Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Forerunner 255 - Complete Specs & Performance Review

Are you torn between the Forerunner 265 and 255? The Garmin Forerunner 265 features a brighter AMOLED display and several detail upgrades, while the 255 still offers accurate running and health tracking at a more budget-friendly price.

Whether you’re a beginner runner or an experienced fitness enthusiast, this article will compare the Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Forerunner 255 step by step, helping you easily find the smartwatch that best fits your wrist.

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Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Forerunner 255 - Specifications

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Forerunner 255 - Price

The Garmin Forerunner 265 is priced at around $449, featuring an AMOLED display and built-in music storage. It is the newer model, released in March 2023, and comes in two sizes: a 1.3-inch standard version and a 1.1-inch 265S version. Compared with higher-end models like the Garmin Forerunner 965 or the Garmin Forerunner 970, the 265 strikes a balance between premium display technology and affordability.

The Forerunner 255 is priced at about $349, available in 1.3-inch and 1.1-inch versions. Users can choose between a music-enabled version at $399 or a non-music version at $349.

While both watches offer similar features, the 265 provides a brighter AMOLED screen and more storage, whereas the 255 is more affordable and offers better value for money. If you want the AMOLED display and music functionality, it costs roughly $50 extra.

Winner: Forerunner 255 - Its lower price combined with sufficient features delivers the best value for everyday users.

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Forerunner 255 - Design

The Garmin Forerunner 265 and 255 both continue the round watch face design and feature five physical buttons (three on the left, two on the right). The 265’s top-right button is slightly larger for a more prominent look, but its functionality is the same as the 255, without any additional sensors. Both watches offer multiple size options: the 255 comes in 46mm and 41mm, while the 265 is available in 46mm and 42mm, better accommodating different wrist sizes.

In terms of weight, the Forerunner 265 is lighter, with the 46mm version weighing 47g compared to 49g for the 255, making it more comfortable for long runs or everyday wear. Both watches use Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for the screen and feature durable carbon fiber bezels. The bands are 22mm quick-release on both models; the 265’s band features a two-tone design with “RUN” engraved, offering a more personalized style, while the 255’s band maintains a classic look.

Regarding color options, the Forerunner 265 offers more trendy choices, such as blue and pink, appealing to younger users and those seeking a personalized style. The 255 focuses on classic colors, suited for users who prefer a traditional, minimalist design.

Winner: Forerunner 265-Its lighter weight, refined strap design, and modern look make it more comfortable and stylish for both daily wear and training.

Also Read: Garmin Forerunner 255 Watch Bands

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Forerunner 255 - Display

The biggest difference between the Garmin Forerunner 265 and 255 lies in the display technology. The Forerunner 265 features a 1.3-inch AMOLED screen (1.3 or 1.1 inches for 265/265s), offering vivid colors, high contrast, and a resolution of 416×416 for sharp and clear visuals. It supports touchscreen operation, allowing users to swipe and tap to quickly view training data and health information. Whether indoors or running at night, you can easily check pace, heart rate, and other key metrics, making the overall experience much smoother.

In contrast, the Forerunner 255 uses a reflective MIP display, which performs better under bright sunlight outdoors, consumes less power, and has slightly longer battery life (14 days in smartwatch mode versus 13 days for the 265). Navigation relies entirely on physical buttons, making it suitable for users who prefer traditional sports watch operation. While the color and indoor display are not as vibrant as AMOLED, it remains a reliable choice for runners focused on outdoor use and long battery life.

Winner: Forerunner 265-The AMOLED screen combined with touchscreen functionality delivers superior display quality and smoother interaction, making training and daily use more convenient.

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Forerunner 255 - Battery Life

When it comes to battery performance, the Forerunner 265 and 255 have different strengths. The 265 features an AMOLED display, offering vibrant and smooth visuals, but higher brightness and dynamic effects consume more power. In smartwatch mode, the 265 lasts up to 13 days, and GPS mode lasts around 20 hours; the 265s can reach 15 days in smartwatch mode and 24 hours in GPS mode. In real-world use, battery life typically ranges from 6 to 10 days, depending on usage and features. By comparison, higher-end models like the Garmin Forerunner 955 offer even longer GPS battery life, while the Garmin Forerunner 570 provides extended performance for multi-sport users.

In comparison, the Forerunner 255 uses a lower-power MIP display, making it more suitable for extended outdoor activities. Smartwatch mode lasts up to 14 days, and GPS mode can reach 30 hours (without music). Typical real-world use is around 8 to 10 days. The 255 clearly outperforms the 265 in GPS mode, making it ideal for long runs or outdoor training.

Winner: Forerunner 255-Its low-power MIP display ensures longer battery life in both GPS and smartwatch modes, perfect for extended training and outdoor activities.

