The Garmin Forerunner 265 is a premium GPS running smartwatch engineered for dedicated athletes, featuring a vibrant touchscreen AMOLED display in two sizes—1.3-inch for the standard model and 1.1-inch for the compact 265S—for crisp visibility during intense workouts or casual glances. It delivers advanced training metrics like wrist-based running power, training status, endurance scores, and recovery insights, alongside personalized daily suggested workouts that adapt to your performance and readiness, helping you optimize pacing and prevent overtraining. With multiband GPS for superior accuracy in urban canyons or dense forests, built-in music storage for up to 500 songs via Spotify, Deezer, or Amazon Music (phone-free playback), and over 30 preloaded activity profiles for running, cycling, swimming, triathlons, and strength training, it supports comprehensive multisport tracking. Health monitoring includes all-day heart rate variability (HRV) status, sleep analysis, stress tracking, and women’s health features, all synced seamlessly to the Garmin Connect app for deeper insights. Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery offering up to 13 days in smartwatch mode or 20 hours in GPS mode, it also enables Garmin Pay contactless payments, smart notifications, and safety features like incident detection, wrapped in a lightweight, water-resistant (5 ATM) case available in black/slate gray, purple/yellow, or tidal blue finishes for everyday endurance.
Key Features
Vibrant AMOLED Touchscreen Display
The Forerunner 265 features a bright, high-resolution AMOLED touchscreen (1.3-inch on the standard model, 1.1-inch on the 265S) that delivers sharp visuals and smooth interaction, making it easy to view stats, maps, and notifications even in direct sunlight.
Advanced Training Guidance and Readiness
It combines wrist-based running power, HRV status, training load, and recovery time to provide personalized daily suggested workouts and a morning report that tells you how ready you are to train, helping you train smarter and avoid burnout.
Built-In Music and Contactless Payment
Store up to 500 songs directly on the watch for phone-free listening via Bluetooth headphones, and use Garmin Pay to make quick contactless payments at stores—no wallet or phone required.
Multiband GPS and Multi-Sport Tracking
Multiband GNSS with SatIQ technology delivers superior positioning accuracy in challenging environments, while over 30 activity profiles—including triathlon and open-water swimming—track every aspect of your training with detailed metrics.
Up to 13 Days of Battery Life
Enjoy up to 13 days in smartwatch mode or 20 hours in GPS-only mode (15 hours with music), so the watch keeps up with long training blocks and races without constant recharging.
What’s in the Box
- Garmin Forerunner 265
- Charging Cable
- Documentation
FAQs
How accurate is the wrist-based heart rate and running power on the Forerunner 265?
The Elevate V4 optical sensor provides reliable HR tracking for most activities, with HRV status for recovery insights; running power is estimated via algorithms and is about 90-95% accurate compared to power meters, improving with consistent fit and arm swing calibration.
Can I download music directly to the watch, and which services are supported?
Yes, it holds up to 500 songs via Bluetooth sync from Spotify, Deezer, or Amazon Music (requires premium subscription); you can also transfer MP3 files from your computer for phone-free playback during runs.
What is the battery life like during GPS activities and smartwatch use?
In smartwatch mode, it lasts up to 13 days; GPS-only mode offers 20 hours, or 15 hours with music playback—real-world results vary by brightness, notifications, and wrist HR usage, but it’s sufficient for marathons or multi-day events.
Does the Forerunner 265 work well for swimming or triathlons?
Yes, with 5 ATM water resistance, it tracks pool and open-water swims, including stroke detection and SWOLF scores; the triathlon profile auto-transitions between swim, bike, and run modes for seamless multisport logging.
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