Okay, so I was on the hunt for a new Garmin watch. My old one was getting a bit tired, you know? The Forerunner 265 caught my eye, mostly ’cause of that new bright screen they put on it. But then I saw there was a 265s too. What’s the difference, right? That’s what I wanted to figure out.
Getting Started: Why These Two?
Simple really. I wanted the latest features Garmin packed into this running watch generation, especially that AMOLED display everyone’s talking about. Saw reviews, looked nice. But then, the ‘s’ model popped up. Usually, ‘s’ means smaller. My wrists aren’t massive, so I thought, maybe the smaller one’s the way to go? Didn’t want something looking like a dinner plate on my arm.
Hands-On Time
I figured the best way was to actually see them. Specs online only tell you so much. Found a store that had both in stock. First thing I did was ask to try them both on, one after the other.
The Feel:
- The regular 265 felt… well, like a standard Garmin watch size. Not huge, but definitely noticeable.
- Then I strapped on the 265s. Yeah, definitely smaller. Felt lighter too, less bulky on my wrist. It just seemed to sit better, didn’t feel like it was trying to take over my whole arm.
Screen Size vs. Wrist Size
Here’s the trade-off, right? The 265s is smaller overall, which means the screen is a bit smaller too. The regular 265 has a 1.3-inch screen, the 265s has a 1.1-inch screen. Side-by-side, you can tell the difference. The bigger screen on the regular 265 looked great, lots of space for data when you’re running.
But then I looked at the 265s on my wrist again. The smaller screen was still super bright and clear, thanks to that AMOLED tech. Everything was perfectly readable. Didn’t feel cramped at all, surprisingly. The main thing was how much better the watch case itself fit my wrist.
What About the Insides?
Looked into it – features, sensors, battery life (well, the claimed battery life anyway). They’re basically identical. Same GPS smarts, same heart rate sensor, same training stuff, same music storage. Garmin didn’t really cut any features for the smaller size, except maybe a tiny bit less battery on paper, but nothing major I’d notice day-to-day.
Making the Call
So, it really boiled down to this: slightly bigger, nicer screen on the regular 265, versus a much better, more comfortable fit with the 265s. For me, comfort wins, especially for a watch I’m gonna wear pretty much 24/7, sleeping with it too.
I spent a good few minutes just switching them back and forth on my wrist. Visualized going for a run, sleeping, just wearing it around. The lighter, snugger feel of the 265s just felt right. The regular 265 wasn’t bad, but the ‘s’ felt like it was made for a wrist my size.
My Choice
Ended up walking out with the Forerunner 265s. Been using it for a while now, no regrets. The screen size is totally fine, super easy to read even mid-run, and the fit is just perfect. Doesn’t snag on sleeves as much, doesn’t feel like a brick. If you’ve got smaller wrists, I’d definitely say give the 265s a serious look. If you prefer a larger display or have bigger wrists, the regular 265 is probably the better bet. Simple as that, really.