Mid-range Garmin smartwatches get new beta update with bug fixes

Garmin recently released new beta updates for its Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 smartwatches. These arrive almost a month after stable software version 15.16 rolled out, bringing new features like Health Status, app-level notification controls and a palm-to-screen gesture to exit a notification.

The Garmin Forerunner 570 has received beta version 15.31, while the Forerunner 970 has received beta version 15.30. It is unclear why these two updates have different version numbers. In both cases, the change log simply states that the release brings “various bug fixes and improvements”. As such, it is unclear how users of these running smartwatches could benefit from the updates.

One issue which appears not to have been resolved with this release is related to text message notifications. As reported by Forerunner 970 users in the Garmin Forum, notifications are not popping up on the screen or triggering a noise or vibration, as expected. The same issue does not impact notifications from other apps or for incoming phone calls. Garmin has yet to publicly acknowledge this issue, so it is unclear when it will be resolved.

If you are enrolled on the Garmin beta program for the Forerunner 570 or Forerunner 970 smartwatches (curr. from $646 at Amazon), you can now download the relevant beta software. To do this, go to Main menu > Settings > System > Software Update > Check For Updates.