Wear Radar

Amazfit BalancevsGarmin Forerunner 265

21d vs 13d
battery life
Amazfit Balance lasts longer
$80
price gap
Amazfit Balance cheaper
15g
lighter
Garmin Forerunner 265
Amazfit Balance
Buy/Wait:good

Current model just released

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Garmin Forerunner 265
Buy/Wait:superseded

This model is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 570.

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Amazfit BalanceGarmin Forerunner 265
Pricing
Starting price$369$449
Subscription✓ Noneℹ️ Optional — $70/yr
Hardware
Weight62g47g
Water resistance10ATM5ATM
Battery21 days13 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
TierSmartwatchSports GPS
Buy timing
ReleasedJun 2, 2026Mar 1, 2023
Cycle advicegoodsuperseded
Deals adviceneutralclearance
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Health Sensors

Amazfit Balance only
3 exclusive sensors
ECGDetects irregular heart rhythms (AFib)
Body CompositionEstimates body fat & muscle mass
Skin TempOvernight changes linked to illness or cycle tracking
Both
4 shared
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
Stress TrackingStress estimate from HRV and physiological signals
Garmin Forerunner 265 only
2 exclusive sensors
Body BatteryGarmin's energy reserve — how much fuel left in the tank
Training ReadinessDaily recovery score — how ready you are to perform

Why buy each?

Amazfit Balance

3,000-nit sapphire AMOLED with 21-day battery

The 1.5" AMOLED is 50% brighter than the Balance 2 at 3,000 nits, under scratch-resistant sapphire glass — with 21 days of typical use and 41 hours of Accuracy-Mode GPS.

Faster dual-band GPS and offline maps

An upgraded processor renders maps 2.5× faster, with dual-frequency L1+L5 GPS across six satellite systems, 64GB of storage, and turn-by-turn offline topo navigation.

Flashlight, HYROX, and 180+ sport modes

A new dual-mode LED flashlight with white, red, and SOS modes joins official HYROX training, golf course maps, and more than 180 sport modes.

Garmin Forerunner 265

Multi-band GPS accuracy

L1+L5 multi-band GPS reduces position drift in urban canyons and dense forest.

Training readiness score

Daily score combining HRV status, sleep, acute load, and recovery time.

Race time predictor

Estimates finish time for 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon based on current fitness.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

For the budget
Amazfit Balance wins

$369 vs $659 over 3 years.

For battery life
Amazfit Balance wins

21 days vs 13 days battery.

For health depth
Amazfit Balance wins

7 sensors.

For daily comfort
Garmin Forerunner 265 wins

47g.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Balance-only sensors: ECG, Body Composition, Skin Temp.
  2. Forerunner 265-only sensors: Body Battery, Training Readiness.
  3. Weight. Forerunner 265 is 15g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
  4. Water resistance. Balance rates 10ATM vs 5ATM on Forerunner 265.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Balance is $80 cheaper upfront ($369 vs $449).
Pick the Amazfit Balance if…

Android and iPhone users who want a premium smartwatch experience — full offline maps, long battery, and a bright sapphire display — at a price below Apple Watch or Garmin equivalents. A strong choice for runners, hikers, and hybrid athletes who want GPS map navigation without a subscription.

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Pick the Garmin Forerunner 265 if…

Regular runners who race 5K to marathon distances and want accurate GPS and detailed training load management.

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