![]() It may seem like we’re just mincing words here, but I really think the touchscreen is key to getting more casual users on the Garmin platform. It makes the Forerunner 265 feel more like a health-focused smartwatch rather than a running watch. Not only is it easier to enter your PIN for Garmin Pay or scroll through settings menus, but it also makes the Forerunner 265 far more approachable for someone (like myself) coming from an Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Fitbit, etc. Having a touchscreen on the Forerunner 265 does a couple of very important things. ![]() ![]() On the Forerunner 265, you can use the touchscreen exclusively, stick to the buttons, or use a combination of both. The previous Forerunner 255 did not have touch support and relied exclusively on its five buttons to navigate the interface. There’s one other upgrade that comes with the switch to AMOLED, and that’s a touchscreen. On the few sunny days we’ve had in Michigan throughout the first weeks of March, not once have I had a problem seeing/reading the Forerunner 265’s screen. The switch to AMOLED naturally raises some concerns about outdoor visibility, but I’m happy to report I’ve had zero issues in that department. One of the biggest advantages of MIP displays on older Garmin watches is that they’re extremely easy to read outdoors in bright sunlight. Blacks are pitch black, colors pop with lovely vibrancy, and 416 x 416 resolution means everything is plenty sharp and easy to read. I’ve looked at a lot of smartwatch displays over the years, and the AMOLED one on the Forerunner 265 looks as good as I could ask for. Where the MIP screen on the Forerunner 255 and Forerunner 955 often made colors look dull and lifeless, the AMOLED panel on the 265 has the same deep blacks and vibrant colors you see on smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. While many of its design elements and health features were taken right from the Forerunner 255 that came before it, the biggest upgrade for the Forerunner 265 is that it ditches the 255’s aging MIP (memory-in-pixel) display for a much more modern AMOLED one. This is why the Forerunner 265 exists in the first place. Garmin Forerunner 265: AMOLED display Joe Maring/Digital Trends All of the buttons feel great to press, offering nice tactility, and they’re not too difficult to push down, either.įinally, as you’d expect for a running smartwatch, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is backed by a 5 ATM water-resistance rating, protecting it from up to 50 meters of water submersion. You use these to navigate the Forerunner 265’s interface, and using the Garmin Connect app, you can reassign them to act as shortcuts (like holding a button down to launch Garmin Pay, or another to open the flashlight app). The Forerunner 265 is as comfortable and functional as you could ask for.Īround the case are five physical buttons - three on the left frame and two on the right. Combined with the black case color of the review model I have (it also comes in a white and light blue case), the Forerunner 265 isn’t particularly eye-catching. The entire case is made out of “fiber-reinforced polymer” - aka plastic. Garmin makes it clear in its marketing that the Forerunner 265 is a running smartwatch, and that’s immediately apparent with its design. Garmin Forerunner 265: design and comfort Joe Maring/Digital Trends Even if you’re not an aspiring pro runner, the Garmin Forerunner 265 does so much right that you’ll probably want to buy it anyway. But it’s also a really good all-around fitness wearable that stands out as a strong alternative to a Fitbit or Whoop band. I’ve worn the Forerunner 265 on multiple runs, and I can vouch that it’s excellent in that department. Garmin Forerunner 265: price and availabilityįor some context, Garmin’s Forerunner series is its lineup of watches targeted specifically at runners, and the Forerunner 265 is the latest midtier entry in the range.Garmin Forerunner 265: Garmin Connect app.Garmin Forerunner 265: software and smart features.Garmin Forerunner 265: health and fitness features.Garmin Forerunner 265: running experience.Garmin Forerunner 265: design and comfort.
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