Garmin - Forerunner 265S GPS Smartwatch 42 mm Fiber-reinforced polymer - Black - (2023)
Customers are saying
Customers appreciate the exceptional battery life and overall performance, which make this watch a top choice for athletes. Users also frequently praise the device for its highly accurate GPS tracking and bright, easy-to-read screen. Additionally, the lightweight design and comfortable fit ensure it is ideal for daily wear, while the integrated sleep and stress tracking features provide valuable health insights.
Color
BlackAMOLED touchscreen display
Brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display with traditional button controls; lightweight design in 42 mm for smaller wrists
Battery life
Up to 15 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 24 hours in GPS mode
Morning report
As soon as you wake up, get your morning report with an overview of your sleep, recovery and training outlook alongside HRV status, training readiness and weather (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
Race widget and daily suggested workout
Plan race strategy with personalized daily suggested workouts based on the race and course that you input into the Garmin Connect app and then view the race widget on your watch; daily suggested workouts adapt after every run to match performance and recovery
Training readiness
Training readiness score is based on sleep quality, recovery, training load and HRV status to determine if you’re primed to go hard and get the most out of your workout (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
More activities
30+ built-in activity profiles include running, triathlons, cycling, open-water swimming and more
Training status
Using indicators such as HRV status, recent exercise history and performance, get insight into overall effort with training status — and know whether you’re training productively, peaking or strained (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
Safety and tracking
Safety and tracking features, including incident detection and Assistance, send a message with your live location to emergency contacts when paired with your compatible smartphone; requires setup and your smartphone to be in an area with network coverage
Superior accuracy
Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology provides superior positioning accuracy in challenging environments while also optimizing the device’s battery life
Connected features
Never miss a call or text from your paired Android or Apple smartphone with smart notifications
Garmin Pay payment solution
Leave your cash and cards at home; Garmin Pay contactless payments let you pay for purchases on the go (with a supported country and payment network)
Music on the go
Download songs to your watch, including playlists from Spotify, Amazon Music or Deezer (subscription may be required), and connect with your wireless headphones for phone-free listening
Free Connect app
See your health and fitness information, connect and compete with friends, sign up for challenges to earn badges and more — all in our free, zero-subscription Garmin Connect app
- Screen Size28 millimetersTouch ScreenYesOperating System CompatibilityAndroid, Apple iOSOperating SystemGarminApp CompatibleYesBuilt-in Storage8 gigabytes
Reviews
Rating 4.9 out of 5 stars with 76 reviews
- Battery Life (25)
- Overall Performance (17)
- GPS Accuracy (9)
- Screen Quality (5)
- Sleep Tracking (5)
Customer Images
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
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Train brilliantly with the smaller-sized Forerunner 265S GPS running smartwatch. Its colorful AMOLED touchscreen display stands out while the training readiness feature — which tells you when you’re primed for a productive session — helps you crush your goals. Wake up to your morning report with HRV status to see health insights alongside an overview of sleep, recovery and training outlook (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked). Plan your race strategy with the race widget, which enables personalized daily suggested workouts that adapt to performance, recovery, the race you’re running and its course. Get ready to make the most of every run with wrist-based running power and multi-band GPS. And when you want to switch it up with cross training, choose from more than 30 activity profiles, including triathlons, cycling, swimming and more. Get a more complete picture of your health, not just a glimpse, from your Forerunner 265S with up to 15 days of battery life in smartwatch mode.

For performance-driven runners, there’s Forerunner 970 — the premium GPS running and triathlon smartwatch with our brightest AMOLED display, durable sapphire lens and lightweight titanium bezel. Use the built-in LED flashlight for greater awareness when you head out before the sun’s up or stay out past dark. Understand your overall energy efficiency with running economy, and see how much you are slowing down when your foot hits the ground with step speed loss (HRM 600 monitor required; sold separately). Running tolerance helps you understand the real impact running has on your body so you can adjust your training to avoid overload and improve. Use multi-band GPS and full-color, built-in maps plus navigation enhancements to stay on track while you train. Forerunner 970 is ready to go as long as you are, with up to 15 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. If you ever go too far, use the built-in speaker and microphone to make a call from your wrist (when paired with your smartphone).

Train brilliantly with the Forerunner 265 GPS running smartwatch. Its colorful AMOLED touchscreen display stands out while the training readiness feature — which tells you when you’re primed for a productive session — helps you crush your goals. Wake up to your morning report with HRV status to see health insights alongside an overview of sleep, recovery and training outlook (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked). Plan your race strategy with the race widget, which enables personalized daily suggested workouts that adapt to performance, recovery, the race you’re running and its course. Get ready to make the most of every run with wrist-based running power and multi-band GPS. And when you want to switch it up with cross training, choose from more than 30 activity profiles, including triathlons, cycling, swimming and more. Get a more complete picture of your health, not just a glimpse, from your Forerunner 265 with up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode.

Train brilliantly with Forerunner 965, the premium GPS running and triathlon smartwatch with a bright AMOLED touchscreen display and lightweight titanium bezel. Wake up to your morning report with HRV status to see health insights with an overview of sleep, recovery and training outlook (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked). The training readiness feature tells you when you’re primed for a productive session — while daily suggested workouts adapt to performance and recovery alongside the race widget, which provides training tips, course details and completion time predictions. Navigate any route confidently with multi-band GPS and full-color, built-in maps. With traditional buttons and a touchscreen display, it’s easy to tap into your training status and know whether you’re training productively, peaking or strained. If you’re pushing to outshine the competition, the Forerunner 965 is there to light up every run with up to 23 days of battery life in smartwatch mode.
| Pros for Garmin - Forerunner 265S GPS Smartwatch 42 mm Fiber-reinforced polymer - Black - (2023) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Life, Overall Performance, Screen Quality, Sleep Tracking, GPS Accuracy | Overall Performance, Battery Life, Features, Weight, Flashlight | Battery Life, Overall Performance, Sleep Tracking, Functionality, Comfort | Battery Life, Overall Performance, Screen Quality, Ease of Use, Accuracy |
| Cons for Garmin - Forerunner 265S GPS Smartwatch 42 mm Fiber-reinforced polymer - Black - (2023) | |||
| There were no cons for this product— | Sleep Tracking | Size | Sleep Tracking |


























































