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Head-to-head

Garmin - Forerunner 265 vs Suunto - Vertical Titanium Solar

Last updated · How Mars Score works
Forerunner 265GARMINRENDER
Probe A
Garmin
Forerunner 265
42.8/ 100D
GPS & Sensors—· 40%
Battery43· 40%
Design—· 20%
Vertical Titanium SolarSUUNTORENDER
Probe B
Suunto
Vertical Titanium Solar
73.6/ 100B
GPS & Sensors—· 40%
Battery74· 40%
Design—· 20%
Quick verdict

Between the Forerunner 265 and Vertical Titanium Solar, the Forerunner 265 comes out ahead in several specs, while the Vertical Titanium Solar wins on smartwatch mode and gps mode. Overall, the Forerunner 265 scores 42.8 and the Vertical Titanium Solar scores 73.6 on our Mars Score.

Buying advice

Which should you buy?

The Vertical Titanium Solar is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 30.8 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.

The Forerunner 265 doesn't pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec table groups rather than the headline advantages.

Pick the Vertical Titanium Solar if you care most about smartwatch mode and gps mode. Its strongest claims are smartwatch mode, gps mode, solar charging.

Both ship with comparable multi-band gps, ecg, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.

Bottom line: the Vertical Titanium Solar 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

  • No decisive advantages.

Why Suunto - Vertical Titanium Solar wins

  • ▲Smartwatch mode — 361.54% more. 60 days vs 13 days.
  • ▲GPS mode — 254.17% more. 85 h vs 24 h.
  • ▲Has Solar charging.
Full readout

Spec comparison

GPS & Sensors

SpecGarmin - Forerunner 265Suunto - Vertical Titanium Solar
Multi-band GPStruetrue
Barometric altimeterfalsetruelead
Heart ratetruetrue
ECGfalsefalse
Pulse Oxtruetrue

Battery

SpecGarmin - Forerunner 265Suunto - Vertical Titanium Solar
Smartwatch mode13 days60 dayslead
GPS mode24 h85 hlead
Solar chargingfalsetruelead

Design

SpecGarmin - Forerunner 265Suunto - Vertical Titanium Solar
Case size46 mm49 mmlead
Weight47 glead74 g
Water resistanceⓘ5 ATM10 ATMlead
Reader questions

Frequently asked

Drill down

Spec-level deep dives

Multi-band GPS→Barometric altimeter→Heart rate→ECG→Pulse Ox→Smartwatch mode→GPS mode→Solar charging→Case size→Weight→Water resistance→
By manufacturer

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