The Forerunner 265 hits the sweet spot of Garmin’s lineup: nearly all the training science of the flagship 965, at $150 less, with the best screen Garmin has ever put on a Forerunner.
GPS and heart rate accuracy
Over 150 km of runs, including city runs with tall buildings, the dual-band GPS tracks were near-perfect — no more mile markers on the wrong block. The optical heart rate sensor handled intervals well, with only occasional lag on sprints.
Training features
Training Readiness, daily suggested workouts, and the Race Widget genuinely changed how I train. Morning Report greets you with sleep, HRV, and a suggested run — useful, not gimmicky.
Battery
13 days in smartwatch mode, about 24 hours of continuous GPS with the AMOLED on. I charged it three times in a month.
Verdict
If you run more than twice a week, the 265 is the watch to buy. Casual exercisers will find it overkill — but you’ll grow into it.
