Wear Radar

Garmin Forerunner 965vsFitbit Sense

Garmin Forerunner 965
Buy/Wait:bad

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

Best for: Competitive runners, triathletes, and ultramarathon runners who want the complete Garmin running analytics suite: full maps, running dynamics, training load, race predictor, and race day guidance — in the lightest, most running-optimised Garmin form factor.

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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.

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Garmin Forerunner 965Fitbit Sense
TierSports GPSSmartwatch
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
Battery23 days6 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
Health sensorshr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, training readiness, running dynamicsecg, eda stress, spo2, hr, skin temp, hrv
ReleasedMar 1, 2023Sep 28, 2022
Cycle length1024 days733 days
Cycle advicebadbad
Deals advicegoodgood
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Why buy each?

Garmin Forerunner 965

Full color topographic maps

Turn-by-turn navigation on full TopoActive maps — the key differentiator from the FR265. Essential for trail running and mountain racing.

Running dynamics metrics

Cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, ground contact time, and running power — the full biomechanics suite for optimising form and efficiency.

23-day battery and 31h GPS

More than double the FR265 battery life. Enough for week-long trail ultras without a charge.

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.