Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 965 - Key Differences Explained

If you're searching for a clear comparison between Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 965, you're not alone. These two watches cater to different types of runners but now compete directly in price - making the decision more complex than ever. The Garmin Forerunner 570, released in June 2025, is the brand’s newest mid-range GPS running watch. It features a 1.3-inch AMOLED display, multi-band GNSS, training readin5ess, and real-time recovery metrics. With a lighter design and up to 30 hours of GPS battery life, it's perfect for everyday wear and especially popular among female athletes.

On the other hand, the Garmin Forerunner 965, launched in March 2023, has long been considered the AMOLED flagship. It offers a larger 1.4-inch high-resolution screen, offline color maps, onboard music storage, running power support, and full training load analysis - ideal for advanced runners, triathletes, and outdoor athletes. In the battle of Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 965, one offers the latest tech and sleek design, while the other delivers maximum performance and deep data. This article dives into their differences in design, features, battery life, and training tools - helping you decide which one truly matches your goals.

Also check Garmin Forerunner Watch Bands including:

Garmin Forerunner 965 Watch bands

Garmin Forerunner 970 Watch Bands

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 965 - The Quick Verdict

Garmin Forerunner 570

Pros:

• Available in two sizes: 42mm and 47mm, suitable for different wrist sizes
• Features a 1.3-inch AMOLED display with sharp, vibrant visuals
• Equipped with Garmin’s latest Elevate Gen 5 optical heart rate sensor, including skin temperature tracking for improved accuracy
• Built-in speaker and microphone support phone calls and voice assistant functions
• Long battery life, comfortable for daily training and especially favored by female users
• Guaranteed ongoing software updates for the foreseeable future

Cons:

• No offline maps or navigation features
• Does not support ECG (electrocardiogram) functionality

Garmin Forerunner 965

Pros:

• Larger 1.4-inch high-resolution AMOLED display for better clarity
• Includes full offline topographic maps for outdoor navigation
• Supports ECG function for comprehensive health monitoring
• Longer battery life and greater music storage capacity
• Comprehensive training features ideal for serious runners, triathletes, and outdoor enthusiasts

Cons:

• Only available in 47mm size, less size flexibility
• No speaker or microphone; no phone call support
• Uses older Elevate Gen 4 heart rate sensor, lacking skin temperature tracking
• Heavier design, older release date, and limited future software updates

Summary

• If you prioritize a lightweight design, size options, the latest heart rate sensor, and on-wrist call features without needing maps, the Forerunner 570 is the better choice.
• If you need full offline maps, ECG monitoring, richer training data, and longer battery life, and don’t mind a heavier watch without call support, the Forerunner 965 remains the flagship option.

These two watches are among Garmin’s toughest choices yet, and your decision ultimately hinges on whether you value navigation capabilities or smart communication features more.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 965 - Design and Wearability

The Garmin Forerunner 570 and 965 each offer unique strengths in design and comfort. The Forerunner 570 comes in two sizes - 42mm and 47mm - making it ideal for users with smaller wrists or those who prefer a more compact watch face. In contrast, the 965 is available only in 47mm, better suited for those who favor a larger dial and have bigger wrists.

The 570 features a lightweight, durable aluminum bezel that’s comfortable for everyday wear and resistant to bumps and scratches. Meanwhile, the 965 uses a premium titanium bezel that feels more luxurious and robust but is more prone to minor scratches and requires careful handling. Both watches come with 22mm quick-release bands for easy swapping, with the 570 offering more vibrant color options geared towards younger or sportier users, while the 965 leans towards a professional and business aesthetic.

In terms of display, the 570 sports a 1.4-inch AMOLED screen that’s twice as bright as the 965’s, with a sharp 454×454 resolution that remains easy to read even under bright sunlight. The 965’s 1.2-inch AMOLED display, though smaller at 390×390 pixels, still delivers excellent visuals. Both watches use Gorilla Glass for screen protection, with the 965 employing the tougher Gorilla Glass DX, which is better suited for users prioritizing durability.

Weighing just 50 grams, the 570 is incredibly lightweight, making it comfortable enough for all-day wear, including while sleeping. The 965 is slightly heavier at 53 grams but still maintains a light and comfortable feel. Both models feature well-designed buttons for easy and intuitive operation during everyday use. Overall, the 570 is better suited for those seeking a lighter watch, multiple size options, and a brighter screen - perfect for everyday training and lifestyle use. The 965, meanwhile, is tailored for users who value premium materials, advanced training features, and outdoor navigation capabilities.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 570

Reason: With its variety of sizes, industry-leading bright display, and lightweight, comfortable design, the Forerunner 570 not only meets everyday workout needs but also excels in practicality and style, making it the best choice for most users.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 965 - Battery Life

When it comes to battery life, the Garmin Forerunner 965 clearly takes the lead. In smartwatch mode, it can last up to 23 days, and even with GPS activated, it delivers an impressive 31 hours. Switch to UltraTrac power-saving mode, and the runtime extends further to 34 hours - making it ideal for multi-day hikes, trail runs, and other endurance-focused activities.

