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Garmin Forerunner 265 — 2023 · Fitness + health
Garmin

Garmin Forerunner 265

2023 · Fitness + health

86
/ 100
From $449
VS
Garmin Forerunner 965 wins by 2
Garmin Forerunner 965 — 2023 · Fitness + health
Garmin

Garmin Forerunner 965

2023 · Fitness + health

88
/ 100
From $599
Specdex verdict

Garmin Forerunner 965 takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Garmin Forerunner 265 lands at 86 and Garmin Forerunner 965 at 88. That puts Garmin Forerunner 965 ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Garmin Forerunner 265 if…

  • Multi-day fitness tracking
  • GPS + heart rate
  • Notification mirroring

Pick Garmin Forerunner 965 if…

  • Multi-day fitness tracking
  • GPS + heart rate
  • Notification mirroring
Garmin Forerunner 265 86
vs
88 Garmin Forerunner 965

Score breakdown

Garmin Forerunner 265
86
battery 94
display 88
fitness 86
health 84
durability 86
Garmin Forerunner 965
88
battery 94
display 88
fitness 88
health 86
durability 86

Specs side-by-side

Garmin Forerunner 265 versus Garmin Forerunner 965 — full spec comparison
Spec Garmin Forerunner 265 Garmin Forerunner 965
Release year
2023
2023

Garmin Forerunner 265

Pros
  • +Multi-day fitness tracking
  • +GPS + heart rate
  • +Notification mirroring
Cons
  • Battery life varies dramatically
  • Companion phone required
  • Screen-on drains battery

Garmin Forerunner 965

Pros
  • +Multi-day fitness tracking
  • +GPS + heart rate
  • +Notification mirroring
Cons
  • Battery life varies dramatically
  • Companion phone required
  • Screen-on drains battery

FAQ: Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Garmin Forerunner 965

Which is better, Garmin Forerunner 265 or Garmin Forerunner 965? +

Garmin Forerunner 965 scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Garmin Forerunner 265 worth the price? +

At $449, Garmin Forerunner 265 delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in battery.

Is Garmin Forerunner 965 worth the price? +

At $599, Garmin Forerunner 965 delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in battery.

Does Garmin Forerunner 265 or Garmin Forerunner 965 last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.