Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Garmin - Forerunner 965 | Polar - Grit X2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | 23 days | 10 days |
| GPS mode | 31 h | 43 h |
| ECG | false | true |
Between the Forerunner 965 and Grit X2 Pro, the Forerunner 965 comes out ahead in smartwatch mode, while the Grit X2 Pro wins on gps mode / ecg. Overall, the Forerunner 965 scores 71.3 and the Grit X2 Pro scores 68.3 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Forerunner 965 edges ahead on the Mars Score (71.3 vs 68.3), but the 3.0-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the Forerunner 965 if you care most about smartwatch mode. The biggest gaps in its favor are smartwatch mode. The single most decisive one: Smartwatch mode — 130.00% more. 23 days vs 10 days.
Pick the Grit X2 Pro if you care most about gps mode / ecg. Its strongest claims are gps mode, ecg. The single most decisive one: GPS mode — 38.71% more. 43 h vs 31 h.
Both ship with comparable multi-band gps, solar charging, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Garmin - Forerunner 965 or Polar - Grit X2 Pro?
Garmin - Forerunner 965 leads the current Mars Score by 3.0 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare smartwatch mode, gps mode against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Garmin - Forerunner 965 if…
Garmin - Forerunner 965 has the measurable edge on battery smartwatch days.
Choose Polar - Grit X2 Pro if…
Polar - Grit X2 Pro has the measurable edge on battery gps hours, has ecg.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Garmin - Forerunner 965 wins
- ▲Smartwatch mode — 130.00% more. 23 days vs 10 days.
Why Polar - Grit X2 Pro wins
- ▲GPS mode — 38.71% more. 43 h vs 31 h.
- ▲Has ECG.
Spec comparison
GPS & Sensors
| Spec | Garmin - Forerunner 965 | Polar - Grit X2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-band GPS | true | true |
| Barometric altimeter | true | true |
| Heart rate | true | true |
| ECG | false | truelead |
| Pulse Ox | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Garmin - Forerunner 965 | Polar - Grit X2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | 23 dayslead | 10 days |
| GPS mode | 31 h | 43 hlead |
| Solar charging | false | false |
Design
| Spec | Garmin - Forerunner 965 | Polar - Grit X2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 47 mm | 47.5 mmlead |
| Weight | 53 glead | 79 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | 5 ATM | 10 ATMlead |