Coros - Apex 2 vs Garmin - Forerunner 965

These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (47.2 vs 49.7). The decision isn't about overall quality — both clear the bar — it's about which specific trade-offs fit your use.

Pick the Apex 2 if you care most about gps mode. The biggest gaps in its favor are gps mode.

Pick the Forerunner 965 if you care most about smartwatch mode and multi-band gps. Its strongest claims are smartwatch mode, multi-band gps.

Both ship with comparable solar charging, ecg, so those specs don't 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 tells you both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.