Garmin’s Best Value Sports Watch? || Forerunner 265

Is this the best value sports watch on the market? Priced at $450, it's probably a bit too expensive to wear that crown but the Garmin Forerunner 265 delivers a lot of value for all of that money.

Try discount code: "matt_legrand"

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Chapters
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00:00 - Intro
00:43 - Garmin's Forerunner Series
01:46 - New Bright AMOLED Screen & 265 Watchfaces
02:40 - Color Options
03:10 - Price
04:20 - Training Readiness Score
05:05 - Battery Life
05:36 - GPS Accuracy
07:10 - Heart Rate Accuracy
08:45 - Other Watch Comparisons
10:10 - 965 vs 265
11:00 - Wrap up

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Some of these links are affiliate links, if you purchase gear with these links I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my channel and allowing me to continue to make triathlon content!

[mlegrand]

Thank you so much for checking this one out. Here's some buying information:
Try discount code: "matt_legrand"

[romantrochanowski]

How you only have 25k subscribers is beyond me. The best production fitness YouTuber, no question.

[rohanarora]

Guys, I understand cost is an important factor, but 265 provides a backup of atleast 6-10 days without always on display with small number of workouts and if u compare that to an apple watch, it surely is a breakthrough for garmin to provide such a battery backup with amoled display. Secondly, everyone does praise MIP displays of 255 n 955 but when you will use 265 or 965, you will not be able to go back to MIP again coz those colors are so vibrant. Plus, since 255 n 955 are older models than the new amoled ones, soon garmin will focus more on the new ones for updates. May be features are similar bw the mip n amoled models but the amoled seems more fluid when you scroll thru menus.

[nilscalasanzio]

FR255 is the best value, if found with a significant discount.

I could find the FR255 for 250€ and the FR265 for 450€.

They are almost identical (same chipset and dual band GPS), the major difference being the 265’s LED display. But if found for 250€/250$, I would say the FR255 is the best value watch. The LED display upgrade isnt worth paying 200€ or 200$ extra. That’s why I bought the FR255.

[romanluu]

I've had mine for around 9 months now (or however long it has been since release) and it absolutely has everything a regular person could ask for. I feel like some of the AMOLED diss comes from people who never used this display technology. Sure, you do have to charge it more frequently, but it charges quickly. I charge it every 4-5 days after waking up and by the time I finish my shower and breakfast it's full or almost full; that's with at least a 30-minute outdoor run every day, with the GPS setting turned to SatIQ.

[elia.]

I got mine from $449 to paying $382 which is a huge discount because the place I got it from online gives great discounts for Veterans. For this reasons I decide it to get it. I didn't need the 255 because I have the 745 I got as a gift. I wanted the 265 because of the bright colorful display it looks much modern. It makes the 255 looks like a watch from the 90s. I love my 745 and 265 and 45 yes! I still have thr FR45.

[ЯковФайт-Бруннер]

Thank you so much for this review. I couldn’t find the review which would compare this watch directly to 745, so it was really useful for me! Now I see the difference and can finally make my choice.

[txcrna]

Much slimmer/lighter than my Fenix 5 plus. Doesn’t flop around due to chunky heft like the Fenix. I also like that it displays running power without an external sensor.

[The_Bearded_Dan]

I recently bought a 255 and returned it for a 265 after a day. After coming from a Venu 2 I wanted something that provided more running options but I couldn't get on with no touchscreen and the MIP display on the 255. I managed to get 30% off the 265 through work and so far I am very happy with my 265

[uldistucs]

I don't understand the AMOLED thing. Especially if you want the battery to last longer, the screen should be turned off as much as possible. Never had a problem with the MIP screen. Everything can be seen very well in any conditions.
Hopefully Garmin FR will go back to MIP screens. I have been using FR for 7 years. I think I could upgrade my 245 to a newer one, but it seems that I have to wait, because the price is much too big for the 265. And I agree with the others that the best value is the 255.
Thanks for the detailed review. Always a pleasure to watch.

[juanantonioumanamalo]

Just bought mine today! Swapping the AWU gen 1, I wanted a more "minimalistic" watch and not having to charge the watch every other day will for sure be a game changer. Unreal how you don't have more subs!!! Top-notch content and production. As well as the best advice out there!

[alexanderbarberis]

I have the FR 255, and I don't think the price difference is worth it just for the AMOLED screen. The battery life gives me 37 hours with GPS only, which is considerably more than its AMOLED-equipped counterpart

[spencerharper]

Love the 265 just upgraded couldn’t be happier

[rohanarora]

i have been using the 265 since sometime now...tbh the battery life with an amoled display is just exceptional...the UI is quite alright though it lags only when you use an intensive watchface otherwise its fluid.

The only flaw that I find in this watch is the heart rate sensor or probably their software for it. I have complained about the same on their forum as well, the sensor is just laggy when there is no activity or even when there is, it takes time to pick the right beat. It is an expensive watch and a user expects the main thing to work accurately coz of which all the other data works.

[PeterHerget]

I started running with a Timex smartwatch with an arm unit for GPS (pretty sure that large, armband device gave me some cancer) year later, oh yeah, Garmin came into my life. I don't recall the model of the 2.5-inch long rectangular watch on my left wrist called a ForeRunner, but it was epic... Fast forward to 2024, twenty years later and the Garmin ForeRunner 955 Solar is on its way to my house. I love your videos, amazing editing skills, and your stories captivate me, thanks Matt!

[ravit]

Wow i hit the right video ...terrific video bro... i am new to Garmin and your video makes it so easy to understand and yeah i prefer amoled screen and those watch faces look great on em.

[PeterHerget]

Whas that your Christmas Tree you cut and carried away at the end? If so, awesome part of the video 🎄

[jeromeblouin]

In Canada, the 265 costs 600$. This is really too expensive I find. Fortunately, I was able to get a huge reimbursement amount from the company I work for. Aside the high price, I love my watch in almost every way except the look that could be more elegant for someone that wears the watch every day. Another aspect to improve is the size of the screen bezel. The next iteration of that model should be as good as the bezel found in the Venu 3.

[rohanarora]

btw, big fan of your videos, should have mentioned this in the start 😅...so much hardwork you put into it 👍

[ZRaceCentral]

I love how cinematic your B-roll is! For most of those shots, are you using a slider or something like a gimbal?