Garmin is giving its entry-level running watches a sizeable upgrade for 2026.
The new Forerunner 70, Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music bring AMOLED displays, smarter training tools and longer battery life to the brand’s more affordable lineup.
All three watches are aimed at newer runners. However, Garmin is clearly borrowing features from its pricier Forerunner models this time around. They now include vibrant 1.2-inch AMOLED screens and touchscreen controls alongside Garmin’s familiar five-button layout. There is also a much more advanced training experience than you’d usually expect at this price point.
The biggest addition is a new Quick Workouts feature, which creates simplified workout suggestions based on your fitness level, preferred workout length and intensity. Additionally, Garmin has expanded its adaptive coaching tools. Updated Garmin Coach plans now support lower-volume and run/walk training programmes, something that feels more beginner-friendly than the company’s usual marathon-heavy focus.
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Despite sitting near the bottom of Garmin’s running range, the Forerunner 70 still includes features like training readiness, training status, wrist-based running power and running dynamics. It also includes more than 80 sports modes. There’s also the usual health tracking suite, including sleep coaching, HRV status, Pulse Ox and breathing variation monitoring.
Battery life looks strong too. The Forerunner 70 is rated for up to 13 days in smartwatch mode. This comfortably beats many similarly priced smartwatches that still need charging every couple of nights.
The pricier Forerunner 170 builds on that foundation with a few extra quality-of-life upgrades. Garmin Pay support means runners can buy drinks or snacks mid-run without carrying a wallet. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 170 Music variant adds offline playback for playlists, podcasts and songs from supported streaming services.
Garmin also seems to be leaning harder into brighter designs this year. Alongside the standard black and white finishes, buyers can pick from colours like citron, lavender, teal green and red pink. This noticeably shifts away from the usually muted fitness-watch aesthetic.
The new watches go on sale from 15 May 2026 through Garmin’s website. Pricing starts at £219.99 for the Forerunner 70. It rises to £259.99 for the Forerunner 170 and £299.99 for the music-enabled version.
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