Apple Watch UltravsGarmin Forerunner 265

13d vs 2.1d

battery life

Garmin Forerunner 265 lasts longer

$350

price gap

Garmin Forerunner 265 cheaper

0.2 Hz

HR sampling

Apple Watch Ultra only — Garmin Forerunner 265 undisclosed

16g

lighter

Garmin Forerunner 265

Apple Watch Ultra

Buy/Wait:good

Current model just released

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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Buy/Wait:superseded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 It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 570.

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	Apple Watch Ultra	Garmin Forerunner 265
Pricing
Starting price	$799	$449★
Subscription	✓ None	ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr
Hardware
Weight	63g	47g★
Water resistance	100m★	5ATM
Battery	2.1 days	13 days★
Always-on display	✅★	❌
GPS	✅	✅
Cellular	✅★	❌
Platform	iOS only	iOS & Android
Tier	Sports GPS	Sports GPS
Buy timing
Released	Sep 18, 2026	Mar 1, 2023
Cycle advice	good	superseded
Deals advice	neutral	clearance
Next model	—	—

Health Sensors

Apple Watch Ultra only

9 exclusive sensors

Irregular RhythmBackground optical check for irregular heart rhythms

Fall DetectionAuto-calls emergency services after a hard fall

Crash DetectionDetects vehicle crashes and alerts emergency contacts

Sleep ApneaFDA-cleared detection of signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea

ECGDetects irregular heart rhythms (AFib)

Skin TempOvernight changes linked to illness or cycle tracking

Blood PressureDetects hypertension patterns — trend tracking, not clinical mmHg

Depth GaugeMeasures water depth — certified for recreational diving to 40m

Water TempMeasures water temperature during swimming and diving

Both

3 shared

Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking

SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep

HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores

Garmin Forerunner 265 only

3 exclusive sensors

Stress TrackingStress estimate from HRV and physiological signals

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?

Apple Watch Ultra

50-hour battery + satellite SOS

The Ultra 4 lasts roughly twice as long as the Series 12, with up to 45 hours of GPS workout tracking in Max Extended Workout mode. Satellite Emergency SOS works without cellular or WiFi coverage.

Heart rate every five seconds

The new health sensing system samples heart rate every five seconds all day and HRV every five minutes, feeding a 0–10 readiness score.

3000-nit titanium-cased powerhouse

The 49mm titanium case and 3000-nit display make this watch usable in full direct sunlight and water depths up to 100m (recreational scuba diving to 40m).

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.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps

Watch Ultra-only sensors: Irregular Rhythm, Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Sleep Apnea, ECG, Skin Temp, Blood Pressure, Depth Gauge, Water Temp.
Forerunner 265-only sensors: Stress Tracking, Body Battery, Training Readiness.
Weight. Forerunner 265 is 16g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
Water resistance. Watch Ultra rates 100m vs 5ATM on Forerunner 265.

Commercial gaps

Hardware cost. Forerunner 265 is $350 cheaper upfront ($449 vs $799).

Pick the Apple Watch Ultra if…

Serious athletes, trail runners, triathletes, and outdoor adventurers who need the most durable, most accurate GPS watch Apple makes. Also for iPhone users who simply want the best Apple Watch regardless of sport, and value the extra battery life over the Series 12.

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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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