Garmin Forerunner 570 – all you need to know (and comparisons to Forerunner 265)
Garmin does its best to confuse its potential customers with numerous potentially suitable watch models and naming conventions that differ across the company. Today’s launch of the Forerunner 570 builds on that prickly approach to customers, whilst adding a comprehensively featured sports tool to its burgeoning running and triathlon range.
The Forerunner 570 is a smarter and slightly more premium update to the old, mid-range Forerunner 265. A new microphone and audio speaker add the ability to make and take connected calls and use voice commands to control the Forerunner. The 570’s display is bigger, which naturally means a slightly bigger case size – but there’s also a smaller case size option. Battery life is similar to before, and oddly only improved when listening to music and using high-resolution SatIQ positioning.
Forerunner Overview
Putting aside Garmin’s competitors, here is how I would attempt to place the Forerunner 570 in the Forerunner Range
FR265 – Lower quality Materials – Advanced Running Features – Core (Garmin) Triathlon Features – Legacy Garmin Smart Features
FR570 – Medium quality Materials – Advanced+ Running Featrures – Core+ (Garmin) Triathlon Features – Advanced Garmin Smart Features
FR970 – Good quality Materials – Elite Running Features – Max Garmin Triathlon Features – Advanced Garmin Smart Features
It’s perhaps best to see FR570 as a pared-back 970 rather than an upgraded FR265. It’s kinda both, at the moment.
Physical Characteristics and Display
Bigger display area and slightly better materials on the new FR570 represent a compelling improvement in my mind.
The Forerunner 265 has a fibre-reinforced polymer bezel, while the Forerunner 570 has it upgraded to a strong and lightweight aluminium bezel.
The Forerunner 570 has a notably larger display size of 1.4″ (35.3 mm) diameter – up from 1.3″ (32.5 mm). The proportionately larger display size is good for a 1.4″ case, leading to smaller bezels that everyone loves. A ‘proper’ sports watch needs a bezel to protect the lens from knocks, so one should never have an edge-to-edge lens.
Of lesser interest
The FR265 model compared has a physical size of 46.1 x 46.1 x 12.9 mm. The Forerunner 570 model is fractionally larger at 47 x 47 x 12.9 mm.
The FR265 weighs 47 g, whereas the Forerunner 570 weighs 50 g.
Following the increased display area, the display resolution is 416 x 416 pixels for the FR265 and 454 x 454 pixels for the Forerunner 570.
The Elevate Gen 5 sensor is added, but its ECG is disabled
Audio features add a speaker and microphone.
The menu interface is improved in line with Fenix 8 and Forerunner 970, and includes large font options.
Communication and Interaction Features
These are important additions from Garmin’s perspective and potentially mark the start of a new tranche of smart features.
The Forerunner 570 adds a built-in speaker/microphone, allowing it to make calls and send texts via voice with a paired compatible smartphone. It also supports BLUETOOTH phone calling, voice assistant support and Voice command.
Focus modes are added to manage interruptions
Battery Life Differences
Battery performance at high levels of precision or when playing music has improved, surprisingly, other modes see a fall in battery performance compared to the FR265.
In smartwatch mode, the Forerunner 570 offers up to 11 days (was 13 days)
In GPS-Only mode, it’s 18 hours for the Forerunner 570 (was 20 days)
The Forerunner 570 lasts up to 9 hours when using GPS-only with music (was 7 hours)
In SatIQ GNSS mode with music, the Forerunner 570 offers up to 8 hours (was 6.5)
In All-Systems GNSS mode + Multi-Band with music, the Forerunner 570 provides up to 8 hours (was 6 hours)
There’s also a customisable low-battery alert.
Health & Wellness Monitoring Features
The Forerunner 570 includes an Evening report feature, and
A new sensor to track Skin temperature (helps with sleep accuracy and female health metrics)
Past ovulation estimates are now included
Multisport Training, Planning, and Analysis Features
Forerunner 570 bags support for new multisport features
Garmin Triathlon Coach lets multisport race dates be added to the calendar, and, hopefully, improved bike/run advice and workouts are included too.
Multisport workouts can now be custom-created in Connect and executed on the watch.
Activity Profiles
Everyone loves a good but obscure sports profile. FR570 gets lots more. Of specific interest to readers of this site would be the increased number of multisport profiles, which now come as standard rather than needing to be manually crafted.
