Compare Garmin Enduro 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 170

The app ecosystem gets some credit for a large library of watch faces, but the broader smartwatch-app story is not the product’s main strength.

Garmin’s training ecosystem is repeatedly praised as polished and deep, with strong analysis, coaching, and device integration.

Band quality was mostly praised for comfort and lightness, but sweat retention and wet fabric were recurring drawbacks.

The silicone strap is soft, stretchy, and easy to replace, while the 170’s metal clasp feels nicer than the cheaper model’s plastic hardware.

Battery life was the strongest consensus point, with reviewers repeatedly describing weeks of use and endurance-event confidence.

Battery opinions depend heavily on settings: raise-to-wake users often approach a week, while always-on users commonly report about three to four days. It trails the cheaper Forerunner 70 and several rivals.

Pulse Ox is considered a meaningful upgrade over the previous entry-level generation and adds depth to overnight health monitoring.

Temperature-related capability is valued for cycle tracking, but reviewers also note that Garmin reserves some skin-temperature features for more expensive models.

Brightness was improved, especially versus older solar MIP designs, though AMOLED displays remained brighter in many conditions.

The AMOLED is consistently described as bright enough for everyday and outdoor use, though it is not Garmin’s brightest panel.

Build quality took a hit for one reviewer because replacing some metal with plastic made it feel less robust than the predecessor.

The lightweight plastic case feels sturdy and better finished than older entry models. It avoids feeling cheap, even if it lacks premium materials.

Physical button controls were praised as reliable and satisfying, with the touchscreen-button blend described as the best of both worlds.

Five physical buttons are a major usability strength, especially during runs, with gloves, or when sweaty hands make touch controls awkward.

Call handling is limited because the Enduro 3 lacks mic and speaker hardware; one reviewer did not miss it, while another missed wrist-call support.

The watch cannot take calls from the wrist because it lacks a microphone and speaker, limiting its appeal as a full smartwatch.

Calorie estimates stayed within about ten percent of a chest-strap comparison, which reviewers considered reasonably useful.

Charging convenience was criticized because the proprietary four-pin cable remains a hassle despite the long intervals between charges.

Charging speed was only directly judged in one long-term review, where the slow full charge was a minor nitpick because charging was rare.

Charging is quick, reaching a full charge in roughly 65 minutes and providing a substantial top-up in about 20 minutes.

Coaching and training-plan features were praised for actionable strength plans, readiness guidance, and useful endurance-focused training support.

Garmin Coach, Training Status, adaptive plans, and Quick Workouts give beginners and regular runners unusually strong guidance. Quick Workout targets can be aggressive and its duration options may feel restrictive.

Comfort was better than expected for a 51mm watch thanks to low weight and nylon straps, though sleep comfort and bulk remained caveats.

The compact 41 g design is widely praised for all-day, sleep, and long-run comfort. One reviewer warned that the plastic rear casing may irritate sensitive skin during prolonged wear.

The companion app and Garmin Share workflow were praised for saving time when distributing routes and workouts.

Garmin Connect remains free, easy to use, and effective for reviewing workouts and daily activity.

Contactless payments were strongly praised by reviewers who used Garmin Pay frequently and treated it as part of daily use.

Garmin Pay is a useful convenience and a key reason to choose the 170 over the 70. Its value depends on bank support and whether buyers can justify the price premium.

Cross-platform compatibility is mixed because Android users can reply with presets, while iPhone users lose reply functionality.

Customization remains a Garmin strength, especially customizable data fields, stat widgets, and quick-access tools.

Data layouts, swappable bands, report themes, and vibration patterns give the watch a pleasing level of personalization.

Display quality improved over prior solar Garmins and is clear outdoors, but several reviewers still preferred AMOLED sharpness and color.

The 1.2-inch AMOLED is colorful, sharp, and easy to read while moving. It is not as fluid or premium as flagship smartwatch displays, but testers still rate it highly.

Durability was strong in the reviewed evidence, with praise for the long-lasting body and a six-month report of no visible screen scratches.

Despite its low weight and plastic build, the watch is considered sturdy enough for regular training and daily wear.

ECG is not available on the Forerunner 170, and reviewers note that buyers must move to a pricier Garmin to get it.

Fit was secure and wearable for some reviewers, but the large case still looked or felt oversized on smaller wrists.

The 43 mm case fit testers securely and should suit many wrists, although the single-size design may not be ideal for everyone.

Fitness tracking was broadly viewed as accurate and dependable across real workouts, runs, hikes, and multisport use.

Overall workout tracking impressed testers, with strong agreement between the watch and trusted comparison devices in controlled runs.

The flashlight was one of the most consistently loved extras, described as handy, underrated, and hard to live without.

A built-in flashlight is missing. Reviewers did not expect it at this tier, but several still considered its absence disappointing.

GPS accuracy drew strong agreement, with reviewers reporting precise tracks, solid distance totals, and reliable performance even in challenging terrain.

Most testers found all-systems GPS impressively close to multi-band reference watches on roads and open routes. Dense canopy, steep terrain, and technical trails produced drift or corner cutting for at least one long-term tester.

Reviewers found the Enduro 3’s health metrics credible and useful, with one noting it flagged underlying illness signs before the reviewer noticed them.

Heart-rate accuracy was usually strong, especially for steady running and baseline tests, but several reviewers saw misses during intervals, climbs, strength work, or fast intensity changes.

Steady running and treadmill readings usually tracked closely to chest straps. Rapid intervals, strength work, steep climbs, and some trail sessions exposed lag from the older sensor.

