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Approach S70 42mm vs Forerunner 265

Garmin Approach S70 42mm vs Garmin Forerunner 265

What Approach S70 42mm does better (3) and where Forerunner 265 wins (5) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2023Approach S70 42mm

4.4Score

3 advantages≈ $650

Garmin · 2023Forerunner 265

4.7Score

5 advantages≈ $450

Higher score

5.3Display5.0

2.7Battery life3.6

4.9Health tracking4.9

3.2Sports & outdoor5.0

6.5Smart features6.5

2.9Build & durability2.8

Dimensions

Size comparison

Approach S70 42mmForerunner 265

	Approach S70 42mm	Forerunner 265	Difference
Height	42 mm	46.1 mm	−4.1 mm
Width	42 mm	46.1 mm	−4.1 mm
Thickness	12.6 mm	12.9 mm	−0.3 mm
Weight	44 g	47 g	−3 g

Drawn to the same scale from the official dimensions (front and side).

Why is Approach S70 42mm better than Forerunner 265?

Storage16 GB vs 8 GB2×
Weight44 g vs 47 g+7%
Thickness12.6 mm vs 12.9 mm+2%

Why is Forerunner 265 better than Approach S70 42mm?

Battery life (smartwatch mode)10 days vs 13 days+30%
GPS battery life15 h vs 20 h+33%
Screen size1.2″ vs 1.3″+8%
Sport profiles40 vs 58+45%
Resolution (width)390 px vs 416 px+7%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Approach S70 42mm≈ $6504.4	Garmin Forerunner 265≈ $4504.7
Design & durability
Case size	42 mm	46 mm
Weight	44 g	47 g
Thickness	12.6 mm	12.9 mm
Height	42 mm	46.1 mm
Width	42 mm	46.1 mm
Case material	Ceramic	Plastic / polymer
Sapphire crystal	No	No
Lens / cover glass	Corning ® Gorilla ® Glass 3	Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3
Strap material	silicone	silicone
Water resistance	5 ATM	5 ATM
Water rating (maker)	5 ATM	5 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.2″	1.3″
Display technology	AMOLED	AMOLED
Panel	AMOLED	AMOLED
AMOLED / OLED display	Yes	Yes
Always-on display	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Resolution (width)	390 px	416 px
Resolution (height)	390 px	416 px
Pixel density	325 ppi	320 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	10 days	13 days
GPS battery life	15 h	20 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	—	14 h
Battery type	—	Lithium ion
Wireless charging	No	No
Charging	Garmin proprietary plug charger	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
Temperature sensor	—	Yes
HRV tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, SatIQ technology, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer, Ambient light sensor
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Dual-band GPS	—	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	—	Yes
Sport profiles	40	58
Connectivity
NFC payments	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 4	Wi-Fi 4
ANT+ sensors	Yes	Yes
Smart features
Music on the watch	Yes	Yes
Storage	16 GB	8 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android