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Apex 4 (46mm) vs Forerunner 970

Coros Apex 4 (46mm) vs Garmin Forerunner 970

What Apex 4 (46mm) does better (3) and where Forerunner 970 wins (7) — every spec side by side.

Coros · 2025Apex 4 (46mm)

6.0Score

3 advantages≈ $480

Higher score

Garmin · 2025Forerunner 970

5.9Score

7 advantages≈ $750

3.8Display6.5

8.2Battery life4.7

4.9Health tracking8.3

4.6Sports & outdoor6.6

6.5Smart features3.2

4.7Build & durability4.8

Dimensions

Size comparison

Apex 4 (46mm)Forerunner 970

	Apex 4 (46mm)	Forerunner 970	Difference
Height	46.2 mm	47 mm	−0.8 mm
Width	46.2 mm	47 mm	−0.8 mm
Thickness	13.7 mm	12.9 mm	+0.8 mm
Weight	64 g	56 g	+8 g

Drawn to the same scale from the official dimensions (front and side).

Why is Apex 4 (46mm) better than Forerunner 970?

GPS battery life53 h vs 26 h2×
Battery life (smartwatch mode)24 days vs 15 days+60%
GPS battery life (dual-band)41 h vs 21 h+95%

Why is Forerunner 970 better than Apex 4 (46mm)?

AMOLED / OLED displayNo · Apex 4 (46mm): Yes
Sport profiles36 vs 942.6×
Weight64 g vs 56 g+14%
Screen size1.3″ vs 1.4″+8%
Resolution (width)260 px vs 454 px+75%
Pixel density200 ppi vs 324 ppi+62%
Thickness13.7 mm vs 12.9 mm+6%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Coros Apex 4 (46mm)≈ $4806.0	Garmin Forerunner 970≈ $7505.9
Design & durability
Case size	46 mm	47 mm
Weight	64 g	56 g
Thickness	13.7 mm	12.9 mm
Height	46.2 mm	47 mm
Width	46.2 mm	47 mm
Case material	Titanium	Titanium
Sapphire crystal	Yes	Yes
Lens / cover glass	Sapphire Glass	Sapphire Crystal
Strap material	Silicone / Nylon	silicone
Water resistance	5 ATM	5 ATM
Water rating (maker)	5 ATM	5 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.3″	1.4″
Display technology	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)	AMOLED
Panel	3rd Generation Memory-in-Pixel touch screen	AMOLED
AMOLED / OLED display	No	Yes
Always-on display	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Resolution (width)	260 px	454 px
Resolution (height)	260 px	454 px
Pixel density	200 ppi	324 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	24 days	15 days
GPS battery life	53 h	26 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	41 h	21 h
Battery type	—	Lithium ion
Wireless charging	—	No
Charging	—	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
ECG	Yes	Yes
Skin temperature	—	Yes
Temperature sensor	Yes	Yes
HRV tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	Speaker to take hands-free calls or play activity alerts out-loud., Microphone to record training logs, use voice commands, and save Voice Pins, Optical Heart Rate Monitor, Barometric Altimeter, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, 3D Compass, Thermometer ), Optical Pulse Oximeter, Electrical Heart Rate Sensor for HRV and Wellness Checks	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, SatIQ technology, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer, Ambient light sensor
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Dual-band GPS	Yes	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Offline maps	Yes	Yes
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	Yes	Yes
Sport profiles	36	94
LED flashlight	—	Yes
Connectivity
NFC payments	—	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 4	Wi-Fi 4
ANT+ sensors	—	Yes
Smart features
Calls from the wrist	Yes	Yes
Speaker	Yes	Yes
Microphone	Yes	Yes
Voice assistant	—	Yes
Music on the watch	Yes	Yes
Storage	32 GB	32 GB
Third-party apps	—	Yes
Platform
Operating system	—	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	—	iOS, Android