I’ve been running with Garmin watches for over three years now.
My daily driver has been the Forerunner 965 — and honestly, it’s one of the best running watches I’ve ever strapped on my wrist. The AMOLED display, the training readiness scores, the GPS accuracy. It’s the kind of watch that makes you feel like a serious athlete even when you’re just jogging around the neighbourhood.
But here’s the thing — the 965 launched in early 2023. In wearable tech years, that’s a long time. And the Garmin community has been buzzing about one question ever since:
When is the Forerunner 975 coming? And will it be worth the wait?
I’ve spent weeks tracking every leak, FCC filing, and credible rumor about this watch. Here’s everything I know — and my honest opinion on whether you should wait for it or just buy a Forerunner 965 (or 970) right now.
Quick Summary — What We Know About the Forerunner 975
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Garmin Forerunner 975 (unconfirmed) |
| Expected Release | Late – 2026 |
| Expected Price | $599 – $699 (estimated) |
| Display | AMOLED (confirmed upgrade expected) |
| GPS | Multi-band GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou) |
| New Features Expected | ECG, Elevate V5 sensor, solar option, flashlight |
| Battery Life | 11–13 days estimated (smartwatch mode) |
| Predecessor | Garmin Forerunner 965 ($589.99) |
What Is the Garmin Forerunner 975?
The Forerunner 975 is the anticipated successor to the Forerunner 965 — Garmin’s flagship running watch designed for serious runners, triathletes, and endurance athletes.
Garmin follows a fairly predictable release pattern. The Forerunner 955 launched in 2022. The 965 followed in early 2023. That puts the 975 squarely in the 2025–2026 window.
For context on what we’re upgrading from — the Forerunner 965 was already a brilliant watch. AMOLED display, multi-band GPS, advanced training load metrics, full triathlon support, and battery life that lasted a week even with daily GPS runs. The bar the 975 needs to clear is genuinely high.
What Upgrades Are Expected? (Based on Leaks & Garmin’s Pattern)
1. Elevate V5 Heart Rate Sensor
This is the upgrade I’m most excited about personally.
The Forerunner 965 uses Garmin’s Elevate V4 sensor — which is good, but not great. During interval sessions, I’ve noticed HR lag that sometimes takes 15–20 seconds to catch up to actual effort. On easy runs it’s fine. But during 400m repeats? The data is noticeably delayed.
The Elevate V5, which Garmin introduced in the Fenix 8, uses twice as many LEDs and a refined algorithm. Early testing by other reviewers shows measurably better accuracy during high-intensity efforts.
If the 975 comes with V5 — which all signs suggest it will — that alone is a meaningful upgrade for speed-focused runners.
2. ECG Monitoring
ECG (electrocardiogram) recording has become a standard feature on premium smartwatches — Apple Watch has had it since 2018, Samsung since 2020.
Garmin has been oddly slow to adopt it. But all credible leaks point to ECG finally arriving with the 975. For runners who care about heart health — especially those training at high volumes — the ability to take an ECG reading directly from your wrist is genuinely useful, not just a spec-sheet checkbox.
Want ECG right now without waiting? The Garmin Venu 4 already has it at $549.
3. Built-in LED Flashlight
The Garmin Fenix 8 and Instinct 3 both have built-in LED flashlights. Runners who train early mornings or late evenings have loved this feature.
The Forerunner series has always been the “runner’s watch” counterpart to the Fenix “adventure watch” — but the gap between the two lines has been narrowing. A flashlight on the 975 would make early morning track sessions and pre-dawn long runs significantly safer and more practical.
I run at 5:30 AM most days. If the 975 has a flashlight, that feature alone would justify upgrading my 965.
4. Solar Charging Option
The Forerunner 955 Solar was a popular variant that extended battery life through solar harvesting. The 965 dropped solar entirely — a decision that frustrated a lot of users, including me.
Multiple sources suggest solar is coming back with the 975. Combined with the already-impressive battery life of modern Garmin watches, a solar variant could realistically hit 15+ days in mixed use.
For ultramarathon runners or hikers doing multi-day events, this is not a nice-to-have — it’s essential.
5. Better Display — AMOLED Gen 4?
The 965’s AMOLED screen is already excellent. But leaks suggest the 975 may feature a brighter, higher-resolution panel with improved always-on efficiency.
Some sources mention sapphire crystal glass on a standard (non-Sapphire edition) model — which would address one of the few valid criticisms of the 965.
What About the Garmin Forerunner 970?
Here’s something important I need to address honestly — because it affects my recommendation.
Garmin launched the Forerunner 970 in May 2025 at $749.99. It features a bright AMOLED display with sapphire glass, a built-in flashlight, the Elevate V5 sensor, and new running metrics like “running tolerance” and “running economy.”
If you’ve been waiting for a Forerunner 965 upgrade, the 970 is essentially already here — and it’s excellent.
The question of “wait for the 975 vs. buy now” may actually be: “Wait for the 975 vs. buy the 970.”
For most runners, the 970 already delivers most of what the 975 was expected to bring. If the 975 adds ECG and solar, those are meaningful additions — but the core running experience on the 970 is already outstanding.
