Garmin · Smartwatch
Garmin Forerunner 265
AMOLED Forerunner with Training Readiness. The 965 minus the bigger case and topo maps.
$449.99Garmin →
Key specs
- Battery life
- 13 days
- GPS tracking
- 20 hr
- Charging
- 1 hr
- Weight
- 47g
- Case size
- 46mm
- Display
- AMOLED, always-on
- Water resistance
- 5 ATM (50m)
- Phone
- Not required
- Sensors
- Optical heart rate, SpO₂, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer, Compass, GPS, Altimeter, Ambient light
The 265 brought AMOLED to the Forerunner mid-tier. You lose the topo maps and the larger case of the 965, but multi-band GNSS, Training Readiness, race prediction, and the Garmin Coach plans all carry over — for $150 less.
Strengths
- AMOLED in a runner-focused watch
- Training Readiness without 965 pricing
- 13-day smartwatch battery
Tradeoffs
- No topo maps
- No ECG or AFib screening
- Superseded by the Forerunner 570, though Garmin still sells it
Full specs
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Common questions
- How much does the Garmin Forerunner 265 cost?
- The Garmin Forerunner 265 has a list price of $449.99.
- Does the Garmin Forerunner 265 require a subscription?
- No. The Garmin Forerunner 265 has no subscription — you pay for the hardware once and the Garmin app is included.
- How long does the Garmin Forerunner 265 battery last?
- About 13 days of typical use per charge. Heavy GPS use, an always-on display, and continuous sensing all pull that number down.
- How much does the Garmin Forerunner 265 weigh?
- The 46 mm Garmin Forerunner 265 weighs 47 g.
- How big is the Garmin Forerunner 265?
- The Garmin Forerunner 265 has a 46 mm case in the configuration we list, which weighs 47 g.
- Is the Garmin Forerunner 265 waterproof?
- The Garmin Forerunner 265 is rated 5 ATM (50m), which covers showering, swimming, and surface water sports. It is not a dive rating.
- Do you need a phone to use the Garmin Forerunner 265?
- No. The Garmin Forerunner 265 records, stores, and shows your data on the device itself — a phone is for syncing and review, not for tracking.
- When was the Garmin Forerunner 265 released?
- Garmin released the Garmin Forerunner 265 in 2023, and it is still in the current lineup.