Will we see a Garmin Forerunner 975 in 2025?
Garmin’s Forerunner lineup has been a go-to for runners and triathletes, with new models usually dropping every couple of years. With the Forerunner 965 launching back in early 2023, it’s fair to wonder if we’ll see a Forerunner 975 in 2025. Garmin hasn’t said anything yet, but looking at their past release schedule, a new flagship could be imminent.
Garmin Forerunner 975: Potential release date
Let’s start by looking at the past few generations. This may give us some clues as to a potential release date.
Garmin has a typical release schedule of two years between subsequent generations of a smartwatch. Of course that’s not a hard and fast rule – but it averages to about two years.
If Garmin sticks to this schedule, the Forerunner 975 could land sometime in the first half of 2025. Here is when recent iterations of the Forerunner launched:
- Forerunner 935: March 29, 2017
- Forerunner 945: April 30, 2019
- Forerunner 955: June 1, 2022
- Forerunner 965: March 1, 2023
The large gap between the Forerunner 945 and 955 was due to COVID. That postponed things by around a year. But as you can see, it has been nearly two years since the Forerunner 965 saw the light of day. So it is reasonable to expect its successor soon, perhaps as early as March. Hopefully, we’ll start seeing leaks or hints – a few retailers typically jump the gun.
Garmin Forerunner 975: Features to expect – wish-list
Here are the features we’re expecting—along with a few we’re hoping for. Not all of them will make the cut, but if a few of these show up in the Forerunner 975, we’ll call it a win.
AMOLED or MIP? Why not both?
Let’s start off with the display. It’s almost guaranteed the 975 will keep the AMOLED display from the 965. Garmin is moving in this direction with all their watch lines. And while that type of screen is bright, colorful, and looks great, not everyone is a fan.
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The old-school MIP (memory-in-pixel) screen had its perks—always-on visibility, better battery life, and a dedicated following of runners who swear by it. The 965 ditched MIP completely, but it wouldn’t hurt for Garmin to bring it back as an option. Let people choose the screen that works best for them.
Time for ECG?
ECG is one of those features that’s been creeping into Garmin’s lineup, but it still hasn’t made it to the Forerunner series. A 975 with built-in ECG would be a solid upgrade, letting runners check for irregular heart rhythms and get a more complete picture of their heart health. It’s not a must-have, more of a nice-to-have.
Time to implement wireless charging?
Garmin’s battery life is solid, but the company is still making us use that same old proprietary charger while lots of other things have moved to USB-C or wireless charging. USB-C is probably not a good idea as it would make it difficult to maintain good water resistance. But wouldn’t it be way easier to just drop your watch on a charging pad? Instead, we’re stuck hunting for that one specific cable that never seems to be where you left it. Is this a technical issue, or is Garmin just being stubborn? Either way, it’s about time they got with the times.
A microphone for calls on the go
Taking calls on a running watch might sound weird, but plenty of people want it. Devices in the Venu range already have a microphone for phone calls and voice assistants, so why not the Forerunner? A 975 with a mic would let runners pick up quick calls without stopping their workout. It would be a nice touch for those who like to stay connected while training.
Elevate v5 sensor: No more late upgrades, please
Garmin annoyed a lot of users when it launched the 965 with the Elevate v4 sensor—only for the v5 sensor to come out right after. The newer v5 sensor has six LEDs instead of two, which means better accuracy for heart rate tracking. If the 975 does happen, hopefully, it ships with the latest sensor from day one, instead of Garmin pulling the same stunt again with a surprise v6 launch a few months later.
LTE? Don’t hold your breath
People have been waiting for a proper LTE Garmin watch for years, but the company keeps holding back. The 945 LTE had some connectivity, but it was pretty limited. An option of a fully standalone LTE model would be great for live tracking, emergency features, and even streaming music, but Garmin seems in no rush to make it happen. If LTE is coming, it’s probably going to land on the Venu series before the Forerunner gets a proper version.
A real flashlight, like the Fenix
A built-in flashlight might sound small, but those who’ve used one on the Fenix series know how handy it can be. Whether you’re running in the dark, setting up camp, or just trying to find your keys, a bright, built-in light is super useful. Garmin could easily add this to the 975 without making the watch too bulky. Will they? Who knows. But it would be nice.
What about the price?
Pricing is always a wildcard, and things are getting messy with trade wars heating up. The U.S. and China are going back and forth on tariffs, and if that affects production costs, we could see a price bump. Garmin has managed to keep Forerunner pricing fairly steady, but if the 975 packs in more features, they might use that as an excuse to charge more. Hopefully, they keep it reasonable.
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