Should I wait?

Now the bargain: replaced, still good

A successor is on sale, so these are the previous generation. Nothing about them got worse on the day the new one appeared; only the price should have. Each line says what the successor actually changed, so you can decide whether it is something you would use.

• Forerunner 55Garmin · June 2021

  Garmin Forerunner 70, May 2026 — ranked here

  AMOLED screen, the newer heart-rate sensor and the full training suite at the entry price; MIP leaves the Forerunner line.

• Apex 2 ProCoros · October 2022

  Coros Apex 4, October 2025 — ranked here

  Two sizes, much faster processor, longer battery and a new sensor; Coros skipped the “3”.

• Forerunner 265Garmin · March 2023

  Garmin Forerunner 570, May 2025 — ranked here

  Brighter screen, speaker and mic, a larger 47 mm option; battery slightly shorter.

• Forerunner 965Garmin · March 2023

  Garmin Forerunner 970, May 2025 — ranked here

  Sapphire lens, flashlight, ECG, speaker and mic; multiband battery slightly longer, GPS-only shorter.

• VerticalSuunto · May 2023

  Suunto Vertical 2, September 2025 — ranked here

  New sensors, an LED flashlight and offline navigation; same rugged, long-battery brief.

• Cheetah ProAmazfit · June 2023

  Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro, April 2026 — ranked here

  Titanium and sapphire, a 1.32-inch AMOLED and a marathon-training focus, at a higher price.

• Pace 3Coros · August 2023

  Coros Pace 4, November 2025 — ranked here

  AMOLED screen and a faster chip at the same price tier; the Pace 3 stays on sale as the cheaper MIP option.

• RaceSuunto · October 2023

  Suunto Race 2, September 2025 — ranked here

  Thinner titanium case, new sensor, longer battery and offline maps; the original Race drops in price.

• Forerunner 165Garmin · February 2024

  Garmin Forerunner 170, May 2026 — ranked here

  Training Readiness, HRV Status and load on the mid-price model; still no multiband GPS.

• Galaxy Watch UltraSamsung · July 2024

  Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, July 2026 — ranked here

  Announced at Unpacked on 22 July 2026; the original Ultra had a minor refresh in July 2025 and is now the previous generation.

• Fenix 8 AMOLED 47 mmGarmin · August 2024

  Garmin Fenix 9, August 2026 — ranked here

  New generation announced 25 August 2026: titanium options, more storage and new software; the Fenix 8 becomes the discounted one.

• Fenix 8 Solar 47 mmGarmin · August 2024

  Garmin Fenix 9 Pro, August 2026 — ranked here

  Announced alongside the Fenix 9 on 25 August 2026 as the line’s upper tier; the Fenix 8 Solar is now the previous generation.

• RunSuunto · May 2025

  Suunto Run 2, September 2026 — ranked here

  Maps, a lighter 35 g case and a larger storage option, announced 8 September 2026; sixteen months after the first.

• Watch Ultra 3Apple · September 2025

  Apple Watch Ultra 4, September 2026 — ranked here

  Announced 9 September 2026: new S11 chip, a much bigger battery and longer workout tracking in the same 49 mm case.

• Watch Series 11Apple · September 2025

  Apple Watch Series 12, September 2026 — ranked here

  Announced 9 September 2026: the first real chip upgrade in three generations, faster charging and longer workout battery.

Due a refresh: worth waiting on

Past the line’s usual gap, or with a teaser or a credible leak behind it. If you can wait a season, these are the ones to wait on — and if you cannot, expect a price drop soon after you buy.

• Pacer ProPolar · April 2022 · 4 y 5 mo

  Expected unannounced

  Nothing announced. At four and a half years it is the oldest watch in the catalogue by a year; Polar’s 2026 launches went to the Vantage V4 and a lifestyle watch instead.

• Grit X2 ProPolar · March 2024 · 2 y 6 mo

  At 30 months it is past this line’s usual 29-month refresh. Nothing is announced, but a replacement would not be a surprise.

