Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 970 vs fenix 8 - Which Garmin Watch Wins?

When it comes to choosing a professional sports smartwatch, Garmin, as one of the top 10 best sports watch companies in the world, remains the top choice for runners and outdoor enthusiasts alike. In the mid-to-high-end market, the Forerunner 570, Forerunner 970, and Fenix 8 are three of the most frequently compared models. Each targets a different user group- mid-range runners, advanced triathletes, and all-around outdoor adventurers- offering unique features, overlapping functions, and a wide price gap. With similar designs but different strengths, many users struggle to decide which one is the best fit.

So, what are the key differences between the Garmin Forerunner 570 and 970, and is the Fenix 8 really worth the premium price? This article provides an in-depth comparison across core aspects like design, battery life, sports tracking, health monitoring, and navigation features. Whether you're a runner, triathlete, or outdoor explorer, this guide will help you make an informed decision and choose the watch that truly suits your lifestyle. You can check our articles of Garmin Forerunner 970 vs. Garmin Forerunner 570, Garmin Forerunner 570 vs Forerunner 265, Garmin Forerunner 970 vs Fenix 8 and Garmin 970 vs 965 to know more information.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 970 vs Fenix 8 - Design

Similarities

• All three models use high-quality bezel and glass materials to ensure durability and protection.
• Each offers multiple size options to fit different wrist sizes.
• All feature AMOLED displays for bright and clear visuals.
• The watch bands are interchangeable, allowing for personalized styling.

Differences

• Materials: The Forerunner 570 features an aluminum bezel and Gorilla Glass for a lightweight but slightly less durable build; the Forerunner 970 upgrades to a titanium bezel and scratch-resistant sapphire glass, enhancing durability and premium feel; the Fenix 8 builds upon the 970 with a full titanium backplate and added protective guards, offering superior ruggedness for extreme outdoor use.
• Size and Weight: Forerunner 570 comes in 42mm and 47mm sizes, lightweight and suited for daily training; the 970 is only available in 47mm, with a moderate weight; the Fenix 8 offers a wider size range (43mm, 47mm, 51mm) and is heavier, balancing durability with extensive features.
• Design Style:The Forerunner 570 boasts a light and colorful design aimed at younger users; the 970 leans toward urban and light trail use with a sleek and stylish look; the Fenix 8 presents a more robust, military-grade appearance designed for demanding outdoor conditions.
• Detail Features:The 970 includes an LED flashlight function for nighttime use; the Fenix 8 features a five-button layout with waterproof, protective guards that enhance usability and durability; the 570 emphasizes simple controls and comfortable wear.

Also Explore Garmin Forerunner and Fenix Watch Accessories Below:

Garmin Forerunner Watch Straps

Garmin Fenix Watch straps

Garmin Fenix 8 47mm Watch Bands

Garmin Forerunner 970 Watch Bands

Summary

• Forerunner 570: Lightweight and practical, perfect for daily workouts and casual training.
• Forerunner 970: Combines premium materials with advanced features, ideal for serious athletes.
• Fenix 8: Built tough with full features, made for outdoor and adventure enthusiasts.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 970 vs Fenix 8 - Display

Similarities

• All three watches feature high-quality AMOLED screens with vivid colors and high contrast, ensuring clear visibility under various lighting conditions.
• They all support touch operation, allowing users to easily navigate menus and adjust settings.
• In terms of resolution, the Forerunner 970 and Fenix 8 both have a sharp 454×454 pixel display.

