Garmin Forerunner 265 and Venu 2 Plus are two watches that come at the same price. Forerunner 265 is designed for runners. Venu 2 Plus is suitable for everyone.
We evaluate both watches and share the main features and capabilities.
Main differences between Forerunner 265 and Venu 2 Plus
- Forerunner 265 has a multi-band GPS while the Venu 2 Plus does not have this feature.
- Venu 2 Plus has an in-built speaker and microphone.
- Forerunner 265 has a spectator messaging safety feature.
- Venu 2 Plus has a bezel made of stainless steel.
The major differentiator is the multi-mode GPS capability of the Forerunner 265 series smartwatch. We look at the main features of both watches below.
Display
Both watches have an AMOLED display and share the most common display features. The table below represents the display features of Forerunner 265 and Venu 2 Plus.
| Display specifications | Forerunner 265 | Venu 2 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Display lens | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Display size | 1.3″ | 1.3″ |
| Display resolution | 416 x 416 pixels | 416 x 416 pixels |
| Always on display | Yes | Yes |
| Color display | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
Forerunner 265 and Venu 2 Plus have comparable display features.
Physical specifications
The main hardware specifications of the Forerunner 265 and Venu 2 Plus are shared below.
| Specifications | Forerunner 265 | Venu 2 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Watch size | 46.1 x 46.1 x 12.9 mm | 43.6 x 43.6 x 12.6 mm |
| Thickness | 12.9 mm | 12.6 mm |
| Watch weight | 47 g | 51 g |
| Watch body | Fiber-enforced polymer | Fiber-enforced polymer with rear metal cover |
| Watch Bezel | Fiber-enforced polymer | Stainless steel |
| Water rating | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Device storage | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Band size | 22 mm | 22 mm |
| Band material | Silicone | Silicone |
You will find that the Forerunner 265 is slightly broader and thicker than the Venu 2 Plus smartwatch.
GPS
Forerunner 265 has much better GPS performance than the Venu 2 Plus smartwatch.
Forerunner 265 comes with a multi-frequency positioning sensor. This sensor provides multi-band GPS capability on Forerunner 265. With multi-band GPS, you can get GPS data from multiple satellites at the same time.
Multi-band GPS improves the accuracy of GPS data.
Forerunner 265 also has SatIQ technology. SatIQ toggles between multi-mode and simple GPS modes on the watch. This helps in conserving the battery of the watch.
For the multi-band capability of Forerunner 265, we believe that Forerunner 265 is way ahead of the Venu 2 Plus for its GPS experience and accuracy.
For runners, Forerunner 265 is the suggested variant.
Battery
The battery life of Forerunner 265 and Venu 2 Plus is almost equivalent on the various GPS modes. We list the battery backup provided by Forerunner 265 and Venu 2 Plus in different watch modes below.
| Watch mode | Forerunner 965 | Venu 2 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | up to 13 days | up to 9 days |
| GPS mode without music | up to 20 hours | up to 24 hours |
| GPS mode with music | up to 7 hours | up to 8 hours |
| All Systems + Multi-Band Mode without Music Battery Life | up to 14 hours | NA |
| SatIQ (AutoSelect) Mode without Music Battery Life | up to 16 hours | NA |
| SatIQ (AutoSelect) Mode with Music Battery Life | up to 6.5 hours | NA |
| All Systems + Multi-Band Mode with Music Battery Life | up to 6 hours | NA |
There is hardly any difference in the battery backup provided by Forerunner 265 and Venu 2 Plus watches. Therefore, battery backup is not a differentiating factor between the two watches.
Activity profiles
Forerunner 265 has additional activity profiles in cycling, running, and swimming. Venu 2 Plus has additional profiles in outdoor recreation.
We look at some of these differences below.
- Cycling profiles – Forerunner 265 has additional profiles for Mountain Biking, eBiking, eMountain Biking.
- Swimming – Forerunner 265 has an additional profile for open water swimming.
- Running – Forerunner 265 has additional profiles for Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Virtual Running, and Ultra Running.
- Outdoor recreation – Venu 2 has additional profiles for Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, XC Classic Skiing, and Disc Golf
Cost
Forerunner 265 has been launched at a price of $449.99. Venu 2 Plus is also available at a list price of $449.99.
Final verdict
Since there is no cost difference between the Forerunner 265 and Venu 2 Plus smartwatches, the choice would depend upon your end goals.
For runners, the multi-band GPS of Forerunner 265 is a deal changer. On a similar note, additional features on the Golf and the stainless steel bezel of Venu 2 Plus make it a more presentable watch.
From a functionality perspective, Forerunner 265 ticks all the boxes for runners. From an all-around perspective, Garmin Venu 2 Plus is a good option.
Since I prefer the latest smartwatches for my purchase decisions, my money would go to the Garmin Forerunner 265 as it is the latest variant in the Forerunner series of watches.
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