Version/Colour
Overview
Wake up to your morning report with HRV status to see health insights alongside an overview of sleep, recovery and training outlook.
Features
- Lightweight GPS running smartwatch with brilliant 1.1" AMOLED touchscreen display
- 42 mm case size, suitable for wrists with a circumference of 115-178 mm
- Morning report shows overview of sleep, recovery and training outlook, HRV status and weather
- Battery life: up to 15 days in smartwatch mode, 24 hours in GPS mode
- Plan your training strategy with race widget, personalised daily workouts and training readiness score
- Adaptive daily suggested workouts matched to your performance and recovery
- Over 30+ activity profiles for indoor and outdoor sports including triathlon and open-water swimming
- Advanced training and recovery insights from training readiness score, training status, HRV status and more
- Includes Garmin Coach: adaptive training plans to help you reach your goals
- Running dynamics (accessories required) to measure running metrics such as cadence, stride, balance and more
- Metrics tracked: performance condition, training status based on recent exercise history, training effect and load
- Measures V02 max to indicate performance
- Training Status metric evaluates your exercise history and performance indicators to let you know if you are on track
- Training Effect metric shows hou your workouts infulence the development of endurance, speed and power
- Acute Load compares the intensity of recent workouts to optimal range to help improve your fitness
- Body battery energy monitoring, stress, hydration and respiration tracking, advanced sleep monitoring
- Sensors: wrist-based heart rate, altimeter, compass, accelerometer, thermometer, Pulse OX
- Multi-band GNSS support with SATIQ- GPS, GLONASS and Galileo - with multi-frequency positioning
- Download songs and play lists for phone-free listening
- Contactless payments
- Smart notifications: texts, emails, alerts and social media
- Customisable with downloadable apps, widgets, watch faces using Connect IQ store
- Syncs with Garmin Connect, the online community for uploading, sharing and competing
- Safety and tracking features to let others know where you are
Forerunner 265 differences to Forerunner 255 at a glance
- Beautiful AMOLED display rather than MIP display
- Screen resolutions significantly increased to 416 x 416 on Forerunner 265 and 360 x 360 on 265S
- Touchscreen display
- Garmin Training Readiness Score previously reserved for Garmin Fenix 7 and Epix 2 running watches
- Small descrease in battery life due to AMOLED display
- AMOLED display gives the watch a premium feel over the 255
- Music download and Garmin Pay standard across all watches
Product Screen Shots
Package Includes
- Forerunner 265S Black/Whitestone Case with Whitestone/Neo Tropic Band
- USB-C Charging data cradle
- Documentation
Technical Specification
Garmin Forerunner 265S Whitestone Neo Tropic | 42 mm | Product Code: 010-02810-14 |
General | |
Lens material | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
Bezel material | Fibre-reinforced polymer |
Quick release bands | Yes (18 mm, Industry standard) |
Strap material | Silicone |
Physical size | 41.7 x 41.7 x 12.9 (mm) Fits wrists with a circumference of 115-178 mm |
Touchscreen | yes |
Colour display | yes |
Display Size | 1.1 inch (28.1 mm) diameter |
Display Resolution | 360 x 360 pixels |
Display Type | AMOLED; optional always-on mode |
Weight | 39 g |
Water rating | 5 ATM |
Battery life | Smartwatch mode: Up to 15 days GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 24 hours SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS mode: Up to 18 hours All-Systems GNSS mode + Multi-Band: Up to 15 hours GPS-Only GNSS mode with music: Up to 7.5 hours SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS mode with music: Up to 6.5 hours All-Systems GNSS mode + Multi-Band with music: Up to 6 hours See details |
Charging method | Garmin proprietary plug charger |
Memory/history | 8 GB |