Triathlon – Duathlon, Brick, Pool Triathlon, and Swimrun
Obstacle Racing (but no Hyrox)
Mountaineering, Indoor Climbing, Hunting, Horseback Riding, Golfing, and Disc Golf
Road Biking, Gravel Biking, Bike Commuting, Bike Touring, Cyclocross, and BMX
Kayaking, Fishing, and Boating
XC Skate Skiing, Ice Skating, and Snowshoeing
Wellness: Mobility profile
Other Specific Features
The Forerunner 570 includes a comprehensive set of Golfing Features, such as yardage tracking (to F/M/B, layups/doglegs, automatic shot distance), digital scorecard, stat tracking, Garmin AutoShot, Auto CourseView updates, Green View with manual pin position, hazards and course targets, PinPointer, handicap scoring, round timer/odometer, CT10 compatibility (with accessory), compatibility with Garmin Golf app, and being tournament legal.
The Forerunner 570 lists Projected waypoint, which is not listed for the Forerunner 265.
Auto Lap by Timing Gates automatically adds laps at the correct position when following a route.
A Suggested Finish Line feature adds a trimming capability to the completed workout file when following a course.
Heat & Altitude Acclimation was also added, which was previously absent.
Load Ratio was also added.
The Race Time predictor was updated.
Take out
Range Confusion – No Maps – Great Running Watch
By adding the Forerunner 570 to the Forerunner range, Garmin gives us a lot to digest going forward. It could signal a shift up of all Forerunners away from the competitive, budget end of the market or, perhaps more likely, Garmin plans two triathlon and two lower-priced running watches in the lineup. There is still scope for the old FR165/FR265 to be replaced this year by FR170/FR270, and I suspect Garmin will later complicate the range even more by introducing FRxx5 models as ‘Pro’ models with the Pro features, at least including 4G LTE/5G RedCap. [170, 270, 570, 575, 970, 975…yikes]
Whatever happens in the future, today’s RRP/MSRP of $549 adds $100. That rise accounts for inflation plus improved hardware, but it puts a mapless running watch over the psychological $500 price level. The price makes sense in the Garmin lineup, less so within the context of the competitive landscape.
I can’t help but think that this watch is designed for someone like me, outside of the self-imposed constraints of this blog. I want a core triathlon watch, and the Forerunner 570 does the job. I mostly use maps on my bike computer, but occasionally they are helpful when running. I want maps included, and their omission would not get me to upgrade to the 970. That seems to be a mistake that simply adds annoyanceas a feature.
Similarly, I want smart features to drag me away from my Apple Watch, and Garmin doesn’t offer enough to tempt me, but it is on the right track with the new audio capabilities. These and other feubles force me to consider Apple, despite its issues supporting sports and triathlon in particular. Like me, I’m sure there are many others out there who Garmin annoys rather than serves.
I agree that leaving the maps feature out when the hardware is completely capable is a mistake in 2025. I know people with the 245 music that are due for an upgrade but also tempted by Apple Watch. I don’t think these are 970 customers.
Leaving out maps makes the choice more difficult even if they aren’t likely to actually use them and Apple’s implementation is dubious. Also the oHR sensor is capable of ECG but it is just disabled? These both seem like petty management decisions to segment the project range not cost of implementation decisions by a project team. Management bean counters appear worried about the 570 cannibalizing sales of the 970.
You would think also that Garmin needs to be competitive against the Suunto Run and Coros Pace Pro but I do wonder. Garmin is segmenting watches in the forerunner and fenix family as if management believe their primary competitor is other Garmin SKUs.
I think that is pretty spot on. They do not seem concerned about the competition at all.
Having said that I wonder if Reddit, Youtube and the internet in general have built up this facade for them. Almost every single Suunto or Coros review online cannot get the word Garmin out of their mouths fast enough. Everything at this time is compared to a Garmin. Take that a step further and a multitude of reviewers (with exception of Trail Runners who seem to be anti-status quo on this point) always say they would prefer the Garmin.
