Wear Radar

Xiaomi WatchvsGarmin Forerunner 265

Xiaomi Watch
Buy/Wait:good

Current model just released

Best for: Android users who want a full-featured Wear OS smartwatch — ECG, eSIM, a large bright screen — at a price well below Samsung and Google competitors. A natural pairing with Xiaomi phones but fully compatible with any Android device.

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Garmin Forerunner 265
Buy/Wait:bad

Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming

Best for: Regular runners who race 5K to marathon distances and want accurate GPS, detailed training load management, and long battery life. Multi-band GPS makes it particularly valuable for city runners or trail runners where single-band GPS loses accuracy.

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Xiaomi WatchGarmin Forerunner 265
TierSmartwatchSports GPS
PlatformAndroid onlyiOS & Android
Battery6 days13 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
Health sensorsecg, spo2, hrv, skin temp, hrhr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, training readiness
ReleasedFeb 28, 2026Mar 1, 2023
Cycle length365 days1188 days
Cycle advicegoodbad
Deals adviceneutralgood
Next model

Why buy each?

Xiaomi Watch

6-day battery on Wear OS

Dual-chip design keeps the main Snapdragon W5 dormant during light tasks, dramatically extending battery life beyond any rival Wear OS watch.

Wear OS 6 with ECG and eSIM

First Wear OS 6 device on the market — with ECG monitoring, EMG gesture control, and eSIM for standalone calling.

1.54" AMOLED at a competitive price

Larger and brighter display than Galaxy Watch 8 or Pixel Watch 4, with Hasselblad-tuned health sensors, starting at around $285.

Garmin Forerunner 265

Multi-band GPS accuracy

L1+L5 multi-band GPS reduces position drift in urban canyons and dense forest — a meaningful upgrade over single-band watches for competitive runners.

Training readiness score

Daily score combining HRV status, sleep, acute load, and recovery time — tells you whether to train hard, easy, or rest on any given day.

Race time predictor

Estimates your finish time for 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon based on your current fitness — useful for pacing race-day strategy.