Compare Garmin Lily 2 Active vs Garmin Forerunner 170 Music

Heart-rate accuracy is consistently praised, with reviewers noting only minor delays or brief misses during harder efforts.

Heart-rate tracking is generally strong for running and mixed training, with several reviewers calling the older Elevate 4 sensor very good. Hard intervals and strength work can expose some lag, so a chest strap remains the cleaner choice for precision.

GPS accuracy is one of the strongest themes, with reviewers repeatedly finding quick locks, solid routes, and close agreement with other devices.

GPS performance earned unusually consistent praise despite the single-band hardware, with reviewers finding it close to pricier multi-band Garmins and accurate on city, coastal, and woodland routes. Multi-band remains preferable for the toughest dense-city or deep-trail conditions.

Sleep tracking earns strong marks overall, especially for wake/sleep timing and presentation, though one reviewer wanted more refinement in stages.

Sleep tracking has improved enough to broadly match an Oura Ring on sleep duration, bedtime, and key stages on most nights, though Garmin’s history here was acknowledged as weaker.

Fitness tracking accuracy is a major strength, with multiple reviewers finding pace, distance, and overall workout data accurate.

Across running, swimming, gym work, elevation tracking, and race-style intervals, reviewers found the watch consistently accurate and useful for analyzing performance.

Recovery and readiness tools are praised for helping shape training decisions and fine-tune workouts.

Training Readiness, Training Status, load, and recovery guidance are among the watch’s biggest strengths, helping runners structure training and avoid overdoing it. One reviewer cautioned that beginners can become too dependent on recovery scores instead of listening to their bodies.

Workout variety is broadly praised because the Active adds many sports, workout modes, and training tools for a compact Lily watch.

The jump to more than 80 sport profiles makes the watch far more versatile than older entry Forerunners, covering running, gym, team, winter, and water activities. The lack of native HYROX and multisport/triathlon modes still leaves gaps for some athletes.

Coaching features are well received, with reviewers praising Garmin Coach, adaptive plans, and guided structured workouts.

Garmin Coach and Quick Workouts are standout strengths, offering adaptive plans, fast structured sessions, and useful guidance for everyone from first-race runners to experienced athletes. Suggested Quick Workouts can occasionally be tougher than expected.

One reviewer was very positive about Pulse Ox readings, saying the watch routinely matched their normal SpO2 range.

Pulse Ox is welcomed as part of the expanded health package, bringing a feature that previously sat above this entry-to-midrange tier.

Wellness insights are a standout, especially Body Battery, women’s health context, sleep, stress, and overall body-awareness feedback.

Garmin’s broader wellness package is viewed positively, especially the comprehensive health data and useful evening reports that recap the day and help frame the next one.

Battery life is strongly praised, often beating or matching expectations and lasting around a week or more in real use.

Battery life is adequate rather than class-leading. Depending on display settings and training load, reviewers saw roughly three-and-a-half to six days in heavier real-world use; most runners found that workable, but it trails some cheaper or older alternatives.

Charging convenience improves because the watch uses the standard Garmin cable rather than the older Lily clip style.

Charging is a clear annoyance: the proprietary Garmin cable can be finicky to keep seated and feels dated compared with USB-C.

Comfort is one of the most consistent strengths, with reviewers saying the small, light watch is easy to forget on the wrist.

The light, slim case is exceptionally easy to wear for workouts, sleep, and daily use, especially on smaller wrists. The main comfort caveat is skin irritation reported from the strap or back casing by a couple of reviewers.

Materials quality is criticized by one reviewer for relying on cheaper materials.

Materials are a weak spot compared with premium Garmins: the polymer construction feels basic, and one report flagged possible skin irritation from the plastic back during prolonged wear.

Band quality is praised for comfort, quick-release swapping, and easy removal.

The silicone band feels soft and stretchy, but one reviewer developed a rash from it, making long-term skin comfort a real point of variability.

Build quality draws criticism from one reviewer who dislikes the cheaper-material feel.

The build is functional and familiar rather than premium, described as standard Garmin fare with a lightweight plastic character.

Style and design are major strengths, with reviewers repeatedly praising the fashionable, subtle, non-smartwatch look.

The watch keeps Garmin’s sporty look but earns praise for fun color choices, coordinated bands, and a polished appearance that still feels light on the wrist.

Fit is excellent for the intended user, especially people who want a small watch that sits comfortably on smaller wrists.

The compact case fits smaller wrists well while still being judged suitable for a broad range of wrist sizes, with little catching or digging during wear.

Display quality is divisive: reviewers like the contrast and hidden-display style, but some dislike the monochrome screen or limited visual richness.

The AMOLED screen is one of the watch’s most praised features: colorful, sharp enough for dense run data, and easy to read. It is not as fluid or premium as flagship smartwatch panels, but reviewers still rate it highly.

Brightness is generally acceptable, with one reviewer noting easy viewing, while another says the screen itself is not ultra-bright.

Reviewers consistently found the AMOLED display bright and vivid enough for normal use, including direct sunlight, even though Garmin’s pricier watches can get brighter.

Outdoor visibility is mostly strong in sunlight, although one reviewer found bright outdoor conditions could make it harder to read.

Outdoor readability is excellent, with multiple reviewers saying pace and data remain easy to see in bright sunshine and normal running conditions.

Reliability is positive in one review, with the reviewer saying GPS remained spot-on and did not drop.

In demanding race preparation and event use, the watch did its job consistently, delivering dependable data and controls without getting in the way.

Value is mixed-to-positive: many reviewers think the upgrades justify the price, while a few criticize the cost versus fuller smartwatches.

