Garmin Forerunner 970 vs Garmin Forerunner 570

The Forerunner 970 is the better watch for serious runners and triathletes: titanium bezel, sapphire lens, a 1.4-inch AMOLED screen, built-in color maps, an LED flashlight and up to 26 hours of GPS battery life. The Forerunner 570 is the smaller, lighter 42mm option with a 1.2-inch AMOLED screen, aluminum bezel, speaker and microphone for calls, and up to 18 hours in GPS mode. Both carry the same 4.8 rating and share Garmin's core training tools, so the choice comes down to size, mapping and materials rather than software. Owners of the 970 praise the maps and flashlight on long runs; 570 owners like the compact fit and call features.

• Choose the Forerunner 970 if you race long distances, want built-in color maps and navigation, and prefer a titanium case with a sapphire lens.
• Choose the Forerunner 570 if you have a smaller wrist, want a lighter 42mm watch, and value speaker and microphone calls over mapping.