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Black Friday guide

Buying guide · 6 picks compared

Best running watch UK 2026

The Garmin Forerunner 70 is the best running watch for most people, with up to 23 hours of GPS battery life.

See the top pick on AmazonCompare all 6Affiliate

For a different need, pick the Amazfit Active 3 Premium (45mm) if you want offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation and 4 GB of storage for maps and podcasts.

By , Editor and qualified UK personal trainer✓ Updated

★ Our top pickGarmin Forerunner 70 (43mm, Black, 010-04307-00)Image: GarminSee it on Amazon

Which one is for you?

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Which pick suits which need
Ifyou are new to running or want the longest battery for the moneyGarmin Forerunner 70 (43mm, Black, 010-04307-00)See it on Amazon
Ifyou want offline maps and sapphire glass on a tight budgetAmazfit Active 3 Premium (45mm)See it on Amazon
Ifyou want free offline maps and offline music in a light watchSuunto Run 2 (4GB, All Black, SS051723000)See it on Amazon
Ifyou also train in other sports and like Polar coaching toolsPolar Vantage M3See it on Amazon
Ifyou race and want calls, music and multi-band GPS on your wristGarmin Forerunner 570 (47mm, 010-02971-00)See it on Amazon
Ifyou want full-colour maps, a titanium bezel and the longest Garmin batteryGarmin Forerunner 970 (010-02969-10)See it on Amazon

The 6 picks compared

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  1. 1★ Top pick

    Garmin

    Garmin Forerunner 70 (43mm, Black, 010-04307-00)Best for beginners and most runners

    Track your runs, pace and distance on one easy watch

    See it on Amazon
  2. 2

    Amazfit

    Amazfit Active 3 Premium (45mm)Best for budget with offline maps

    Get offline maps and turn-by-turn directions on your wrist

    See it on Amazon
  3. 3

    Suunto

    Suunto Run 2 (4GB, All Black, SS051723000)Best for free maps and music, light

    Free offline maps and music on a light running watch

    See it on Amazon
  4. 4

    Polar

    Polar Vantage M3Best for multisport with Polar coaching

    Track over 150 sports with one smart watch

    See it on Amazon
  5. 5

    Garmin

    Garmin Forerunner 570 (47mm, 010-02971-00)Best for racing, calls and music

    Take calls and keep music on your wrist mid-run

    See it on Amazon
  6. 6

    Garmin

    Garmin Forerunner 970 (010-02969-10)Best for maps, titanium, long races

    Full-colour maps on your wrist for long races and new routes

    See it on Amazon

Side by side

From the makers' and retailers' published factsAffiliate
The picks side by side
PickBest forPriceThe fact that sets it apartWhere to buy
Garmin Forerunner 70 (43mm, Black, 010-04307-00)beginners and most runners£219.99Garmin describes it as an easy-to-use GPS running smartwatch with a 1.2-inch colour AMOLED touchscreen and built-in GPS for time, distance and pace.See it on Amazon
Amazfit Active 3 Premium (45mm)budget with offline maps£169.90It has a 45mm stainless-steel frame, four buttons and a 1.32-inch AMOLED display under sapphire glass with 3,000 nits peak brightness.See it on Amazon
Suunto Run 2 (4GB, All Black, SS051723000)free maps and music, light£265The watch body weighs 35 g, with a stainless steel bezel, Gorilla Glass and 5 ATM water resistance.See it on Amazon
Polar Vantage M3multisport with Polar coaching£349Polar describes it as a GPS smart multi-sport watch with an AMOLED display, navigation, smart coaching and over 150 sports profiles.See it on Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 570 (47mm, 010-02971-00)racing, calls and music£429.99Garmin describes it as having its brightest AMOLED display with a lightweight aluminium bezel, in two sizes.See it on Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 970 (010-02969-10)maps, titanium, long races£629.99It has a 1.4-inch AMOLED display, a titanium bezel and a durable sapphire lens.See it on Amazon

Prices from the maker or retailer named on each pick below, checked 26 October 2026. A dash means the price changes too often to quote: tap through for today's.

Get a GPS watch that tracks your pace, distance and heart rate, and gives you training plans. This guide is for UK runners, from first-timers to club racers, weighing Garmin, Suunto, Polar and Amazfit. Your pick comes down to GPS battery for your longest run, coaching that builds your plan, and whether you want maps and music on the wrist. For most runners, that is the Garmin Forerunner 70.

Our picks in detail

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Garmin Forerunner 70 (43mm, Black, 010-04307-00)
Image: Garmin

1★ Top pickBest for beginners and most runners

Garmin Forerunner 70 (43mm, Black, 010-04307-00)

Track your runs, pace and distance on one easy watch.