Differences

• Screen Material:The Forerunner 570 uses third-generation Corning Gorilla Glass with moderate durability; the Forerunner 970 upgrades to more scratch-resistant sapphire glass; the Fenix 8 offers both an AMOLED sapphire glass version and a MIP solar version, the latter being better suited for strong outdoor light.
• Size and Resolution: The Forerunner 570 offers 1.2-inch (42mm) and 1.4-inch (47mm) screens; the 970 has a fixed 1.4-inch screen; the Fenix 8 comes in three sizes ranging from 1.3 inches to 1.4 inches, accommodating more wrist sizes.
• Brightness: The Forerunner 570 reaches a peak brightness of 2000 nits, providing clear and vivid visuals under sunlight; the 970 improves brightness for better outdoor visibility; the Fenix 8’s AMOLED and MIP versions both perform excellently in bright conditions, with the MIP version supporting always-on display.
• Additional Features: Both the 970 and Fenix 8 have built-in speakers and microphones supporting calls and voice assistants; the Fenix 8 also includes an LED flashlight, convenient for nighttime activities.
• Water Resistance: The Fenix 8 supports 10 ATM water resistance suitable for diving; the 970 offers 50 meters water resistance, suitable for swimming and daily use.

Summary

• Forerunner 570: Great display and value, ideal for daily use and essential tracking.
• Forerunner 970: Upgraded materials and advanced features, suited for serious training.
• Fenix 8: Rugged and versatile, best for outdoor and extreme conditions.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 970 vs Fenix 8 - Health & Sleep Monitoring

Similarities

• All three watches are equipped with Garmin’s 5th-generation optical heart rate sensor and support 24/7 continuous tracking.
• Each model includes HRV status tracking, stress monitoring with guided breathing, and Body Battery™ energy monitoring for understanding daily physical readiness.
• They all provide full sleep stage analysis (light, deep, REM), sleep scores, and morning/evening reports to help users manage recovery.
• SpO₂ (blood oxygen) monitoring is available during sleep, with manual measurements also supported.

Differences

• Heart Rate Sensor & Accuracy: Fenix 8 features a more advanced multi-channel sensor setup with green and orange LEDs plus a skin temperature integration for more precise readings, even in extreme motion or loose wear. The 970 adds a skin temperature sensor for better sleep and recovery analysis, while the 570 uses a standard optical HR sensor suitable for daily workouts.
• Sleep Tracking Depth: Fenix 8 offers the most advanced sleep system, including overnight HRV trends, SpO₂ alerts, and recovery scores. The 970 supports advanced sleep trend analysis with added skin temperature insights. The 570 delivers essential sleep stage tracking with basic recovery data.
• SpO₂ Coverage: Fenix 8 supports full-day automatic SpO₂ tracking with altitude acclimation insights, ideal for high-altitude activities. The 570 and 970 are limited to night-time or manual readings.
• Additional Health Features: The 970 uniquely includes ECG functionality to detect signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Fenix 8 does not support ECG but compensates with a broader sensor suite. The 570 lacks ECG support.
• Stress Monitoring: All three use HRV to calculate stress levels and offer guided breathing when stress is elevated. Fenix 8’s advanced data integration makes it better at detecting and interpreting high-stress states.

Summary

• Forerunner 570 is perfect for users focused on basic wellness and everyday sleep insights.
• Forerunner 970 is tailored for performance-minded users seeking recovery analysis and more health metrics.
• Fenix 8 stands out with the most advanced monitoring features, including high-altitude support and HRV-based recovery scoring- ideal for serious athletes and outdoor adventurers.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 970 vs Fenix 8 - Battery Life

In smartwatch mode, the Forerunner 570 offers about 10–12 days of battery life, the 970 improves to 14–15 days, while the Fenix 8 performs best with 16–18 days (longer for the Solar version), making it suitable for extended daily wear. In GPS mode, the 570 lasts around 20 hours, the 970 reaches 30 hours, and the Fenix 8 maintains a strong 36–48 hours, ideal for long-distance trail running and hiking.

In multi-band GNSS mode, the 570 does not support this feature; the 970 lasts about 15–20 hours, and the Fenix 8 can reach up to 25 hours, balancing accuracy and endurance. All three support GPS + music mode, with battery life of 6 hours (570), 8 hours (970), and 10 hours (Fenix 8), catering to phone-free workouts.

