Garmin Forerunner 570: How Does It Stack Up Against the Top 10 Alternatives in Canada for 2026?

The Forerunner 265 has an impressive amount of trackable activities, and you can also create custom activities to track based on existing profiles.

During an activity, we found the data fields easy to view and navigate between. We loved using the buttons for navigation while sweaty, wet, or running since a touch screen can be challenging given those conditions.

The Forerunner doesn't separate out traditional apps, like your clock or alarms, weather, etc, from activities like a run. A short list of activities is accessible on a single screen that you can customize.

The level of detail and analysis that Garmin provides is impressive. Not only do you get the data, but you get digestible insights and analysis of your data that help you better understand why you are where you are.

The Forerunner takes accurate heart rate readings in real time, and also provides a wonderfully in-depth sleep tracking analysis. There's a handful of other advanced health metrics that you can track as well.

The GPS and elevation tracking on the Forerunner are excellent. Many of the trackers in our lineup forego altimeters and rely on map overlays to estimate elevation change.

Bright, beautiful AMOLED screen

However, when they’re switched off it’s hard to tell these new 265 watches apart from the old Forerunner 255. The difference hits home once you switch them both on because the headline upgrade here is a new smartwatch-style AMOLED touchscreen – like those we’ve seen on the...

That new screen adds some Apple Watch-esque visibility, brightness and crystal clarity to your stats. Plus it’s a touchscreen – something the Forerunner 255 lacked.

Both versions of the Forerunner 265 now offer music storage and phone-free playback, playing nice with apps like Spotify. Previously, you had to opt for the Forerunner 255 Music edition to unlock offline tunes.

The AMOLED screen is excellent. It’s bright and easy to read in all conditions – even sunnier days – and lifts the Forerunner 265 closer to its smartwatch rivals like the Apple Watch for display quality.

GPS accuracy is excellent – about as reliable as it gets – while the optical heart rate accuracy was solid, too. Not infallible, sometimes it seemed a bit slower to adjust in real time versus a chest strap, but show us an optical sensor that doesn’t.

Feature for feature, it’s an improvement on the Forerunner 255. It offers more accurate GPS (marginally), good heart rate, and the brighter screen and touchscreen controls really bring the comprehensive suite of running, training, performance and health insights to life.

Bright, crisp AMOLED visuals

First small Forerunner with a touchscreen

The 265 and 265S watches are only slightly bigger than the 255 and 255S models were, at 46.1mm / 42mm compared the older models’ 45.6mm / 41mm.

Garmin's beautiful new AMOLED touchscreen is on par with any other smartwatch you care to mention, even the best Apple Watch, and still measures battery life in days and weeks rather than hours.

Run button easier to use with gloves

Data put into a helpful context

Customized training plans sync to watch

Easy to follow workouts

Smaller 42mm size available

Reliable physical buttons for workouts

Advanced training metrics and personalized workout coaching

Vibrant & clear AMOLED display

Accurate and reliable GPS tracking

Exceptional battery life for extended use

Impressively, Apple has made these upgrades without increasing the size or weight of the watch, and while maintaining the same battery life.

The two main differences are an upgraded display, which is 50% brighter, and a new processor that makes the whole experience of using the watch that little bit smoother, and enables a new gesture control for one-handed operation.

Even brighter AMOLED display

Double-tap gesture works well

Great new Modular Ultra watch face

Supports the double tap gesture

Easier to find iPhone with watch

Brighter display than before

Apple’s brightest display ever

It has a brighter screen (Apple’s brightest screen ever, in fact) but Apple’s new S9 SiP chip and the watchOS 10 operating system are what’s bringing most of the changes.

The key differences to look out for concern the screen and the bands. First off, the screen is even more beautiful than on the first version, capable of putting out an impressive 3,000 nits of brightness at full blast.

The Ultra 2 also one-ups the Series 10's IP6X dust resistance rating with the addition of an MIL-STD 810H certification, the standard used for military equipment, meaning it has been tested to survive high altitude, extreme temperatures, freezing/thawing, blowing sand, and...

Before testing the Ultra 2, I worried that its brighter screen would come at the expense of battery life, but that's not the case.

Conversely, when using Sleep Focus mode in a dark room, the Ultra 2 will now dim to a single nit (from 2 nits last generation) to reduce disturbance for light sleepers. Regardless of the ambient lighting, I never have a problem reading the Ultra 2's display.

