Display, features, battery life and price. I have put together a in depth comparison of the Forerunner 255 vs 265 which will help you determine which one is the best fit for you. 
Display & Design
One of the biggest differences between Forerunner 255 vs 265 is in display technology. The Forerunner 265 comes with a full color AMOLED touchscreen display (1.3” at 416×416 pixels for the 46mm version) while the Forerunner 255 has a transflective memory in pixel (MIP) display (1.3” at 260×260 pixels for the 46mm). That is which the Forerunner 265 presents a more vibrant, sharper, modern look which in turn better enables the viewing of stats, maps or visuals.
Read More: Top 10 Best Budget Smartwatch in 2025
The Forerunner 255’s MIP display is more basic in design, but also does a better job of readability in bright sunlight also reports to use less power. Also the Forerunner 265 we see to have a touch screen swipe feature in addition to the five physical buttons, also the Forerunner 255 does not go that route and is a button only interface. Both of the watches present your with two options in terms of size (standard and “S” which is a smaller size) but the feel is a bit different between the two the Forerunner 265 is a little lighter in the large size.
Read More: Difference Between Apple Watch 7 vs 9
In short: If you go for a more rich interface and touch experience the Forerunner 265 which goes head to head in the Forerunner 255 vs 265 that is what you will get. But if you prefer a simple design, better readability in the sun and at a lower price point the Forerunner 255 does very well.
Features & Training Tools
Both in GPS, GLONASS, Galileo they put in and also have advanced running dynamics, heart rate monitoring which we see from the Garmin Elevate Gen4 sensor, SpO2 tracking, barometric altimeter, also they have put in a large array of sports modes. Also in the Forerunner 255 vs 265 comparison the Forerunner 265 brings in a few extras.
- The Forerunner 265 includes Training Readiness metrics (which look at how prepared you are for training based on sleep, HRV, load, recovery) which the Forerunner 255 did not have at launch.
- The Forerunner 265 comes with larger internal storage (8 GB as opposed to 4 GB) and has music and WiFi included by default while the Forerunner 255 did not have these features without the “Music” version. In addition to the Forerunner 255 which does not feature this,
- The Forerunner 265 includes an ambient light sensor (for auto brightness) and the ease of touchscreen hotkeys.
In the Forerunner 255 vs 265 feature by feature comparison the 265 brings in more of a smartwatch/advanced approach; the 255 presents you with a very capable training watch which doesn’t have those extra features.
Read More: Difference Between Apple Watch Aluminum vs Titanium
Battery Life & Performance
In the Forerunner 255 vs 265 are compared, battery life is a issue which is fine tuned. The Forerunner 265 with its AMOLED screen and touch screen interface does see a little reduction in battery life (in certain modes) from that of the 255. Also For example:
- Forerunner 255: Up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, up to 30 hours of GPS.
- Forerunner 265: Up to 13 days in smartwatch mode, up to 20 hours in GPS (for 46mm version).
If you are very much into battery life and mostly use the watch for long outdoor sessions the Forerunner 255 may pull ahead in the 255 vs 265 comparison. But in day to day use the difference is not great.
Price & Value
In at the For which the price is the decisive factor. The Forerunner 255 we released at a lower price point than the Forerunner 265. Given the Forerunner 255 still has the great majority of the performance and training features you require, if budget is tight the Forerunner 255 may be the better choice in the decision between Forerunner 255 vs 265.
Which Should You Buy?
Here is the rundown to help you with the Forerunner 255 vs 265 choice:.
- Best Display,Touch screen advance feature like Training Readiness go with Forerunner 265.
- Solid Training Tracking,Extra Battery Life, easier sunlight visibiltity at lower cost go with The Forerunner 255 is a great choice.
In the report of Forerunner 255 vs Forerunner 265 the Forerunner 265 is the “premium upgrade” and the Forerunner 255 is the “value focused performer.
Conclusion
In the Forerunner 255 vs 265 head to head we see very little performance difference in day to day use and multi sport tracking. Both do an excellent job of what running watches are supposed to. What it boils down to is do I care for the nicer screen and extra features which will cost me more and have slightly less battery life? If yes then go Forerunner 265.
If no then Forerunner 255 which gives you almost the same features plus better battery in some conditions. Sure if you wish I can look up the current prices in India for Forerunner 255 vs 265 and also which one is a better buy there. Do you want me to go ahead?
Leave a Reply