Garmin Launches Forerunner 70 and 170 Watches

Garmin has launched the Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170, a refreshed lineup of entry-level running watches aimed at beginners and intermediate athletes. The devices, priced at $249 for the Forerunner 70 and $299 for the standard Forerunner 170 with a $349 music edition, replace the Forerunner 55 and Forerunner 165. They are set to ship by late May or early June.

Both models feature identical 43mm fiber-reinforced polymer cases with lightweight designs, 1.2-inch bright AMOLED touchscreens, and five physical side buttons for navigation. Rated for 5ATM water resistance up to 50 meters, they support tracking for more than 80 activities, including running, cycling, hiking, swimming, team sports, and strength training. Onboard GPS enables location tracking without a paired smartphone.

The watches introduce advanced health and training metrics previously available only on higher-end Garmin devices, such as training readiness scores, training status, heart rate variability insights, Body Battery energy monitoring, sleep scores, and pulse oximetry. Users benefit from 24/7 health tracking, daily sleep reports, and a new Quick Workout feature that generates exercise options based on...