Let's talk about the latest Garmin releases, the fenix 8 and Forerunner 970.
Garmin Fenix 8 vs. Forerunner 970
| Specs / Model name | ![]() Forerunner 970 Soft Gold Titanium |
![]() fenix 8 AMOLED Sapphire Titanium |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $729.99 | $1079.99 |
| General | ||
| Battery life | up to 15 days | up to 23 days |
| Screen size | 1.4 in | 1.4 in |
| Screen resolution | 454 x 454 pixels | 454 x 454 pixels |
| Physical size | 47 x 47 x 12.9 mm | 47 x 47 x 13.8 mm |
| Color display | yes | yes |
| Garmin ECG App | yes | yes |
| LED Flashlight | yes | yes |
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Multi-band GPS | yes | yes |
| Weight | 56 g | 80 g |
| Built-in speaker/microphone | yes | yes |
| Lens material | Sapphire Crystal | Sapphire Crystal |
| Bezel material | titanium | titanium |
| Strap material | silicone | silicone |
| Daily Smart Features | ||
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi |
| Multi-band GPS | no | yes |
| Built-in storage | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| GPS | yes | yes |
| Touchscreen | yes | yes |
| Garmin Pay | yes | yes |
| Waterproof | 5 ATM | 10 ATM |
| Thermometer | yes | yes |
| Ambient light | yes | yes |
| Health & Wellness Monitoring | ||
| Wrist-based heart rate | yes | yes |
| Daily resting heart rate | yes | yes |
| Abnormal heart rate alerts | yes (high and low) | yes (high and low) |
| Respiration rate (24x7) | yes | yes |
| Fitness age | yes | yes |
| Body Battery energy monitor | yes | yes |
| All-day stress | yes | yes |
| Relaxation breathing timer | yes | yes |
| Meditation | yes | yes |
| Breathwork | yes | yes |
| Sleep | yes (advanced) | yes (advanced) |
| Breathing variations | yes | yes |
| Nap detection | yes | yes |
| Hydration | yes (in Garmin Connect and optional Connect IQ widget) | yes (in Garmin Connect and optional Connect IQ widget) |
| Women's health | yes (in Garmin Connect and optional Connect IQ widget) | yes (in Garmin Connect and optional Connect IQ widget) |
| Health snapshot | yes | yes |
| Skin temperature | yes | yes |
| Jet lag adviser | yes | yes |
*The full list of features can be seen on the official Garmin website
The Garmin fenix 8 over the Forerunner 970:
- Wider lineup
- Durable materials
- Longer battery life
- Solar modification
- More sizes for different wrists
- Heavier
- Better waterproof rate
Forerunner 970
Even tho the Garmin Forerunner looks very much like a fenix 8, it still has some differences with the top-tier model.
Garmin Forerunner 970 Soft Gold Titanium
Upgraded heart rate sensor, advanced metrics, durable screen
$729.99 on AmazonThe Forerunner 9xx series, compared to a fenix, has nearly identical features and a less rugged, lightweight case.
The smartwatch has three models in the lineup, with no Solar modification, that come with an MIP display that someone may value more. It doesn't have a choice over sizes, the way the fenix 8 does.
However, the watch is lighter and has a lower price tag.
Garmin fenix 8 47 mm Sapphire Titanium
The Garmin fenix 8 is a premium lineup made of expensive materials, It has a wide lineup with Solar modification and three different sizes.
Garmin fenix 8 47mm AMOLED Sapphire Titanium
Bigger and heavier with an AMOLED display
$1079.99 on AmazonUnlike the Forerunner, the fenix 8 has lots of modifications of all sizes and contains AMOLED and Solar options.
The watch is heavier, made of expensive materials, and has a bigger battery like.
The Garmin fenix 8 is a more durable watch for all kinds of wrists and prefference
Summing up
The Garmin Forerunner 970 has three modifications, all with the same specs and size. It is a watch for everyone, good-looking, and is lighter compared to a fenix. However, it lacks a fenix 8 selection, but on the other side, the watch has a lower price tag.
The Garmin fenix 8 is a durable watch with a wide lineup for a small or big wrist that also has a Solar modification for those who prefer it.


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