{"id":618115,"date":"2023-03-15T09:49:09","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T14:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sellorbuyhomefast.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/15\/garmin-forerunner-265s-review-the-goldilocks-of-running-watches\/"},"modified":"2023-03-15T09:49:09","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T14:49:09","slug":"garmin-forerunner-265s-review-the-goldilocks-of-running-watches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/15\/garmin-forerunner-265s-review-the-goldilocks-of-running-watches\/","title":{"rendered":"Garmin Forerunner 265S review: the Goldilocks of running watches"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It\u2019s not that I think OLED smartwatches are a bad idea. It\u2019s just, when I picture running watches, I think of memory-in-pixel displays and extra-long battery life in a lightweight package. You know, like the Forerunner 255S, a midrange multiband running watch I just<\/em> reviewed<\/a> nine months ago. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

So when I unboxed the $449.99 Garmin Forerunner 265S, which is essentially the same watch but with an OLED display, it got me thinking of a popular saying among runners: nothing new on race day. No new shoes, no new clothes, no new energy drinks, no new strategies \u2014 you get the idea. Everything about race day ought to be tried and true. And what\u2019s the point of messing around with something as tried and true as the Forerunner? <\/p>\n

By adding OLED and only<\/em> OLED, Garmin is futzing around with a running watch that arguably didn\u2019t need improving. For some runners, an OLED screen is an unnecessary waste of battery life. For others, it\u2019s a long overdue improvement that helps close the gap with smartwatches. Surprisingly, I haven\u2019t thought too hard about which camp I fall in. So going into this review, that\u2019s what I set out to figure out.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s talk OLED versus MIP<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve tested dozens of OLED and memory-in-pixel smartwatches. Each has its merits and drawbacks. OLED is more vibrant, better for indoor lighting, and feels more modern, and I\u2019m not afraid to admit I\u2019m a sucker for animated screens. For example,\u00a0many Garmin watches offer the Morning Report<\/a> feature, which gives you a little summary of your sleep, recovery, schedule, weather, and a suggested daily workout. The feature is functionally the same regardless of whether you\u2019ve got an OLED or MIP display. That said, it\u2019s more fun on OLED Garmin watches. I may be groggy in the mornings, but when I scroll through my Morning Report on the 265S, my sleepy ass loves watching the little trail of steam rise from an animated cup of joe. Little flourishes like that can make otherwise mundane features feel special. <\/p>\n

On the other hand, MIP excels in direct sunlight, and you never have to worry about the battery. The 255S had a MIP display, and when I reviewed it last year, I only had to charge it once<\/em> in about 25 days with roughly 30 minutes of daily GPS activity. <\/p>\n

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\"Close-up<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

You can edit the Forerunner 265S\u2019s watchfaces and customize its complications. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

I typically recommend MIP watches for people who prioritize battery life and OLED for folks who want better readability, a more modern experience, and don\u2019t mind charging more often \u2014 especially<\/em> since enabling an OLED always-on display can significantly drain your battery. Take Fitbit. Their older trackers and smartwatches were known for having five to 10 days of estimated battery life. But enabling the always-on display on an OLED Fitbit from the past couple of years zaps battery life down to two days \u2014 three at most. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s generally been my experience across multiple brands, and it\u2019s about what I was expecting for the Forerunner 265S, too. So I was pleasantly surprised that, with AOD on, I got six and a half days on a single charge. That\u2019s with four hours of multiband GPS workouts, which require more power to run than standard GPS. That\u2019s better than Garmin\u2019s five-day estimate. <\/p>\n

For some athletes, five to six days on a single charge still isn\u2019t enough. However, the 265S is rated for 15 days without AOD on, and that seems right from my testing. In the week I wore the 265S without AOD, I only drained the battery down to 63 percent with an average of 30 to 60 minutes of multiband GPS workouts per day.<\/p>\n

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\"Close-up<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Getting six and a half days on a single charge for an always-on OLED display is excellent. You\u2019ll get more mileage if you disable AOD.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Whether AOD is on or off, that\u2019s excellent battery life when you consider that this is a lightweight, midrange (for Garmin) running watch. It\u2019s far better than what you\u2019ll get on an Apple Watch or any Wear OS watch. <\/p>\n