What it is
Forerunner 70 is an easy-to-use GPS running smartwatch, with built-in satellite tracking for time, distance and pace. Its 1.2-inch colour AMOLED touchscreen puts your run stats right on your wrist.
Perfect for
It suits beginners and most runners who want a simple, easy-to-use watch for every run.
Why we picked it
Battery lasts up to 13 days in smartwatch mode and up to 23 hours in GPS mode, so you can go days between charges. You also get Garmin Coach personalised training plans, plus HRV status (heart rate variability), Body Battery energy monitoring and sleep coaching, all in one watch.
Price
£219.99 (garmin.com, checked 25 October 2026)
  • Garmin describes it as an easy-to-use GPS running smartwatch with a 1.2-inch colour AMOLED touchscreen and built-in GPS for time, distance and pace.
  • Battery is up to 13 days in smartwatch mode and up to 23 hours in GPS mode.
  • It includes Garmin Coach personalised training plans, HRV status, Body Battery energy monitoring and sleep coaching.

The catch: Garmin Pay contactless payments and floors climbed are Forerunner 170 features, not on the Forerunner 70.

Check today's price on Amazon
Amazfit Active 3 Premium (45mm)
Image: Amazfit

2Best for budget with offline maps

Amazfit Active 3 Premium (45mm)

Get offline maps and turn-by-turn directions on your wrist.

What it is
The Active 3 Premium is a running watch with a 45mm stainless-steel frame and a 1.32-inch AMOLED screen. You get offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation, automatic rerouting and 4 GB of storage for maps and podcasts.
Perfect for
This suits runners on a budget who want offline maps and turn-by-turn directions in one watch.
Why we picked it
Zepp Coach gives you adaptive running plans, so your training adjusts as you go. It works with TrainingPeaks, Strava, Runna and Intervals.icu, so you can keep the training apps you already use. Its screen peaks at 3,000 nits and is covered in sapphire glass.
Price
£169.90 (uk.amazfit.com, checked 26 October 2026)
  • It has a 45mm stainless-steel frame, four buttons and a 1.32-inch AMOLED display under sapphire glass with 3,000 nits peak brightness.
  • Amazfit says it has offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation, automatic rerouting and 4 GB of storage for maps and podcasts.
  • It includes Zepp Coach adaptive running plans, and works with TrainingPeaks, Strava, Runna and Intervals.icu.

The catch: Amazfit rates battery at up to 12 days in typical use, falling to up to 7 days under heavy activity.

Check today's price on Amazon
Suunto Run 2 (4GB, All Black, SS051723000)
Image: Suunto

3Best for free maps and music, light

Suunto Run 2 (4GB, All Black, SS051723000)

Free offline maps and music on a light running watch.

What it is
Run 2 is a running watch that tracks your location on two satellite frequencies. You get free worldwide offline maps and offline music, so you can follow your route and play tunes without a signal.
Perfect for
This one suits runners who want free maps and offline music on a light watch.
Why we picked it
The body weighs just 35 g, with a stainless steel bezel, Gorilla Glass and 5 ATM water resistance. Suunto quotes 10 days of daily training use or 24 hours in dual-band GPS, and says capacity is up 29% on the original Run. Add the new 12-channel heart rate sensor, EnergySense and Marathon Time, and it is packed for training.
What's new
Suunto says Run 2 has 29% more battery capacity than the original Run, new dual-band GPS and a 12-channel heart rate sensor.
Price
£265 (suunto.com, checked 25 October 2026)
  • The watch body weighs 35 g, with a stainless steel bezel, Gorilla Glass and 5 ATM water resistance.
  • It has a 1.32-inch AMOLED display at 2,000 nits, dual-band L1 + L5 GPS, a 12-channel heart rate sensor, and 10 days of daily training use or 24 hours in dual-band GPS.
  • It includes free worldwide offline maps, offline music playback, EnergySense and Marathon Time.

The catch: This version has 4 GB of storage; Suunto also sells a 64GB version at a higher price.

Check today's price on Amazon
Polar Vantage M3
Image: Polar

4Best for multisport with Polar coaching

Polar Vantage M3

Track over 150 sports with one smart watch.

What it is
The Vantage M3 is a GPS multi-sport watch with an AMOLED display, plus navigation and smart coaching. You get over 150 sports profiles, so one watch covers your whole training week.
Perfect for
It suits you if you do several sports and want Polar coaching on your wrist.
Why we picked it
Every purchase includes bonus packs with Strava, komoot, TrainingPeaks and Clue, so you get more from the first day. Polar's UK shop also lists a 2-year guarantee.
Price
£349 (polar.com, checked 25 October 2026)
  • Polar describes it as a GPS smart multi-sport watch with an AMOLED display, navigation, smart coaching and over 150 sports profiles.
  • Polar says the battery runs up to 7 days non-stop.
  • Every purchase includes bonus packs with Strava, komoot, TrainingPeaks and Clue, and Polar's UK shop lists a 2-year guarantee.

The catch: Polar quotes up to 7 days of battery life, against 10 to 15 days of daily use on the Garmin and Suunto picks.

