require the HRM 600 chest strap, sold separately. Battery life in smartwatch mode is 15 days, down from 23 on the 965, with 26 hours in GPS-only mode falling short of multi-day ultra events without charging. The 1.4 inch display is shared with the 965 and the 570. The watch is offered only in 47mm.
Garmin Forerunner 970
Premium GPS triathlon smartwatch. Features a bright AMOLED touch screen and a built-in LED flashlight.
$719.99
What’s new versus the Forerunner 965
Hardware
- ECG app via the Elevate Gen 5 sensor, first in the Forerunner series
- Built-in LED flashlight with white and red light modes
- Sapphire crystal lens, replacing Corning Gorilla Glass 3
- Titanium bezel, replacing stainless steel
- Skin temperature sensor
- Built-in speaker and microphone for calls and voice commands
- Elevate Gen 5 heart rate sensor, replacing Gen 4
- Increased display brightness
- 0.3mm thinner than the 965
Software
- Running Tolerance, with the Impact Load terrain-adjusted measure
- Running Economy, requires the HRM 600 chest strap (sold separately)
- Step Speed Loss, requires the HRM 600
- Evening Report
- Voice commands
- Past ovulation estimates
- Garmin Triathlon Coach
- Hill Score
- Endurance Score
- Auto Lap by timing gates
- Suggested Finish Line
- Projected Race Time
- Multi-sport structured workouts
- Focus Modes
- Training Load Ratio
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Size | 1.4 inch (35.56mm) |
| Type | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 454 x 454 pixels |
| Lens | Sapphire crystal |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Always-on display | Yes |
| Physical | |
| Case size | 47mm |
| Thickness | 12.9mm |
| Weight | 56g (without band) |
| Case material | Fibre-reinforced polymer |
| Bezel material | Titanium |
| Water rating | 5 ATM |
| Strap width | 22mm |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GPS | Multi-Band GNSS with SatIQ. GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou |
| Heart rate | Elevate Gen 5 |
| Other sensors | ECG, Pulse Ox, skin temperature, barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer, ambient light |
| Connectivity and storage | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, USB-C, NFC (Garmin Pay) |
| Storage | 32GB |
| Music | Up to 2,000 songs |
Battery life
| Mode | Battery life |
|---|---|
| Smartwatch | Up to 15 days |
| GPS only | Up to 26 hours |
| Auto Select GNSS | Up to 23 hours |
| All systems and Multi-Band | Up to 21 hours |
| GPS and music | Up to 14 hours |
| Auto Select and music | Up to 13 hours |
| All systems, Multi-Band and music | Up to 12 hours |
Features
Feature explanations are covered in the relevant the5krunner Garmin features hub.
Plan
- Running Economy (requires HRM 600)
- Running Tolerance with Impact Load
- Full-colour built-in mapping
- Garmin Coach training plans
- Training Readiness
- Morning Report
- Evening Report
- Turn-by-turn directions
- Dynamic round-trip routing
- Course Planner
- Training Status
- Daily Suggested Workouts
- Recovery Time
- Health Status
- Body Battery
- Sleep Coach
- Sleep Alignment
- Nap Detection
- Smart Wake Alarm
- Breathing Variations
- HRV Status
- Garmin ECG app
- Skin Temperature
- Women’s Health Tracking
- Natural Cycles compatibility
- Race Predictor
- Projected Race Time
Prepare
- Wrist-based running dynamics
- Step Speed Loss (requires HRM 600)
- Wrist-based heart rate
- Multisport workouts
- Hill Score
- Endurance Score
- Acute Load
- Load Ratio
- Performance Condition
- VO2 Max
- Stress Tracking
- Training Effect
- Health Snapshot
- Lifestyle Logging
- Nutrition tracking via Garmin Connect
- Pulse Ox
- Cross Training
- Mixed Session
Perform
- Triathlon and multisport profiles
- Wrist-based running power
- SatIQ and Multi-Band GPS
- PacePro pacing strategies
- Track Running
- ClimbPro
- Real-Time Stamina
- Up Ahead
- Auto Lap by timing gates
- Suggested Finish Line
- 30+ built-in sports apps
- Cycling sensor compatibility, including Rally power meter pedals and Varia radar
Connect
- Music: Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, local files
- Safety and incident detection with live location
- Garmin Pay
- Smart Notifications
- WhatsApp via Connect IQ
- LiveTrack
- Colour filters for colour blindness
- Watch face customisation
- Garmin Connect app
- Garmin Share
- Connect IQ Store
Activity profiles
| Category | Profiles |
|---|---|
| Running | Run, Indoor Track, Obstacle Racing, Track Run, Trail Run, Treadmill, Ultra Run, Virtual Run |
| Cycling | Bike, Bike Commute, Bike Indoor, Bike Tour, BMX, Cyclocross, eBike, eMTB, Gravel Bike, MTB, Road Bike |
| Swimming | Open Water, Pool Swim |
| Multisport | Brick, Duathlon, Pool Triathlon, Swimrun, Triathlon |
| Gym and fitness | Boxing, Cardio, Climb Indoor, Elliptical, Floor Climb, HIIT, Jump Rope, Mixed Martial Arts, Mobility, Pilates, Row Indoor, Stair Stepper, Strength, Walk Indoor, Yoga |
| Outdoor | Adventure Race, Archery, Bouldering, Disc Golf, Expedition, Fish, Golf, Hike, Horseback, Hunt, Inline Skating, Mountaineering, Rucking, Walk |
| Other | Winter sports: Backcountry Ski, Backcountry Snowboard, Ice Skating, Ski, Snowboard, Snowmobile, Snowshoe, XC Classic Ski, XC Skate Ski. Water sports: Boat, Kayak, Row, Sail, Sail Expedition, Sail Race, Snorkel, SUP. Team sports: American Football, Baseball, Basketball, Cricket, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rugby, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Ultimate Disc. Racket sports: Badminton, Padel, Pickleball, Platform Tennis, Racquetball, Squash, Table Tennis, Tennis. Motorsports: ATV, Motocross, Motorcycle, Overland. Other: Breathwork, Meditation, Track Me. |
Garmin Forerunner 970
Premium GPS triathlon smartwatch. Features a bright AMOLED touch screen and a built-in LED flashlight.
$719.99
Further reading
- the5krunner Forerunner 970 review
- Garmin watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming Garmin watches
- Garmin Forerunner 970 official product page
Related watches
Looking at alternatives to the Forerunner 970?
- Predecessor: Garmin Forerunner 965, the previous flagship, now usually cheaper.
- Also consider: Suunto Race 2, a large-screen multisport alternative.
