Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170: New Running Watches
On 12 May 2026, Garmin announced two new running watches, the Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170, on sale from 15 May. Both land in the entry to mid segment with bright AMOLED screens and a feature set that used to be reserved for pricier models. Before getting too excited about the price, there is one catch, and it matters specifically for triathletes.
What both models offer
Forerunner 70 and 170 share the same platform: a 1.2-inch AMOLED screen, touch control plus five buttons, the Elevate Gen 4 heart rate sensor (the same one in the FR165), and 50 m (5 ATM) water resistance. Both carry GPS and more than 80 sport apps, including pool swimming and cycling. On the training side: training readiness, training status, wrist-based running power, running dynamics, HRV, sleep tracking, daily suggested workouts and Garmin Coach plans, including new run/walk plans for beginners.
Smart notifications, LiveTrack and the safety features work once the watch is paired with a smartphone.
US pricing: the Forerunner 70 is $249.99, the Forerunner 170 is $299.99, and the Forerunner 170 Music, with onboard storage for music, is $349.99.
What sets the Forerunner 170 apart from the 70
The Forerunner 170 adds three things the 70 does not have:
- Barometric altimeter, for floor counting and more accurate elevation on runs and rides
- Open water swimming mode, tracking distance and pace
- Garmin Pay, contactless payments from the wrist, with supported banks
The Forerunner 170 Music adds onboard storage for music and podcasts, so it plays through wireless headphones without a phone nearby. Battery life on the 70 runs to 13 days in smartwatch mode (or 23 hours of GPS); the 170 manages 10 days, since the altimeter draws more power.
The key gap: no multisport mode
This is where it matters for triathletes. Neither watch has a multisport or triathlon mode. There is no automatic switch from swim to bike to run, each activity has to be ended manually. That is the real gap against the FR265 (from $449.99) or the Forerunner 570/970, which carry a full triathlon mode with automatic transitions, post-race analysis and dedicated data per segment.
For someone training running, and maybe cycling, as separate disciplines, the Forerunner 70 is a strong watch for the money. For a triathlete who wants one watch for race day, it is not the right model.
Who should buy which
Forerunner 70 suits a runner starting out who wants GPS, AMOLED and solid data without overpaying. It also works as a second, everyday watch for a triathlete, for zone 2 sessions and day-to-day HRV tracking, without wearing out the pricier watch.
Forerunner 170 and 170 Music suit a runner who wants open water tracking and music without carrying a phone. Locking into a long run with a playlist and no distractions is where the value sits.
A triathlete looking for one watch to train and race with should look at the FR265, or wait for a price drop on the FR570. The Forerunner 70 and 170 are solid running watches, but they are not built for triathlon.