The Forerunner 570, a high-end sports watch from Garmin, doesn’t pack an equally impressive value proposition as it does with its features. The watch’s eye-catching aesthetic appeal and upgraded heart rate monitor give it a competitive edge, yet some cost-effective alternatives offer more features. More so, its battery longevity falls short when compared with the older Forerunner 265 model, which now comes with a price tag slashed by $200.
Without a doubt, the Forerunner 570 stands as an efficient sports watch with precise tracking capabilities and an array of helpful training tools and smart functions. Its recent facelift, incorporating a brighter AMOLED screen and a broader color range, adds a touch of elegance, positioning it as one of the most visually pleasing Garmin watches I’ve examined. Nevertheless, its hefty price tag may deter many potential buyers.
Costing $100 more than its antecedent, the Forerunner 265, the Forerunner 570 raises quite a few eyebrows. When evaluated alongside competing brands such as the Suunto Race S and Coros Pace Pro, the price difference becomes even more noticeable. As critical features like offline maps and ECG measurements aren’t included—quite the opposite in cheaper sports watches—the Forerunner 570’s premium price largely relies on its stylish design.
On May 15, 2025, Garmin unveiled the Forerunner 570, priced at $549.99 / £459.99. Available in two sizes (42mm and 47mm) and three colors for each dimension, it is seen as the follow-up to the Forerunner 265. Garmin altered the initial digit in the model number signifying that the Forerunner 570 is an intermediate option amongst the Forerunner 165 and the latest Forerunner 970.
Comparing the debut prices, the Forerunner 570 is $100 costlier than the Forerunner 265 – which often retails for $349 at present. In terms of price, it faces stiff competition from other brands’ mid-range options. For instance, both the Coros Pace Pro and Suunto Race S are priced at $349, and the Polar Vantage M3 is available for just $399.
The Forerunner 570 comes with substantial design enhancements and includes classic black choices for both available sizes. The brighter color options aren’t the only upgrade, the watch also boasts a brighter AMOLED display as compared to its predecessor – the Forerunner 265. I found the new, increasing vividness of the display made for an improved reading experience – even under intense sunlight. The device also presents a Gorilla glass display that is larger than before, matching up to the biggest display sizes across Garmin’s sports watches.
Despite its size, the Forerunner 570 remains a lightweight and comfortable watch to wear all day. The device includes two different sizes to suit different wrist dimensions; the 47mm might be too large for some, making the 42mm a preferable choice for those with petite wrists.
The Forerunner 570 integrates the brand-new Elevate Gen5 heart rate sensors from Garmin. These sensors, which offer improved accuracy over the earlier Gen4 models seen on the Forerunner 265, are expectedly brilliant. Interestingly, while these Gen5 sensors are employed in other Garmin watches for ECG measurements, the Forerunner 570 lacks this functionality. Other noteworthy features include a barometric altimeter, a pulse oximeter, and dual-band GPS tracking. The watch also supports Bluetooth and ANT+ enabled sensors.
Designed with swim-friendly 5ATM protection, the Forerunner 570 notably lacks offline maps – a significant missing part given the 8GB storage space primarily expected to be used for this. Bearing a comparison with the Forerunner 265, the successor introduced 23 additional sports modes such as obstacle racing, gravel biking, hunting, and more.
The Forerunner 570 adds another feature – Garmin Coach’s Triathlon training plans – providing comprehensive training support for multisport events. Previously, one could only devise workouts for individual sports disciplines like running or cycling. Now, the watch lets users create custom multisport workout routines. Such modes and the subsequent training analytics assist users in optimizing their workout performance.
Designed for round-the-clock use, the Forerunner 570 keeps tabs on various parameters such as stress, steps, calories, active minutes, and floors climbed throughout the day. It also monitors sleep and heart rate variability (HRV) at night. The complementary move alerts function reminds you to move periodically if you stay stationary for extended periods.
The Forerunner 570, however, is hampered by mediocre battery life; it requires a charge every three to four days when used with an always-on display. This frequency increases with outdoor runs, workouts, and notifications. In comparison, the Forerunner 265 grants four to five days of usage with an always-on display. Notably, the battery life can be extended to a week with the raise-to-wake function and by disabling the always-on display.
At the outset, the Forerunner 570 justifies its smartwatch-like appearance with an array of beneficial features like NFC payments, MP3 music storage, and streaming service connectivity for an offline playlist experience. It also provides accessibility for voice notes and compatibility with phone’s voice assistant. To extend its capabilities, the watch connects with the Garmin ConnectIQ app store, offering various useful apps, data fields, and text enlarging features. Despite these features, unless the design completely satisfies you, the Forerunner 570 does not seem to warrant its hefty price despite its commendable performance considering better-valued options available. As such, its price remains its most significant limitation.