In contrast, the Forerunner 570 performs reasonably well but falls noticeably short. It offers around 10–11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode (depending slightly on watch size), and 13–18 hours in GPS mode. If music playback is enabled, the battery life drops further to approximately 9 hours. Additionally, when using the always-on display, the 570's battery life decreases to 4–5 days, whereas the 965 still manages to maintain 7–10 days.

Overall, the Forerunner 965 is better suited for users with a clear need for extended battery life - especially outdoor adventurers, ultramarathoners, or anyone who prefers not to charge frequently.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965

Reason: With nearly double the battery life in smartwatch mode and superior endurance in GPS mode, the Forerunner 965 is undoubtedly the more reliable choice for endurance athletes.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 965 - Health Tracking

When it comes to health monitoring, both the Garmin Forerunner 570 and 965 cover essential metrics like heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen, and stress tracking. However, their strengths differ in the finer details.

Heart Rate Monitoring:

The Forerunner 570 features Garmin’s latest Elevate Gen 5 optical heart rate sensor, which offers faster and more accurate readings during high-intensity or rapidly changing heart rate scenarios - ideal for HIIT workouts, sprints, and dynamic training. The 965 uses the older Gen 4 sensor, which still performs well in general training but may slightly lag during intense fluctuations.

Sleep Tracking:

Both watches track deep and light sleep stages, respiratory rate, and HRV (heart rate variability), with accuracy comparable to dedicated sleep devices. However, the 570 adds nap detection and a unique Good Night Report, which appears about 90 minutes before bedtime, summarizing the day's activity, recovery status, and providing guidance for the next day’s training - making it easier to plan your rest scientifically.

Blood Oxygen & Health Features:

Both models offer 24/7 SpO tracking and stress monitoring. The 570 goes further by including nighttime skin temperature tracking and enhanced female health features such as menstrual cycle tracking and ovulation prediction - offering more comprehensive physiological insights for women.

Additional Health Metrics:

Both the 570 and 965 include key wellness tools like Body Battery™, Health Snapshot™, VO max, and floors climbed. The 965 stands out with advanced training metrics such as training load, chronic fatigue, and training load ratio - catering more to athletes with structured training needs.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 570

Reason: With its newer heart rate sensor, Good Night Report, and skin temperature monitoring, the 570 offers a more complete and thoughtful health-tracking experience for everyday users.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 965 - Mapping and Navigation

When it comes to navigation, the Garmin Forerunner 965 and Forerunner 570 differ significantly - so much so that it's immediately clear which one is built for serious outdoor adventures.

The Forerunner 965 comes equipped with full-color, offline topographic maps that display streets, trails, landmarks, and points of interest. It supports point-to-point routing and turn-by-turn directions, making it an excellent companion for trail running, hiking, and even skiing. With 32GB of storage, it can easily hold extensive map data along with offline music, allowing for phone-free exploration. Its vibrant AMOLED display ensures map details are crisp and easy to read, enhancing both usability and overall experience.

In contrast, the Forerunner 570 offers a much more basic navigation setup. It doesn’t support map displays, instead relying on breadcrumb-style navigation - essentially a simple line on a black screen to follow a preloaded route. While it allows route file imports and offers return-to-start guidance, the lack of real-time mapping and limited directional prompts (especially at forks or sharp turns) means users need to stay extra vigilant. With only 8GB of storage and no map support, its usefulness in rugged outdoor environments is quite limited.

In short, the 570's navigation serves more as a backup feature, whereas the 965 stands out as a full-fledged outdoor navigator. If you often train in unfamiliar areas or enjoy off-the-grid adventures, the difference in navigation experience will likely be a game-changer.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965

Reason: With full-color maps, turn-by-turn guidance, and generous storage, the 965 is the true on-wrist navigation expert for outdoor athletes.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 965 - Sports Features

The Forerunner 965 is clearly positioned as a professional training companion, ideal for serious runners and advanced athletes. It supports built-in map navigation, ClimbPro ascent analysis, PacePro pacing strategies, real-time stamina tracking, and endurance scoring. Even without additional accessories, it can record advanced running dynamics such as cadence, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation. For cyclists, it offers advanced power meter integration, and features like Training Load Ratio and Chronic Load enable structured and scientific training management.

By contrast, the Forerunner 570 places more emphasis on practicality and versatility. It introduces user-friendly tools like pre-race time prediction, auto lap gates, and estimated finish time, tailored to the needs of everyday runners. The 570 also features Garmin’s Triathlon Coach system, supporting multisport modes such as duathlon and swim-run combos - great for users engaging in diverse fitness routines. Additionally, it includes Garmin’s latest optical heart rate sensor and introduces skin temperature tracking and running capacity analysis, making it especially useful for users who prioritize body condition and health insights.

Both watches support Garmin Coach adaptive training plans, LiveTrack, incident detection, safety assistance, and external accessories like the HRM Pro and HRM600 chest straps - ensuring precise and detailed training feedback.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965

Reason: With more advanced data tracking, a robust training ecosystem, and built-in navigation, the 965 stands out as the top choice for serious athletes and performance-driven runners.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 965 - Smartwatch Features

The Garmin Forerunner 570 and 965 both offer core smart functionalities but differ in focus and positioning.