Clock features | |
Time/date | yes |
GPS time sync | yes |
Automatic daylight saving time | yes |
Alarm clock | yes |
Timer | yes |
Stopwatch | yes |
Sunrise/sunset times | yes |
Health monitoring | |
Wrist-based heart rate (constant, every second) | yes |
Daily Resting Heart Rate | yes |
Abnormal Heart Rate Alerts | Yes (high and low) |
Respiration Rate (24x7) | yes |
Pulse Ox Blood Oxygen Saturation | Yes (spot-check, and optional all-day acclimation and in sleep) |
Fitness Age | yes |
Body Battery Energy Monitor | yes |
All-day Stress | yes |
Relaxation reminders | yes |
Relaxation Breathing Timer | yes |
Sleep | Yes (Advanced) |
Sleep Score and Insights | yes |
Hydration | Yes (in Garmin Connect and optional Connect IQ widget) |
Women's Health | Yes (in Garmin Connect and optional Connect IQ widget) |
Health Snapshot | yes |
Sensors | |
GPS | yes |
GLONASS | yes |
Galileo | yes |
Multi-frequency Positioning | yes |
SatIQ Technology | yes |
Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate monitor | yes |
Barometric altimeter | yes |
Compass | yes |
Gyroscope | yes |
Accelerometer | yes |
Thermometer | yes |
Ambient light sensor | yes |
Pulse Ox Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor | yes |
Daily smart features | |
Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi |
Connect IQ (downloadable watch faces, data fields, widgets and apps) | yes |
On-device Connect IQ Store | yes |
Smart Notifications | yes |
Text response/reject phone call with text (Android only) | yes |
Calendar | yes |
Weather | yes |
Realtime settings sync with Garmin Connect mobile | yes |
Battery Saver - customisable low power watch | yes |
Controls smartphone music | yes |
Plays and controls watch music | yes |
Music storage | yes |
Find my phone | yes |
Find my watch | yes |
VIRB camera remote | yes |
Smartphone compatibility | iPhone and Android |
Compatible with Garmin Connect Mobile | yes |
Stocks | Yes (optional Connect IQ app) |
Garmin Pay | yes |
Safety and tracking features | |
LiveTrack | yes |
Spectator messaging | yes (with compatible smartphone) |
Live Event Sharing | Android Only |
Incident Detection during select activities | yes |
Incident detection alert on phone for wearables | yes |
Assistance | yes |
Activity tracking features | |
Step counter | yes |
Move bar (displays on device after a period of inactivity; walk for a couple of minutes to reset it) | yes |
Auto goal (learns your activity level and assigns a daily step goal) | yes |
Calories Burned | yes |
Floors climbed | yes |
Distance travelled | yes |
Intensity minutes | yes |
TrueUp | yes |
Move IQ | yes |
Garmin Connect Challenges app | Yes (optional Connect IQ app) |
Fitness equipment/gym | |
Automatic rep counting | yes |
Cardio workouts | yes |
Strength workouts | yes |
HIIT workouts | yes |
Yoga workouts | yes |
Pilates workouts | yes |
On-screen workout animations | yes |
On-Screen Workout Muscle Map | yes |
Training, planning and analysis features | |
HR Zones | yes |
HR Alerts | yes |
HR Calories | yes |
HR Max | yes |
HRR | yes |
Recovery Time | yes |
Auto Max HR | yes |
Morning report | yes |
Race glance/widget | yes |
HRV Status | yes |
Training Readiness | yes |
HR Broadcast (broadcasts HR data over ANT+ to paired devices) | yes |
Respiration Rate (During Exercise) | Yes (with compatible accessory) |
GPS speed and distance | yes |
Customisable screen(s) | yes |
Customisable activity profiles | yes |
Auto Pause | yes |
Interval training | yes |
Improved interval (includes open repeats, intervals data page, rest screen and auto detection) | yes |
Advanced workouts | yes |
Downloadable training plans | yes |
HRM running pace and distance | yes |
Auto Lap | yes |
Manual lap | yes |
Rest timer | yes |
Configurable lap alerts | yes |
VO2 Max (Run) | yes |
VO2 Max (Trail Run) | yes |
Training Status | Improved |
Training Load | yes |
Training load focus | yes |
Training Effect | yes |
Training Effect (Anaerobic) | yes |
Primary benefit (Training Effect labels) | yes |
Improved Recovery Time | yes |
