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Forerunner 255S Music vs Forerunner 265

Garmin Forerunner 255S Music vs Garmin Forerunner 265

What Forerunner 255S Music does better (3) and where Forerunner 265 wins (7) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2022Forerunner 255S Music

4.1Score

3 advantages≈ $400

Garmin · 2023Forerunner 265

4.7Score

7 advantages≈ $450

Higher score

2.2Display5.0

3.7Battery life3.6

4.9Health tracking4.9

5.0Sports & outdoor5.0

6.5Smart features6.5

3.5Build & durability2.8

Dimensions

Size comparison

Forerunner 255S MusicForerunner 265

	Forerunner 255S Music	Forerunner 265	Difference
Height	41 mm	46.1 mm	−5.1 mm
Width	41 mm	46.1 mm	−5.1 mm
Thickness	12.4 mm	12.9 mm	−0.5 mm
Weight	39 g	47 g	−8 g

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

Why is Forerunner 255S Music better than Forerunner 265?

GPS battery life26 h vs 20 h+30%
Weight39 g vs 47 g+21%
Thickness12.4 mm vs 12.9 mm+4%

Why is Forerunner 265 better than Forerunner 255S Music?

AMOLED / OLED displayNo · Forerunner 255S Music: Yes
Battery life (smartwatch mode)12 days vs 13 days+8%
Storage4 GB vs 8 GB2×
Screen size1.1″ vs 1.3″+18%
Resolution (width)218 px vs 416 px+91%
Pixel density198 ppi vs 320 ppi+62%
GPS battery life (dual-band)13 h vs 14 h+8%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Forerunner 255S Music≈ $4004.1	Garmin Forerunner 265≈ $4504.7
Design & durability
Case size	41 mm	46 mm
Weight	39 g	47 g
Thickness	12.4 mm	12.9 mm
Height	41 mm	46.1 mm
Width	41 mm	46.1 mm
Case material	Plastic / polymer	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	1.1″	1.3″
Display technology	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)	AMOLED
Panel	Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel	AMOLED
AMOLED / OLED display	No	Yes
Always-on display	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	—	Yes
Resolution (width)	218 px	416 px
Resolution (height)	218 px	416 px
Pixel density	198 ppi	320 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	12 days	13 days
GPS battery life	26 h	20 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	13 h	14 h
Battery type	Lithium ion	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	Yes
HRV tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, SatIQ technology, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer	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	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	Yes	Yes
Sport profiles	58	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	4 GB	8 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android