Garmin Forerunner 965 vs Forerunner 970 – Which Should You Choose?
Garmin has long been one of the leading names in the world of sports watches. The Forerunner range is especially popular among runners, triathletes and dedicated athletes looking to get the most from their training. For a long time, the Garmin Forerunner 965 was the flagship model in the Forerunner series, but Garmin has now introduced its successor: the Garmin Forerunner 970.
At first glance, the two watches look remarkably similar. Both feature a vibrant AMOLED display, advanced training tools, built-in GPS and support for a wide variety of sports. However, there are several important differences. The Forerunner 970 introduces upgraded sensors, a more premium design, new running metrics and additional smartwatch features.
But does that automatically make the Garmin Forerunner 970 the better choice? Or does the Garmin Forerunner 965 now offer the better value for money? In this comparison, we'll take a closer look at both models to help you decide.
Garmin Forerunner 965 vs Garmin Forerunner 970 Specifications
| Specification | Garmin Forerunner 965 | Garmin Forerunner 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2023 | 2025 |
| Display | AMOLED touchscreen | AMOLED touchscreen |
| Display size | 1.4-inch | 1.4-inch |
| Resolution | 454 × 454 pixels | 454 × 454 pixels |
| Display material | Corning Gorilla Glass DX | Sapphire crystal |
| Case | Fibre-reinforced polymer with titanium bezel | Fibre-reinforced polymer with titanium bezel |
| Weight | 53 g | 56 g |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Storage | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| GPS | Multi-band GNSS | Multi-band GNSS |
| Heart rate sensor | Garmin Elevate Gen 4 | Garmin Elevate Gen 5 |
| ECG app | ❌ | ✔️ |
| LED torch | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Microphone & speaker | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Battery life (smartwatch mode) | Up to 23 days | Up to 15 days |
| Battery life (GPS mode) | Up to 31 hours | Up to 26 hours |
Display (Type, Size & Brightness)
Both the Garmin Forerunner 965 and the Forerunner 970 feature a 1.4-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 454 × 454 pixels. This means both watches deliver a sharp, colourful display that's easy to read in almost any situation.
The biggest differences come down to screen protection and brightness.
The Forerunner 965 uses Corning Gorilla Glass DX, offering excellent durability along with an effective anti-reflective coating.
The Forerunner 970 takes things a step further with a sapphire crystal display. Sapphire is far more resistant to scratches and is typically reserved for Garmin's premium watches, such as the Fenix range.
Garmin has also equipped the Forerunner 970 with the brightest AMOLED display ever fitted to a Forerunner model, making it even easier to read outdoors and in direct sunlight.
Design (Colours, Weight & Dimensions)
In terms of appearance, the Garmin Forerunner 965 and 970 are very similar. Both feature a sporty design with a round watch case and a titanium bezel.
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is available in colours including:
- Black with Black silicone strap
- Whitestone with Whitestone silicone strap
- Amp Yellow
The Garmin Forerunner 970 has a more premium look thanks to the combination of titanium and sapphire crystal. Available colour options include:
- Carbon Grey with Black strap
- Titanium with a lighter-coloured strap
- French Grey with Indigo strap
Both watches feature a 47 mm case size.
| Forerunner 965 | Forerunner 970 | |
| Case diameter | 47 mm | 47 mm |
| Thickness | 13.2 mm | 12.9 mm |
| Weight | 53 g | 56 g |
Although the Forerunner 970 is slightly heavier, the premium materials give it a more luxurious feel on the wrist.
Forerunner 965 advantages:
- Lighter weight
Forerunner 970 advantages:
- Premium materials
- Sapphire crystal display
Garmin Forerunner 965 vs 970 Battery Life
On paper, the Garmin Forerunner 965 offers the better battery performance.
Garmin Forerunner 965
- Up to 23 days in smartwatch mode
- Up to 31 hours in GPS mode
Garmin Forerunner 970
- Up to 15 days in smartwatch mode
- Up to 26 hours in GPS mode
The shorter battery life of the Forerunner 970 is mainly due to its additional hardware, including the brighter display, built-in microphone and speaker, and integrated LED torch.
If battery life is a priority—particularly for ultra runners or anyone tackling long training sessions—the Forerunner 965 remains an excellent option.
Sensors
Both watches are packed with advanced sensors.
