Garmin Forerunner 570 – Sports Watch with Extensive Features but No Maps
The Forerunner series has always primarily targeted runners and endurance athletes. Thanks to the broad (and sometimes confusing) portfolio, both beginners, ambitious athletes, and professionals can find a suitable model, which mainly differs in terms of the number of functions and metrics. Despite the focus on running, the sports watches offer excellent support for many different types of sports.
Garmin Forerunner 570 | Source: Garmin
Garmin Forerunner 570 in Comparison
With the Forerunner 570, Garmin is creating a new line that will host models between the 2xx and 9xx series in the future. With that in mind, it’s worth comparing the key data of this new sports watch, which is offered in a small 42 mm model and a larger 47 mm version.
| Forerunner 265 | Forerunner 570 - 42 mm | Forerunner 570 - 47 mm | Forerunner 965 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Display size | 1.30" | 1.20" | 1.40" | 1.40" |
| Resolution | PPI | 416 × 416 | 320 | 390 × 390 | 325 | 454 × 454 | 324 | 454 × 454 | 324 |
| Dimensions | 46.1 × 46.1 × 12.9 mm | 42.4 × 42.4 × 12.9 mm | 47.0 × 47.0 × 12.9 mm | 47.1 × 47.1 × 13.2 mm |
| Weight | 47 g with strap | 50 g with strap | 50 g with strap | 53 g with strap |
| Material (case) | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Titan |
| Material (bezel) | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Aluminum | Aluminum | Fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Battery life - Smartwatch | 13 days | 10 days | 11 days | 23 days |
| Battery life - GPS | 20 hours | 18 hours | 18 hours | 31 hours |
| Battery life - GPS (Multi Band) | n/a | 13 hours | 14 hours | 19 hours |
Visually, the new model closely resembles the Forerunner 265, although the bezel of the Forerunner 570 is now made of aluminum. Additionally, Garmin has returned to a round button at the top right in favor of an oval one. Apart from that, Garmin sticks to the classic 5-button design used in its sports watches.
Moreover, the smaller Forerunner 570 with its 1.2″ display seems more aligned with the Forerunner 265, while the model with the larger 1.4″ display resembles the Forerunner 965. The differences in weight and dimensions are minimal.
More noticeable are the differences in battery life compared to the adjacent models. In some cases, the values are slightly lower than those of the older Forerunner 265 and always significantly below the battery life of the Forerunner 965.
In terms of storage, the Forerunner 570 offers 8 GB, matching the Forerunner 265. The larger 32 GB of storage for maps, apps, and music remains reserved for the Forerunner 965 and Forerunner 970.
New and Noteworthy
Functionally, the Forerunner 570 draws heavily from the feature set of the Forerunner 965. That’s not surprising, as major new features are typically reserved for premium models at first. Among the entirely new features are:
- Skin temperature
- Evening report
- Voice control
- Bluetooth calling (speaker + microphone)
- Garmin Triathlon Coach
- Automatic timeline
- Multisport workouts
In addition to the new features, the Forerunner 570 generously borrows from the feature set of existing products. In addition to numerous metrics for training readiness and load, training data and plans, and running metrics, it also offers a large range of health and vital data. Small improvements to the interface and everyday functions round things off.
In the end, however, it is primarily the sports-related functions that define the Forerunner 570. Overall, the gap to the Forerunner 965 is significantly smaller, yet Garmin still keeps the Forerunner 570 at a distance:
- Elevate V5 sensor without ECG capability
One puzzling aspect is the use of a new variant of the Elevate V5 sensor that omits the metal contact surfaces – and thus the ability to take ECGs. Given the number of products that already offer ECG functionality for considerably less money, the absence of this feature in the Forerunner 570 is surprising. This is especially noticeable when compared to the Venu 3 – a Garmin product that already offers this feature at a street price of around $370.
- Missing offline maps
In addition to the lack of ECG functionality, the missing support for offline maps raises questions – especially since the competition shows that this feature is now standard in the Forerunner 570’s price and device class. This impression is reinforced when looking at products from Amazfit, which already offer offline maps on a watch for under €100. Admittedly, not in the same quality as Garmin, but at a fraction of the price.
In my opinion, this decision is hard to comprehend – especially considering that the Forerunner 570 is explicitly aimed at trail running and hiking enthusiasts.
Prices and Availability
Garmin officially introduced the Forerunner 570 on May 15. It will be available from May 21 in the following versions:
- Black, 42 mm
- White, 42 mm
- Mango, 42 mm
- Black, 47 mm
- White, 47 mm
- Violet, 47 mm
In addition to the standard black and white versions, the Mango and Violet models stand out with colorful, translucent straps and high-contrast bezels. Given the extensive range of features, the price of $549 is not surprising. However, when comparing the significantly better battery life, the additional metrics, larger storage, and support for offline maps, choosing between the Forerunner 570 and the Forerunner 965 is difficult – especially since the latter is already available for around $510 in stores.
I am the creative mastermind behind this page, with a passion for both sports and technology. By combining these interests, I write about wearables and gadgets that can enhance your sports experience. As a regular consumer, I offer insights from the perspective of a genuine user.
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