Withings ScanWatch 2 42 mm Blue vs Garmin Forerunner 170: which should you buy?
These suit different people. The ScanWatch 2 is a £319.95 RRP hybrid with real hands, a medical-grade ECG, sapphire and a quoted 35 days of battery, built for health tracking. The Forerunner 170 costs £259.99 RRP and is a GPS running watch with an AMOLED screen, Garmin Pay and training plans. Runners should pick the Garmin, and everyone else the Withings.
Pick the ScanWatch 2 if
Pick the ScanWatch 2 if you want a watch that looks like a watch, tracks heart health and sleep, and only needs charging about once a month.
Pick the Forerunner 170 if
Pick the Forerunner 170 if you run regularly and want built-in GPS, structured coaching, training readiness and contactless payments for less money.
How do they compare side by side?
| Spec | ScanWatch 2 | Forerunner 170 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Withings | Garmin |
| Reference | ScanWatch 2 42 mm Blue (2025) | 010-03920-50 |
| Case diameter | 42 mm | 42.6 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m |
| Movement | Smart | Smart |
| Crystal | Sapphire | Chemically strengthened glass |
| Strap | Blue FKM (fluoroelastomer) rubber strap, quick release | Silicone, 20 mm quick release |
| Colourway | Blue sunray dial, silver stainless steel case, blue strap | Black case, black and amp yellow strap |
| Launched | September 2025 | May 2026 |
| Brand RRP | £319.95 | £259.99 (better) |
| Thickness | Not stated | 11.9 mm |
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A dot marks the better spec, where "better" is clear-cut (more water resistance, longer power reserve, a harder crystal). Specs from each brand's published information.
Read the first looks: Withings ScanWatch 2 42 mm Blue · Garmin Forerunner 170
Questions people ask
Does the ScanWatch 2 have GPS?
It uses your phone's GPS for workouts rather than its own, which is one reason it is a weaker choice for serious runners than the Forerunner 170.
Which lasts longer between charges?
The ScanWatch 2, by a distance. Withings quotes up to 35 days, while Garmin quotes up to 10 days in smartwatch mode for the Forerunner 170.
Do I need a subscription?
The ScanWatch 2's newest feature, the Vitality Indicator, needs a paid Withings+ subscription. Garmin's training features on the Forerunner 170 do not need one.