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Head to Head

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Suunto Race

Both are premium hybrid watches around the same price, but the 265 carries Garmin's 'Best Overall Runner' badge and true dual-frequency GPS, a meaningful edge for accuracy-focused runners.

Garmin Forerunner 265Garmin

Garmin Forerunner 265

4.7
Best Overall Runner
Suunto RaceSuunto

Suunto Race

4.3
$449
MSRP
$449
Semi-Smart
Watch Type
Semi-Smart
Solid Training Data
Training Data
Solid Training Data
iOS & Android
Phone
iOS & Android
4.7
Higher rated
Rating
4.3
20 hrs
GPS Battery Life
40 hrs
Longer battery
Dual-Band
GPS
Dual-Band
47g
Lighter
Weight
80g
42/46mm
Case Size
49mm
No
Wrist Calls
No
No
Offline Maps
Yes
Has maps
Spotify/Amazon Music
More music options
Offline Music
Local files only
5 ATM
Water Resistance
10 ATM
More water resistant
Best Overall Runner
Notable For
—
Best For
  • •You want the most broadly recommended running watch on the market
  • •Dual-frequency GPS accuracy is a priority for your training
  • •You're drawn to Suunto's design and outdoor-adventure branding specifically
  • •You're already invested in the Suunto app from another device
The Full Story

The 265 pairs a bright touchscreen with real training-load and recovery metrics, without pushing into flagship pricing. It remains one of the most recommended running watches on the market for good reason: it just covers the bases extremely well.

The Race pairs a bright touchscreen display with offline maps and long battery life at a price that consistently beats comparable Garmin and Polar options. A strong pick for runners who also dabble in triathlon.

*Estimated — this model's exact GPS battery life isn't published by the manufacturer. All figures are standard GPS mode, midsize case, no solar boost.

†Estimated — this model launched too recently to have an established customer rating yet.

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