• Vertix 2SCoros · April 2024 · 2 y 5 mo

  Expected unannounced

  Coros teased a new Vertix in April 2026; no name or date has been announced. The Vertix 2 to 2S gap was 33 months.

• Race SSuunto · June 2024 · 2 y 3 mo

  Expected unannounced

  The Race 2 arrived in September 2025 without a smaller S; a Race S2 has been asked for but not announced. A Race 3 series has leaked.

• Enduro 3Garmin · August 2024 · 2 y 1 mo

  Expected late 2026

  An Enduro 4 has appeared in Garmin’s app code and was leaked in June 2026, but was not at the Fenix 9 launch. The Enduro 2 and 3 both arrived in August, two years apart.

• T-Rex 3Amazfit · September 2024 · 2 y

  Expected 2026

  Amazfit says more T-Rex models are coming in 2026; the T-Rex Ultra 2 (February 2026) sits above this one rather than replacing it.

• Forerunner 570Garmin · May 2025 · 1 y 4 mo

  Expected 2027

  A Pro or LTE variant is rumoured for the 5x0 line; nothing announced. The line itself is not due until 2027 on its two-year pattern.

• Forerunner 970Garmin · May 2025 · 1 y 4 mo

  Expected 2027

  A Forerunner 975 (Pro / LTE) has been rumoured as a variant, not a replacement. The line is not due until 2027 on its pattern.

Later in its life: fine to buy, a successor within a year

• Pace ProCoros · October 2024 · 1 y 11 mo

  At 23 months it is in the second half of a typical 27-month generation. Fine to buy; expect a successor within a year, and a price drop when it comes.

Safe to buy now

Inside the normal life of a generation, with nothing announced or credibly leaked.

• Vantage M3Polar · October 2024 · 1 y 11 mo

  Launched 23 months ago on a line that usually runs about 42 months. Safe to buy now.

• Instinct 3 AMOLED 45 mmGarmin · January 2025 · 1 y 8 mo

  Launched 20 months ago on a line that usually runs about 35 months. Safe to buy now.

• Instinct 3 Solar 50 mmGarmin · January 2025 · 1 y 8 mo

  Launched 20 months ago on a line that usually runs about 35 months. Safe to buy now.

• Race 2Suunto · September 2025 · 1 y

  Launched 12 months ago on a line that usually runs about 23 months. Safe to buy now.

• Vertical 2Suunto · September 2025 · 1 y

  Launched 12 months ago on a line that usually runs about 28 months. Safe to buy now.

• Apex 4 46 mmCoros · October 2025 · 11 mo

  Launched 11 months ago on a line that usually runs about 36 months. Safe to buy now.

• Pace 4Coros · November 2025 · 10 mo

  Launched 10 months ago on a line that usually runs about 27 months. Safe to buy now.

• Cheetah 2 ProAmazfit · April 2026 · 5 mo

  Launched 5 months ago. This is as new as it gets; nothing to wait for.

• Forerunner 70Garmin · May 2026 · 4 mo

  Launched 4 months ago. This is as new as it gets; nothing to wait for.

• Forerunner 170Garmin · May 2026 · 4 mo

  Launched 4 months ago. This is as new as it gets; nothing to wait for.

• Galaxy Watch Ultra 2Samsung · July 2026 · 2 mo

  Launched 2 months ago. This is as new as it gets; nothing to wait for.

• Fenix 9 47 mmGarmin · August 2026 · 1 mo

  Launched 1 month ago. This is as new as it gets; nothing to wait for.

• Fenix 9 Pro Solar 47 mmGarmin · August 2026 · 1 mo

  Launched 1 month ago. This is as new as it gets; nothing to wait for.

• Run 2Suunto · September 2026 · 0 mo

  Launched 0 months ago. This is as new as it gets; nothing to wait for.

• Watch Ultra 4Apple · September 2026 · 0 mo

  Launched 0 months ago. This is as new as it gets; nothing to wait for.

• Watch Series 12Apple · September 2026 · 0 mo

  Launched 0 months ago. This is as new as it gets; nothing to wait for.

Every watch, oldest first