Garmin Forerunner 265
$$ Mid-range$359.99
tldr; AMOLED running. Great display, training features. Popular upgrade.
$359.99 on AmazonSentiment Breakdown
37%Positive
Positive
37%Neutral
61%Negative
2%Based on 163 Reddit opinions
Strengths & Weaknesses
Each axis shows what % of Reddit comments are positive about that topic. Higher = more praise.
Key Features
- Brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display with traditional button controls; lightweight design in 46 mm size
- Up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode
- 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)
- 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 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)
- 30+ built-in activity profiles include running, triathlons, cycling, open-water swimming and more
- 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 features, including incident detection (during select outdoor activities) 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 where data connectivity is available
Sentiment Over Time
Historical Price Data
Garmin Forerunner 265
Garmin Forerunner 265
All-time low: $299.99(2025-11)
$51 below 90-day avg
What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Garmin Forerunner 265
Best Praise
+6 pts“Depending on the functionality, the 'S' watches from Garmin could be perfect for you. The Venu 3S or the Forerunner 265S are both excellent watches for a smaller wrist.”
r/Smartwatch
ViewTop Criticism
+1 pts“Yeah that's great and all but in the end it's just software. A 265 for example should at least be able to show a map no? Crazy that a almost €500 watch doesn't have such basic functionality. I feel they don't put it on just to sell you their more expensive watches.”
r/Smartwatch
View11 more quotes available below
Related Products
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Garmin Forerunner 265 worth buying?
AMOLED running. Great display, training features. Popular upgrade.
What do Redditors love about the Garmin Forerunner 265?
Redditors highlight: 🖥️ AMOLED. 🏃 Running. 📈 Popular upgrade.
What are the downsides of the Garmin Forerunner 265?
Some criticisms include: "Yeah that's great and all but in the end it's just software. A 265 for example should at least be able to show a map no? Crazy that a almost €500 watch doesn't have such basic functionality."
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Products with more mentions (Garmin Forerunner 265 has 163) tend to have more reliable scores.
163 Reddit opinions analyzed • Last updated 4/10/2026