Between the Forerunner 265 and Grit X2 Pro, the Forerunner 265 comes out ahead in smartwatch mode, while the Grit X2 Pro wins on gps mode and ecg. Overall, the Forerunner 265 scores 42.8 and the Grit X2 Pro scores 42.6 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (42.8 vs 42.6). The decision isn't about overall quality — both clear the bar — it's about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the Forerunner 265 if you care most about smartwatch mode. The biggest gaps in its favor are smartwatch mode.
Pick the Grit X2 Pro if you care most about gps mode and ecg. Its strongest claims are gps 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.
Why Garmin - Forerunner 265 wins
- ▲Smartwatch mode — 30.00% more. 13 days vs 10 days.
Why Polar - Grit X2 Pro wins
- ▲GPS mode — 79.17% more. 43 h vs 24 h.
- ▲Has ECG.
Spec comparison
GPS & Sensors
| Spec | Garmin - Forerunner 265 | Polar - Grit X2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-band GPS | true | true |
| Barometric altimeter | false | truelead |
| Heart rate | true | true |
| ECG | false | truelead |
| Pulse Ox | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Garmin - Forerunner 265 | Polar - Grit X2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | 13 dayslead | 10 days |
| GPS mode | 24 h | 43 hlead |
| Solar charging | false | false |
Design
| Spec | Garmin - Forerunner 265 | Polar - Grit X2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 46 mm | 47.5 mmlead |
| Weight | 47 glead | 79 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | 5 ATM | 10 ATMlead |
Spec-level deep dives
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