Garmin also added touchscreen capability on the 265S, which makes navigating menus so much easier. Of course, you still get buttons, and you can lock the touchscreen during a workout. I\u2019ll die on the hill that button controls are a must on smartwatches, especially mid-exercise. But it\u2019s admittedly easier to use swipes and taps when you\u2019re sitting at a desk or on the couch. Plus, unless you\u2019re really committed to fitness or training, you\u2019re <\/strong>not logging upward of seven hours of exercise per week. A combination of touchscreen control and physical buttons is ideal for working out and everyday use \u2014 and that\u2019s something the 265 lineup has that its predecessor doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

All of this is enough for me to say that the 265S is better than its predecessor and that I\u2019m pro-OLED on Garmin watches in general. <\/p>\n

You can see a major difference between MIP on the 255S (left) and OLED on the 265S (right).<\/em><\/figcaption>

Photo by Victoria Song \/ The Verge and Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales \/ The Verge<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A case for smaller fitness watches<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

While Garmin watches are known for being bulky behemoths, that doesn\u2019t apply here. This is a lightweight running watch, weighing 47g for the 46mm Forerunner 265 and 39g for the 42mm 265S. I\u2019m a five-foot, three-inch pip-squeak with bird wrists to match, so given the option, I opted to review the smaller 265S.<\/p>\n

And let me tell you, I deeply appreciate the readability of larger screens, but it is genuinely nice<\/em> to wear a watch that doesn\u2019t look like I\u2019ve strapped a dinner plate to my wrist. It\u2019s also easier to run with, not only because it\u2019s lightweight but also because it\u2019s not so thick it\u2019ll catch on your clothes. I recently got some long-sleeve tech shirts with \u201cwatch windows\u201d<\/a> \u2014 holes on your wrist where your watch screen peeks out \u2014 for winter running. They\u2019ve been a game-changer but don\u2019t work as well with larger displays. I had no such issues with the 265S. Plus, it didn\u2019t matter how many layers I wore; the watch never caught on my windbreaker\u2019s narrow sleeves or cuffs. <\/p>\n

The smaller the tracker, the more comfortable it is for sleep tracking. That\u2019s true with the 265S with one caveat. My skin is sensitive to silicone, and after a few days, I ended up with a minor rash. You can always switch wrists, and the 265S will work with any standard 18mm strap if you\u2019d rather swap to a more breathable material. It\u2019s just something to keep in mind if, like me, you have skin sensitivities. However, I did<\/em> like how flexible these straps were compared to other silicone bands, which can be pretty stiff.<\/p>\n

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<\/span>\"Close<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Start button is now slightly larger and says \u201cRUN.\u201d<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/span>\"Close<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

One of the best things about the Forerunner 265S is how light it is. It weighs just 39g.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

None of this was surprising. I had pretty much the same experience with the 255S, and the 265S uses the same case body. The main difference is the Start button is now a bit bigger and has \u201cRUN\u201d embossed into the side. This isn\u2019t as easily dressed up for occasions when you want to look snazzy. You can switch up the straps to elevate the look, but that\u2019s not as easy with the brighter colorways. I love my purple-pink review unit: it\u2019s fun and matches my Beats Fit Pro and my current fixation on vaporware pinks and purples. It just wouldn\u2019t be my pick for a wedding or any place with a dress code. This is only an issue if you find a few hours of missing data irksome. <\/p>\n

The right mix of features<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

I say this with love: if there\u2019s a choice between less and more, 99.9 percent of the time, Garmin will pick more. I\u2019m pretty sure no other fitness-tracking platform offers more metrics or training features \u2014 often in the most convoluted app settings and menus possible. If you\u2019re switching from a Fitbit, Apple Watch, or a Samsung smartwatch, I\u2019ve no doubt your head will spin at first. <\/p>\n

