| Garmin Forerunner 170 | WHOOP 5.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $299 | Free (hw) |
| Subscription | ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr | ⚠️ Required — $199/yr |
| Year 1 total cost | $369 | $199★ |
| Year 3 total cost | $509★ | $597 |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 43g | 27g★ |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 10ATM★ |
| Battery | 10 days | 14 days★ |
| Always-on display | ❌ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅★ | ❌ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Tier | Sports GPS | Fitness Tracker |
| Buy timing | ||
| Released | May 15, 2026 | May 8, 2025 |
| Cycle advice | good | good |
| Deals advice | neutral | neutral |
| Next model | — | — |
Training Readiness, full Training Status, and wrist-based running power — analytics previously reserved for Garmin's mid-range — now on a $299.99 watch.
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.
Contactless payments arrive on the entry Forerunner for the first time, alongside 80+ built-in sports apps and Garmin Coach adaptive training plans.
WHOOP 5.0 gives you a biological age score derived from your sleep, recovery, and training habits — showing whether your lifestyle is ageing you faster or slower than your years. Updated daily, it makes long-term health trends visible at a glance.
WHOOP's AI Coach learns your body's patterns and delivers personalised daily recommendations in plain language — not just what happened, but why, and what to do next. It adapts to your training load, sleep debt, and recovery trends.
WHOOP 5.0 added a dedicated strength trainer that auto-detects sets, measures neuromuscular load alongside cardiovascular strain, and shows recovery demand from resistance training — a gap every previous WHOOP version had.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$509 vs $597 over 3 years · no required subscription.
14 days vs 10 days battery.
9 sensors · 26 Hz HR sampling.
43g · no required subscription.
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 →Athletes, coaches, and fitness-obsessed users who want deep recovery and sleep data without screen distractions. WHOOP suits those who train hard and want to understand whether their body is ready to push. Not for casual users or those who want smartwatch features like notifications or GPS.
Full details →