The brand-new Garmin Forerunner 970 is available now. The top-of-the-line model promises powerful features, including an electrocardiogram (ECG), an LED flashlight, and new running metrics. Still, the Forerunner 570 is slightly more affordable due to its lack of these features.
Garmin Forerunner 970 Price and Release Date
Garmin announced its latest Forerunner 970 and Forerunner 570 last week, and online shops now offer them. The top model is available exclusively with a 47-millimeter case diameter and retails for $749.99 on Amazon.com and £713.60 on Amazon.co.uk, making the watch significantly more expensive than the older Forerunner 965 ( approx. $500 / £458 on Amazon).
In addition to a hefty price increase, the GPS watch for cross-country running also receives several new features and design updates. The watch case receives striking color accents in green or purple, and Garmin is adjusting the bezel lettering and the shape of the buttons to give the watch a more modern look.
The 56-gram smartwatch, with a diameter of 47 millimeters, features a titanium bezel and a scratch-resistant sapphire glass display cover. A round AMOLED display with a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels dominates the front, and reports claim the panel is brighter than its predecessor. Also new are the integrated LED flashlight and the microphones and speakers, allowing the Forerunner 970 to make calls and access voice assistants via a connected smartphone.
ECG and new running features
While the previous model already offered color maps, Garmin touts more precise navigation with the new model. However, the battery life when using the GPS module drops to 26 hours, while the battery life with regular use is only 15 days. As before, the smartwatch features 32 GB of storage for offline maps, apps, and music. The watch supports contactless payments via Garmin Pay.
In addition to the previous model’s heart rate, SpO2, and skin temperature sensors, the Forerunner 970 GPS watch for cross country running also offers an integrated electrocardiogram (ECG) to detect cardiac arrhythmias. Garmin is introducing two new features specifically for runners: Running Economy measures how efficiently the user runs, while Running Tolerance assesses the biomechanical load while running to help prevent overexertion. The new model’s Garmin Coach is designed to recommend smarter training plans.