Daily Suggested Workouts | Yes (7 days) |
Customisable alerts | yes |
Audio prompts | yes |
Finish time | yes |
Virtual partner | yes |
Race an activity | yes |
Auto multisport activities | yes |
Multi-sport | yes |
Course guidance | yes |
Touch and/or button lock | yes |
Hot keys | yes |
Auto scroll | yes |
Activity history on watch | yes |
>Physio TrueUp | yes |
Unified Training Status | yes |
Running features | |
Available run profiles | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Trail Running, Virtual Running, Ultra Running |
GPS-based distance, time and pace | yes |
Running dynamics | yes |
Vertical oscillation and ratio | yes |
Ground contact time and balance | Yes (with compatible accessory) |
Stride length (real time) | yes |
Cadence (provides real-time number of steps per minute) | yes |
Running power | yes |
Grade-adjusted pace | yes |
Performance condition | yes |
Lactate threshold | Yes (with compatible accessory) |
PacePro Pacing Strategies | yes |
Run workouts | yes |
Trail run auto climb | yes |
Race predictor | yes |
Course- and weather-specific race predictor | yes |
Foot pod capable | yes |
Run/Walk/Stand detection | yes |
Outdoor recreation | |
Available outdoor recreation profiles | Hiking, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing |
Point-to-point navigation | yes |
Bread crumbtrail in real time | yes |
Back to start | yes |
TracBack | yes |
UltraTrac mode | yes |
Up Ahead | yes |
Elevation profile | yes |
Distance to destination | yes |
Barometric trend indicator with storm alert | yes |
Vertical speed | yes |
Total ascent/descent | yes |
Future elevation plot | yes |
Projected waypoint | yes |
Sun and moon information | yes |
Cycling features | |
Available cycling profiles | Bike, Bike Indoor, Mountain Bike, eBike, eMountain Biking |
Alerts (triggers alarm when you reach goals including time, distance, heart rate or calories) | yes |
Courses | yes |
Bike lap and lap maximum power (with power sensor) | yes |
Race an activity | yes |
FTP (Functional threshold power) | Yes (with compatible accessory) |
Power curve and FTP workouts | yes |
Compatible with Vector and Rally (power meters) | yes |
Power meter compatible | yes |
Compatible with Varia Vision (head-mounted display) | yes |
Compatible with Varia radar (rear-facing radar) | yes |
Compatible with Varia lights | yes |
Speed and cadence sensor support (w/sensor) | yes |
Swimming features | |
Available swim profiles | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Swimming/Running |
Open-water swim metrics (distance, pace, stroke count/rate, stroke distance, swim efficiency (SWOLF), calories) | yes |
Pool swim metrics (lengths, distance, pace, stroke count, swim efficiency (SWOLF), calories) | yes |
Stroke type detection (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly) (pool swim only) | yes |
Drill logging (pool swim only) | yes |
Basic rest timer (up from 0) (pool swim only) | yes |
"Repeat on" rest timer (pool swim only) | yes |
Auto Rest | yes |
Time and distance alerts | yes |
Pacing alerts (pool swim only) | yes |
Countdown start | yes |
Pool swim workouts | yes |
Critical swim speed | yes |
Underwater wrist-based heart rate | yes |
Heart rate from external HRM (real-time during rests, interval and session stats during rests, and automatic heart rate download post-swim) | Yes (with HRM-Swim, HRM-Pro or HRM-Pro Plus) |
Kid activity tracking features | |
Toe-to-Toe Challenges app | Yes (optional Connect IQ Toe-to-Toe Challenges app) |
Connectivity | |
Smart trainer control | yes |
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews for the Garmin Forerunner 265S Whitestone Neo Tropic | 42 mm.
If you can afford it, go for the Forerunner 265. The AMOLED display gives the 265 a premium feel and makes it feel like a proper upgrade on the Forerunner 255. The Garmin Training Readiness Score is also a big plus.
There is a very comprehensive guide on the watch from DC Rainmaker which you can find here, Garmin Forerunner 265 review by DC Rainmaker.