Garmin Forerunner 570: problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-18
Summary
The Forerunner 570’s recurring complaints are missing offline maps and ECG, a battery regression from the Forerunner 265, and a cluster of firmware faults reported on Garmin forums. There is no mandatory yearly cost beyond optional music and Garmin Connect+ subscriptions. Reviewers call it a good buy only below its $549.99 list price.
Common problems and fixes
- No ECG — the Elevate Gen 5 sensor is hardware-capable of ECG, but Garmin has disabled the feature in firmware and there is no user fix. [2][3][4][6]
- Battery life regression — up to 10-11 days in smartwatch mode versus the Forerunner 265’s 13-15, caused by the AMOLED display; turning the brightness down one level adds about a day. [2][3][4][9]
- Screen glitching and going black — a Garmin forums thread with 14,808 views and 27 replies describes the screen glitching and going black while the watch stays responsive; no confirmed fix. [10]
- Pool swim distance freezing — owners report the pool swim distance freezing and then catching up several lengths later. [10]
- Boot loop after software update — some watches get stuck in a boot loop after an update and are not recognized by a PC. [10]
- Garmin Connect+ paywall — adaptive training plans and advanced sleep analysis sit behind a monthly subscription; basic tracking stays free. [3]
Parts and consumables
No replaceable parts or consumables reported.
Yearly running cost
Not enough data. The sources report no mandatory yearly spend: basic operation, GPS tracking and standard training metrics need no subscription, and the only recurring costs are a music-streaming subscription and the optional Garmin Connect+ subscription for advanced insights. [3]
When it is a good buy
Garmin set the $549.99 list price at launch (May 2025). [1][2] Reviewers call that weak value and say to buy only on sale; $450-500 is fair value, and $400 or below is a good buy. [2][3][4][6] Garmin’s UK page lists part number 010-02970-01 at £429.99. [11]
- Coros Pace Pro at $349 and Suunto Race S at $349 — the better choice if you want maps and ECG for less. [2][4]
- Polar Vantage M3 at $399 — the better choice for a lower-priced rival with maps and ECG. [2][4]
- Garmin Forerunner 970 at $749.99 — the better choice if you need offline maps and ECG and will stay in Garmin’s ecosystem. [2][3][4][6]