Why the Garmin Forerunner 70 Is the Best Starter Watch for Most New Runners
A beginner running watch is a lightweight GPS smartwatch for new runners that focuses on reliable basics like distance, pace, and heart rate, while quietly offering deeper training metrics that become useful as you progress from casual jogs to more structured workouts over time.
The Garmin Forerunner 70 is the best beginner running watch for most people because it keeps the essentials clear while offering enough depth to grow with you. It is a smartwatch for new runners that tracks heart rate, pace, and distance, then adds richer training metrics like weekly mileage, running performance with race-day predictions, training status, health status, and recovery-focused morning and evening reports—all accessible from the watch itself. For an entry level fitness tracker, it packs “tons of fitness-focused features, making it a smart buy for runners of all experience levels.” Garmin rates battery life at up to 13 days in smartwatch mode and about five days with the display always on, and testing showed it lasting about a full week in always-on display plus workouts. This balance of clear metrics, long battery life, and progression-friendly insights makes it the default choice if you want one watch from couch to 5K and beyond.
Garmin Forerunner 70: Entry-Level Simplicity With Training Depth
The Forerunner 70 was designed for beginners, but even experienced runners found themselves comfortable wearing it after extended testing. It is an affordable GPS watch that makes run/walk training easier by letting you program intervals to start automatically with a single button press, which is ideal when you are learning structured workouts. On top of core tracking, it surfaces weekly mileage by activity, your latest workout details, and daily reports summarizing training readiness, sleep score, body battery, and recovery time directly on the watch. According to the review, “this watch can provide new runners with more metrics than they need at first, and that can feel overwhelming for some. However, it’s a watch that can grow with you if you’re just starting out.” Pros include long battery life, straightforward notification silencing, and Find My Phone, while downsides are a complicated syncing process and GPS that, while quick to lock on, is not always perfectly accurate.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 70 | Amazfit Balance 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display type | AMOLED | 1.5-inch AMOLED with sapphire glass and up to 3,000 nits brightness | |
| Battery life (typical use) | Up to 13 days smartwatch mode; about 5 days with always-on display | Up to 21 days typical use; about 10 days with always-on tracking | |
| GPS battery life | Noted as 7 days battery life spec in GPS/GNSS context | Up to 41 hours accurate GPS; up to 84 hours power-saving GPS |
Amazfit Balance 3: A Bigger, Longer-Lasting Option for Hybrid Athletes
If you plan to mix running with strength work or cross-training, the Amazfit Balance 3 is the better beginner running watch for you. It is built around a 1.5-inch AMOLED display with sapphire glass protection, 22 mm quick-release band, and a claimed 3,000 nits of peak brightness, giving it an industrial, substantial feel on the wrist. Battery life is a standout: Amazfit rates it at up to 21 days of typical use, around 10 days with always-on tracking, up to 41 hours in accurate GPS mode, and up to 84 hours in power-saving GPS mode. In real-world use, that translated to not needing the charger for well over a week at a time. GPS and heart-rate accuracy during runs were described as comparable to a much higher-end Forerunner model, which is impressive for a watch costing about half as much.
On the downside, its size and weight may feel bulky if you are used to slimmer watches, and the included silicone band can itch during extended wear, especially at night. Strength-training auto-detect is a clear con: the automatic exercise recognition and auto-grouping often misinterpret pauses during lifts as the end of a set, leading to unreliable rep tracking. There can also be initial Bluetooth pairing annoyances, though connectivity stabilizes after setup. However, for new runners who value battery life and dislike frequent charging, and who want GPS and heart-rate data they can trust on a run without paying premium-brand prices, this smartwatch for new runners delivers serious functionality. The watch is also suited to people who enjoy optimization and readiness metrics, effectively acting like a personal cheerleader on the wrist.
How to Match a Beginner Watch to Your Future Running Plans
For new runners, an entry level fitness tracker should feel simple on day one while still offering features that support growth into structured training. Both the Forerunner 70 and Amazfit Balance 3 are affordable GPS watch options that deliver reliable heart-rate and GPS data without the complexity or cost of high-end models. The Forerunner 70 focuses on a lightweight, running-first experience with clear training summaries and recovery guidance that can serve you from your first 5K training plan to more serious race goals. The Balance 3 leans toward hybrid athletes who want a single device that can handle running plus other activities, backed by long battery life so you do not worry about charging even if your running routine is still inconsistent. For beginners, that low-friction experience matters: when your watch is ready whenever you are, it is easier to keep showing up for your next run.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the Garmin Forerunner 70 if you are a new runner who wants clear, running-focused metrics that can support you from couch to 5K and into more structured training.
- Skip the Garmin Forerunner 70 if you need very simple syncing and absolutely flawless GPS accuracy, since the syncing process can be complicated and GPS is not always perfect.
- Buy the Garmin Forerunner 70 if you want strong battery life, easy control over notifications, and Find My Phone in an entry-level fitness tracker that still offers deep health and training insights.
- Skip the Amazfit Balance 3 if you have smaller wrists, dislike heavier watches, or plan to sleep in your watch, because its larger case and silicone band can feel bulky and itchy over long wear.
- Buy the Amazfit Balance 3 if you are a hybrid athlete or data-loving beginner who values long battery life, accurate GPS, and trustworthy heart-rate tracking without paying premium-brand prices.
- Skip the Amazfit Balance 3 if automatic strength-training tracking is important to you, since its auto-detect feature was a disappointment and often misread lifts.
