Garmin - Forerunner 265 vs Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)

These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (42.8 vs 45.3). The decision isn't about overall quality — both clear the bar — it's about which specific trade-offs fit your use.

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 MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) if you care most about gps mode and smartwatch mode. Its strongest claims are gps mode, smartwatch mode, ecg.

Both ship with comparable multi-band gps, solar charging, 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.