Wear Radar

Amazfit BalancevsGarmin Forerunner 265

21d vs 13d
battery life
Amazfit Balance lasts longer
$150
price gap
Amazfit Balance cheaper
Amazfit Balance
Buy/Wait:neutral

Reaching maturity, next model expected soon

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Garmin Forerunner 265
Buy/Wait:superseded

This model is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 570.

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Amazfit BalanceGarmin Forerunner 265
Pricing
Starting price$299$449
Subscription✓ Noneℹ️ Optional — $70/yr
Hardware
Weight42g47g
Water resistance10ATM5ATM
Battery21 days13 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
TierSmartwatchSports GPS
Buy timing
ReleasedJun 24, 2025Mar 1, 2023
Cycle adviceneutralsuperseded
Deals adviceneutralclearance
Next model

Health Sensors

Amazfit Balance only
3 exclusive sensors
ECGDetects irregular heart rhythms (AFib)
Body CompositionEstimates body fat & muscle mass
Skin TempOvernight changes linked to illness or cycle tracking
Both
4 shared
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
Stress TrackingStress estimate from HRV and physiological signals
Garmin Forerunner 265 only
2 exclusive sensors
Body BatteryGarmin's energy reserve — how much fuel left in the tank
Training ReadinessDaily recovery score — how ready you are to perform

Why buy each?

Amazfit Balance

21-day battery with sapphire AMOLED display

21 days typical use and 33 hours GPS — combined with a scratch-resistant sapphire glass 1.5" AMOLED that outshines most watches at this price.

Dual-band GPS and offline maps

Precise dual-frequency L1+L5 GPS across six satellite systems, with downloadable offline topo maps and turn-by-turn navigation — rare at this price tier.

HYROX, golf, and diving modes

First Amazfit with official HYROX training and competition modes, 40,000-course golf maps, and SCUBA dive support — more sport breadth than any previous Balance.

Garmin Forerunner 265

Multi-band GPS accuracy

L1+L5 multi-band GPS reduces position drift in urban canyons and dense forest.

Training readiness score

Daily score combining HRV status, sleep, acute load, and recovery time.

Race time predictor

Estimates finish time for 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon based on current fitness.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

For the budget
Amazfit Balance wins

$299 vs $659 over 3 years · no required subscription.

For battery life
Amazfit Balance wins

21 days vs 13 days battery.

For health depth
Amazfit Balance wins

7 sensors.

For daily comfort
Amazfit Balance wins

42g · no required subscription.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Balance-only sensors: ECG, Body Composition, Skin Temp.
  2. Forerunner 265-only sensors: Body Battery, Training Readiness.
  3. Weight. Balance is 5g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
  4. Water resistance. Balance rates 10ATM vs 5ATM on Forerunner 265.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Balance is $150 cheaper upfront ($299 vs $449).
Pick the Amazfit Balance if…

Android and iPhone users who want a premium smartwatch experience — full offline maps, ECG, long battery, and a bright sapphire display — at a price well below Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch. A strong choice for runners, hikers, and health-focused users who want GPS map navigation without a subscription.

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Pick the Garmin Forerunner 265 if…

Regular runners who race 5K to marathon distances and want accurate GPS and detailed training load management.

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