In battery saver mode, the Fenix 8 stands out with 40–60 days of endurance, the 970 lasts up to about 20 days, while the 570 has limited support, better suited for shorter use periods.

Summary:

• Fenix 8 has the strongest battery life, ideal for long outdoor and extreme activities.
• Forerunner 970 offers balanced battery and features, suitable for intensive training.
• Forerunner 570 provides great value, perfect for daily and light workouts.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 970 vs Fenix 8 - Sports Features

Similarities

• All three watches support basic sports modes such as running, cycling, and swimming, covering common activities including triathlon.
• They all provide basic training data like pace, distance, cadence, calorie burn, and heart rate zones.
• Each supports smart training plans and recovery guidance to help users train scientifically.

Differences

• Sports Mode Coverage:Forerunner 570 focuses on basic running and triathlon modes; the 970 adds multi-sport switching with activities like trail running, skiing, and rowing; the Fenix 8 supports extreme outdoor sports such as climbing, skiing, diving, and golf, offering the most comprehensive features.
• Training Analysis: The 570 offers basic metrics; the 970 adds advanced indicators like lactate threshold, training load, and recovery time; the Fenix 8 features the most comprehensive analysis, including VO2 Max, running dynamics, and advanced power metrics.
• Special Features: The 970 supports dynamic route planning and advanced running metrics requiring a heart rate strap; the Fenix 8 includes diving functions and detailed outdoor data analysis, better suited for professional outdoor activities.
• Smart Coaching: Both the 970 and Fenix 8 support Garmin Coach smart training plans, with the Fenix 8 offering more precise, personalized advice by integrating multi-dimensional data; the 570’s coaching features are more basic.

Summary

• The Fenix 8 offers the most extensive sports features, ideal for extreme and professional outdoor activities.
• The Forerunner 970 balances multi-sport modes and advanced training analysis, suitable for advanced athletes.
• The Forerunner 570 focuses on basic training with great value, ideal for daily and beginner users

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 970 vs Fenix 8 - Positioning and Map Features

Similarities

• All three watches support multiple satellite systems, including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou, meeting the positioning needs for running, cycling, and other everyday activities.
• They all offer basic route navigation, supporting activity tracking and simple return-to-start navigation.

Differences

• Positioning System:The Forerunner 570 uses single-frequency GPS with a typical positioning error within 0.1–0.3 km. The 970 and Fenix 8 support multi-frequency GNSS; notably, the Fenix 8 is compatible with more satellite systems, providing higher accuracy and better anti-interference performance, suitable for complex environments.
• Map Features:The 570 only supports basic black-and-white simple route lines. The 970 includes built-in color routable maps, supports offline loading, and route planning, ideal for trail running and urban exploration. The Fenix 8 offers detailed global Topo color maps, multi-layer map overlays, and dynamic round-trip route planning, delivering a richer navigation experience.
• Navigation Functions:The 570 provides basic route and return navigation. The 970 supports waypoint marking, multi-segment route planning, and track navigation. The Fenix 8 features ClimbPro ascent planning, slope display, ski and golf-specific maps, making it suitable for professional outdoor activities.
• Specialized Map Support:The 570 lacks specialized map support. The 970 supports some trail running and triathlon course maps. The Fenix 8 covers various professional sports maps including skiing, mountaineering, golf, and diving, offering the most comprehensive functionality.

Summary:

• Fenix 8 excels in precise positioning, rich maps, and comprehensive navigation, best suited for professional outdoor and extreme sports.
• Forerunner 970 upgrades to multi-frequency GNSS with solid map and navigation features, suitable for multi-sport enthusiasts.
• Forerunner 570 offers basic positioning and simple map functions, with great value for daily entry-level users.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 970 vs Fenix 8 - Smart and Music Features

Similarities

• All three watches have built-in speakers and microphones, support voice commands and calls, receive notifications from apps like WeChat, email, and phone calls, allow basic message replies, and support Garmin Connect sharing and Bluetooth music playback.

