Garmin Forerunner 970 vs Vivoactive 5
Size, specs & wrist fit compared
Which one fits you
Under 16.5 cm (6.5 in) round, the Forerunner 970's lugs overhang and the Vivoactive 5's do not; the Vivoactive 5 fills the wrist at 16–17.5 cm, the Forerunner 970 at 17.5–19.5 cm.
What else differs
- Screen: the Forerunner 970 has the larger screen, 1.4 in across against 1.2 in on the Vivoactive 5.
- Battery: 15 days for the Forerunner 970 against 11 days for the Vivoactive 5 in everyday use; 26 hours for the Forerunner 970 against 21 hours for the Vivoactive 5 with GPS on.
- Only the Forerunner 970 has an ECG app and a sapphire lens.
1.8mm thinner, the Vivoactive 5 is the one that slides under a shirt cuff.
The Forerunner 970 is 4.8mm wider and 1.8mm thicker than the Vivoactive 5.
Forerunner 970
Vivoactive 5
Case width
47mm
42.2mm−4.8mm
Thickness
12.9mm
11.1mm−1.8mm
Forerunner 970 or Vivoactive 5 by wrist size
| Wrist round (mm left each side) | Forerunner 970≈54mm lug to lug, est. | Vivoactive 5≈48.5mm lug to lug, est. |
|---|---|---|
| 14 cm / 5.5 in | Overhangs (4.4mm over) | Overhangs (1.7mm over) |
| 15 cm / 5.9 in | Overhangs (2.8mm over) | Overhangs (0.1mm over) |
| 16 cm / 6.3 in | Overhangs (1.2mm over) | Sweet spot (1.6mm) |
| 17 cm / 6.7 in | Bold (0.4mm) | Sweet spot (3.2mm) |
| 18 cm / 7.1 in | Sweet spot (2mm) | Balanced (4.8mm) |
| 19 cm / 7.5 in | Sweet spot (3.6mm) | Balanced (6.4mm) |
| 20 cm / 7.9 in | Balanced (5.3mm) | Balanced (8mm) |
Switch or add watches
Garmin
Forerunner 970
Garmin
Vivoactive 5
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Battery life compared
Forerunner 970Vivoactive 5
Smartwatch
15 days11 daysGPS only
26 hours21 hoursAll systems + multi-band
21 hours—GPS with music
14 hours—All systems + multi-band with music
12 hours—
More comparisons
2D Dimension Schematics
- Garmin Forerunner 970 47mm × ≈54mm (est.) · 12.9mm thick
- Garmin Vivoactive 5 42.2mm × ≈48.5mm (est.) · 11.1mm thick
3D preview
Forerunner 970 vs Vivoactive 5 on a wrist
Specifications
The short version
6 key specs| Spec | GarminForerunner 970 | GarminVivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Case Width | 47mm | 42.2mm |
| Thickness | 12.9mm | 11.1mm |
| Shape | Circular | Circular |
| Display type | AMOLED (optional always-on mode) | OLED/AMOLED |
| Battery life | Smartwatch mode: Up to 15 days GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 26 hours SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS mode: Up to 23 hours All-Systems GNSS mode + Multi-Band: Up to 21 hours GPS-Only GNSS mode with music: Up to 14 hours SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS mode with music: Up to 13 hours All-Systems GNSS mode + Multi-Band with music: Up to 12 hours See Details | Smartwatch mode: Up to 11 days (5 days display always-on) Battery Saver Smartwatch mode: Up to 21 days GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 21 hours All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 17 hours All-Systems GNSS mode with music: Up to 8 hours See details |
| Released | 2025 | 2023 |
Where the specifications differ
31 differences| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 970 | Garmin Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Battery life | Smartwatch mode: Up to 15 days GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 26 hours SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS mode: Up to 23 hours All-Systems GNSS mode + Multi-Band: Up to 21 hours GPS-Only GNSS mode with music: Up to 14 hours SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS mode with music: Up to 13 hours All-Systems GNSS mode + Multi-Band with music: Up to 12 hours See Details | Smartwatch mode: Up to 11 days (5 days display always-on) Battery Saver Smartwatch mode: Up to 21 days GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 21 hours All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 17 hours All-Systems GNSS mode with music: Up to 8 hours See details |
| Display Size | 1.4" (35.3 mm) diameter | 1.2" (30.4 mm) diameter |
| Lens Material | Sapphire Crystal | Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 |
| Bezel Material | titanium | anodized aluminum |
| Memory/History | 32 GB | 4 GB |
| Display resolution | 454 x 454 pixels | 390 x 390 pixels |
| Sensors | ||
| Thermometer | Yes | yes (tempe™ sensor required) |
| Product Info | ||
| Main SKU | 010-02969-00 | 010-02862-11 |
| Product ID | 1462801 | 1057989 |
| Product Name | Forerunner® 970 | vívoactive® 5 |
| Release Date | 5/15/2025 | 9/21/2023 |
| Product Variation | Carbon Gray DLC Titanium with Black Case and Black/Translucent Whitestone Band | Cream Gold Aluminum Bezel with Ivory Case and Silicone Band |
| Cycling Features | ||
| Speed and cadence sensor support (w/sensor) | Yes | yes (using ANT+ or BLE) |
| What You'll Love | ||
| Water rating | 5 ATM | Swim, 5 ATM |
| Pulse Ox blood oxygen | yes (spot-check, and optional all-day acclimation and in sleep) | yes (spot-check, and optionally all-day and in sleep) |
| Battery life (smartwatch mode) | Up to 15 days | Up to 11 days (5 days display always-on) |
| Activity Profiles | ||
| Gym | Strength, HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing, Jump Roping | Strength, HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Indoor Rowing, Jump Roping |
| Cycling | Biking, Road Biking, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Bike Commuting, Bike Touring, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking, Cyclocross, BMX | Biking, Indoor Biking, eBiking, Handcycling, Indoor Handcycling |
| Wellness | Walking, Pilates, Yoga, Indoor Walking, Mobility | Walking, Pilates, Yoga, Indoor Walking |
| On the Water | Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Fishing, Boating, Sailing, Sail Racing, Snorkeling, Sailing Expedition | Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing |
| Snow & winter | Skiing, Snowboarding, Backcountry Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, XC Skate Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing | Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Snowshoeing |
| Indoor running | Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Virtual Running | Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running |
| Outdoor running | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Ultra Running, Obstacle Racing | Running |
| Outdoor recreation | Hiking, Rucking, Mountaineering, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Hunting, Horseback Riding, Golfing, Disc Golf, Archery | Disc Golf |
| Outdoor Recreation | ||
| Sun and moon information | Yes | yes (via Connect IQ™) |
| Activity Tracking Features | ||
| Garmin Connect™ Challenges app | yes (optional Connect IQ app) | Yes |
| Health & Wellness Monitoring | ||
| Hydration | yes (in Garmin Connect™ and optional Connect IQ™ widget) | Yes |
| Women's health | yes (in Garmin Connect™ and optional Connect IQ™ widget) | Yes |
| Training, Planning and Analysis Features | ||
| Improved recovery time | Yes | yes (limited) |
| Respiration rate (during exercise) | yes (with compatible accessory) | yoga, breathwork and meditation only |
| HR broadcast (broadcasts HR data over ANT+® to paired devices) | Yes | yes (using ANT+ or BLE) |
The other 140 specifications both list are identical.
Full Garmin Forerunner 970 specifications →Full Garmin Vivoactive 5 specifications →