If you want better app ecosystem
Choose Garmin Forerunner 70. It scores 5.0 vs 2.5 for app ecosystem, with a 4.3 overall score.
Garmin Forerunner 170 Music Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for accurate run tracking, deep Garmin coaching and phone-free Spotify in a light package. Skip it if you need full maps, triathlon mode, Apple Music support or the strongest battery value.
Best for
Runners building toward races, structured training or HYROX-style events who want accurate tracking, strong coaching, a bright compact display and phone-free music.
Not for
Triathletes, map-heavy trail or ultra runners, committed Apple Music users, and shoppers who prioritize maximum battery life or the lowest price.
Verdict
The Forerunner 170 Music succeeds by bringing Garmin’s deeper training stack into a light, compact watch without sacrificing the basics. Reviewers consistently found GPS accurate, the AMOLED display easy to read, the buttons practical during workouts, and Garmin Coach, Training Readiness and recovery tools genuinely useful. Phone-free music and Garmin Pay add everyday convenience, especially for runners who want to leave a phone behind. The tradeoffs are meaningful: real-world battery life can fall well short of the headline figure, the proprietary charging cable is dated, Apple Music is unsupported, and breadcrumb navigation is no substitute for full offline maps. Value is therefore strongest for runners who will actually use the Music model’s smart extras and training guidance.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
43 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.026 (60%)
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Positive 3.5-4.410 (23%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.45 (12%)
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Negative 1.5-2.42 (5%)
Pros highlights
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Cons highlights
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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.
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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.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Smartwatches, this product is above average in onboard music storage, cross-platform compatibility, music controls, near average in display quality, style and design, below average in charging convenience, materials quality, app ecosystem.
Comparison summary
42 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher28 (67%)
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Same as average within 0.3 pts8 (19%)
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Below average 0.4+ pts lower6 (14%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| onboard music storage | 4.4 | 2.9 | +1.5 |
| cross-platform compatibility | 5.0 | 3.5 | +1.5 |
| music controls | 5.0 | 3.5 | +1.5 |
| charging convenience | 2.0 | 3.3 | -1.3 |
| reliability | 5.0 | 3.7 | +1.3 |
| materials quality | 2.8 | 4.0 | -1.2 |
| fit | 5.0 | 3.9 | +1.1 |
| running power support | 4.5 | 3.4 | +1.1 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better band quality
Choose Garmin Lily 2 Active. It scores 5.0 vs 3.3 for band quality, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better charging convenience
Choose Suunto Vertical 2. It scores 4.9 vs 2.0 for charging convenience, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better battery life
Choose Garmin Enduro 3. It scores 4.9 vs 3.6 for battery life, with a 4.2 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Better: battery life The 170 has slightly worse battery figures than the Forerunner 165.
- Alternative: overall value The reviewer says the older Forerunner 165 remains a worthwhile alternative.
- Older model: training and recovery features The 170 adds several training and recovery metrics beyond the 2024 Forerunner 165.
- More expensive: training features and price The 170 Music offers most of the 265's training features for $100 less.
- More expensive: price and feature overlap The 170 Music undercuts the Forerunner 265 by $100 while matching much of its software.
- Similar: GPS accuracy City and urban GPS testing showed no meaningful difference from the dual-band Forerunner 265.
- Alternative: value and running focus The Coros Pace 4 is a strong alternative for runners who do not need Garmin's smart features.
- Worse: smart features The Coros Pace 4 is cheaper but gives up NFC payments and proper streaming services.
FAQ
How accurate is the GPS?
Reviewers found the single-band GPS consistently accurate, often close to pricier multi-band Garmin watches on city, coastal and woodland routes. Multi-band can still help in the most difficult urban or trail environments.
Is the Music version worth the extra cost?
It makes the most sense if you want phone-free playlists from supported services such as Spotify, Amazon Music or Deezer. If you always carry a phone or use Apple Music, several reviewers preferred saving money with the standard 170.
How long does the battery last in real use?
Heavier testers commonly reported roughly three-and-a-half to six days depending on always-on display use, GPS training and music. Most runners found that workable, but it is not class-leading.
Does it have offline maps?
No full offline maps are included. Breadcrumb course navigation and turn guidance are usable for ordinary routes, but reviewers wanting wilderness, ultra or advanced trail navigation saw this as a limitation.
Is it good for beginners?
Yes, especially for runners who want adaptive coaching and structured workouts. One reviewer cautioned that the large number of readiness and recovery metrics can be more than some beginners need.
Is it comfortable for all-day and sleep wear?
Most testers praised the low weight and compact fit, including on smaller wrists and during sleep. A small number reported skin irritation from the silicone strap or plastic back.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - SMARTWATCH SERIES
- Review score
- 4.0
YouTube - Chase the Summit
- Review score
- 4.4
Article Reviews
mensfitness.co.uk
The Garmin Forerunner 170 Music can analyse your readiness, adapt training plans, help you recover, and soundtrack your fitness sessions.
- Review score
- 4.5
manofmany.com
The Garmin Forerunner 170 Music tested through a 14-week HYROX build and a 1:18 race in Sydney. Spotify offline, pacing tools and the honest...
- Review score
- 4.4
runningmagazine.ca
These two watches reintroduce budget-friendly, high-quality options to the Garmin lineup
- Review score
- 4.7
womensrunning.co.uk
The Garmin Forerunner 170 Music combines advanced training features with everyday usability in a colourful, runner-friendly package.
- Review score
- 4.6
runnersworld.com
The Forerunner 170 Music combines offline music, robust training analytics, and dependable battery life in a watch that feels more expensive...
- Review score
- 3.9
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Garmin Forerunner 170 Music
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