Garmin Forerunner 265S is known as the “successor” of the Forerunner 255 series. This smartwatch was launched alongside its sibling, the 265, and offers many superior features and specifications. Let’s explore the product in today’s article!
Lightweight design suitable for sports
With dimensions of 41.7 x 41.7 x 12.9 mm and a weight of 39g, the Garmin Forerunner brings a compact smartwatch that’s comfortable to wear all day without causing discomfort. The 265S also features a round face design like other devices. The bezel is finished with precision and care, accompanied by surrounding buttons to make it easy for users to operate and navigate.
Garmin Forerunner 265S is the perfect combination of dynamism and elegance. The case and bezel are made from durable, sturdy titanium. The perforated strap design allows users to comfortably adjust the fit to their wrist. Thanks to this, you’ll feel at ease wearing the watch throughout your workouts or activities.
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Garmin Forerunner 265S 1.1-inch quality display
The screen is a crucial factor when choosing a smartwatch. With that in mind, Garmin offers a solid display performance on the Forerunner 265S. The watch features a 1.1-inch screen with a 360 x 360 px resolution, making it easy for users to read essential information on the display. The always-on display function allows users to quickly check notifications and metrics while working out without having to activate the screen.
Although its specifications are not as “robust” as other products in the same category, overall, the Forerunner 265S still offers clear and crisp visuals.
Sports features for over 30 activities on the Garmin Forerunner 265S
Providing users with a wide range of sports features, Garmin supports over 30 different activities such as running, triathlons, cycling, swimming, and more on this watch. Additionally, you will receive training information like recovery capability and the next training time, helping users to train effectively.
The pre-workout readiness score feature on the Forerunner 265S is quite convenient as it helps evaluate your body’s state before exercising. Moreover, it provides suitable workout plans, reducing injury risk and promoting more efficient training.
Health-tracking sensors
Alongside its sports features, advanced health sensors are also integrated into the watch. Garmin Forerunner 265S comes with many health-related features such as heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen measurement, and sleep quality tracking, enabling users to easily manage their health. Thanks to the wrist-based sensor, the user’s heart rate can be accurately measured, providing essential information for the user.
Running and GPS Accuracy
As expected from Garmin, the Forerunner 265S offers top-tier GPS performance. It features multi-GNSS support, including GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo, ensuring fast satellite acquisition and highly accurate location tracking. Whether you’re running through urban environments with tall buildings or out in the wilderness, the GPS tracking remains consistent and reliable.
The watch offers various running metrics such as pace, cadence, stride length, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation. These metrics are essential for runners who are looking to fine-tune their technique and performance. Advanced features like VO2 max estimation, training status, training load, and recovery time give athletes deeper insight into their fitness levels and help prevent overtraining by providing recommendations on when to rest.
Heart Rate Monitoring
The Forerunner 265S includes Garmin’s Elevate™ optical heart rate sensor, which provides 24/7 heart rate tracking. This data is crucial for monitoring your intensity during workouts and throughout the day. The watch offers real-time heart rate zones, helping users optimize their training for fat burning, endurance, or high-intensity efforts.
In addition to basic heart rate data, the Forerunner 265S can also monitor resting heart rate, a key indicator of cardiovascular health. The watch provides an abnormal heart rate alert, which notifies users if their heart rate exceeds or drops below a specified threshold during periods of inactivity.
Sleep Tracking and Stress Monitoring
Sleep is a vital component of recovery and overall health, and Garmin has improved its sleep tracking algorithms in the Forerunner 265S. The watch tracks the different stages of sleep—light, deep, and REM—and provides a comprehensive sleep score every morning. By analyzing your sleep data, you can better understand your sleep patterns and make necessary lifestyle changes to improve your recovery.
The stress monitoring feature uses heart rate variability (HRV) to gauge your stress levels throughout the day. This information is valuable for individuals trying to balance their training loads with daily stressors. Additionally, the watch provides guided breathing exercises to help users relax during high-stress moments.
Pulse Oximeter (SpO2)
The Pulse Ox sensor is another health metric integrated into the Forerunner 265S. It measures your blood oxygen levels, which can be helpful in assessing how well your body is adapting to activities at higher altitudes or monitoring your oxygen saturation while you sleep. The data is especially useful for people with respiratory conditions or those engaged in high-altitude training.
User-friendly interface on the Garmin Forerunner 265S
Being a sports watch, the 265S offers a user-friendly and easy-to-view interface. From the first use, you won’t spend too much time navigating or searching for information. In addition, the physical buttons will assist greatly in operating the watch.
Long-lasting battery life
Garmin Forerunner 265S won’t disappoint in terms of battery capacity. When used in smartwatch mode, the watch can operate for up to 15 hours. If used in GPS mode, the battery life will decrease somewhat. However, with this amount of usage time, users can confidently train and engage in daily activities without worrying about interruptions.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight design, ideal for smaller wrists or users who prefer a lighter watch.
- AMOLED display with vibrant colors and excellent visibility.
- Multi-GNSS support for accurate GPS tracking in various environments.
- Advanced fitness tracking features, including VO2 max, running dynamics, and training load.
- Comprehensive health metrics like stress tracking, Body Battery™, SpO2 monitoring, and sleep tracking.
- Up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode.
- Integration with third-party apps like Strava and MyFitnessPal.
- Garmin Pay and music storage, adding convenience to workouts and daily use.
Cons:
- The smaller display may not appeal to those who prefer larger watch faces.
- Battery life in GPS mode, while good, may not match the longevity of some competitor watches.
- Lacks some of the more advanced mapping and navigation features found in Garmin’s higher-end models.
- The strength training and yoga tracking modes are basic compared to specialized fitness watches.
Final Thoughts
The Garmin Forerunner 265S is a highly capable, versatile fitness watch that offers an impressive range of features in a small, lightweight form factor. Its vibrant AMOLED display, combined with advanced health and fitness tracking, makes it an excellent choice for runners, cyclists, swimmers, and everyday fitness enthusiasts. The watch strikes a great balance between performance and price, making it an attractive option for those who want a premium fitness experience without venturing into the higher price brackets of Garmin’s Fenix or Forerunner 900 series.
While it might not offer all the mapping and navigation features of Garmin’s higher-end models, or the extended battery life of some competitors, the Forerunner 265S more than makes up for it with its ease of use, smartwatch features, and extensive fitness tracking capabilities. Whether you’re training for your next race or just looking to improve your overall health, the Garmin Forerunner 265S provides all the tools you need in an elegant and compact package.
Garmin Forerunner 265S Running Smartwatch, Colorful AMOLED Display, Training Metrics and Recovery Insights, Whitestone and Neo Tropic 42 mm: Buy it now