Wear Radar

Fitbit EdgevsGarmin Forerunner 970

15d vs 7d
battery life
Garmin Forerunner 970 lasts longer
$570
price gap
Fitbit Edge cheaper
0.5 Hz
HR sampling
Fitbit Edge only — Garmin Forerunner 970 undisclosed
38g
lighter
Fitbit Edge
Fitbit Edge
Buy/Wait:good

Current model just released

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Garmin Forerunner 970
Buy/Wait:neutral

Reaching maturity, next model expected soon

Full details →
Fitbit EdgeGarmin Forerunner 970
Pricing
Starting price$179★$749
Subscriptionℹ️ Optional — $99/yrℹ️ Optional — $70/yr
Hardware
Weight18g★56g
Water resistance50m5ATM
Battery7 days15 days★
Always-on display✅★❌
GPS✅✅
Cellular❌❌
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
TierFitness TrackerSports GPS
Buy timing
ReleasedOct 27, 2026May 15, 2025
Cycle advicegood★neutral
Deals adviceneutralgreat★
Next model——

Health Sensors

Fitbit Edge only
No exclusive sensors
Both
5 shared
ECGDetects irregular heart rhythms (AFib)
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Skin TempOvernight changes linked to illness or cycle tracking
Garmin Forerunner 970 only
4 exclusive sensors
Stress TrackingStress estimate from HRV and physiological signals
Body BatteryGarmin's energy reserve — how much fuel left in the tank
Training ReadinessDaily recovery score — how ready you are to perform
Running DynamicsCadence, ground contact time, stride length, vertical oscillation

Why buy each?

Fitbit Edge

Larger AMOLED display with always-on option

A 1.34" AMOLED screen, 46% larger than the Charge 6's, with an optional always-on mode and a physical button.

Built-in GPS, ECG, and an altimeter

Multi-system GPS for phone-free runs, an ECG app for AFib checks, SpO2 and skin temperature sensing, and an altimeter for elevation.

User-replaceable battery

Up to 7 days per charge, a 5-minute top-up for about a day of use, and a battery you can replace yourself when it wears out.

Garmin Forerunner 970

ECG, flashlight, and sapphire lens

The FR970 is the first Forerunner with ECG and a built-in LED flashlight — plus a sapphire crystal lens and titanium DLC case for durability that rivals the Fenix 9.

Full color TopoActive maps + Triathlon Coach

Turn-by-turn navigation on preloaded worldwide TopoActive maps, combined with AI-powered Garmin Triathlon Coach structured training plans — a premium combination at any price.

Running dynamics + Elevate Gen 5

Full biomechanics suite (cadence, vertical oscillation, ground contact time, running power) plus Garmin's most advanced heart rate sensor with skin temperature monitoring.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

For the budget
Fitbit Edge wins

$476 vs $959 over 3 years.

For battery life
Garmin Forerunner 970 wins

15 days vs 7 days battery.

For health depth
Garmin Forerunner 970 wins

9 sensors.

For daily comfort
Fitbit Edge wins

18g.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Forerunner 970-only sensors: Stress Tracking, Body Battery, Training Readiness, Running Dynamics.
  2. Weight. Edge is 38g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Edge is $570 cheaper upfront ($179 vs $749).
Pick the Fitbit Edge if…

Anyone who wants a slim tracker with a screen, built-in GPS, and ECG rather than a full smartwatch. It suits Charge owners ready to upgrade, as long as they don't rely on Google Wallet payments or EDA stress scans. Works with both Android and iPhone via the Google Health app.

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Pick the Garmin Forerunner 970 if…

Competitive runners, triathletes, and ultramarathon runners who want the complete Garmin premium running analytics suite: ECG, full maps, running dynamics, Triathlon Coach, and the most durable build in the Forerunner line. Replaces the FR965 as Garmin's top running watch.

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