Wear Radar

Garmin Forerunner 265vsAmazfit Balance

21d vs 13d
battery life
Amazfit Balance lasts longer
$150
price gap
Amazfit Balance cheaper
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Buy/Wait:superseded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 It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 570.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 Balance
Buy/Wait:neutral

Reaching maturity, next model expected soon

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Garmin Forerunner 265Amazfit Balance
Pricing
Starting price$449$299
Subscriptionℹ️ Optional — $70/yr✓ None
Hardware
Weight47g42g
Water resistance5ATM10ATM
Battery13 days21 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
TierSports GPSSmartwatch
Buy timing
ReleasedMar 1, 2023Jun 24, 2025
Cycle advicesupersededneutral
Deals adviceclearanceneutral
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Health Sensors

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
Both
4 shared
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Stress TrackingStress estimate from HRV and physiological signals
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

Why buy each?

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.

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.

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. Forerunner 265-only sensors: Body Battery, Training Readiness.
  2. Balance-only sensors: ECG, Body Composition, Skin Temp.
  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 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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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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