Forerunner 570 comes with a built-in microphone and speaker, enabling hands-free calls and voice assistant commands. Users can answer calls or issue voice commands directly from the watch, greatly enhancing everyday convenience. Additionally, the 570 supports localized payment options such as WeChat Pay, Alipay, and transit cards, catering well to Chinese users. It also features the latest Garmin software interface and a “Nightly Report” function that provides thoughtful daily health summaries.

Forerunner 965, while lacking a microphone and speaker and therefore no call or voice command support, delivers reliable smart notifications, Garmin Pay, and offline music playback. It boasts larger local music storage (32GB) and includes map navigation and calendar integration, making it ideal for users who demand advanced sports and navigation features.

Both watches support smart notifications, offline music playback (Spotify, Amazon Music, etc.), and Garmin Connect IQ app downloads for extended functionality. However, the 570 leans more toward a comprehensive smart lifestyle device, while the 965 focuses on professional sports performance.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 570

Reason: With built-in speaker and microphone for hands-free calls and voice assistant support, combined with localized payment options and richer smart lifestyle features, the Forerunner 570 is better suited for users seeking a well-rounded smart experience.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 965 - User Interface

The Garmin Forerunner 570 and 965 each have distinctive user interface designs. The 570 adopts a modern UI style similar to the Garmin Fenix 8, featuring a clean and bright layout with well-organized categories. Health data such as HRV, Body Battery, and sleep scores are centralized in the “Health” section for easy access. It combines a responsive touchscreen with five physical buttons, offering smooth and intuitive operation. New features like Focus Mode and large font options further enhance the user experience.

In contrast, the 965’s interface is more traditional, with a compact layout and clearly defined functional sections. While familiar and easier for longtime users, it may require some adaptation for new users. The 965 also supports both touchscreen and physical buttons, with clear navigation logic and rich features, making it ideal for advanced users.

Both watches support the Garmin Connect IQ platform, allowing users to download various apps, watch faces, and widgets. The 965 additionally offers advanced features like built-in map navigation, HRV monitoring, and ClimbPro hill climb analysis to meet the needs of serious athletes. 

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 570

Reason: Its more modern interface design and user-friendly operation make the 570 more convenient and comfortable for everyday use.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 965 - Price

After launching the brand-new Garmin Forerunner 970, Garmin reduced the price of its previous flagship, the Forerunner 965, to around $499 - significantly boosting its value for money. Meanwhile, the newly released Forerunner 570 hit the market in May 2025 with a retail price of $549.99, making it even more expensive than the discounted 965 - a curious pricing twist. Also read our article before including Garmin 970 vs 965 and Garmin Forerunner 970 vs. Garmin Forerunner 570.

Though the 570 is technically an upgrade to the Forerunner 265 and sits in the mid-range category, its actual price is now nearly equal to that of the 965. The 965 originally retailed for $599, but frequent promotions on major retail platforms have brought it down to as low as $499 - sometimes even cheaper than the 570. Both 570 sizes (42mm and 47mm) are priced at $549, yet they come with some trade-offs compared to the 965. You can also check the article of Garmin Forerunner 570 vs Forerunner 265.

In other words, if your budget is around $500, the 965 offers more advanced features at a lower price, making it the more attractive option for users who prioritize performance and functionality.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965

Reason: Lower price, more advanced specs - offering significantly better value than the newer 570. A prime example of an “older flagship turned unbeatable deal.”

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 965 - Summary & Recommendation

Within the Forerunner series, Garmin offers two distinct options that cater to different user needs. The Forerunner 965, as a previous-generation flagship, still demonstrates top-tier capabilities across several key areas. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 570 stands out with its modern design and smart features, appealing more to users who prioritize everyday convenience and lifestyle integration.

• If you value price and performance, the 965 often comes at a lower cost than the 570, yet still offers more complete fitness tracking, full-color navigation maps, and significantly longer battery life. It's a classic case of an “aging flagship growing stronger,” delivering excellent value for serious athletes.
• If you care about ease of use and daily practicality, the 570 brings a fresh UI design, lightweight build, Garmin Pay, and local voice assistant support - features that align more closely with what users expect from a modern smartwatch.
• For advanced training, the 965 remains a powerful tool with in-depth data tracking, training load metrics, built-in maps, and turn-by-turn navigation, making it the go-to choice for high-performance athletes.
• In terms of health tracking, the 570 introduces the latest Gen 5 heart rate sensor, skin temperature monitoring, and Good Night Report, offering a more rounded and insightful view of daily health - especially suitable for users who care about wellness.
• When it comes to battery life, the 965 clearly leads, offering nearly double the endurance of the 570, making it a better fit for long outdoor adventures.

Final Recommendation:

• Go with the Forerunner 965 if you need robust navigation, advanced training tools, longer battery life, and great value - perfect for serious runners and outdoor enthusiasts.
• Choose the Forerunner 570 if you prefer lightweight comfort, a modern interface, comprehensive health insights, and smart lifestyle features for everyday use.