But despite the cluttered Garmin Connect app, the 265S has the right mix of features for intermediate-level runners. By intermediate, I mean folks who are already familiar with metrics like VO2 max and concepts like acute training load and who know the difference between tempo and interval runs. That doesn\u2019t mean the 265S isn\u2019t a good fit for beginners or advanced runners \u2014 it\u2019s just best<\/em> if your happy place is somewhere between a 10K and a marathon. <\/p>\n

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\"Sensor<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

There aren\u2019t any super unique sensors in the Forerunner 265S, but it\u2019s got multiband GPS and a bevvy of training metrics.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

I enjoyed using the 265S as part of my half-marathon training. The Morning Report, for example, was a neat way to quickly review my recovery each morning, check the weather, and get a suggestion for a daily workout. The 265S also supports Garmin Coach, which offers training plains for different skill levels for 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons. If you\u2019re worried about injuries, features like Training Readiness are helpful for gauging whether you\u2019re putting in the right mix of high- and low-intensity workouts. (Though, I\u2019ll admit Garmin wounded my pride with this feature when it said I\u2019d veered into \u201cunproductive\u201d training territory after nailing a 10-mile run.) You can also view your HRV status<\/a> \u2014 which is another long-term view of how your training impacts your bodily recovery. It takes quite a while to generate (roughly three weeks), so this is one feature I\u2019ve had an iffier time testing as a reviewer. <\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also get every running metric under the sun, including form-related data like vertical oscillation, stride length, running power, and cadence. Personally, I found features like PacePro and Race Predictor to be the most helpful. The former allows you to set a pacing strategy for a race (or long run) and download it onto your watch. It makes life easier if you\u2019re trying to run negative splits or make sure you don\u2019t use up too much energy straight out of the gate. Race Predictor makes an educated guess as to what your 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon times would be based on your long-term running data. It\u2019s a handy way to gauge a realistic time goal for your next race. (Is it a lil\u2019 bit of a confidence boost that the 265S seems confident I should hit my goal half-marathon time? Yup.)<\/p>\n

The 265S omits some of Garmin\u2019s newer features. I genuinely liked real-time stamina tracking <\/strong>when I tested the Fenix 7S Sapphire Solar edition<\/a>, especially when training at new distances, but it\u2019s more of a nice-to-have than a must. However, I wouldn\u2019t say you\u2019re truly missing out here, as even experienced runners don\u2019t use every<\/em> feature Garmin offers. <\/p>\n

One possible exception is navigation. While the 265S does have trackback, point-to-point navigation, and real-time breadcrumb trail support, it lacks the more advanced mapping features you\u2019ll find on the new Forerunner 965<\/a> and other top-of-the-line outdoor sports watches. If you frequently run or hike on trails, you may want to take that into careful consideration. I\u2019m primarily a city runner, so this wasn\u2019t a huge drawback for me.<\/p>\n

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\"Close<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

I got all the training features I needed on the 265S and didn\u2019t miss the ones that weren\u2019t included.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

As for smart features, the 265S won\u2019t beat out an Apple Watch, but it has more than you might expect. With the OLED display, you now get more customizability over your watchfaces and can customize complications to best suit your needs. For music, the 265S has Spotify support via the Connect IQ store as well as Amazon Music and Deezer. You can<\/em> load up Apple Music playlists, but as I wrote in a previous review<\/a>, it\u2019s more trouble than it\u2019s worth. <\/p>\n

Like other Garmin watches, you get push notifications, timers, alarms, find my phone, and find my watch. Android users get quick replies to texts. It\u2019s also got Garmin Pay as well as various safety features like Incident Detection (Garmin\u2019s version of fall detection) and LiveTrack. Because there\u2019s no cellular capability, this isn\u2019t a truly standalone running watch \u2014 though it gets pretty close. <\/p>\n

Pricey, but worth it for runners<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

Paying $450 for the Forerunner 265S might seem way too pricey when you consider the $349.99 Pixel Watch<\/a>, the $279.99 Samsung Galaxy Watch 5<\/a>, and the $249 second-gen Apple Watch SE<\/a>. Not only do these three flagship smartwatches have more advanced features and better third-party app compatibility but they\u2019re also more versatile for everyday wear. However, there are a few reasons why the 265S might be worth the extra investment. <\/p>\n

