Last week, Garmin launched the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970, bringing with them a wave of new features—many of which are completely new to the Garmin ecosystem. While most of these additions are exclusive to the Forerunner 970, a few features, such as the Evening Report, are also available on the Forerunner 570.
Now, there is some clarity on which existing Garmin devices will receive these new capabilities in future software updates. The confirmed features include:
- Running Tolerance
- Impact Load Factor
- Autolap by timing gates
- Suggested Finish Line
- Projected Race Time Predictor
- Step Speed Loss (requires HRM 600)
- Running Economy (requires HRM 600)
- Garmin Triathlon Coach
- Multisport Structured Workouts (via Garmin Connect)
- Improved Ovulation Cycle Predictions using skin temperature
Other features like Breathing Variations and the Rucking activity profile are already part of ongoing firmware rollouts across various devices, including the Fenix 7 series, Epix, Venu, and Vivoactive models. These are not considered part of the new batch of features tied specifically to the Forerunner 570 and 970 launches.
Garmin has stated that it plans to bring the new features to the Fenix 8, Enduro 3, and Tactix 8 series through upcoming software updates. However, the company also noted that these plans are subject to change and didn’t guarantee all features will make it to every model.
Here’s the official statement from Garmin:
“The current plan is to roll the ‘new to Garmin’ software features that launched with the Forerunner 570 and 970 into the Fenix 8 series, Enduro 3, and Tactix 8 in future software releases. We cannot comment on the exact timing or guarantee that all features will make it into these updates.”
That means no plans exist to add these features to the Forerunner 265, Forerunner 965, Fenix 7 Pro, or Epix Pro series. While Garmin typically follows through on such feature rollouts—about 95% of the time—some exceptions have occurred in the past.
Looking at Garmin’s usual update schedule, beta firmware for the Fenix 8 is expected within 2–4 weeks, possibly leading to a public release by early or mid-August. Still, not all features might appear in the initial beta version, and some could be added—or removed—before the final release.
The process may be smoother this time around since the Forerunner 970 shares much of its interface with the Fenix 8. Even so, users of older devices like the Fenix 7 or Forerunner 965 may feel left out. Between 2020 and 2023, Garmin became more consistent in pushing updates to older watches. However, with the launch of the Fenix 8, that strategy seems to be changing. The company now appears to be moving back to its older approach, where newer features often require buying newer hardware.
This shift contrasts with how other brands handle software support. Apple, for instance, often supports devices for many years. COROS used to push frequent updates but has slowed in recent years. Suunto and Google tend to support current-generation products, while Samsung’s update policy varies across models.
Among major fitness tech companies, Garmin is becoming more selective about software updates. Yet, it’s also adding more features than most rivals—possibly more than all of them combined. Apple typically issues one major update annually, while others, like COROS, have reduced their update frequency and depth over time.
The relevance of all this becomes clearer when comparing pricing: the Fenix 8 is currently on sale for $799, just $50 more than the Forerunner 970’s $749 price tag. If you’re not tied to a specific form factor, the Fenix 8 may be the better deal given its broader feature set and expected updates.
Among the new features, the most useful in real-world scenarios appear to be the Running Tolerance and Impact Load Factor combo, as well as the Evening Report. While others—like dynamic triathlon training plans—are helpful for serious athletes, some features may feel overly technical or complex for everyday users.
In summary, if you’re choosing between the new Forerunner models or considering upgrading from an older Garmin device, this update roadmap should help guide your decision. Or, you might just stick with that old Forerunner 305 that’s somehow still running strong—19 years later.
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