Differences

• Voice Interaction: The 570 offers basic voice prompts and commands; the 970 adds call support and voice notes; the Fenix 8 supports smartphone voice assistants and some models feature offline voice commands for more convenient operation.
• Notifications: The 570 supports basic notifications but no quick replies on iOS; the 970 adds notification categorization and quick replies on Android; the Fenix 8 provides richer notification interactions and more smart features.
• Music Features:The 570 has 8GB storage supporting offline downloads from major music platforms with weaker speaker output; the 970 and Fenix 8 both have 32GB storage with smoother playback; the Fenix 8 offers the best speaker quality and supports more third-party music services.
• Voice Assistant & Payments: The 570 lacks built-in voice assistant and payment functions; the 970 supports smartphone voice assistants and Garmin Pay; the Fenix 8 has more comprehensive payment options including offline payments.
• Smart Ecosystem: The 570 covers basic functions like weather and alarms; the 970 adds auto-sync, calendar management, and phone finder; the Fenix 8 supports Wi-Fi sync, Connect IQ app downloads, customizable watch faces, and the richest smart ecosystem.

Summary

• All three support core smart notifications and music playback.
• Fenix 8 leads with advanced voice interaction, superior music experience, and the most complete smart ecosystem.
• 970 offers balanced voice, notification, and payment features for versatile use.
• 570 suits users needing basic, practical features with good value.

Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 970 vs Fenix 8 - Price & Model

Price Comparison:
These three Garmin watches fall into different price ranges, catering to various user budgets. The Forerunner 570 is the most affordable, priced around $350–$450, making it a solid choice for everyday fitness tracking. The Forerunner 970 sits in the mid-to-high-end range at $500–$650, offering enhanced features and strong value. The Fenix 8, positioned as a premium flagship, ranges from $700 to $1,100, depending on the version, and is designed for professional athletes and outdoor adventurers.

Model Options:

• Forerunner 570 comes in a single standard version, focusing on affordability and essential functions.
• Forerunner 970 is available in Standard and Solar editions, with the Solar version offering extended power capabilities.
• Fenix 8 offers Standard, Solar, and Sapphire editions, with upgrades like scratch-resistant sapphire glass, solar charging, and enhanced materials, tailored to meet advanced and diverse needs.

Summary:

• Forerunner 570:Best for budget-conscious users who need basic sports tracking at an accessible price.
• Forerunner 970: Ideal for intermediate to advanced users seeking more features at a moderate cost.
• Fenix 8: A top-tier choice for professionals who want maximum functionality, premium materials, and version flexibility.

Final Summary & Buying Advice

Forerunner 570: Lightweight Entry-Level, Best Value
Perfect for users on a budget who still want essential sports features and health tracking. It supports regular training for running, cycling, and swimming. Practical and affordable, it's ideal for everyday workouts and building fitness habits.

Forerunner 970: Fully Equipped, Ideal for Urban Triathletes
Equipped with Garmin's latest multi-band GNSS, 5th-gen heart rate sensor, offline maps, LED flashlight, titanium bezel, and sapphire glass. With near-flagship performance and a lightweight build (around 50g), it’s comfortable to wear and especially suitable for triathletes, regular strength trainers, and light outdoor enthusiasts.

Fenix 8: Flagship Performance, Built for Pros and Business
As Garmin's all-around flagship, Fenix 8 leads in design quality, durability, dive features, and battery life (especially the Solar version). It supports extreme sports like skiing, mountaineering, and diving. A top choice for hardcore adventurers, professional athletes, and business users who demand maximum functionality and ruggedness.

Recommendation Guide

• Want a lightweight, practical, entry-level sports experience- Choose Forerunner 570
• Want high performance, rich features, and comprehensive training tools- Choose Forerunner 970
• Want a top-tier experience, superior durability, and pro-level outdoor exploration- Choose Fenix 8