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Forerunner 255 - Health and Fitness Tracking

Core Health Monitoring Features

The Garmin Forerunner 265 and 255 share almost identical health tracking capabilities, including all-day heart rate monitoring, SpO₂ tracking, sleep analysis, stress monitoring, respiration tracking, and female health management (e.g., menstrual cycle and pregnancy tracking). Both watches also provide estimated health age and daily activity recommendations, helping users manage their daily health more effectively.

Sports Modes & Multi-GNSS Positioning

Both watches support GPS+GLONASS+Galileo multi-satellite positioning, ensuring accurate location tracking and clear route recording. They offer over 30 sports modes, including running, cycling, pool swimming, and triathlon. Users can customize data screens via the watch or Garmin Connect app to track metrics like stride length, vertical oscillation, and ground contact time, making them suitable for runners and fitness enthusiasts of all levels.

Key Differences – Training Readiness & Animated Guidance

The biggest advantage of the Forerunner 265 is the Training Readiness feature, which evaluates your daily training suitability by combining sleep, HRV, training load, and stress levels, helping you plan workouts and recovery more effectively. Additionally, its AMOLED display provides clearer visuals and supports animated workout guidance, making running and fitness movements more intuitive and interactive.

In comparison, the Forerunner 255 lacks the training readiness score and animated guidance, but its MIP display consumes less power and offers better visibility in bright outdoor conditions, making it ideal for long outdoor workouts.

Winner: Forerunner 265- The Training Readiness score and AMOLED animated guidance make workouts smarter and more intuitive, helping users maintain high-intensity training while avoiding overtraining.

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Forerunner 255 - Smart Features

Notifications & Daily Use

Both Garmin Forerunner 265 and 255 support smart notifications for calls, texts, emails, and app alerts. Users can check messages directly on their wrist, set calendar reminders, view weather, and use timers or alarms.

Music & Payment

Both watches support offline music playback. The Forerunner 265 goes further, allowing downloads from Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music for a more flexible workout experience. Both models support Garmin Pay, enabling contactless payments directly from your wrist.

Connectivity & App Integration

Both watches pair seamlessly with the Garmin Connect app to sync workout data, training plans, and health insights. They also support Bluetooth and ANT+ sensors, including heart rate straps and cadence sensors, ensuring comprehensive connectivity for athletes.

Display Advantage

The key difference is the AMOLED display on the Forerunner 265, offering sharper, more vibrant visuals for notifications, maps, and music controls. The Forerunner 255 uses a low-power MIP screen, which is easier to read in sunlight and provides longer battery life but with simpler visuals.

Winner: Forerunner 265- The AMOLED screen ensures clearer, more intuitive interaction, making notifications, music control, and daily smart features more visually engaging and easier to manage.

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Forerunner 255 - Storage and Software

The Garmin Forerunner 265 comes with 8GB of internal storage, allowing you to store more workout data, training records, and offline music. In contrast, the Forerunner 255 has only 4GB, which can feel limited when storing large music libraries or multiple apps. For users who frequently sync with their phones, the difference may be minor, but for offline usage and music playback, the 265 clearly has the edge.

Hotkeys & User Experience

The Forerunner 265 introduces Hotkeys, letting you set combination or long-press buttons to quickly activate specific features—for example, turning on the flashlight during night runs or camping and adjusting brightness. The Forerunner 255 does not have this feature. Both watches support installing watch faces, apps, and widgets via the Garmin Connect App, but the 265 offers greater convenience and flexibility in operation and customization.

System & Software

Both watches run Garmin’s proprietary operating system and support Garmin Connect and the Connect IQ store, but the larger storage on the Forerunner 265 makes app installation and data management smoother.

Winner: Forerunner 265- Larger storage and Hotkeys make daily use and training data management more convenient and efficient.

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Forerunner 255 - Summary & Recommendation

The Garmin Forerunner 265 and 255 each have their strengths, catering to different user needs:

• Forerunner 255:Classic, durable, and long-lasting battery life, ideal for beginner runners, budget-conscious users, or those who prioritize extended outdoor activity. It offers comprehensive sport modes and health tracking features, with a low-power MIP display that remains clear under sunlight, making it a high-value choice.
• Forerunner 265:Features a vivid AMOLED display and advanced training metrics, such as Training Readiness scores and on-wrist running dynamics, perfect for users seeking a professional training experience or superior visual experience. The band design is more comfortable, color options are trendy, music storage is larger, and interactions are more intuitive.

Guidance for Choosing:

• Beginner runners or budget-focused users → Choose Forerunner 255 for a complete feature set at a more affordable price.
• Professional athletes or high-end training needs → Choose Forerunner 265, as the AMOLED display and advanced training metrics enhance both training and daily use.
• Balanced daily wear and sports use → Forerunner 265 excels in comfort and visual experience, making the extra ~$50 investment worthwhile for the enhanced features and larger music storage.

Overall Winner: Forerunner 265— Lightweight, comfortable, with an AMOLED display and advanced training metrics, it delivers the ultimate experience for both daily wear and professional workouts.