Forerunner 975 vs. Forerunner 965 — What Changes?
| Feature | Forerunner 965 | Forerunner 975 (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | AMOLED 1.4″ | AMOLED Gen 4 (brighter) |
| HR Sensor | Elevate V4 | Elevate V5 |
| ECG | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (expected) |
| Flashlight | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (expected) |
| Solar Option | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (expected) |
| Multi-band GPS | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (improved) |
| Battery (Smartwatch) | 23 days | ~11–13 days (AMOLED) |
| Weight | 53g | ~55g (estimated) |
| Price | $589.99 | $599–$699 (estimated) |
Already have an older Garmin? See our Best Budget Garmin Watches guide to understand exactly where each model fits.
Should You Wait for the Forerunner 975 — Or Buy Now?
This is the question I get asked most. Here’s my honest answer based on three different types of runners:
If you’re currently using a Forerunner 945 or older:
→ Don’t wait. Buy the Forerunner 965 or 970 now.
The jump from a 945 to a 965/970 is enormous — AMOLED display, multi-band GPS, dramatically better training metrics. You’ll be blown away. Waiting another 6–12 months for marginal additional upgrades doesn’t make sense.
If you’re currently using a Forerunner 965:
→ Wait and see.
The 965 is still an excellent watch in 2026. Unless ECG monitoring is specifically important for your health situation, or you desperately want a flashlight, there’s no urgent reason to upgrade. Watch for official Garmin announcements and make your decision when real specs are confirmed.
If you’re buying your first premium running watch:
→ Buy the Forerunner 970 right now.
The 970 is available, proven, and already represents the best running watch in Garmin’s lineup below the Fenix 8. Don’t let “what if” hold you back from a watch that’s already exceptional.
Not sure which Garmin to start with? Our Best Sports Watches for Runners guide breaks down every option by budget.
My Personal Take — As Someone Who Has Worn Garmin Daily for 3 Years
I’ve run over 1,200 miles with Garmin watches on my wrist. The Forerunner series has consistently been my recommendation over Coros, Apple Watch, and even Polar for one specific type of user — the data-driven runner who wants meaningful training insights, not just step counts and sleep scores.
The thing that makes Garmin genuinely different is Garmin’s Connect training ecosystem. Training Readiness, HRV Status, Race Predictor, Body Battery — these aren’t gimmicks.
After a few weeks of consistent use, they start to feel almost like having a personal coach on your wrist.
Whatever the Forerunner 975 ends up being — whether it launches in late 2026 or gets skipped entirely in favor of a different naming convention — the core of what makes Garmin Garmin is already in the 965 and 970. The upgrades matter at the margins. The platform is already best-in-class.
Garmin Forerunner 975 vs. Key Competitors
| Watch | Price | Best For | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin FR975 (Expected) | ~$649 | Serious runners, training data | Price, size |
| Garmin Forerunner 970 | $749.99 | Runners wanting flashlight + V5 | Battery vs 965 |
| Garmin Forerunner 965 | $589.99 | Best value Garmin runner | No ECG, no flashlight |
| COROS Pace Pro | $349 | Budget performance running | Ecosystem depth |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | $799 | All-around smartwatch | Running metrics depth |
| Polar Vantage V3 | $599 | HR accuracy obsessives | App ecosystem |
Forerunner users who share the same underlying GPS chip and heart rate sensor architecture with the Fenix line can often predict upcoming sport profile fixes by monitoring flagship firmware logs. Keep an eye on our comprehensive Garmin software update tracker for early indicators.
FAQ — Garmin Forerunner 975
Q: Has Garmin officially announced the Forerunner 975?
As of May 2026, Garmin has not officially announced the Forerunner 975. All information in this article is based on leaks, FCC filings, and Garmin’s historical release patterns. I will update this page immediately when official details are confirmed.
Q: What is the expected price of the Forerunner 975?
Based on the Forerunner 965 ($589.99) and 970 ($749.99), the Forerunner 975 is likely to land between $599 and $699 for the standard version, with a Solar/Sapphire variant potentially at $749–$799.
Q: Will the Forerunner 975 have ECG?
ECG support is widely expected based on multiple leaks and Garmin’s pattern of trickling Fenix-tier features down to the Forerunner line. However, it is not officially confirmed.
Q: Is the Forerunner 975 better than the Forerunner 970?
The 970 is the current flagship. The 975 (if it launches) would likely add ECG and solar charging on top of what the 970 already delivers. For most runners, the 970 already covers 95% of the use case.
Q: Should I buy the Forerunner 965 now or wait for the 975?
If you need a watch today — buy the 965 or 970. If you can comfortably wait 6–12 months and ECG/solar are important to you, then waiting is reasonable. But don’t delay training progress waiting for a watch that hasn’t been officially announced yet.
Q: Will the Forerunner 975 work with iPhone?
Yes. Garmin watches are compatible with both iPhone (iOS) and Android. The Garmin Connect app is available on both platforms.
Bottom Line
The Garmin Forerunner 975 — when it arrives — is shaping up to be a meaningful upgrade over the 965 with ECG, a better HR sensor, flashlight, and solar. But right now, the Forerunner 970 already covers most of those bases except ECG and solar.
If you’re a serious runner looking for the best training tool on the market today — the 970 is your answer.
If ECG and solar are non-negotiables for you — keep watching this page. I’ll update it the moment Garmin makes any official announcement.
This page is updated regularly. Bookmark it and check back for the latest Forerunner 975 news.
Sunil Bhatt has personally tested 20+ smartwatches and running watches over 3 years, logging 1,200+ miles with Garmin watches on his wrist. He runs SmartWatchInsight.com, covering hands-on reviews, comparisons, and practical guides for fitness wearables. Follow him on LinkedIn.
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