Wear Radar

Fitbit EdgevsGarmin Forerunner 265

13d vs 7d
battery life
Garmin Forerunner 265 lasts longer
$270
price gap
Fitbit Edge cheaper
0.5 Hz
HR sampling
Fitbit Edge only — Garmin Forerunner 265 undisclosed
29g
lighter
Fitbit Edge
Fitbit Edge
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Buy/Wait:superseded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 It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 570.

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Fitbit EdgeGarmin Forerunner 265
Pricing
Starting price$179★$449
Subscriptionℹ️ Optional — $99/yrℹ️ Optional — $70/yr
Hardware
Weight18g★47g
Water resistance50m5ATM
Battery7 days13 days★
Always-on display✅★❌
GPS✅✅
Cellular❌❌
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
TierFitness TrackerSports GPS
Buy timing
ReleasedOct 27, 2026Mar 1, 2023
Cycle advicegoodsuperseded
Deals adviceneutralclearance
Next model——

Health Sensors

Fitbit Edge only
2 exclusive sensors
ECGDetects irregular heart rhythms (AFib)
Skin TempOvernight changes linked to illness or cycle tracking
Both
3 shared
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Garmin Forerunner 265 only
3 exclusive sensors
Stress TrackingStress estimate from HRV and physiological signals
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?

Fitbit Edge

Larger AMOLED display with always-on option

A 1.34" AMOLED screen, 46% larger than the Charge 6's, with an optional always-on mode and a physical button.

Built-in GPS, ECG, and an altimeter

Multi-system GPS for phone-free runs, an ECG app for AFib checks, SpO2 and skin temperature sensing, and an altimeter for elevation.

User-replaceable battery

Up to 7 days per charge, a 5-minute top-up for about a day of use, and a battery you can replace yourself when it wears out.

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
Fitbit Edge wins

$476 vs $659 over 3 years.

For battery life
Garmin Forerunner 265 wins

13 days vs 7 days battery.

For health depth
Garmin Forerunner 265 wins

6 sensors.

For daily comfort
Fitbit Edge wins

18g.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Edge-only sensors: ECG, Skin Temp.
  2. Forerunner 265-only sensors: Stress Tracking, Body Battery, Training Readiness.
  3. Weight. Edge is 29g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Edge is $270 cheaper upfront ($179 vs $449).
Pick the Fitbit Edge if…

Anyone who wants a slim tracker with a screen, built-in GPS, and ECG rather than a full smartwatch. It suits Charge owners ready to upgrade, as long as they don't rely on Google Wallet payments or EDA stress scans. Works with both Android and iPhone via the Google Health app.

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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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