Go to reddit and there are thousands and thousands of posts of people asking if they should buy a Garmin or a _____? That or a Garmin user that has bought a Suunto or a Coros and is upset that there is no Morning Report or it doesn’t tell them what to do with First Sense pseudo metrics. Take out the word Barbie and enter Garmin into the Aqua Barbie Girl song, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyhrYis509A
I understand that there are major differences and needs in the athletic community, especially if you do Triathlons. But for average joes and janes, I don’t know how long it will take for the Garmination of the internet to wear off and sales between brands start to show as much.
often the ecg bit is physically added to the sensor component (I believe that’s the case in whoop for example). could be the same here or simply a software thing. i might have a hack if i get bored to try to find out. dcr mentioend something about a wire to the metal on the outside of the watch…could be that too i suppose
i dont think they are so bothered about cannibalisation but take your point. i would have thought its more that there is an offerign at each of the price tiers they deem to exist and then they provide any point ofdifference between two models to try to justify it
yes i would think garmin’s primary competitor is themselves. maybe also apple. maybe suunto and coros at the lower end of the middle price tiers – but they are easily handled by a tasty discount to the relavent competing garmin
I think that is part of the secret sauce. The discounts on older models really help them capture additional sales that might have trickled down to a Coros or a Suunto. Arguably a 2 year old 965 competes quite well with a Suunto Race or a decrepit Apex 2 Pro. The comparisons are endless.
yes. garmin would probably stil win there with total number of features.
the downside, which a new buyer ownt think of, is the lack of updates going forward. probably rid of most bugs by then tho!
Do you think we should expect 970 with LTE support, as they added a mic and speaker?
yes.
maybe not this year for forerunner tho
this has my summary views on the future for garmin (i just updated today quite a bit): https://the5krunner.com/2025/01/21/new-garmin-gps-watch-sports-2025/
I agree that leaving the maps feature out when the hardware is completely capable is a mistake in 2025. I know people with the 245 music that are due for an upgrade but also tempted by Apple Watch. I don’t think these are 970 customers.
Leaving out maps makes the choice more difficult even if they aren’t likely to actually use them and Apple’s implementation is dubious. Also the oHR sensor is capable of ECG but it is just disabled? These both seem like petty management decisions to segment the project range not cost of implementation decisions by a project team. Management bean counters appear worried about the 570 cannibalizing sales of the 970.
You would think also that Garmin needs to be competitive against the Suunto Run and Coros Pace Pro but I do wonder. Garmin is segmenting watches in the forerunner and fenix family as if management believe their primary competitor is other Garmin SKUs.
I think that is pretty spot on. They do not seem concerned about the competition at all.
Having said that I wonder if Reddit, Youtube and the internet in general have built up this facade for them. Almost every single Suunto or Coros review online cannot get the word Garmin out of their mouths fast enough. Everything at this time is compared to a Garmin. Take that a step further and a multitude of reviewers (with exception of Trail Runners who seem to be anti-status quo on this point) always say they would prefer the Garmin.
Go to reddit and there are thousands and thousands of posts of people asking if they should buy a Garmin or a _____? That or a Garmin user that has bought a Suunto or a Coros and is upset that there is no Morning Report or it doesn’t tell them what to do with First Sense pseudo metrics. Take out the word Barbie and enter Garmin into the Aqua Barbie Girl song, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyhrYis509A
I understand that there are major differences and needs in the athletic community, especially if you do Triathlons. But for average joes and janes, I don’t know how long it will take for the Garmination of the internet to wear off and sales between brands start to show as much.
often the ecg bit is physically added to the sensor component (I believe that’s the case in whoop for example). could be the same here or simply a software thing. i might have a hack if i get bored to try to find out. dcr mentioend something about a wire to the metal on the outside of the watch…could be that too i suppose
i dont think they are so bothered about cannibalisation but take your point. i would have thought its more that there is an offerign at each of the price tiers they deem to exist and then they provide any point ofdifference between two models to try to justify it
yes i would think garmin’s primary competitor is themselves. maybe also apple. maybe suunto and coros at the lower end of the middle price tiers – but they are easily handled by a tasty discount to the relavent competing garmin
I think that is part of the secret sauce. The discounts on older models really help them capture additional sales that might have trickled down to a Coros or a Suunto. Arguably a 2 year old 965 competes quite well with a Suunto Race or a decrepit Apex 2 Pro. The comparisons are endless.
yes. garmin would probably stil win there with total number of features.
the downside, which a new buyer ownt think of, is the lack of updates going forward. probably rid of most bugs by then tho!