Garmin Forerunner 965
- GPS
- GLONASS
- Galileo
- Multi-band GNSS
- Compass
- Gyroscope
- Barometric altimeter
- Altimeter
- Temperature sensor
- Garmin Elevate heart rate sensor (Gen 4)
Garmin Forerunner 970
Everything included on the Forerunner 965, plus:
- Garmin Elevate Gen 5 heart rate sensor
- ECG support
- Improved skin temperature monitoring
- More accurate health tracking
The upgraded sensor delivers more accurate heart rate readings, particularly during high-intensity workouts.
Health Features
Both watches offer an extensive range of health monitoring features, including:
- Wrist-based heart rate monitoring
- Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
- Stress tracking
- Sleep monitoring
- Respiration tracking
- Body Battery
- Pulse Ox blood oxygen monitoring
- Hydration tracking
- Menstrual cycle tracking
- Pregnancy tracking
The Garmin Forerunner 970 adds several new health features, including:
- ECG recordings
- Improved sleep analysis
- Evening Report
- More detailed recovery insights
These additions make the Forerunner 970 more than just a sports watch—it also serves as a comprehensive health and wellness companion.
Sports Features: Garmin Forerunner 965 vs Forerunner 970
When it comes to sports and fitness tracking, both watches sit at the very top of Garmin's range. The Forerunner 965 and Forerunner 970 are designed for dedicated runners, triathletes and athletes who want detailed insights into their training and performance.
Both models support a wide range of activities, including:
- Indoor and outdoor running
- Trail running
- Triathlon
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Skiing and snowboarding
- Strength training
- HIIT workouts
- Indoor sports
Both watches also include Garmin's comprehensive training features, such as:
- Training Status
- Training Load
- Recovery Time
- VO2 Max
- Daily Suggested Workouts
- Race Predictions
- Garmin Coach
- PacePro
- ClimbPro
The Garmin Forerunner 970 does, however, introduce several new features aimed primarily at serious runners.
New Features on the Garmin Forerunner 970
Running Tolerance
Running Tolerance estimates how much running stress your body can handle and compares this with your current training load, helping you avoid overtraining while maximising performance.
Running Economy
Running Economy analyses how efficiently you run by measuring factors such as stride length, vertical oscillation and ground contact time, giving you valuable insights into your running technique.
Step Speed Loss
This new running metric shows how much speed you lose each time your foot contacts the ground. It provides another useful data point for improving running efficiency.
Improved GPS Accuracy
Both watches feature multi-band GNSS, but the Forerunner 970 combines this with newer sensors to deliver even greater positioning accuracy, particularly in challenging environments.
For recreational athletes, the differences between the two watches will be relatively small. However, runners training for a marathon, ultra-marathon or triathlon will appreciate the additional performance data available on the Forerunner 970.
Winner for sports features: Garmin Forerunner 970
Smartwatch Features
Although they're built primarily as sports watches, both models also perform exceptionally well as everyday smartwatches.
The Garmin Forerunner 965 includes:
- Smartphone notifications
- Offline music playback
- Spotify, Deezer and Amazon Music support
- Garmin Pay
- Connect IQ apps
- Calendar
- Weather forecasts
- LiveTrack
- Safety and tracking features
The Garmin Forerunner 970 includes everything listed above, along with several useful upgrades.
Additional Features on the Forerunner 970
Built-in Microphone & Speaker
For the first time in the Forerunner series, you can make and receive phone calls directly from your watch when it's connected to your smartphone.
The Forerunner 970 also supports voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Siri.
Built-in LED Torch
The integrated LED torch is useful for early morning or evening runs, camping trips or simply finding your way in the dark.
Updated User Interface
The software has been refined to make even better use of the AMOLED display, offering a cleaner and more modern user experience.
That said, the Forerunner 965 remains an excellent smartwatch. For many users, the additional features of the 970 simply won't be essential.
Garmin Forerunner 965 vs Forerunner 970 Price
There is a noticeable difference in the official retail price of these two models.
Garmin Forerunner 965
Recommended retail price:
£649.99
As the watch has been available for longer, it's now frequently discounted by many retailers.
Garmin Forerunner 970
Recommended retail price:
£749.99
This makes the Forerunner 970 around £100 more expensive than its predecessor.
The higher price mainly reflects the addition of:
- Sapphire crystal
- Garmin Elevate Gen 5 heart rate sensor
- ECG functionality
- Built-in microphone and speaker
- Integrated LED torch
- Advanced running metrics
Where Does the Garmin Forerunner 965 Perform Better?
Although the Forerunner 970 is Garmin's latest model, the Forerunner 965 still has several important advantages.
