Between the Forerunner 265 and Race, the Forerunner 265 comes out ahead in smartwatch mode, while the Race wins on gps mode. Overall, the Forerunner 265 scores 42.8 and the Race scores 50.6 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Race edges ahead on the Mars Score (42.8 vs 50.6), but the 7.8-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the Forerunner 265 if you care most about smartwatch mode. The biggest gaps in its favor are smartwatch mode.
Pick the Race if you care most about gps mode. Its strongest claims are gps mode.
Both ship with comparable multi-band gps, solar charging, ecg, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Race is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Garmin - Forerunner 265 wins
- ▲Smartwatch mode — 8.33% more. 13 days vs 12 days.
Why Suunto - Race wins
- ▲GPS mode — 400.00% more. 120 h vs 24 h.
Spec comparison
GPS & Sensors
| Spec | Garmin - Forerunner 265 | Suunto - Race |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-band GPS | true | true |
| Barometric altimeter | false | truelead |
| Heart rate | true | true |
| ECG | false | false |
| Pulse Ox | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Garmin - Forerunner 265 | Suunto - Race |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | 13 dayslead | 12 days |
| GPS mode | 24 h | 120 hlead |
| Solar charging | false | false |
Design
| Spec | Garmin - Forerunner 265 | Suunto - Race |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 46 mm | 49 mmlead |
| Weight | 47 glead | 83 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | 5 ATM | 10 ATMlead |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
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