Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: 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 →Early in release cycle
Best for: 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 →| Amazfit Band 7 | Garmin Forerunner 970 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Fitness Tracker | Sports GPS |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 18 days | 15 days |
| Always-on display | ❌ | ❌ |
| GPS | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | hr, spo2, stress, sleep | ecg, hr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, training readiness, running dynamics, skin temp |
| Released | Sep 22, 2022 | May 15, 2025 |
| Cycle length | 699 days | 806 days |
| Cycle advice | bad | good |
| Deals advice | good | neutral |
| Next model | — | — |
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 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.