If you are a runner looking for a new watch, you have probably seen the older Forerunner 165 and the brand-new Forerunner 170. They look almost the same, and they both have those pretty, bright screens.
But if you look closer, Garmin added some very cool “smart” features to the 170 that were missing before. Here is the simple breakdown of what is different.
Detailed Specs Comparison
| Feature | Forerunner 165 | Forerunner 170 |
| Price (Standard) | $249.99 | $299.99 |
| Display Type | 1.2″ AMOLED | 1.2″ AMOLED |
| Lens Material | Chemically Strengthened Glass | Chemically Strengthened Glass |
| Heart Rate Sensor | Elevate Gen 4 | Elevate Gen 4 |
| Internal Storage | 4GBÂ | 4GBÂ |
| Smartwatch Battery | 11 Days | 10 Days |
| GPS Battery | 19 Hours | 20 Hours |
| Training Readiness | No | Yes |
| Training Status | No | Yes (Load & Ratio) |
| Daily Suggested Workouts | Basic | Advanced (Race Focused) |
| Garmin Pay | Music Version Only | Included on All Models |
| Gyroscope | No | Yes |
| Barometric Altimeter | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 39g | 41g |
1. The Watch Now Tells You When to Rest
The biggest change is a feature called Training Readiness. The old 165 didn’t have this.
Basically, the Forerunner 170 looks at how well you slept, how hard you worked out yesterday, and how stressed you are. Then, it gives you a score. If your score is high, it’s a great day for a hard run. If it’s low, the watch will literally tell you to take a nap or a slow walk instead. It’s like having a coach on your wrist.
2. More Data for Serious Runners
The Forerunner 170 also adds Training Status. This tells you if your training is actually working. It will show you whether you are getting fitter, staying the same, or working too hard and might get hurt.
It also adds something called Grade-Adjusted Pace. If you are running up a big hill, your pace will look slow. This feature calculates how fast you would be going on flat ground, so you don’t feel discouraged by hills.
3. No More “Music Version” for Payments
With the older 165, if you wanted to use your watch to pay for a coffee (Garmin Pay), you had to buy the more expensive “Music” version.
With the Forerunner 170, Garmin Pay comes with every watch. You don’t have to pay extra for the music model just to get contactless payments.
4. What Stayed the Same?
It is important to know that the “engine” inside hasn’t changed much:
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The Sensors: As we talked about, both watches use the same Elevate Gen 4 heart rate sensor. The 170 isn’t “better” at reading your heart rate; it’s just smarter at using that data.
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The Screen: Both have a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen. It looks great in the sun and is very easy to read.
The Final Word
If you already have a Forerunner 165, you probably don’t need to rush out and buy the new one unless you really want that Training Readiness score.
But, if you are buying a new watch today, the Forerunner 170 is the better choice. For a little bit more money, you get all the professional tools that used to be only on the most expensive Garmin watches. It’s a much smarter partner for your daily runs!
Also Read:Â Massive Garmin Sale: Newest Watches Receiving Big Discounts Including Fenix, Venu, Enduro, Instinct & More