Value depends heavily on what you need. The 170 Music packs premium training tools, accurate tracking, payments, and phone-free audio at a lower tier than Garmin flagships, but several reviewers think the cheaper 70, discounted 165/265, or Coros Pace 4 can be better buys.

The app ecosystem is praised as comprehensive for wellness data and long-term health interpretation.

Connect IQ adds some smartwatch extensibility, but one reviewer found its useful app selection much thinner than Apple’s or Google’s stores.

Onboard music storage is a repeated downside because the watch lacks local music even though it now has built-in GPS.

Offline music is one of the Music model’s clearest benefits, letting runners leave the phone behind and load playlists from supported services. The feature is easy to live with, but the price premium and Apple Music gap weaken the value for some users.

Touchscreen responsiveness is split, with one reviewer finding it very sensitive and simple, while another calls the controls finicky.

The touchscreen is repeatedly described as snappy and responsive without becoming overly sensitive, making swipes and taps reliable in daily use.

Third-party app support is positive, especially syncing workout data outward and broadcasting heart rate to other devices.

Streaming support is a mixed point: Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer and some other services work well, but Apple Music’s absence is repeatedly called out as a meaningful limitation. Spotify offline use also requires Premium.

The operating experience may feel unusual to traditional Garmin users, but the reviewer says the approach makes sense for this type of watch.

The latest Garmin software feels more polished and cohesive, bringing sports and smartwatch functions together with a sleeker presentation. Reviewers also value its position for receiving newer features.

Customization is mixed-to-good: notifications and data views have useful controls, but watch-face flexibility is more limited than other Garmins.

Watch faces, widgets, and data screens can be customized extensively, letting runners prioritize the information they actually want to see.

Mapping and navigation are mixed-to-weak: GPS mapping after workouts works, but reviewers note no detailed map display and no hiking profile.

Breadcrumb course guidance is useful for everyday routes, but the lack of full offline maps is one of the most repeated omissions. It is fine for familiar roads and basic course following, less convincing for wilderness, ultras, or map-heavy trail use.

The companion app is useful for setup, coaching, and deeper tracking, with one reviewer preferring it for faster, clearer health logging.

Garmin Connect is powerful for training analysis and can make certain tasks easier, but one reviewer felt the app still badly needs a redesign. Its depth is useful, though not always elegant.

Music controls work well for controlling phone playback from the wrist.

The touchscreen makes on-watch music controls notably easier to use and helps the device feel more like a regular smartwatch.

Smartwatch features are mixed: some reviewers see a well-rounded compact device, while one finds the smart-feature set limited for the price.

The 170 Music goes beyond pure run tracking with payments, apps, notifications, music, and a more complete smartwatch interface. Reviewers still see it as a sports watch first rather than a true phone-replacement smartwatch.

Software smoothness is positive, with reviewers noting smooth syncing and smooth navigation between widgets.

The updated software is praised for faster performance and smoother navigation than Garmin’s older budget-watch experience.

Garmin Pay is considered useful and easy to set up, though one reviewer notes its value drops if a phone is still needed for music.

Garmin Pay is useful for phone-free runs and everyday purchases, but reviewers disagree on whether it justifies the price premium over the cheaper Forerunner 70.

Button controls are a unanimous strength because they make workouts and navigation much easier than touch-only Lily models.

Garmin’s five-button layout is a major practical strength for runners because it remains easy to operate with sweaty hands, gloves, or a bouncing stride. One reviewer noted a small ambiguity around the start button.

Menu navigation is viewed positively, with one reviewer describing swiping and app opening as smooth.

Five-button navigation is generally easy and dependable, especially while running, and the newer software feels smoother. The main drawback is that some capabilities remain buried in settings.

Pairing reliability is praised across sensor use, with reviewers noting easy sensor connections and appreciation for expanded external sensor support.

Syncing and connection behavior impressed in testing, with near-instant GPS lock and quick, easy Strava synchronization.

The user interface is praised as simple to learn and easy to swipe through.

The on-watch interface is widely considered simple, polished, and easy to use through either touch or buttons. Small quirks remain, including buried settings and an occasionally ambiguous start-button interaction.

Cross-platform compatibility is mixed because Android users get quick replies while iPhone users cannot reply from the watch.

Garmin Connect worked almost identically on iPhone and Android in testing, making the core experience effectively platform-neutral.

Safety features are praised as reassuring for solo runs and emergency-contact situations.

LiveTrack is a useful safety extra for solo activities, giving contacts a way to follow the wearer’s location when a phone connection is available.

One reviewer found the run alerts comically loud and disliked having no separate volume adjustment beyond disabling sound and vibration.

Bluetooth connectivity is viewed positively because the watch pairs easily with phones and other devices.

Call handling is useful for glancing at calls on the wrist without pulling out a phone.

Smartphone notifications are considered helpful for quickly checking messages during outdoor activity.

Watch face quality is mixed, with one reviewer liking the selection and another finding the options very limiting.

Durability is a concern for one reviewer, who connects the aluminum casing to easier scratching and reduced durability.

The watch handled swimming well in testing and was considered safe and dependable for both pool use and showering.

ECG is a clear limitation: a reviewer explicitly wished Garmin had included the hardware for ECG-related features.

One review gives the broader health-tracking package a very strong assessment, describing fitness tracking as excellent within Garmin’s health ecosystem.

Step counting is described as close but slightly high, with limitations when the arm is not moving normally.

Stress tracking is viewed as a useful interpretive metric, especially because it helps explain Body Battery changes.

Wrist-based running power is welcomed as a surprisingly advanced training tool at this price, giving runners another way to manage effort and work on form.