Early in release cycle
Best for: Pixel phone owners and Android users who want clean Wear OS integration, Fitbit health tracking, and safety-focused features. Ideal for fitness-focused users who prefer Google's approach over Samsung's more feature-packed ecosystem.
Full details →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.
Full details →| Google Pixel Watch | Garmin Forerunner 965 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Smartwatch | Sports GPS |
| Platform | Android only | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 1.5 days | 23 days |
| Always-on display | ✅ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ✅ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | ecg, spo2, skin temp, hrv, loss of pulse | hr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, training readiness, running dynamics |
| Released | Oct 9, 2025 | Mar 1, 2023 |
| Cycle length | 394 days | 1024 days |
| Cycle advice | good | bad |
| Deals advice | neutral | good |
| Next model | Pixel Watch 5 (Expected fall 2026) | — |
Pixel Watch 4 can detect when your heart stops and automatically call emergency services — a unique safety feature not found on Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch.
Six months of Fitbit Premium comes in the box, with daily readiness score, HRV analysis, and advanced sleep stages.
Google's cleanest Wear OS implementation with fast updates, Gemini AI on wrist, Google Maps, and Google Wallet built in.
Turn-by-turn navigation on full TopoActive maps — the key differentiator from the FR265. Essential for trail running and mountain racing.
Cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, ground contact time, and running power — the full biomechanics suite for optimising form and efficiency.
More than double the FR265 battery life. Enough for week-long trail ultras without a charge.