Wear Radar

Fitbit EdgevsGarmin Forerunner 965

23d vs 7d
battery life
Garmin Forerunner 965 lasts longer
$420
price gap
Fitbit Edge cheaper
0.5 Hz
HR sampling
Fitbit Edge only — Garmin Forerunner 965 undisclosed
35g
lighter
Fitbit Edge
Fitbit Edge
Buy/Wait:good

Current model just released

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Garmin Forerunner 965
Buy/Wait:superseded

This model is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 970.

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Fitbit EdgeGarmin Forerunner 965
Pricing
Starting price$179★$599
Subscriptionℹ️ Optional — $99/yrℹ️ Optional — $70/yr
Hardware
Weight18g★53g
Water resistance50m5ATM
Battery7 days23 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 965 only
4 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
Running DynamicsCadence, ground contact time, stride length, vertical oscillation

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 965

Full color topographic maps

Turn-by-turn navigation on full TopoActive maps — essential for trail running and mountain racing.

Running dynamics metrics

Cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, ground contact time, and running power.

23-day battery and 31h GPS

Enough for week-long trail ultras without a charge.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

For the budget
Fitbit Edge wins

$476 vs $809 over 3 years.

For battery life
Garmin Forerunner 965 wins

23 days vs 7 days battery.

For health depth
Garmin Forerunner 965 wins

7 sensors.

For daily comfort
Fitbit Edge wins

18g.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Edge-only sensors: ECG, Skin Temp.
  2. Forerunner 965-only sensors: Stress Tracking, Body Battery, Training Readiness, Running Dynamics.
  3. Weight. Edge is 35g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Edge is $420 cheaper upfront ($179 vs $599).
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 965 if…

Competitive runners, triathletes, and ultramarathon runners who want full maps, running dynamics, and premium build.

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