Check today's price on Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 570 (47mm, 010-02971-00)
Image: Garmin

5Best for racing, calls and music

Garmin Forerunner 570 (47mm, 010-02971-00)

Take calls and keep music on your wrist mid-run.

What it is
The Forerunner 570 is a running watch with what Garmin calls its brightest AMOLED screen, set in a lightweight aluminium bezel. It follows your route with GPS and lasts up to 10 days in smartwatch mode.
Perfect for
Choose it if you race and want calls and music on your wrist.
Why we picked it
A built-in speaker and microphone let you take calls on a run, and music sits right on your wrist. Garmin Coach plans cover running and triathlons, so you have a training plan to follow.
Price
£429.99 (garmin.com, checked 25 October 2026)
  • Garmin describes it as having its brightest AMOLED display with a lightweight aluminium bezel, in two sizes.
  • A built-in speaker and microphone let you take calls on a run, and the page lists music on your wrist.
  • Battery is up to 10 days in smartwatch mode and up to 18 hours in GPS mode, with SatIQ technology and multi-band GPS.
  • Garmin Coach plans cover running and triathlons.

The catch: GPS battery is up to 18 hours, below the 26 hours Garmin quotes for the Forerunner 970.

Check today's price on Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 970 (010-02969-10)
Image: Garmin

6Best for maps, titanium, long races

Garmin Forerunner 970 (010-02969-10)

Full-colour maps on your wrist for long races and new routes.

What it is
The Forerunner 970 is a running watch with a 1.4-inch AMOLED screen, a titanium bezel and a durable sapphire lens. It gives you full-colour built-in maps with enhanced navigation, so you can find your way on the move.
Perfect for
Marathon and ultra runners who want maps on the wrist and a titanium bezel.
Why we picked it
SatIQ multi-band GPS keeps your route tracked from start to finish. The battery lasts up to 15 days in smartwatch mode and up to 26 hours in GPS mode, so it's ready for long training weeks and big race days. Running economy and running tolerance metrics add real training insight, and the LED flashlight, speaker and microphone add extras for dark routes.
Price
£629.99 (garmin.com, checked 25 October 2026)
  • It has a 1.4-inch AMOLED display, a titanium bezel and a durable sapphire lens.
  • Full-colour built-in maps with enhanced navigation and SatIQ multi-band GPS.
  • Battery is up to 15 days in smartwatch mode and up to 26 hours in GPS mode.
  • It adds a built-in LED flashlight, a speaker and microphone, and running economy and running tolerance metrics.

The catch: Garmin's UK price is above the Forerunner 570's; the 970 adds built-in maps, a titanium bezel with sapphire lens and an LED flashlight.

Check today's price on Amazon

What we left out, and why

  • Garmin Forerunner 170: It adds Garmin Pay and floors climbed over the Forerunner 70, but Garmin rates it at 10 days of battery against 13 days for the 70.
  • Polar Pacer Pro: Polar's UK page sells it through its Outlet section with an offer that cannot be combined with other discounts, so we could not treat it as a standard current price.

How we chose

Our buying criteria

To make this list, a watch needed built-in GPS for pace and distance, a colour AMOLED screen and training plans or coaching from its maker. GPS battery runs from up to 18 hours (Forerunner 570) to up to 26 hours (Forerunner 970). Nits measure how bright a screen gets. Each watch's figures come from its maker's UK page and its live UK listing, and each pick shows its catch.

  • Battery: compare the GPS hours each maker quotes, from 18 hours on the Forerunner 570 to 26 on the 970.
  • Maps: built-in or offline maps on Suunto Run 2, Forerunner 970 and Amazfit Active 3 Premium.
  • Training plans: Garmin Coach, Zepp Coach or Polar's smart coaching.

How we choose every pick

Your questions, answered

How long should a running watch battery last?
For marathons and long trail days, look at GPS hours. The Garmin Forerunner 970 lasts up to 26 hours in GPS mode and up to 15 days as a smartwatch, and the Forerunner 70 up to 23 hours and 13 days.
Do I need a running watch with built-in maps?
Only if you want maps on your wrist. The Suunto Run 2 includes free offline worldwide maps you download to the watch. For full-colour built-in maps with enhanced navigation, pick the Garmin Forerunner 970.
Can I play music from my running watch without my phone?
Go phone-free with the Suunto Run 2. You can load music onto it and play it back offline. The Garmin Forerunner 570 also lists music on the wrist, and the Amazfit Active 3 Premium has 4 GB of storage for podcasts and maps.
Which running watches include training plans?
Most do. Garmin Coach builds personalised plans on the Forerunner 70 and 570, Zepp Coach adapts your plan on the Amazfit Active 3 Premium, and the Polar Vantage M3 has Polar's smart coaching.
Can I swim with my running watch?
Suunto rates the Run 2 at 5 ATM, water resistant to 50 m. Check each maker's own water rating before you swim with any watch.

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