At a Glance: The Verdict
| Garmin Forerunner 265 | Coros Pace Pro |
|---|---|
|
Best For: Runners who want Garmin Pay and the deeper app ecosystem A polished AMOLED running watch with contactless payments, a huge sensor stack, and the best-supported training platform in the business, for $100 more. |
Best For: Runners who want the longest battery and the lowest price Lighter, cheaper, and lasts nearly twice as long on GPS. The Pace Pro is the value pick for serious distance runners who don’t care about wrist payments. |
Quick Buy Path
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The Garmin Forerunner 265 and the Coros Pace Pro look almost identical on paper: same 1.3-inch AMOLED screen, same 416 x 416 resolution, same multi-band GPS. But the moment you look past the display, they pull in different directions. One leans on ecosystem and payments; the other leans on raw battery life and a lower price.
Key Differences
- Price: The Coros Pace Pro launched at $349 versus $449.99 for the Forerunner 265: a $100 gap that matters.
- GPS battery: The Pace Pro runs 38 hours in full GPS mode. The Forerunner 265 manages 20 hours. That’s nearly double.
- Payments: The Forerunner 265 has NFC for Garmin Pay. The Pace Pro does not: no wrist payments at all.
- Weight: The Pace Pro is 37g; the Forerunner 265 is 47g. You feel that 10g on long runs.
- Storage: 32GB on the Coros versus 8GB on the Garmin, four times the room for offline music.
- Sensors: The Forerunner 265 carries a wider stack (compass, gyroscope, thermometer, ambient light) while the Pace Pro adds an ECG sensor the Garmin lacks.
Deep Dive Comparison
Design & Comfort
Both watches use a fiber-reinforced polymer case at roughly 46mm, and both are rated 5 ATM for swimming and rain. The real split is weight: the Pace Pro is 37g, ten grams lighter than the 47g Forerunner 265. For a marathon or an ultra, that lighter wrist load is a genuine comfort win. The Coros also wraps its display in mineral glass. Neither watch is bulky, but the Pace Pro is the one you forget you’re wearing.
Battery Life
This is where the Coros pulls ahead and doesn’t look back. In everyday smartwatch mode the Pace Pro lasts about 20 days versus 13 days for the Forerunner 265. In full multi-band GPS mode (the number runners actually care about) the Pace Pro hits 38 hours against the Garmin’s 20 hours. If you train long or race ultras, that difference means charging half as often.
Health & Fitness Features
Both run multi-band GPS with wrist heart rate and SpO2 (blood oxygen), so core tracking accuracy is in the same league. Garmin’s reputation for optical HR consistency and its training metrics (Training Readiness, recovery, race predictors) is the most mature in the category, and the Forerunner 265 adds a barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, and thermometer. The Pace Pro counters with an ECG sensor the Garmin doesn’t have, plus its own well-regarded EvoLab training analytics. For pure structured training, Garmin’s platform is deeper; for accurate running data at a lower price, the Coros holds its own.
Smart Features
The Forerunner 265 wins the smartwatch column on one feature that matters daily: NFC for Garmin Pay. Tap to pay at the register, leave your wallet home. The Pace Pro has no NFC and no contactless payments. The Coros swings back with a built-in microphone and speaker plus 32GB of storage (four times the Garmin’s 8GB), so it’s the better watch for loading offline music. Both handle phone notifications fine.
Price & Value
The Coros Pace Pro launched at $349. The Garmin Forerunner 265 launched at $449.99. That’s a $100 difference for a watch that lasts longer on GPS, weighs less, and carries more storage. The only thing the extra $100 buys you on the Garmin is wrist payments and a broader ecosystem. If those two things don’t move you, the value math is lopsided in Coros’s favor.
Technical Specs
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Coros Pace Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 47 g | 37 g |
| Display | 1.3-inch AMOLED, 416 x 416 | 1.3-inch AMOLED, 416 x 416 |
| Water Rating | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Battery (Smartwatch) | 312 hours (13 days) | 480 hours (20 days) |
| Battery (GPS) | 20 hours | 38 hours |
| GPS | Multi-band | Multi-band |
| Storage | 8 GB | 32 GB |
| Sensors | Wrist HR, SpO2, barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer, ambient light | HR, SpO2, ECG, accelerometer, barometric altimeter |
| NFC Payments | Yes (Garmin Pay) | No |
| Mic / Speaker | No | Yes |
| Launch Price | $449.99 | $349 |
The Verdict
Buy the Coros Pace Pro if you’re a runner first. It’s $100 cheaper, 10g lighter, lasts 38 hours on GPS instead of 20, and packs four times the music storage. For distance training and racing, it’s the smarter buy and the clear value winner.
Buy the Garmin Forerunner 265 if you want Garmin Pay on your wrist and the deepest training ecosystem on the market. The wider sensor suite and Garmin Connect’s third-party app support justify the extra $100 if you’ll actually use contactless payments and lean on Garmin’s recovery and readiness metrics every day. For most runners chasing pure value, though, the Pace Pro is the watch to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which watch is better for marathon training?
The Coros Pace Pro, for most runners. Its 38-hour GPS battery and 37g weight make it the better long-run and ultra companion, and it costs $100 less. Choose the Forerunner 265 only if you specifically want Garmin’s race-predictor and readiness metrics.
Does the Coros Pace Pro have contactless payments like the Garmin?
No. The Pace Pro has no NFC chip, so there are no wrist payments at all. The Forerunner 265 supports Garmin Pay, so if tapping to pay at the register matters to you, the Garmin is the only option here.
Is the Garmin Forerunner 265 worth the extra $100?
Only if you value Garmin Pay and the broader ecosystem. The Pace Pro beats it on battery, weight, and storage for $349 versus $449.99. The Garmin’s premium buys payments, a wider sensor stack, and Garmin Connect’s deeper app support, not better core run tracking.
Which has better battery life for everyday use?
The Coros Pace Pro, easily. It runs about 20 days in smartwatch mode versus 13 days for the Forerunner 265, and 38 GPS hours against the Garmin’s 20. If you hate charging, the Pace Pro is the answer.
Do both work with iPhone and Android?
Yes, both pair with iPhone and Android through their companion apps: Garmin Connect for the Forerunner 265 and the Coros app for the Pace Pro. Garmin’s app store and third-party integrations are more extensive, so platform-heavy users may prefer the 265. For basic sync and notifications, both are equally at home on either phone.
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Specs and features may change. Always verify details on the manufacturer’s official site before purchasing.
