Garmin - Forerunner 265 vs Garmin - Instinct 3 Tactical

The Instinct 3 Tactical is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 14.0 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.

Pick the Forerunner 265 if you care most about multi-band gps. The biggest gaps in its favor are multi-band gps.

Pick the Instinct 3 Tactical if you care most about gps mode and smartwatch mode. Its strongest claims are gps mode, smartwatch mode, solar charging.

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

Bottom line: the Instinct 3 Tactical is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.