Wear Radar

Fitbit SensevsGarmin Forerunner 265

Fitbit Sense
Buy/Wait:bad

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

Best for: Health-conscious users on any platform who want continuous stress monitoring (EDA sensor), ECG, and Fitbit's deep wellness coaching — without paying Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch prices. Particularly strong for iPhone users who want serious health tracking at under $250.

Full details →
Garmin Forerunner 265
Buy/Wait:superseded

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 It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 570.

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

Full details →
Fitbit SenseGarmin Forerunner 265
TierSmartwatchSports GPS
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
Battery6 days13 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
Health sensorsecg, eda stress, spo2, hr, skin temp, hrvhr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, training readiness
ReleasedSep 28, 2022Mar 1, 2023
Cycle length733 days806 days
Cycle advicebadsuperseded
Deals advicegoodclearance
Next model

Why buy each?

Fitbit Sense

Continuous EDA stress tracking

The EDA (electrodermal activity) sensor tracks physiological stress throughout the day — a feature absent from most competitors at this price.

6 months Fitbit Premium included

Comes with Fitbit Premium for advanced sleep analysis, HRV trends, stress management scores, and personalised health insights.

6-day battery, works with iPhone

Unlike Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, Sense 2 pairs with any smartphone and runs 6 days before charging.

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.