Mapping and navigation were a major strength, especially route following, off-course alerts, ClimbPro, and backcountry use, though some UI flow remains clunky.

Breadcrumb routes are usable for familiar roads, but the absence of offline or topographic maps is a major limitation for trails, hiking, and exploration.

Materials quality was mixed: reviewers liked the practical comfort and price effects of plastic, but one initially felt it seemed cheap.

The fiber-reinforced plastic keeps weight down but does not feel luxurious, and the glass is below sapphire or premium Gorilla Glass standards.

Menu navigation improved overall, but added button presses and a learning curve kept it from feeling completely effortless.

The refreshed Garmin interface makes menus smoother and faster to move through than on earlier entry-level models.

Music controls were a weak spot: reviewers found the control page hard to avoid and phone music control clunky.

On-wrist music control is convenient during runs and contributes to the Music model’s beginner-friendly appeal.

Onboard music storage is supported, but one reviewer had repeated Spotify download failures, hurting confidence in the feature.

The Music model supports useful phone-free playback and major streaming services. Reviewers like the feature but criticize the extra cost and unchanged storage capacity.

The updated software experience makes the Enduro 3 feel closer to a smartwatch while keeping its sports-watch focus.

Garmin’s newer OS looks more polished, feels more modern, and aligns the watch with higher-end Forerunners.

Outdoor visibility was mostly praised in sun and bright conditions, but one reviewer found the map hard to see in dim forest without backlight.

The AMOLED remains clear outdoors and is easy to glance at during runs, even though brighter flagship panels exist.

Recovery and training-readiness insights were repeatedly praised as useful for pacing training, race preparation, and deciding when to push or rest.

Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV, load, and recovery guidance are the watch’s most consistently praised upgrades. They make the 170 useful well beyond beginner-level run tracking.

Long-term reliability was praised in one six-month review, where the watch lived up to expectations through demanding use.

Road-running performance is dependable enough for several reviewers to use it as a primary training watch. Reliability becomes more mixed in dense forest, steep terrain, and technical hiking.

Wrist-based running power and dynamics bring advanced training metrics to a relatively affordable watch and are strongly praised.

Safety features received positive evidence through off-course alerts that prevented extra race mileage.

LiveTrack and location-sharing tools are valuable at this price, though live tracking still depends on carrying a connected phone.

Size options were the clearest weakness because the Enduro 3 only comes in one large 51mm case.

The compact single case works well for many smaller wrists, but buyers who need multiple case sizes have no alternative.

Sleep tracking was described as solid, though comfort and size may limit how many users want to wear it overnight.

Sleep tracking produced conflicting results: one tester found it close to trusted wearables, while another found REM and deep-sleep estimates inaccurate.

Notifications work, and Android replies are useful, but the evidence also points to platform limits rather than a rich messaging experience.

Notifications are useful for daily wear, but one tester found the buzzing overly reactive during workouts.

Smartwatch features are adequate for essentials but limited versus Apple, Samsung, or Garmin’s own Fenix 8 voice-enabled models.

The 170 offers payments, notifications, optional music, and apps, but it remains a training watch first and lacks the breadth of Apple or Samsung smartwatches.

Software smoothness was mixed, with reviewers liking the direction but noting sluggishness, laggy post-run stats, and polish still needed.

The refreshed software is faster, more polished, and easier to adjust before a run, with useful hidden settings and widgets.

Design reactions were mixed: some liked the sleek rugged look, while another found the changes polarizing and subjective.

Reviewers like the compact proportions, colorful two-tone options, and modern AMOLED look. The plastic construction keeps it sporty rather than luxurious.

Third-party app support was judged weak compared with Apple’s ecosystem, with reviewers saying the Connect IQ offering does not rival fuller smartwatches.

Connect IQ supports major services such as Spotify and YouTube Music plus a wide range of community apps and widgets.

Touchscreen responsiveness was viewed positively, with reviewers praising touch unlock, responsiveness, and the touchscreen/buttons mix.

The touchscreen is responsive without feeling overly sensitive, while physical buttons remain available for workouts.

The revised interface was generally seen as easier and more coherent, though not perfectly polished across all reviewers.

The updated UI is polished and easier to use, with quick access to settings and rich data. New Garmin users may still find the menu depth intimidating.

Value for money was repeatedly praised because the Enduro 3 costs less than several Fenix alternatives while keeping key sports features.

The base 170 offers a strong blend of training analysis, accuracy, and smart features. Value is less convincing beside the cheaper Forerunner 70, Coros Pace 4, discounted Forerunner 165, or the expensive Music upgrade.

There is no onboard voice assistant because the watch lacks a microphone and speaker.

Watch face quality was criticized by one reviewer as visually weak compared with Apple or Samsung options.

Report themes add playful personalization, but the default progress-bar watch face can feel frustrating because its goals rarely align.

Water resistance is good for swimming and snorkeling, but reviewers noted it is not intended for diving.

Wellness metrics such as Body Battery, Training Readiness, sleep, and health trends were seen as genuinely helpful rather than just decorative data.

Body Battery, HRV, sleep guidance, Health Status, and lifestyle logging create a broad wellness package that supports recovery as well as training.

Wi-Fi is useful for downloading music on the Music model. The standard model lacks it, but reviewers found Bluetooth phone syncing adequate for normal use.

Reviewers consistently praised the wide sport coverage, describing the Enduro 3 as capable across nearly every activity and especially strong for endurance athletes.

More than 80 sport profiles make the watch versatile for running, cycling, gym work, swimming, and outdoor activities. The main gap is a dedicated triathlon or multisport mode.