Wear Radar

Fitbit ChargevsGarmin Forerunner 265

13d vs 7d
battery life
Garmin Forerunner 265 lasts longer
$329
price gap
Fitbit Charge cheaper
32g
lighter
Fitbit Charge
Fitbit Charge
Buy/Wait:bad

Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming

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Buy/Wait:superseded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 It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 570.

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Fitbit ChargeGarmin Forerunner 265
Pricing
Starting price$120$449
Subscriptionℹ️ Optional — $79/yrℹ️ Optional — $70/yr
Hardware
Weight15g47g
Water resistance50m5ATM
Battery7 days13 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
TierFitness TrackerSports GPS
Buy timing
ReleasedSep 28, 2023Mar 1, 2023
Cycle advicebadsuperseded
Deals advicegreatclearance
Next modelFitbit Charge 7 (Expected 2026)

Health Sensors

Fitbit Charge only
3 exclusive sensors
ECGDetects irregular heart rhythms (AFib)
EDA / StressSkin conductance sensor measuring stress responses
Skin TempOvernight changes linked to illness or cycle tracking
Both
3 shared
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
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?

Fitbit Charge

ECG and EDA stress in a slim band

Full ECG, electrodermal activity stress sensing, SpO2, and continuous heart rate in a tracker thinner than most smartwatches.

Google apps integration

Google Maps navigation, Google Wallet NFC payments, and YouTube Music controls — more useful on-device apps than any previous Charge.

7-day battery with GPS

7 days of typical use, dropping to around 30 minutes per GPS workout session before needing a charge.

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
Fitbit Charge wins

$357 vs $659 over 3 years · no required subscription.

For battery life
Garmin Forerunner 265 wins

13 days vs 7 days battery.

For health depth
Fitbit Charge wins

6 sensors.

For daily comfort
Fitbit Charge wins

15g · no required subscription.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Charge-only sensors: ECG, EDA / Stress, Skin Temp.
  2. Forerunner 265-only sensors: Stress Tracking, Body Battery, Training Readiness.
  3. Weight. Charge is 32g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Charge is $329 cheaper upfront ($120 vs $449).
Pick the Fitbit Charge if…

Anyone who wants serious health and fitness tracking without the bulk or cost of a full smartwatch. Works with both Android and iPhone, making it the most accessible Fitbit tracker in the lineup.

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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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