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Forerunner 170 vs Instinct E 40mm

Garmin Forerunner 170 vs Garmin Instinct E 40mm

What Forerunner 170 does better (6) and where Instinct E 40mm wins (4) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2026Forerunner 170

4.3Score

6 advantages≈ $300

Garmin · 2025Instinct E 40mm

4.4Score

4 advantages≈ $250

Higher score

5.3Display2.4

2.9Battery life4.0

4.9Health tracking4.9

4.7Sports & outdoor4.5

3.1Build & durability5.9

Dimensions

Size comparison

Forerunner 170Instinct E 40mm

	Forerunner 170	Instinct E 40mm	Difference
Height	42.6 mm	40 mm	+2.6 mm
Width	42.6 mm	40 mm	+2.6 mm
Thickness	11.9 mm	13.6 mm	−1.7 mm
Weight	41 g	41 g	=

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

Why is Forerunner 170 better than Instinct E 40mm?

AMOLED / OLED displayYes · Instinct E 40mm: No
Storage4 GB vs 0.12 GB33.3×
Pixel density325 ppi vs 136 ppi2.4×
Resolution (width)390 px vs 166 px2.3×
Thickness11.9 mm vs 13.6 mm+14%
Sport profiles78 vs 69+13%

Why is Instinct E 40mm better than Forerunner 170?

Battery life (smartwatch mode)10 days vs 14 days+40%
Water resistance5 ATM vs 10 ATM2×
GPS battery life20 h vs 21 h+5%
Battery saver mode19 days vs 35 days+84%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Forerunner 170≈ $3004.3	Garmin Instinct E 40mm≈ $2504.4
Design & durability
Case size	43 mm	40 mm
Weight	41 g	41 g
Thickness	11.9 mm	13.6 mm
Height	42.6 mm	40 mm
Width	42.6 mm	40 mm
Case material	Plastic / polymer	Plastic / polymer
Sapphire crystal	No	No
Lens / cover glass	chemically strengthened glass	Chemically Strengthened Glass
Strap material	silicone	silicone
Water resistance	5 ATM	10 ATM
Water rating (maker)	5 ATM	10 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.2″	1.22″
Display technology	AMOLED	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)
Panel	AMOLED	Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel
AMOLED / OLED display	Yes	No
Always-on display	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	Yes	—
Resolution (width)	390 px	166 px
Resolution (height)	390 px	166 px
Pixel density	325 ppi	136 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	10 days	14 days
Battery life with always-on display	4 days	—
Battery saver mode	19 days	35 days
GPS battery life	20 h	21 h
Battery type	Lithium ion	Lithium ion
Wireless charging	No	No
Charging	Garmin proprietary plug charger	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
Temperature sensor	Yes	Yes
HRV tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer, Ambient light sensor	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Accelerometer, Thermometer
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO	GLONASS, GALILEO
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Sport profiles	78	69
Connectivity
NFC payments	Yes	—
ANT+ sensors	Yes	Yes
Smart features
Storage	4 GB	0.12 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android