To test its depth gauge, I took the Ultra 2 for a dip in the nearby Gulf of Mexico. I raved over the Depth app last generation, and it works just as well on the Ultra 2, automatically displaying your depth, underwater time, and more when submerged about three feet.

The biggest change for the second-generation Ultra is a 50% increase in screen brightness to 3,000 nits, Apple's brightest display ever. The Series 10 retains its predecessor's 2,000-nit maximum brightness, matching the Galaxy Watch 7 ($299.99) and the original Apple Watch Ultra.

An increase in brightness makes the display easier to read outdoors in bright sunlight. Between its size and brightness, the Ultra 2's display is phenomenal.

Safety features: The emergency SOS, fall and crash detection safety features are largely the same across both watches. However, the Apple Watch Series 10 doesn’t offer the safety siren you get on the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Battery life: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 staying power is perhaps the biggest lure. It offers 36 hours of everyday use while the Apple Watch Series 10 stretches to 18 hours. When you fire up the GPS, both watches cover a marathon.

Size, comfort & durability: Both the 42mm and 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 case sizes are dainty by comparison to the Ultra 2. The Ultra 2’s 49mm case size has a big, hench build, with a larger brighter display (3,000 nits vs 2,000 nits).

Controls: It may seem like a small thing, but you don’t get the Apple Watch Ultra 2’s customisable action button on the Series 10. This shortcut button makes it a doddle to launch straight into runs and workouts. And when you don’t have it, you miss it.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 screams premium quality, with a slick, sophisticated case made from 95% recycled titanium. It’s a design that’s well finessed and looks great on the wrist – in a confidently hench, adventure-ready way.

The 50% brighter display – up to 3,000 nits from 2,000 on the first-gen – is excellent. When you put them side by side, the screen brightness is notably improved over the first-gen Apple Watch Ultra.

Despite Garmin, Coros and Suutno all getting in on the AMOLED game, when it comes to brightness, crispness and clarity and visibility in all lights, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 still packs the best screen we’ve seen on a smartwatch – and a better screen than you’ll find on any...

Leave your phone behind with cellular

Best-in-class heart rate accuracy

Rugged titanium build resists scratches

Extremely accurate for pool and open water swimming

Bright, beautiful AMOLED display

Two new training metrics

Accurate heart rate monitoring

Excellent Garmin Connect app

Like the newly released Forerunner 265, which also got the upgraded AMOLED screen, Garmin has made the start/stop button slightly bigger on the top right — handy if you struggle to remember which button to press to pause your run at a stop light.

One area where Garmin excels compared to other sports watches on the market is its battery life. Despite its brighter screen, the battery life of the Forerunner 965 is pretty similar to that of the Forerunner 955. I’ve put all the key stats in a table below:

The strap comes in three options Amp Yellow/Black, Black/Powder Grey, or Whitestone/Powder Grey. In all cases, there is a double clasp, malleable and comfy silicone strap and it can be swapped out as it uses the Garmin 22mm QuickFit system.

Long, long battery life

New training metrics ideal for runners

This is the watch that takes one of the best Apple watch features and adds it to Garmin – that stunning AMOLED display. Yet, this manages to offer at least five days more battery life than almost any of the other competition with the same display.

For what you get this justifies that cost, as this review will clarify. In short, it's got astonishing battery performance, a beautiful display, super accurate location and heart rate tracking plus lots of other smart metrics including new running dynamics without the need...

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is all about that superb 1.4-inch AMOLED display which looks superb. It's not only rich with colors and crisp definition between light and dark, but it also has a fantastic 454 x 454-pixel resolution, plus it's super bright.

All that equates to a screen you can read in any light or situation – including underwater – with lots of data at a glance. You can also activate the always-on display and since this is super low energy consuming that won't even affect battery life much.

Plus it's all coated in a Gorilla Glass DX outer layer which should mean it stays scratch-free too. In our months of using this, including throwing it in bags, there's not a mark on it.

Upgraded from the previous generation is the bezel too, which is now made of lightweight and hardy titanium. This is the metal they put in your body if you have an operation – as it's so nonreactive and won't be affected by moisture – meaning this should stay in perfect...

Since everything is waterproof to 50 meters it's also super simple to give it a clean by washing under the tap or in the shower – which in reviewing for months was found to keep it looking as good as new.

Workouts drain the battery especially hard, because of GPS, and the always-on display that shows your major metrics at all times.

