If you want better GPS accuracy
Choose Garmin Forerunner 965. It scores 4.7 vs 4.0 for GPS accuracy, with a 3.9 overall score.
Garmin Forerunner 170 Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for accurate road-running data, advanced Garmin coaching, and useful payments or music in a light AMOLED watch. Skip it if you need multi-band GPS, full maps, week-long always-on battery, or the best value.
Best for
Best for road runners and improving beginners who want Garmin’s training ecosystem, recovery guidance, accurate everyday tracking, and useful smart features in a small watch.
Not for
Not ideal for technical hikers, ultrarunners, or multisport athletes who need topographic maps, multi-band GPS, triathlon support, or longer always-on endurance.
Verdict
The Forerunner 170 is a highly capable running watch whose strongest upgrades are software-driven. Its bright AMOLED display, comfortable 41 g case, reliable road-running GPS, and deep Garmin training tools make it suitable for beginners through serious marathoners. Training Readiness, Training Status, adaptive coaching, running power, Garmin Pay, and optional music create a polished all-round package. The tradeoffs are meaningful: it uses older heart-rate hardware, lacks multi-band GPS and full maps, and always-on battery life often falls to roughly three or four days. Its price also leaves the cheaper Forerunner 70, Coros Pace 4, discounted Forerunner 165, and older Forerunner 265 looking attractive. The base 170 makes the most sense for runners who will actually use its smart features and richer training analysis.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
50 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.027 (54%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.414 (28%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.44 (8%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.45 (10%)
Pros
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
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Reviewers like the compact proportions, colorful two-tone options, and modern AMOLED look. The plastic construction keeps it sporty rather than luxurious.
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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.
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Five physical buttons are a major usability strength, especially during runs, with gloves, or when sweaty hands make touch controls awkward.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Body Battery, HRV, sleep guidance, Health Status, and lifestyle logging create a broad wellness package that supports recovery as well as training.
-
Wrist-based running power and dynamics bring advanced training metrics to a relatively affordable watch and are strongly praised.
Cons
-
Breadcrumb routes are usable for familiar roads, but the absence of offline or topographic maps is a major limitation for trails, hiking, and exploration.
-
A built-in flashlight is missing. Reviewers did not expect it at this tier, but several still considered its absence disappointing.
-
The watch cannot take calls from the wrist because it lacks a microphone and speaker, limiting its appeal as a full smartwatch.
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ECG is not available on the Forerunner 170, and reviewers note that buyers must move to a pricier Garmin to get it.
-
There is no onboard voice assistant because the watch lacks a microphone and speaker.
-
The fiber-reinforced plastic keeps weight down but does not feel luxurious, and the glass is below sapphire or premium Gorilla Glass standards.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Smartwatches, this product is above average in third-party app support, contactless payments, running power support, near average in heart rate accuracy, display quality, below average in flashlight usefulness, materials quality, call handling.
Comparison summary
50 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher27 (54%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts15 (30%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower8 (16%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| third-party app support | 5.0 | 3.2 | +1.8 |
| contactless payments | 4.3 | 2.7 | +1.6 |
| running power support | 5.0 | 3.5 | +1.5 |
| flashlight usefulness | 2.3 | 3.8 | -1.5 |
| music controls | 5.0 | 3.5 | +1.5 |
| app ecosystem | 5.0 | 3.6 | +1.4 |
| materials quality | 2.7 | 4.0 | -1.3 |
| recovery insights | 5.0 | 3.9 | +1.1 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better materials quality
Choose Suunto Race S. It scores 4.7 vs 2.7 for materials quality, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better battery life
Choose Suunto Vertical 2. It scores 4.7 vs 3.7 for battery life, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better flashlight usefulness
Choose Garmin Enduro 3. It scores 4.9 vs 2.3 for flashlight usefulness, with a 4.2 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Alternative: technical hiking and multi-band GPS The Pace 4 is recommended instead for users needing more demanding outdoor capability.
- Alternative: running focus versus broader activity support The Pace 4 is a favorite pure running alternative but offers less non-running support.
- Better: value for money The Pace 4 is presented as a better-value option for runners who do not need Garmin's smart extras.
- Better: display sharpness and fluidity The Forerunner screen is less sharp and fluid than flagship smartwatch displays.
- Similar: GPS accuracy The Forerunner's GPS matched the Apple Watch Ultra 3 in testing.
FAQ
Is the Garmin Forerunner 170 accurate?
For road runs, treadmills, and open routes, most testers found GPS and heart rate close to multi-band watches and chest straps. Accuracy can slip during fast intervals, strength work, dense tree cover, and steep terrain.
How long does the battery last?
Raise-to-wake users commonly approach about a week, while always-on users often report roughly three to four days with regular GPS workouts. That is shorter than the Forerunner 70 and several rivals.
Does it have maps?
It supports breadcrumb routes and basic course guidance, but it does not include offline topographic maps or full street-level navigation.
Is the Music version worth it?
It is worthwhile for runners who want phone-free playlists from supported streaming services. Reviewers frequently considered the added price steep, especially because storage capacity has not increased.
Is it better than the Forerunner 70?
The 170 adds Garmin Pay, extra sensors, stronger cycling support, and an optional Music model. The 70 delivers much of the same core running and training experience for less money and with somewhat longer battery life.
Who should buy the Forerunner 170?
It suits runners who want serious coaching and recovery tools without moving to Garmin’s premium range, particularly those who value payments, optional music, and a compact AMOLED design.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - TechRadar
- Review score
- 4.2
YouTube - The Run Testers
- Review score
- 4.2
YouTube - Strength Sweat Succeed
- Review score
- 4.7
YouTube - German Accent Reviews
- Review score
- 4.0
YouTube - The Run Testers
- Review score
- 4.3
Article Reviews
mountainmassif.com
A detailed look at Garmin's new Forerunner 170.
- Review score
- 4.6
mountaineerjourney.com
In this article, I'm going to share my HONEST Garmin Forerunner 170 review after 6 months of real-world testing across.
- Review score
- 3.2
techradar.com
Matt is TechRadar's expert on all things fitness, wellness and wearable tech. A former staffer at Men's Health, he holds a Master's Degree in...
- Review score
- 4.1
theruntesters.com
Disclaimer: The Run Testers sometimes use affiliate links. This means that we may receive payment if you buy products on our website or...
- Review score
- 4.2
wareable.com
Looking to discover the key differences between the Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170 series? Find them in this complete comparison guide.
- Review score
- 3.3
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