Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Garmin Forerunner 255
The Forerunner 255 has the edge: it lasts longer on GPS (30 hours) and has a sunlight-readable MIP screen. The Forerunner 265 still has an AMOLED screen and has more storage (8 GB), so it's worth a look if that matters more to you.
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Key differences
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Battery life
Evenly matched
Similar battery life: up to 13 days and 14 days.
-
GPS
Evenly matched
Both have built-in GPS with similar features.
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Display
Forerunner 265 wins
The Garmin Forerunner 265 has an AMOLED screen against MIP.
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Health
Evenly matched
Much the same health sensors.
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Weight
Evenly matched
Similar weight: 47 g and 49 g.
Other differences
- Storage Forerunner 265 wins
The Forerunner 265 has 8 GB of storage against 4 GB, more room for music and maps.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Forerunner 265 if…
- You want a vivid, phone-like screen: it has AMOLED-class colour and contrast.
- You load music or maps onto the watch: it has 8 GB.
- You work out with music: it stores songs on the watch.
Choose the Forerunner 255 if…
- You do long runs, rides or hikes: it's rated for 30 hours with GPS.
- You train outdoors in bright sun: its MIP-style screen stays readable and saves battery.
Full spec comparison
The Forerunner 255 leads on battery life; elsewhere the two are closely matched.
Green cells with a ✓ mark the better spec in that row. Tick "Show differences only" to hide the rows where they match.
Overview
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Garmin | Garmin |
| Series | Forerunner | Forerunner |
Platform & apps
Both work with the same phones and software.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Garmin | Garmin |
| Works with | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| Storage | 8 GB | 4 GB |
| App store | Yes | Yes |
Display
On the display, it comes down to what you need.
The Forerunner 265 has a bright, colourful AMOLED screen; the Forerunner 255 uses MIP, easy to read in sunlight and light on the battery. The Forerunner 265 has an AMOLED screen, while the Forerunner 255 has a sunlight-readable MIP screen.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | AMOLED | MIP |
| Screen size | 1.3 in | 1.3 in |
| Resolution | 416 x 416 | 260 x 260 |
| Colour display | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | Yes | — |
| Touchscreen | Yes | — |
| Controls | touchscreen | — |
Design & durability
Both are similar in size, weight and water rating.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Case sizes | 46.1 mm | 45.6 mm |
| Case shape | Round | Round |
| Dimensions | 46.1 x 46.1 x 12.9 mm | 45.6 x 45.6 x 12.9 mm |
| Thickness | 12.9 mm | 12.9 mm |
| Weight (case) | 47 g | 49 g |
| Bezel material | fiber-reinforced polymer | fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Lens | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Band material | silicone | silicone |
| Band width | 22 mm | 22 mm |
| Band fitting | 22 mm, Industry standard | 22 mm quick release |
| Fits wrists | 135-205 mm | 130-205 mm |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Battery
The Forerunner 255 is ahead on battery life.
It lasts longer on GPS (30 hours), and the Forerunner 265 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (smartwatch mode) | 13 days | 14 days |
| Battery (GPS) | 20 hours | 30 hours |
| Battery (multi-band GPS) | 14 hours | 16 hours |
| All battery modes | Smartwatch: 13 days; GPS: 20 hours; Multi-band GPS: 14 hours; GPS: 7 hours; Multi-band GPS + music: 6 hours | Smartwatch: 14 days; GPS: 30 hours; All satellite systems: 25 hours; Multi-band GPS: 16 hours |
| Battery type | Lithium ion | Lithium ion |
| Charging | proprietary-plug | proprietary-plug |
GPS & navigation
Both have built-in GPS with similar capabilities.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 255 |
|---|---|---|
| GPS | Built-in | Built-in |
| Multi-band GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Satellite systems | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou |
| Automatic GNSS mode | Yes | Yes |
| Maps | Breadcrumb trail | Breadcrumb trail |
| Navigation features | point-to-point navigation, back-to-start, TracBack, Up Ahead, course guidance, projected waypoint, distance to destination, elevation profile | point-to-point navigation, back-to-start, TracBack, Up Ahead, course guidance, projected waypoint |
Health & sensors
Both track much the same health data.
Heart rate, sleep and the extra sensors line up closely.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | optical HR, SpO2, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, compass, ambient light, thermometer | optical HR, SpO2, barometer, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer |
| Heart-rate sensor | Garmin Elevate | Garmin Elevate |
| Heart-rate tracking | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| High/low heart-rate alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Heart-rate variability | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Respiration rate | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Sleep coaching | Sleep coaching |
| Stress tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Energy score | Body Battery | Body Battery |
| Readiness score | Training Readiness | — |
| Cycle tracking | Yes | Yes |
Safety
Both offer much the same safety features.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency SOS | Via phone | Via phone |
| Incident detection | Yes | Yes |
| Live tracking | Yes | Yes |
Training
Training features are evenly matched.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Auto activity detection | Yes | Yes |
| Triathlon / multisport | Yes | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Pool and open water | Pool and open water |
| Underwater heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| Training metrics | VO2 max, training load, training effect, recovery time, race predictor, HRV status, lactate threshold, training status | VO2 max, training load, training effect, recovery time, race predictor, lactate threshold, HRV status, training status |
| Adaptive coaching | Yes | Yes |
| Running dynamics | Yes | Yes |
| Wrist running power | Yes | Yes |
| Strength rep counting | Yes | Yes |
| Heart-rate broadcast | Yes | Yes |
| External sensors | ANT+, power meter, foot pod, speed/cadence, bike radar/lights | ANT+, Bluetooth HR strap, power meter, foot pod, speed/cadence, bike radar/lights |
| Smart trainer control | Yes | Yes |
Smart features
The Forerunner 265 is ahead on smart features.
It has more storage (8 GB), and the Forerunner 255 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Message replies | Android | Android |
| Contactless payments | Yes | Yes |
| Payment service | Garmin Pay | Garmin Pay |
| Music storage | Yes | — |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes |
| Find my watch | Yes | — |