Longer Battery Life
With up to 23 days in smartwatch mode and 31 hours in GPS mode, the Forerunner 965 comfortably outlasts its successor.
Lighter Weight
At just 53 grams, the Forerunner 965 is slightly lighter than the 970, making it a little more comfortable during long training sessions and races.
Better Value for Money
Thanks to recent price reductions, the Forerunner 965 now offers exceptional value without sacrificing many key features.
Nearly the Same Core Sports Features
For the vast majority of runners, the Forerunner 965 already provides everything needed for effective training and race preparation.
Where Does the Garmin Forerunner 970 Perform Better?
The Garmin Forerunner 970 focuses on premium materials, improved health tracking and additional smartwatch capabilities.
Premium Materials
Its sapphire crystal display offers significantly better scratch resistance than the Gorilla Glass DX used on the Forerunner 965.
Newer Sensors
The Garmin Elevate Gen 5 sensor provides more accurate heart rate and health measurements.
ECG Functionality
Unlike the Forerunner 965, the Forerunner 970 supports ECG recordings directly from the watch.
Enhanced Smartwatch Features
The addition of a built-in microphone and speaker allows you to make and receive phone calls from your wrist.
Advanced Running Metrics
Dedicated runners will benefit from exclusive features such as Running Economy and Step Speed Loss, providing even deeper performance insights.
Conclusion: Garmin Forerunner 965 or Garmin Forerunner 970?
Both the Garmin Forerunner 965 and Garmin Forerunner 970 rank among the very best sports watches Garmin has ever produced.
The Forerunner 965 remains an outstanding choice for most athletes. It combines a beautiful AMOLED display, comprehensive training features and excellent battery life, while costing around €100 less than the latest model.
The Garmin Forerunner 970 is aimed at athletes who want the very latest technology. Its upgraded sensors, advanced running metrics, ECG support, sapphire crystal display and enhanced smartwatch features make it the most complete Forerunner to date.
Our Recommendation
Choose the Garmin Forerunner 965 if:
- You want outstanding value for money.
- Battery life is a priority.
- You need a premium sports watch without paying for extra features you may never use.
Choose the Garmin Forerunner 970 if:
- You want Garmin's latest technology.
- You value premium materials and improved health tracking.
- You're a serious runner looking for the most advanced training metrics available.
For most runners, the Garmin Forerunner 965 remains the smartest buy. For athletes who want every available feature and the most comprehensive performance data, the Garmin Forerunner 970 is the clear winner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest difference between the Garmin Forerunner 965 and 970?
The biggest difference lies in the new hardware found on the Forerunner 970. It features a sapphire crystal display, Garmin's latest Elevate Gen 5 heart rate sensor, ECG functionality, a built-in LED torch and a microphone with speaker.
Is the Garmin Forerunner 970 better than the 965?
Technically, yes. The Forerunner 970 offers more features and improved hardware. However, that doesn't necessarily mean everyone should upgrade, as the Forerunner 965 still includes nearly all of Garmin's key sports features while offering longer battery life.
Can you swap the watch straps between the Forerunner 965 and 970?
Yes. Both watches use Garmin's QuickFit strap system, allowing you to change straps in seconds without any tools. Whether you choose a Garmin Forerunner 965 strap or a Garmin Forerunner 970 strap, it's an easy way to personalise your watch.
Which Garmin is better for running?
For serious runners, the Garmin Forerunner 970 is the better choice thanks to its advanced running metrics and upgraded sensors. Recreational runners, however, will find the Forerunner 965 more than capable.
Does the Garmin Forerunner 970 have a touchscreen?
Yes. Both the Garmin Forerunner 965 and Forerunner 970 feature an AMOLED touchscreen. They can also be fully operated using the physical buttons, making them easy to use in all conditions.
Can you make phone calls with the Garmin Forerunner 965?
No. The Forerunner 965 does not include a built-in microphone or speaker. You can receive notifications and control your music, but phone calls are not supported.
The Garmin Forerunner 970, on the other hand, allows you to make and receive calls when connected to your smartphone.
Which Garmin Forerunner has the better battery life?
The Garmin Forerunner 965 offers longer battery life, lasting up to 23 days in smartwatch mode compared with 15 days for the Forerunner 970.
Is it worth upgrading from the Garmin Forerunner 965 to the 970?
If you're already happy with your Forerunner 965, upgrading isn't essential. The Forerunner 970 is best suited to users who want premium materials, ECG functionality, phone calls from the wrist and Garmin's latest running metrics.
