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The latest addition to Garmin running focused watches (forerunner series) is the forerunner 265 and 965 on the higher end of the quality spectrum.
You might be wondering what the main differences between the two watches are and which one has good value for your money?
In this article we will explain key differences and similarities between the 265 and 965, at the end we will explain which one is better.
Garmin forerunner 265 comes in 2 different sizes, the forerunner 265 and 265s. Both these watches have similar features inside, differences are on the hardware only, so our focus will be on the regular forerunner 265.
Garmin forerunner 965 comes in one size only, and that’s 47mm case.
Display and build quality
Here are differences in display and build quality:
| Feature | Forerunner 265 | Forerunner 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 1.3” | 1.4” |
| Screen resolution | 416 x 416 pixels | 454 x 454 pixels |
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Touch screen | Yes | Yes |
| weight | 47g | 53g |
| Case size | 46.1 x 46.1 x 12.9mm | 47.2 x 47.2 x 13.2mm |
| Bezel material | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Titanium |
| Straps | Silicon | Silicon |
| Lens material | Corning® Gorilla® glass 3 | Conrning® Gorilla® glass DX |
Garmin has replaced old color MIP display with AMOLED display for both watches, which significantly improves viewing quality, especially indoors.
Plastic bezel makes forerunner 265 lighter, which is a benefit for runners since extra weight is not something you want as a runner and most sports.
This round is taken by Garmin forerunner 265. In real life experience, since glass is glass regardless of the protection it has, it will always scratch at level 6 according to Mohs hardness scale.
Battery life performance
Garmin products are known to have good battery life in general, both watches can last long enough such that you don’t have to charge them daily.
Below is battery performance comparison between Garmin forerunner 265 and forerunner 965:
| Mode | Forerunner 265 | Forerunner 965 |
|---|---|---|
| GPS Battery life | 20 hours | 31 hours |
| Smart watch battery life | 13 days | 23 days |
Garmin forerunner 965 battery life performance ranges depending mostly on the GPS mode you select, there is option for Auto select GPS and manual selection of Multi-band GPS.
Multi-band GPS provides more accurate GPS tracking but reduces battery life significantly.
Both watches do contain Multi-band GPS tracking so keep that in mind.
The conclusion from the above comparison is that Garmin forerunner 965 has more than 50% better battery performance compared to forerunner 265. That gives it a clear win this round!
Running features
As you already know, Forerunner series of the Garmin line up focuses on running and sports in general.
We have decided to compare benefits of owning Garmin forerunner 965 over forerunner 265, if of course there are.
Shared Running features
Both Garmin Forerunner 265 and forerunner 965 are excellent watches when it comes to sports tracking, performance feedback, and coaching.
This is because Garmin® has years of experience in the industry. Here are some important running features shared by both watches:
- SATIQ™ And Multi Band GPS tracking: for better tracking accuracy in city streets and forests with mountains and
- Touch screen in addition to 5 button layout
- Music and storage for offline playback
- Training readiness: this is a new addition for forerunner 265, it was not included in the previous model (forerunner 255)
- Training status: Using indicators such as HRV status, your recent exercise history and performance, get an easy insight into your overall effort.
- Sleep tracking
- Acute load
- VO2 max measurement
- Race Predictor: get an estimate of what your pace will be for a 5K, 10k, half marathon and marathon.
- Running Dynamics: new to forerunner 265. These are things like ground contact time, vertical oscillation, vertical ratio. All measured by the watch without additional devices.
Above mentioned are some of the important features that are useful to sports enthusiasts.
The list is not exhaustive but is giving you a clue that whether you own forerunner 265 or forerunner 965, you will get those vital metrics and features
Key Differences between Garmin forerunner 265 and forerunner 965
The following table list some of the key differences between the two watches when it comes to running related features:
| Feature | Forerunner 265 | Forerunner 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Group Live Track | No | Yes |
| Heat + Altitude Acclimation | No | Yes |
| Real time Stamina | No | Yes |
| Full color maps | No | Yes |
| Storage size | 8GB | 32GB |
| Garmin pay | Yes | Yes |
As you can see from above mentioned features, the forerunner 965 does have some features that are not available on its smaller cousin.
Features exclusive to Garmin forerunner 965
Below is a list of features that are available to the top of the range forerunner 965 only:
- Load ratio, which shows relationship between acute and chronic load
- Golf sport
- Climb pro lets you see real-time information on your current and upcoming climbs.
Price Differences
The two watches share a lot in common but the price is significantly different.
In general Garmin forerunner 965 is $100-$200 more expensive than the forerunner 265.
Garmin forerunner 265 price: $450.00.
Garmin forerunner 965 price: $599.99. Prices are quoted from amazon.
Yes you do need a running watch as part of your running gear. But a watch that will accurately track your runs and give you suggestions to improve performance does not have to be too expensive.
Forerunner 265 vs forerunner 965 Verdict
For a regular social runner, cyclist and any person who loves sport in general. The forerunner 265 has all the features you need to track your performance and improve it.
It has 98% of the features present in forerunner 955 but at a lower price. We recommend forerunner 265 over forerunner 965, unless you are obsessed about certain features listed above.
Most of the features added on Garmin forerunner 965 are not very useful to majority of runners.
