Garmin releases update to cheaper smartwatches with new improvements

What happened

Two of Garmin's cheaper smartwatches have received a new stable update. Rolling out globally as a free download, the update promises to bring several changes and improvements to the Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170 alike.

Garmin releases update to cheaper smartwatches with new improvements ⓘ Garmin Two of Garmin's cheaper smartwatches have received a new stable update. Announced in May , the Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170 (curr.

Alex Alderson , Published 10/13/2026 Garmin Smartwatch Wearable Software Garmin has returned to its cheaper pair of Forerunner smartwatches with a new stable update for both of them. $279 on Amazon) cost significantly less than the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 , which retail for $549 and $749, respectively.

Initially, Garmin kept the Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170 on a different development cycle from other Forerunner x70 smartwatches. Then in September, the company brought the pair onto System Software 18.29, harmonising them with the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970.