Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro vs Garmin Forerunner 970: Which Should You Buy?

Overview

The Garmin Forerunner 970 is the flagship running watch for serious runners and multisport athletes who want Garmin's most complete training ecosystem. The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro targets competitive and recreational runners who want premium materials at a lower price point. The Garmin wins on ecosystem depth and software maturity; the Amazfit competes on value and build quality, though critical spec data for the Cheetah 2 Pro remains unconfirmed.

Specs at a glance

GPS: Both use multi-band GNSS; Garmin's chipset is well-documented, Amazfit's chipset is undisclosed
Battery (GPS mode): Forerunner 970 supports multi-day GPS use per independent testing; Cheetah 2 Pro battery life not confirmed in available sources
Heart rate sensor: Both use wrist optical PPG (light-based blood volume measurement), not electrical ECG
SpO2: Both include optical blood oxygen saturation monitoring
Skin temperature: Confirmed on Forerunner 970; not confirmed on Cheetah 2 Pro
Altimeter: Barometric on both
Build: Cheetah 2 Pro uses titanium case and sapphire crystal; Forerunner 970 materials not specified in available review data
Price tier: Forerunner 970 at approximately £599.90; Cheetah 2 Pro positioned below Garmin Forerunner 965 pricing

GPS and tracking accuracy

The Forerunner 970's GPS performance is documented but not flattering. A 2026 controlled track test comparing it against the Apple Watch Ultra 3, Amazfit Balance 2, and Huawei Runner 2 found the Forerunner 970 did not win. Being beaten on GPS accuracy at this price is a real weakness for a watch that charges a premium partly on the strength of its positioning precision.

For the Cheetah 2 Pro, the primary review sits behind a paywall, so concrete GPS deviation figures are not available for citation. The reviewer used Garmin, Polar, and Stryd as reference devices, which is an appropriate comparison set, but without the actual numbers, no honest accuracy claim can be made here. The Cheetah 2 Pro's GPS performance is unverified for this comparison.

Battery life

The Forerunner 970 supports multi-day operation in GPS mode based on independent testing, and firmware 16.28 added battery manager insights. For context, the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra at a similar price projects 55 hours in GPS mode. The Cheetah 2 Pro's battery life is not confirmed in available sources, which is a significant information gap for a watch at this price tier. If battery endurance matters to you, the Forerunner 970 has documented multi-day capability; the Cheetah 2 Pro does not yet have comparable published data.

For athletes: who wins?

Running (road): Forerunner 970 wins on ecosystem, structured training tools, and documented HRV trend tracking, despite the GPS accuracy result being underwhelming.
Trail running: Forerunner 970 wins. Barometric altimeter is confirmed on both, but Garmin's trail navigation, mapping, and firmware maturity are far better documented.
Triathlon and multisport: Forerunner 970 wins clearly. The Cheetah 2 Pro was swim-tested but multisport mode depth is unconfirmed. Garmin's multisport tools are the benchmark in this category.
Recovery tracking: Forerunner 970 wins. Skin temperature sensor confirmed, HRV monitoring confirmed, and the broader Garmin Connect health platform is mature. Cheetah 2 Pro's recovery feature set is not fully documented.

Verdict

The Forerunner 970 is the safer, more complete buy for serious runners and triathletes in 2026, even with its disappointing GPS track test result. Its training tools, multisport support, and software ecosystem are well-documented and battle-tested. The Cheetah 2 Pro has genuine appeal in its titanium build and sapphire glass, and Amazfit's value proposition is real, but too many key specs remain unconfirmed to recommend it confidently at this price tier. Buy the Forerunner 970 if you want a proven training tool with full ecosystem support. Consider the Cheetah 2 Pro only once full independent review data, including GPS accuracy figures and battery life, is publicly available.