In-Depth Review of the Garmin Forerunner 265 Running Smartwatch: A Summer 2025 Essential

You understand how important it is to have reliable and insightful tools to support your running and overall fitness journey. The Garmin Forerunner 265 Running Smartwatch offers advanced features designed to help you train smarter, recover better, and optimize your performance. This review will guide you through the key benefits of this smartwatch, explaining why it is a valuable investment for your summer 2025 training and beyond.

Selection Criteria

When choosing a running smartwatch, you should consider display quality, battery life, training and recovery insights, GPS accuracy, comfort, and versatility for cross-training activities. The Garmin Forerunner 265 excels in these areas with its colorful AMOLED touchscreen, up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, advanced training readiness metrics, and support for over 30 activity profiles. Additionally, user experience and customer feedback were important factors in our evaluation.

Garmin Forerunner 265

If you're serious about running or just want a smartwatch that keeps up with your active lifestyle, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is worth a close look. Its bright AMOLED touchscreen makes it easy to see your stats at a glance, even in bright sunlight, and the mix of touchscreen and button controls means you won't get stuck fumbling mid-run. You get a solid 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, so you’re not constantly hunting for a charger. What’s really cool is the training readiness feature that tells you when your body is primed for a tough workout, helping you avoid overdoing it. Plus, the morning report gives you a snapshot of your sleep, recovery, and overall health to start your day informed. Whether you’re training for a race or just tracking your daily steps and sleep, this watch adapts with personalized workouts and supports over 30 activity profiles, including triathlons and swimming. It’s comfortable enough to wear all day and night, so you can keep tabs on your health around the clock. If you want a reliable, feature-packed running watch without the bulk or complexity of higher-end models, this one fits the bill nicely.

Pros and Cons

What People Say

Users appreciate the clear display, comfortable fit, and insightful health tracking features. Many find the training readiness and sleep insights especially helpful for improving their routines. While the menu can be a bit complex at first, most agree it’s manageable once you get used to it. Battery life and lightweight design are also frequently praised.

• This model is a solid choice. My first choice for an update to my Forerunner 35 was a more expensive model with an illegible display, so I returned it. Then I tried the 165, but it had a faulty accelerometer. The 265 has a bright AMOLED display and a better accelerometer. The menu is complex but once you get it, it works well. It automatically tracks walk/run segments as runs, which I didn’t even know was possible. The sleep insights are helpful, and the watch even coaches me while I listen to music. The form fit is nice, with metal buttons and a solid strap. It’s the perfect pick for me, saving time and money. The only downside is it doesn’t come with a USB-C power block, but that’s a minor gripe.

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• I've had this watch for about two months and really like it. It took me about a week to get comfortable with the navigation and using buttons while running. It’s very light and comfortable, so I wear it often, even to bed for sleep tracking. I added a custom run/walk tracker from Garmin’s site, which works well. Battery life is great, recharging quickly when needed. I also tried the FR965, which has more features but costs about $150 more. For me, the 265’s running route tracker (which shows the shape of your run) is enough, even though it doesn’t have a map. Overall, I don’t regret choosing the 265.

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How It Helps In Different Situations

Health Features

Ease of Use

Versatility

With over 30 built-in activity profiles, the Forerunner 265 adapts to your training needs whether you’re running, cycling, swimming, or doing triathlons. It’s a versatile companion for all kinds of workouts and daily health tracking.

Look and Feel

The sleek 46 mm design with a bright AMOLED display and metal buttons gives it a modern, sporty look that’s easy to wear both on and off the track.

Comfort

Weighing just 47 grams with a lightweight strap, it’s comfortable enough to wear all day and night without feeling bulky or restrictive.

Key Benefits

• Bright AMOLED display that's easy to read outdoors

• Up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode

• Training readiness feature to optimize workouts

• Personalized daily suggested workouts adapting to your performance

• Sleep and recovery insights with morning reports

• Supports over 30 activity profiles including triathlon and swimming

Current Price: $349.99

Rating: 4.7 (total: 674+)

Get It Here

FAQ

Is the Garmin Forerunner 265 Suitable for Both Beginner and Advanced Runners?

You will find the Garmin Forerunner 265 to be an excellent choice regardless of your running experience. Its advanced training metrics and recovery insights provide valuable data that can help you optimize your workouts whether you are just starting out or training for competitive races. The race widget offers personalized daily suggested workouts that adapt to your performance and recovery, making it easier for you to progress at your own pace. Additionally, the colorful AMOLED display and intuitive touchscreen combined with physical buttons ensure that you can navigate the watch comfortably during your runs.

How Long Does the Battery Last and What Should I Expect in Terms of Charging?

You can expect up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, which is ideal for extended use without frequent charging. In GPS mode, the battery lasts up to 20 hours, allowing you to track long runs or multi-sport activities without interruption. Charging is quick, but note that the watch does not come with a USB-C power block, so you will need to use your own charger or connect it to a USB port. To maximize battery life, you might consider adjusting settings such as screen brightness or disabling features you do not use regularly.

Can I Use the Garmin Forerunner 265 for Activities Other Than Running?

Yes, the Forerunner 265 supports more than 30 activity profiles including triathlons, cycling, swimming, and cross training, giving you versatility beyond running. You can switch easily between activities, and the watch provides wrist-based running power and multi-band GPS for accurate tracking. If you enjoy music during workouts, you can also control your playlists directly from your wrist. For sleep and recovery, the watch offers detailed insights, helping you maintain a balanced training routine.

Wrapping Up

The Garmin Forerunner 265 Running Smartwatch is a sophisticated and reliable companion for your running and fitness activities. You benefit from its bright AMOLED display, comprehensive training readiness and recovery insights, and multi-band GPS accuracy. Its versatility allows you to track a wide range of activities beyond running, making it a practical choice for cross-training. With a strong battery life and positive user reviews highlighting its comfort and functionality, this smartwatch supports you in achieving your fitness goals effectively throughout summer 2025 and beyond.