Garmin has launched the Forerunner 965 and Forerunner 265 in India, and these two new additions make Garmin the brand to beat for anyone hunting a garmin smartwatch highest battery life in the wearables segment. Both watches debuted on Garmin's 20th anniversary and are available now across offline and online stores.
Garmin Forerunner 965 — Garmin Smartwatch Highest Battery Champion
The Garmin Forerunner 965 sits at the top of the range with a claimed battery life of 23 days in smartwatch mode — a world-best figure at launch. Switch to full GPS mode and you still get a substantial 31 hours of tracking time. The 965 is built around a 1.4-inch AMOLED display and features a premium titanium bezel, lending it a lightweight yet durable feel on the wrist. It is offered in Black and MP Yellow colour options and is priced at Rs 67,490.
| Specification | Forerunner 965 | Forerunner 265 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 1.4-inch AMOLED | 1.3-inch AMOLED |
| Bezel material | Titanium | — |
| Glass protection | — | Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Battery (smartwatch mode) | 23 days | 13 days |
| Battery (GPS mode) | 31 hours | 20 hours |
| GPS | Built-in | Built-in |
| Colours | Black, MP Yellow | Black, Aqua |
| Price in India | Rs 67,490 | Rs 50,490 |
Garmin Forerunner 265 — AMOLED Display at a Lower Price
The Garmin Forerunner 265 brings AMOLED quality down to a more accessible price point of Rs 50,490. Its 1.3-inch AMOLED panel is protected by Gorilla Glass 4, a notable durability upgrade. Battery life stands at 13 days in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in GPS mode, which remains class-competitive despite being second to the 965. It comes in Black and Aqua colour options.
Health and Fitness Features on Both Models
Both the Forerunner 965 and 265 ship with built-in GPS and a comprehensive suite of health-tracking tools:
- Heart rate tracker — continuous optical monitoring throughout the day
- VO2 Max — estimates your aerobic capacity over time
- Training Status — tells you whether your fitness is improving, maintaining, or declining
- Stress monitoring — tracks physiological stress levels throughout the day
- Sleep tracking — detailed overnight analysis
- Stamina tracking — shows real-time and projected stamina during workouts
- Acute Chronic Workload (ACW) rating — monitors training load to help prevent over-training
Why AMOLED Matters for Running Watches
Traditionally, running watches relied on transflective MIP (Memory-In-Pixel) displays to preserve battery. The inclusion of AMOLED technology on both the Forerunner 965 and 265 is a significant step because AMOLED panels produce richer colours, deeper blacks, and sharper contrast — making metrics like pace, heart rate, and map data far easier to read in varied lighting. Garmin has managed this without a severe battery penalty: 23 days on the 965 and 13 days on the 265 are impressive figures for AMOLED-equipped sports watches.
Built for Serious Athletes
The Forerunner line is aimed at runners, triathletes, and multi-sport athletes who demand accuracy alongside endurance. The Acute Chronic Workload (ACW) rating is particularly useful here — it compares recent training load against your longer-term average to flag when you are pushing too hard and risking injury, or not hard enough to see improvement. Combined with VO2 Max estimation and Training Status, both watches give athletes a data-rich picture of their fitness trajectory without needing to connect to an external app for analysis.
Availability and Pricing
Both watches are on sale now in India through Garmin's authorised offline retailers and major online platforms. The Forerunner 965 is priced at Rs 67,490 and the Forerunner 265 at Rs 50,490. For the full range of Garmin wearables, visit the brand page.
