Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Garmin Venu 3

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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Forerunner 265 compared with Venu 3
GarminForerunner 265GarminVenu 3
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2023August 2023
Display
Case sizes42 mm or 46 mm45 mm
PanelOLEDOLED
Always-on displayYesYes
Display detailForerunner 265S has a 1.1″ (28.1 mm) AMOLED touchscreen, 360 x 360 pixels; Forerunner 265 has a 1.3″ (32.5 mm) AMOLED touchscreen, 416 x 416 pixels; five buttons; optional always-on mode1.4-inch (35.4 mm) AMOLED touchscreen, 454 x 454 pixels, with optional always-on mode and two font sizes.
Screen protectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
Health and fitness
ECGNoYes
Blood oxygenYesYes
Skin temperatureNoYes
Sleep apnoea alertsNoNo
High blood pressure alertsNoNo
Body compositionNoNo
Fall detectionNoNo
Crash detectionNoNo
GPSDual-band (L1 and L5)Single-band
Water resistance50 m50 m
SensorsGarmin Elevate wrist heart rate monitor; Pulse Ox blood oxygen monitor; barometric altimeter; compass; gyroscope; accelerometer; thermometer; ambient light sensorGPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate, Pulse Ox, barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer and ambient light sensor; tempe accessory needed for ambient temperature.
Health featuresHigh and low heart rate alerts; HRV status; Body Battery; all-day stress; sleep score, sleep coach and nap detection; breathing variations; respiration rate; Health Snapshot; menstrual cycle and pregnancy tracking; jet lag adviserHeart rate, Pulse Ox, HRV status, sleep coach, nap detection, stress, Body Battery and overnight skin-temperature trends. Garmin ECG app requires supported region and current software.
Fitness featuresTraining readiness and training status; training load, load ratio and load focus; training effect, VO2 max and recovery time; wrist-based running power and dynamics; PacePro; race predictor; Garmin Coach running, cycling and strength plans; daily suggested running and cycling workouts; triathlon and open-water swimming; course navigation with a breadcrumb trail, TracBack and Up AheadMore than 30 sports apps, Garmin Coach, animated workouts, workout benefit and recovery time; wheelchair mode tracks pushes and offers weight-shift alerts and specific workouts.
Safety featuresIncident detection during select activities; assistance; LiveTrack; spectator messaging; live event sharing (Android only); these features require a paired phoneIncident detection, assistance and LiveTrack require a paired phone; incident detection is unavailable in wheelchair mode.
Battery and connections
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 15 daysUp to 14 days
In low-power mode–Up to 26 days
Mobile data optionNoNo
Works withiPhone and AndroidiPhone and Android
Storage8 GB8 GB
Battery life detailForerunner 265S up to 15 days in smartwatch mode, 24 hours GPS only, 18 hours SatIQ (AutoSelect), 15 hours All-Systems + Multi-Band; with music up to 7.5, seven and six hours respectively. Forerunner 265 up to 13 days in smartwatch mode, 20 hours GPS only, 16 hours SatIQ, 14 hours All-Systems + Multi-Band; with music up to seven, 6.5 and six hours respectivelyUp to 14 days in smartwatch mode, five days with always-on display, 26 days in battery saver, 26 hours GPS-only, 20 hours all-systems GNSS or 11 hours all-systems GNSS with music.
ChargingGarmin proprietary plug charger; USB-C charging/data cable includedGarmin proprietary charging cable.
ConnectivityBluetooth, ANT+ and Wi-Fi; multi-band GPS with GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou and SatIQ; Garmin Pay; offline music from Spotify, Deezer and Amazon Music (premium subscription required); Connect IQ; notifications and Android text responses; Garmin ShareBluetooth, ANT+ and Wi-Fi; paired-phone calls and voice assistant through built-in speaker and microphone, Garmin Pay, Connect IQ, smart notifications and stored music.
Storage–8 GB of memory/history.
Design
Weight (lightest version)39 g (better)47 g
SoftwareGarminGarmin
Case materialsFibre-reinforced polymer bezel; silicone band; 5 ATM water ratingStainless-steel bezel, fibre-reinforced polymer case and silicone band; 5 ATM water rating.
SizeForerunner 265S is 41.7 x 41.7 x 12.9 mm and 39 g; Forerunner 265 is 46.1 x 46.1 x 12.9 mm and 47 g; Garmin does not publish case-only weights45 x 45 x 12 mm; 30 g without band or 47 g with the included band.
BandsQuick-release 18 mm bands for the 265S, fitting 115–178 mm wrists; quick-release 22 mm bands for the 265, fitting 135–205 mm wristsQuick-release 22 mm band; fits wrists 135–200 mm.
Colours–Black case and band with slate stainless-steel bezel.
In the boxForerunner 265 or 265S, USB-C charging/data cable, documentation–

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