Garmin Forerunner 265 vs. Forerunner 570 — which running watch should you buy?

a photo of the Garmin Forerunner 265 and the Garmin Forerunner 570 — (Image credit: Future)

If you’ve been waiting for the weather to improve to invest in one of the best Garmin watches, you might be wondering whether you should buy the Garmin Forerunner 265 or hold out for the new Garmin Forerunner 570, available to order on May 21, 2025.

Below, we put the two watches head-to-head to help you choose.

For the past year, the Garmin Forerunner 265 has been our top pick for the best running watch on the market. It’s a wonderful little device, with a bright AMOLED display. You can read our full Garmin Forerunner 265 review here.

We’ve gone hands-on with the Garmin Forerunner 570 in New York and at Garmin HQ in Kansas City, but haven’t written a full review of the new watch just yet.

The question is, should you buy the Garmin Forerunner 265, or wait for the new Garmin Forerunner 570?

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs. Forerunner 570: Price

Garmin has confirmed the Forerunner 570 will be replacing the Forerunner 265, so it’s likely that the older watch will be on sale right now. If you’re on a budget, this is the obvious choice. Right now, you can get it for $349, which is the lowest price it's ever been at.

The Forerunner 570 will cost $549.99/£459 when it is launched on May 21.

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs. Forerunner 570: Design and specs

Both watches have the familiar Garmin design we know and love. Like most of the best Garmin watches, the Forerunner 265 and Forerunner 570 have a round screen and five buttons that allow you to navigate around the watch — three on the left, and two on the right.

Both have bright, AMOLED touchscreens, which are automatically disabled on the run, but make navigating around the watch when you’re using it as a smartwatch a bit easier.

They also both come in two different size options to suit every runner — the Forerunner 265 comes in a 42mm and a 46mm version, and the Forerunner 570 will be available in a 42mm version and a 47mm version.

Here’s a breakdown of the difference specs between the two models:

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Forerunner 570
Row 0 - Cell 0	Forerunner 265S	Forerunner 265	Forerunner 570 (42mm)	Forerunner 570 (47mm)
Screen size	1.1 inches	1.3 inches	1.2 inches	1.4 inches
Resolution	360 x 360 pixels	416 x 416 pixels	390 x 390 pixels	454 x 454 pixels
Case size	41.7 x 41.7 x 12.9 mm	46.1 x 46.1 x 12.9 mm	42.4 x 42.4 x 12.9 mm	47 x 47 x 12.9 mm
Weight	39g	47g	42g	50g
GPS battery life	24 hours	20 hours	18 hours	18 hours
Smartwatch battery life	15 days	13 days	10 days	11 days
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Speaker/Mic	No	No	Yes	Yes

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs. Forerunner 570: Key differences

So what are the main differences? Most notably, the Forerunner 570 has the addition of a built-in microphone and speaker, allowing you to take calls from your watch when it’s connected to your smartphone. You’ll also be able to use the microphone to control watch functions using your voice.

The newer watch has a brighter screen than the Forerunner 265, and a wider choice of bright bezels to add a pop of color to your wrist.

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs. Forerunner 570: Verdict

We’re yet to spend a lot of time with the Forerunner 570, but from a hardware perspective, the main difference looks to be the microphone and speaker.

Personally, this isn’t a feature I use an awful lot on my Garmin Fenix 8, so I’d be inclined to say grab the Forerunner 265 while it’s discounted. It’s a fantastic little watch, and is packed with advanced training metrics to help you reach your goals.

Plus, the battery life is longer on the older watches — granted this is because the screens aren’t quite as bright, but after a year of testing, I don’t have any complaints about the Forerunner 265 being hard to read, or dull, even next to newer smartwatches.

That said, if you want the newest features and the brightest screen, or just love the look of that yellow bezel, you don’t have long to wait for the Forerunner 570.

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Jane McGuire is Tom's Guide's Fitness editor, which means she looks after everything fitness related - from running gear to yoga mats. An avid runner, Jane has tested and reviewed fitness products for the past five years, so knows what to look for when finding a good running watch or a pair of shorts with pockets big enough for your smartphone. When she's not pounding the pavements, you'll find Jane striding round the Surrey Hills, taking far too many photos of her puppy.

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