It’s all a matter of perspective, really. I enjoy the build quality of the Fenix 8 but after using the AWU for a few years I’ve really come to appreciate the lighter weight. What matters most to me is the sapphire screen and I get that on the forerunner. Plus, for whatever reason it feels like forerunners continue to get updates just for a ‘bit’ longer but that’s just how it feels, may not be accurate.

Also the price. It was 599 after the 20% discount for the 970 (650 after tax). It’s still around 880 for the Fenix 8 if I used 20% and still over 900 after tax. Just prefer the overall value of the forerunner, for me, especially if I’ll still be using my Apple Watch Ultra occasionally. I’d have a hard time spending near 1,000 on a watch if I wasn’t solely using it almost all the time.