Forerunner 970: A New Parallel Flagship Challenge to the Fenix Hegemony
The Forerunner 970 represents a new parallel flagship line that could challenge the Fenix's long-standing dominance. Analysis of what this means for Garmin's lineup.
After seeing the new Forerunner 970 I am wondering if Garmin is pivoting towards having similar specced flagships across their series, and not just the Fenix line as the obvious choice for the crème de la crème.
For many, the Forerunner has been the preferred choice, while the Fenix series has reigned supreme as Garmin’s undisputed flagship—robust, packed with features, and often the natural step up for those who wanted the utmost in material quality and versatility. However, with the launch of the Forerunner 970, I think we are seeing the outlines of a shift.
The question is no longer if the Forerunner can be a flagship, but whether it now offers so much that the Fenix is no longer the obvious choice for Forerunner users seeking the best a Garmin can provide. The new Forerunner 970 builds on the legacy of the Forerunner 965 but takes several steps into the premium segment, a domain Fenix has long had to itself.
Premium Materials and Design Approaching Fenix Standards
One of the most notable upgrades is the switch from Gorilla Glass DX to sapphire crystal for the lens. I really love sapphire screens on my watches because I have a tendency to be a little bit abusive with them. My watch bumps into surfaces every now and then. With a screen that exposed, I am wondering why Garmin had not implemented this feature before.
Advanced Health and Recovery
The watch introduces the Elevate V5 heart rate sensor with support for ECG readings. I think the Elevate V5 is better, though everyone seriously invested in heart-rate-based insight will still use an external heart rate sensor anyway. ECG is a nice addition as well. Additionally, skin temperature measurement and a new Evening Report that gives a summary of recovery, sleep, and HRV trends are included.