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Forerunner 970 = Fenix 8 Lite?

net1994
1 month ago

The FR 970 has all the high end features of the fenix line: stamina, ecg, flash light, sapphire screen.  Plus onboard maps.  Why would anyone now want to buy a Fenix?  They had to justify the not small price bump with the new features.  But I bet it will canabalize Fenix 8 sales. Maybe they realized the crazy high cost of the F8 was a bit of a reach and sales aren't what was predicted?  I'm not complaining.  I now doubt I'd get another Fenix in the future. 

Here is the FR specs/overview: www.garmin.com/.../010-02969-00

  • 0 1 month ago

    Not seeing dive mode? FR9xx have always been the plastic Fenix ever since FR935, nothing new there. I used to buy both as I liked the lighter one for swimming but now just have the Fenix 8 as it’s light enough but also has premium materials and a more grown up look (leather and metal bands help with this)

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to lustyd

    Ahh good point.  I don't dive so of course I didn't check to see if it had, or not, the dive feature. :-)  But even then, I suspect so few people use the F8 for diving, so not many will miss that.

  • 0 1 month ago

    the battery life for 970 is disappointing. While dual channel has improved (probably new chipset), GPS-only is now down to 26 hours (from 31 on F965). 

    So even as an ultra runner you could choose the Forerunner up to FR955 because of the great battery life, but not anymore - too bad!

  • 0 1 month ago

    Maybe the individual power modes will actually work on the 970 unlike on the F8 Amoled. Somehow they work on the F8 Solar.

  • 0 1 month ago

    I agree. the FR series has always been a stripped down version of the Fenix line, starting with the 935, but absent were the "premium materials." I got impatient and got a Fenix 8, after years of FR use, as I thought that the FR970/975 was only a 50/50 chance of getting a flashlight. but low and behold, the 970 has a flashlight and a sapphire screen, further blurring the lines between the two lines. 

    if I were to buy today, I'd order the 970, but since I'm well beyond my return period, I'll stick with the Fenix 8.

    one main reason for still loving the Fenix 8 is the battery life. they made the 970 thinner than it's predecessor but at the cost of some battery endurance. the new battery numbers would push my ability to get away with a single charge for my 4-5 day backpacking adventures without some very careful usage. my Fenix 8 is comparable to my FR955, so in that aspect, I'm glad I got the Fenix 8.

    (I'm also glad that my net cost was closer to $850 after cashback rebates and 20% discount... I could not argue that the Fenix 8 is worth $350 more than the FR970, esp. since I don't dive).