Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming
Best for: Garmin users and health-focused individuals who want Body Battery, HRV, and advanced sleep analytics in a slim, discreet wristband rather than a sports watch. Compatible with both iPhone and Android via Garmin Connect.
Full details →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 It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 570.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 →| Garmin vivosmart 5 | Garmin Forerunner 265 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Fitness Tracker | Sports GPS |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 7 days | 13 days |
| Always-on display | ❌ | ❌ |
| GPS | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | hr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, pulse ox | hr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, training readiness |
| Released | Apr 26, 2022 | Mar 1, 2023 |
| Cycle length | 700 days | 806 days |
| Cycle advice | bad | superseded |
| Deals advice | great | clearance |
| Next model | Garmin vivosmart 6 (Expected 2026) | — |
Body Battery energy monitoring — the feature Garmin is known for — in a wristband that's thinner than most fitness trackers.
Continuous heart rate variability monitoring and all-day stress tracking give a more complete picture of recovery and readiness than step counts alone.
All data syncs to Garmin Connect, compatible with thousands of third-party apps, coaches, and integrations across the Garmin platform.
L1+L5 multi-band GPS reduces position drift in urban canyons and dense forest.
Daily score combining HRV status, sleep, acute load, and recovery time.
Estimates finish time for 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon based on current fitness.