Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Garmin Forerunner 965

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Garmin Forerunner 265
Garmin

Garmin Forerunner 265

vs
Garmin Forerunner 965
Garmin

Garmin Forerunner 965

LoveBar
50%
50%
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💕 LoveBar Verdict

The 965 outguns the 265 on health, battery, and features. The 265 wins where it counts most: your wallet.

How They Compare

The things that actually matter 💅

💓 Body Whisperer
Garmin Forerunner 965 wins
💡 The 965 adds full training load and stamina tracking
🔋 Charge & Forget
Garmin Forerunner 965 wins
💡 The 965 goes longer thanks to its larger body
✨ Wrist Candy
Basically the same
💡 Both rock gorgeous AMOLED screens in different sizes
🧠 Smart AF
Garmin Forerunner 965 wins
💡 The 965 includes maps and music the 265 leaves out
💸 Worth Strapping?
Garmin Forerunner 265 wins
💡 The 265 delivers the core experience at a much lower cost

Pick Your Side 💜

Which one stole your heart?

or
You picked! The LoveBar is updating 🎉

Which One Is For You?

Two amazing products, two different vibes ✨

💙
The Practical Pacer
Garmin Forerunner 265 lover
  • You want Garmin running intelligence without going all in
  • You prefer a lighter, more compact watch for daily wear
  • You would rather save the difference for race entry fees
💜
The Ambitious Marathoner
Garmin Forerunner 965 lover
  • You want offline maps for trail runs in unfamiliar areas
  • You need music storage so you can leave your phone behind
  • You are training seriously and want every metric available

The Full Story

LoveBar's deep-dive, written for humans 💕

This is Garmin versus Garmin, and the decision is more personal than you might expect. The Forerunner 265 gave runners an AMOLED screen and training readiness scores at a price that felt almost generous. It covers ninety percent of what runners need and does it beautifully. The 965 takes that foundation and adds everything a marathoner might dream of: offline maps for trail navigation, music storage, longer battery, and deeper training analytics. But it also costs considerably more. Plenty of fast runners happily use the 265 and never feel limited. The 965 is for those who know exactly why they need those extras and are willing to pay for them. Ask yourself honestly whether you need maps and music on your wrist. If the answer is no, the 265 is the smarter move. If yes, the 965 earns every penny.