Forerunner 570 Garmin's mid-range runner gains a voice

What is new about the Forerunner 570?

The Forerunner 570 replaces the Forerunner 265 as the middle of Garmin's running range. Garmin announced it on 15 May 2025 alongside the pricier Forerunner 970, and Notebookcheck described it as a 265 successor in all but name. It comes in two sizes, 42 mm and 47 mm. This first look covers the 47 mm version in slate grey aluminium with a translucent black and black band, Garmin part number 010-02971-00.

Most of the changes are hardware. The AMOLED screen is brighter than before, the bezel is now aluminium, and there is a built-in speaker and microphone, so you can take calls and use voice commands through a paired phone. T3 notes the newer Elevate heart rate sensor, and Garmin lists a skin temperature reading, a larger font option, an evening report to sit beside the morning report, and offline music storage of 8 GB. T3 summed it up as "a refinement, not a reinvention", and that is fair. Very little of the software is exclusive to this watch.

How big is it, and how will it wear?

Garmin lists the 47 mm model at 47 x 47 x 12.9 mm and 50 g with the strap. The screen is 1.4 inches across (35.3 mm) at 454 x 454 pixels, and Garmin says it fits wrists from 135 to 205 mm around. That is a big, flat disc rather than a slim watch, but 50 g is light for the size, and the aluminium bezel keeps the weight down compared with steel or titanium.

The band is silicone with Garmin's 22 mm quick release fitting, which accepts any standard 22 mm strap. If you have a small wrist, or want something less obvious for everyday wear, the 42 mm version is the one to look at instead. It costs the same.

What does it track, and how long does the battery last?

This is a running watch first, with a full triathlon toolkit. Garmin lists multi-band GPS, running power, running dynamics, training readiness, training load, HRV status, race predictions and the Garmin Running Coach, Cycling Coach and Triathlon Coach plans. Multisport profiles cover triathlon, duathlon and brick sessions, and there are profiles for swimming, cycling, strength, racket sports and much more. Garmin Pay is included, so you can leave cards at home on a long run.

Garmin quotes up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 18 hours of GPS-only tracking. Using all satellite systems with multi-band drops that to 14 hours, and playing music at the same time takes it to about 8 hours. T3 points out that smartwatch battery life is two days shorter than the Forerunner 265, which it puts down to the brighter screen and the speaker and microphone. For most runners, 14 hours of the most accurate GPS mode is still enough for a marathon with plenty in hand, but ultra runners will want more.

How well is it built?

The lens is Corning Gorilla Glass 3, not sapphire, and the bezel is aluminium. Water resistance is 5 ATM, and Garmin includes pool and open water swim profiles. T3 reports that the buttons are not leakproof in the way the fenix 8's are, which matters little for pool and open water swims but is worth knowing if you are rough on kit. Charging is through Garmin's own plug rather than USB-C on the watch.

Is it good value against its rivals?

Garmin UK lists the Forerunner 570 at £429.99 in both sizes. T3 reported a suggested price of £460 at launch, so the RRP has already come down. The Forerunner 265 it replaces launched at £430, according to T3.

The obvious alternative is the Forerunner 970 at £629.99 on Garmin UK. For the extra £200 you get a titanium bezel, a sapphire lens, a built-in LED torch, full colour maps and extra running metrics such as running economy, as Tom's Guide sets out. If you navigate on trails, the 970 earns its price. If you run on roads you already know, the 570 does nearly all of the training work for less.

Going cheaper, the Coros PACE 4 has a £229 RRP on Coros UK. It is lighter and much cheaper, but it lacks Garmin's coaching plans, Garmin Pay and the larger app store. The Venu 4 at £439.99 is Garmin's lifestyle alternative at a similar price, with less depth for structured training.

What is the catch?

The main catch is that existing Forerunner 265 owners get little for their money. T3 asked whether the watch is needed at all, given how little software is new, and the battery is shorter. The other catch is music. Owners on Garmin's own forum report Bluetooth headphones dropping out after recent firmware updates, which is a real problem on a watch sold partly on offline music. Garmin has been pushing updates, but check the forum before you rely on it for runs with music.

“If you run on roads you already know, the 570 does nearly all of the 970's training work for £200 less.”

What do owners say?

Themes from public owner feedback, paraphrased. We never copy Amazon reviews or ratings.

• Some owners report Bluetooth headphones dropping out or going static after skipping tracks since recent firmware updates.

  Garmin Forums (opens in a new tab)

• Owners report music muting after a run is saved while the watch keeps draining battery on firmware 18.32.

  Garmin Forums (opens in a new tab)