10 Best Garmin Forerunners 2026 in the United States

The Garmin Forerunner 265 Running Smartwatch stands out in the running smartwatch category, bringing a range of features that cater specifically to athletes and fitness enthusiasts. One of its key strengths is the brilliant AMOLED display, which provides clear visuals and is responsive to touch, making it easy to navigate through various functions. With up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and around 20 hours in GPS mode, this watch offers impressive longevity, allowing users to engage in extended training sessions without the constant worry of recharging.

The robust training metrics and recovery insights are also a highlight. Features like the training readiness score, which evaluates factors such as sleep and recovery, help users optimize their workouts and avoid overtraining. Additionally, the ability to receive personalized daily suggested workouts based on race input makes it an excellent choice for those preparing for upcoming events.

On the safety front, features like incident detection and assistance offer peace of mind for outdoor runners, ensuring that help can be summoned easily if needed. The multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology enhances GPS accuracy, even in challenging environments, making it reliable for various terrains. The Garmin Forerunner 265 is a solid option for dedicated runners and fitness enthusiasts who appreciate advanced training metrics, safety features, and long battery life.

The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music is a running-focused smartwatch that stands out with its colorful AMOLED display and comprehensive fitness features. GPS accuracy is a key strength, ideal for runners who need precise pace and distance measurements during workouts. Its heart rate monitoring is reliable and works straight from the wrist, which is convenient for users who prefer not to use a chest strap. Battery life is notably robust, offering up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode, accommodating long training sessions or multi-day usage without frequent charging.

Training and performance metrics are a highlight, providing personalized workout suggestions and insights into recovery times and training effects. This makes it suitable for users aiming to optimize their fitness regime or prepare for specific events. The inclusion of 25+ activity profiles means versatility for various workout types beyond running, such as cycling and strength training.

Smartwatch capabilities are well-integrated, allowing for music storage and playback directly from the watch, which supports popular music services like Spotify and Amazon Music. This feature, along with smart notifications and Garmin Pay, enhances its usability as a daily smartwatch. While it is water-resistant, making it usable in rain or sweaty conditions, it may not be suitable for extensive swimming sessions. The AMOLED display is vibrant, but some users might find the 1.2-inch screen size modest compared to other smartwatches.

In summary, the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music is a solid choice for dedicated runners and fitness enthusiasts seeking a smartwatch with advanced training metrics and smart features. Its lightweight design and user-friendly interface make it accessible, although those needing more extensive swimming features or a larger display might look elsewhere.

The Garmin Forerunner 265S is a strong choice for runners and fitness enthusiasts who want detailed training insights in a compact and stylish package. Its bright 1.1-inch AMOLED touchscreen combined with traditional buttons makes it easy to use, especially for smaller wrists thanks to its lightweight 42 mm design. GPS tracking is very accurate due to multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology, meaning your runs are mapped well even in tricky environments, and it balances this with good battery life—up to 15 days in smartwatch mode and 24 hours using GPS continuously.

The watch offers plenty of health tracking features like heart rate, HRV status, and recovery insights, which help you understand when to push or rest. Personalized daily suggested workouts and a race widget can guide your training effectively, adjusting based on your recent performance and recovery. Safety features such as incident detection add peace of mind, although they require a paired smartphone with network access. Smart notifications keep you connected without needing to pull out your phone.

Some users may find the smaller 1.1-inch screen a bit cramped, and certain advanced features depend on Garmin’s app and smartphone connectivity to unlock their full potential. This model suits those wanting a powerful running watch that’s both functional and comfortable, especially if you have smaller wrists and prefer a vibrant display.