First, Garmin is platform agnostic, so unlike the flagship smartwatches, it truly doesn\u2019t matter what phone you own. And if you\u2019re hunting around for a Fitbit alternative, well, Garmin has made no overtures toward shutting down its community features<\/a>. Greater durability and weeklong battery life with <\/em>the always-on display are also major points in favor of the 265S. Plus, $450 is actually on the cheaper end for a multiband GPS watch. Right now, the majority of multiband GPS watches cost upward of $600. <\/p>\n

That $450 is also the total<\/em> cost. Garmin doesn\u2019t gate any of its features behind subscriptions, and its built-in training and coaching features are no joke. If you want to get the most out of a Pixel Watch\u2019s health features, you\u2019ll probably want to add Fitbit Premium, which costs $80 annually. And if you\u2019re mulling adding LTE to any<\/em> smartwatch, be aware that tacks on $50 plus monthly carrier fees. In a sense, the Garmin wins here by not offering LTE at all.<\/p>\n

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\"Side<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

This is definitely the Garmin I\u2019d buy with my own money.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Folks looking for a more affordable Garmin should consider the $249.99 Venu Sq 2<\/a>. It\u2019s a more 1-to-1 Fitbit alternative, but it\u2019s still got a snazzy OLED display and great fitness features. Similarly, if OLED isn\u2019t something you care about, nabbing a Forerunner 255S<\/a> is an excellent way to save $100 while getting a pretty much identical fitness <\/strong>experience, <\/strong>much longer battery life, and<\/em> multiband GPS. <\/p>\n

One major perk of being a reviewer is that I get to try all the Garmins without breaking my wallet. That said, this is 100 percent the Garmin I\u2019d buy with my own money. I didn\u2019t find myself sacrificing much battery life for OLED, the screen was more readable in my daily life, and as someone who sticks to 10Ks and half marathons, I didn\u2019t find myself missing my Fenix 7S<\/a> much. (And to be clear, I love my Fenix 7S.) It may not be the best of the best, but for me, the Forerunner 265 lineup is the Goldilocks of running watches. It gets everything just right. <\/p>\n

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Agree to continue: Garmin Forerunner 265S<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it \u2014 contracts that no one actually reads. It\u2019s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we\u2019re going to start counting exactly how many times you have to hit \u201cagree\u201d to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don\u2019t read and definitely can\u2019t negotiate.<\/em><\/p>\n

To use the Garmin Forerunner 265S, you must pair it with an iPhone or Android smartphone. That includes the phone\u2019s terms of service, privacy policy, and any other permissions you grant. You must also create a Garmin Connect account to use the app.<\/p>\n

By setting up the Garmin Forerunner 265S, you\u2019re agreeing to:<\/p>\n

All of Garmin\u2019s privacy and legal policies are available within the Garmin Connect app. You must also grant the Garmin Connect app certain phone permissions for Bluetooth, calendar, location, and notifications. Additionally, optional safety features like LiveTrack also come with an end-user license agreement. You may also have to agree to share your health data with the company for certain features. If you decide to enable Garmin Pay, you\u2019ll also have to agree to the Garmin Pay Terms and Conditions and Garmin Pay Privacy Policy. Integrating your Garmin activity data with other services, like Strava, Spotify, or Apple HealthKit, also requires you to agree to those individual terms and policies.<\/p>\n

Final tally: whatever your phone requires, plus three mandatory Garmin policies and four phone permissions for smart features. There are additional policies for optional health insights, contactless payments, and safety features.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Read More<\/a>
\n Victoria Song<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s not that I think OLED smartwatches are a bad idea. It\u2019s just, when I picture running watches, I think of memory-in-pixel displays and extra-long battery life in a lightweight package. You know, like the Forerunner 255S, a midrange multiband running watch I just reviewed nine months ago. So when I unboxed the $449.99 Garmin<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":618116,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25354,3345,46],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-618115","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-forerunner","8":"category-garmin","9":"category-technology"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/618115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=618115"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/618115\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/618116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=618115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=618115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=618115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}