Having a more accurate heart rate measurement has a cascading impact on all of your training data and Garmin's data analysis features, which help optimize your variability, recovery, and your performance on the whole. When this watch tells you to take it easy, you should listen.

The up-ahead turn-by-turn navigational system is also responsive and easy to follow. As someone who falls into a sort of directional fugue when I run, often forgetting my plan, this is a huge help.

Beyond the core running metrics, the Forerunner 965 tracks some very specific things that can be very useful for competitive runners in training looking to optimize their performance.

As I don’t have a fancy running coach, I decided to give Garmin’s suggested workouts on the Garmin Forerunner 965 a go. And you know what? They were quite helpful.

Each race became a personal vendetta against the digital projections, and fueled by sheer stubbornness (and caffeine), I beat those times.

Fortunately, the 965's ability to download maps from secondary apps and store music on the device largely mitigates your need to interact with Garmin Connect.

The watch has an accurate multi-band GPS tracking system and is chock a block with fitness and health metrics, performance tracking, and lifestyle upgrades that turn this from just a running watch into something truly special for serious runners.

We really like the physical design of the Forerunner 965, and it even looks better now with the metal bezel. The model looks more elegant and premium without changes to its weight or feel on the wrist.

The removable, toolless straps are great, provide good comfort, and are made of high-quality materials. The dual colorway adds a nice touch of style. This slim model works well with a variety of clothes; mainly, we had no issues with gloves or jackets because of the thin profile.

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is one of the most-accurate GPS watches we've reviewed. To test the distance and pace, we ran pre-measured routes in a variety of areas with various levels of potential GPS disruption.

To measure heart rate and blood oxygen saturation (Sp02) tracking, Cat ran on the treadmill wearing both the 965 and a hospital-grade pulse oximeter with a built-in heart rate monitor.

The up-ahead turn-by-turn navigational system is also responsive and easy to follow. Haptic and audible notifications effectively alert you of upcoming turns, so you don't need to check your watch to follow its directions.

Beyond the core running metrics, the Forerunner 965 tracks some very specific things that can be very useful for competitive runners in training looking to boost their performance.

For those without a running coach, we used Garmin’s suggested workouts on the Garmin Forerunner 965 and they were surprisingly helpful.

The 965 also has a feature called PacePro. We used this feature to great effect during a few test races, trusting race-day strategy to the watch and it managed to guide Ben on both a trail race and a city race, where GPS interference from tall buildings can often scupper a...

The battery life is sizeable in smartwatch mode, with Garmin claiming you can get up to 23 days of use under ideal conditions. With regular runs and workouts, we averaged about a week between charges.

Workouts do seem to drain the battery quite quickly, because of GPS, but especially if you have the always-on display (we switched it off pretty much right away).

Track intervals: 0.02 mile variance over 10 × 800m

Trail run: Matched surveyed distance within 50m over 12 miles

City running: No major dropouts, smooth tracking through tall buildings

Best-in-class GPS accuracy and training metrics

AMOLED display is a game-changer for readability

Battery life destroys competition

Works without smartphone (built-in music storage)

Comprehensive recovery and training load data

Battery life: Exceptional. I could go several days without thinking about charging.

Display: Sharp and vibrant. The AMOLED screen looks modern and performs great in sunlight.

Stamina & recovery insights: Actually useful. Real-time stamina tracking during longer rides or runs gave me more awareness than I expected.

Integration with Edge 1040: Great combo for outdoor workouts. It felt like a full training dashboard.

The AMOLED display changes how I use this watch every day. Colours pop, and it’s easy to read data fields in sunlight.

The most eye-catching thing about the Forerunner 965 is that bright AMOLED display. It’s vibrant and crisp, even outdoors in full sunlight.

Build quality feels solid for something so light. The titanium bezel adds a bit of class without making it heavy.

The buttons have a satisfying click—definitely improved from older models. Each press feels clean and responsive.

The 47mm case sits comfortably on my wrist, not bulky at all. The silicone strap breathes well and doesn’t irritate, even after hours of wear.

The watch face sits flat, and the curved edges mean it doesn’t snag on sleeves. Small but thoughtful detail.

Accurate GPS and comprehensive maps

Vibrant, high-resolution AMOLED display

Extensive sports & outdoor activity features

Outstanding comfort and lightweight design

Exceptional multi-week battery life