Garmin Forerunner 170vsPolar Vantage V

$300

price gap

Garmin Forerunner 170 cheaper

Garmin Forerunner 170

Buy/Wait:good

Current model just released

Full details →

Polar Vantage V

Buy/Wait:bad

Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming

Full details →

	Garmin Forerunner 170	Polar Vantage V
Pricing
Starting price	$299★	$599
Subscription	ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr	✓ None
Hardware
Weight	43g	39g★
Water resistance	5ATM	5ATM
Battery	10 days★	8 days
Always-on display	❌	✅★
GPS	✅	✅
Cellular	❌	❌
Platform	iOS & Android	iOS & Android
Tier	Sports GPS	Sports GPS
Buy timing
Released	May 15, 2026	Oct 4, 2023
Cycle advice	good★	bad
Deals advice	neutral	good★
Next model	—	Polar Vantage V4 (2026)

Health Sensors

Garmin Forerunner 170 only

3 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

Both

3 shared

Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking

SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep

HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores

Polar Vantage V only

3 exclusive sensors

ECGDetects irregular heart rhythms (AFib)

Running PowerWrist-based watt output — tracks effort independent of terrain

Skin TempOvernight changes linked to illness or cycle tracking

Why buy each?

Garmin Forerunner 170

Training Readiness at entry level

Training Readiness, full Training Status, and wrist-based running power — analytics previously reserved for Garmin's mid-range — now on a $299.99 watch.

AMOLED display and 10-day battery

A bright 1.2" AMOLED touchscreen with a traditional 5-button design, up to 10 days of battery in smartwatch mode and around 17 hours of GPS.

Garmin Pay and 80+ sports apps

Contactless payments arrive on the entry Forerunner for the first time, alongside 80+ built-in sports apps and Garmin Coach adaptive training plans.

Polar Vantage V

ECG on a sports GPS watch

Polar Vantage V3 is one of the few sports GPS watches with on-demand ECG — usually only found on lifestyle smartwatches.

Wrist-based running power

Running power measurement without a foot pod or chest strap — a significant training metric for pacing effort on hills and varied terrain.

Polar Training Load Pro

The most detailed training load analysis in any sports watch: muscle groups targeted per session, recovery status per muscle, and long-term load trends.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps

Forerunner 170-only sensors: Stress Tracking, Body Battery, Training Readiness.
Vantage V-only sensors: ECG, Running Power, Skin Temp.

Commercial gaps

Hardware cost. Forerunner 170 is $300 cheaper upfront ($299 vs $599).

Pick the Garmin Forerunner 170 if…

Beginner and intermediate runners who want real GPS accuracy and Garmin's analytics depth without the price of the 570 or 970. With Training Readiness and running power now included, it closes much of the gap to Garmin's mid-range — the default first serious GPS watch.

Full details →

Pick the Polar Vantage V if…

Serious endurance athletes — particularly runners and triathletes — who want Polar's unmatched training load science and recovery guidance, combined with ECG health monitoring and running power in a premium package.

Full details →