Wear Radar

Polar Grit XvsGarmin Forerunner 265

40d vs 13d
battery life
Polar Grit X lasts longer
$300
price gap
Garmin Forerunner 265 cheaper
10g
lighter
Garmin Forerunner 265
2
more health sensors
Garmin Forerunner 265
Polar Grit X
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Buy/Wait:superseded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 It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 570.

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Polar Grit XGarmin Forerunner 265
Pricing
Starting price$749$449
Subscription✓ Noneℹ️ Optional — $70/yr
Hardware
Weight57g47g
Water resistance100m5ATM
Battery40 days13 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
TierSports GPSSports GPS
Buy timing
ReleasedApr 11, 2024Mar 1, 2023
Cycle advicebadsuperseded
Deals advicegoodclearance
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Health Sensors

Polar Grit X only
1 exclusive sensor
Running PowerWrist-based watt output — tracks effort independent of terrain
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?

Polar Grit X

40-day battery for trail and ultra runners

Five times the battery of the Vantage V3 — enough for week-long mountain stages or ultramarathons without charging access.

Hill splitter auto-detection

Automatically segments your run by uphill and downhill sections, calculating pace and power for each — essential for mountain race training.

Wrist running power at mid-range price

Running power without a chest strap or foot pod — Polar's key differentiator versus Garmin at this price tier.

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
Garmin Forerunner 265 wins

$659 vs $749 over 3 years · no required subscription.

For battery life
Polar Grit X wins

40 days vs 13 days battery.

For health depth
Garmin Forerunner 265 wins

6 sensors.

For daily comfort
Garmin Forerunner 265 wins

47g · no required subscription.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Grit X-only sensors: Running Power.
  2. Forerunner 265-only sensors: Stress Tracking, Body Battery, Training Readiness.
  3. Weight. Forerunner 265 is 10g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
  4. Water resistance. Grit X rates 100m vs 5ATM on Forerunner 265.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Forerunner 265 is $300 cheaper upfront ($449 vs $749).
Pick the Polar Grit X if…

Trail runners, hikers, and outdoor athletes who want Polar's analytics with significantly longer battery life than the Vantage V3. The titanium case and sapphire glass make it suitable for technical terrain where watch durability matters.

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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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