Running watches have had a quiet revolution over the past 18 months, and most of it happened while everyone was distracted by the smartwatch wars. Garmin’s two new Forerunners — the 70 and 170 — landed in May and slot cleanly into both ends of that range.
Garmin Forerunner 70: The One to Recommend to Everyone
43mm case, 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, GPS that locks before you’ve finished stretching, and 10-day battery life. The display is the headline — AMOLED at this price point is a genuine upgrade over the MIP screens that defined budget running watches for a decade. The Forerunner 70 is priced to compete with Apple Watch SE and it’s a better running tool at that price, full stop.
Garmin Forerunner 170: For When You Want More Data
Steps up with Training Readiness scores and a more complete picture of recovery and sleep quality. If you’re following a training plan, these features aren’t optional extras — they’re how you avoid overtraining. The price difference is modest enough that if you’re choosing between them, go up. The Forerunner 170 is the better long-term investment if you run more than three times a week.
Where Apple Watch Fits
Apple Watch Series 10 remains excellent if your life already runs through Apple’s ecosystem. The running experience is genuinely good. But the battery situation hasn’t fundamentally changed: you’re charging it every night, and on long run days you’re watching the percentage with mild anxiety. For casual runners and people who want a watch that does everything, it’s still a strong choice.
What to Actually Buy
The decision tree is simple. Fewer than four runs a week: Forerunner 70. Running seriously: Forerunner 170. Apple ecosystem and running is secondary: Apple Watch Series 10. Everyone else: stop overthinking it and get the Forerunner 70.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 running watch market is genuinely good at every price point. If you’ve been tracking runs on your phone or wearing something that predates AMOLED displays, this is the year to upgrade. Come back tomorrow for our take on AI video.