Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Full details →| Garmin Forerunner 970 | Amazfit Band 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $749 | $50★ |
| Subscription | ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr | ✓ None |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 56g | 28g★ |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 5ATM |
| Battery | 15 days | 18 days★ |
| Always-on display | ❌ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅★ | ❌ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Tier | Sports GPS | Fitness Tracker |
| Buy timing | ||
| Released | May 15, 2025 | Sep 22, 2022 |
| Cycle advice | good★ | bad |
| Deals advice | neutral | good★ |
| Next model | — | — |
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 8.
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.
Full biomechanics suite (cadence, vertical oscillation, ground contact time, running power) plus Garmin's most advanced heart rate sensor with skin temperature monitoring.
18 days of typical use with health monitoring — nearly 3 weeks without charging, far beyond any smartwatch competitor.
Ask Alexa for weather, timers, reminders, and smart home controls directly from your wrist — unusual for a sub-$50 fitness band.
Amazfit's Personal Activity Intelligence score aggregates your daily activity into a single 0–100 health index, guiding you toward optimal activity levels.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$50 vs $959 over 3 years · no required subscription.
18 days vs 15 days battery.
9 sensors.
28g · no required subscription.
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.
Full details →Budget-conscious users who want more features than a basic step counter — SpO2, stress, sleep analysis, and workout tracking — without paying for a full smartwatch. Works with both iPhone and Android.
Full details →