Price | $299/$349 | $349/$399 | $449 | $499/$599 |
Product Announcement Date | Apr 30th, 2019 | June 1st, 2022 | Mar 2nd, 2023 | June 1st, 2022 |
Actual Availability/Shipping Date | Apr 30th, 2019 | June 1st, 2022 | Mar 2nd, 2023 | June 1st, 2022 |
GPS Recording Functionality | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Data Transfer | USB, Bluetooth Smart, WiFi (Only Music has WiFi) | USB, Bluetooth Smart, WiFi (Only Music has WiFi) | USB, Bluetooth Smart, WiFi | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi |
Waterproofing | 50 Meters | 50 Meters | 50 Meters | Yes - 50m |
Dive/Snorkel Feature | | | No | |
Battery Life (GPS) | Up to 24hrs regular GPS, 24hrs+ for UltraTrac | Up to 30 hours in GPS mode | Up to 20 hours (FR265), and 24 hours (FR265S) | Up to 42hrs GPS only (49hrs+ with Solar) |
Solar Charging | | No | No | Yes (on Solar edition) |
Recording Interval | 1-second, Smart, UltraTrac | 1-second, Smart, UltraTrac | 1-second, Smart, UltraTrac | 1S or Smart |
Dual-Frequency GNSS | | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Alerts | VIBRATE/SOUND/VISUAL | VIBRATE/SOUND/VISUAL | VIBRATE/SOUND/VISUAL | Vibrate/Sound/Visual |
Display Type | | Transflective MIPS | AMOLED | Transflective MIPS |
Backlight Greatness | Good | Good | Great | Good |
Ability to download custom apps to unit/device | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Acts as daily activity monitor (steps, etc...) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Voice Integration | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Has Mic/Speaker | | No | No | No |
Can make/receive calls | | No | No | No |
Voice Assistant | | No | No | No |
Music | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Can control phone music | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Has music storage and playback | Yes (Music version) | Yes (Music version) | Yes | Yes |
Streaming Services | Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, iHeartRadio | Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer | Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer | Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, |
Payments | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Contactless-NFC Payments | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Connectivity | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Bluetooth Smart to Phone Uploading | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Phone Notifications to unit (i.e. texts/calls/etc...) | Yes | Yes (with connected phone) | Yes (with connected phone) | Yes (with connected phone) |
Live Tracking (streaming location to website) | Yes | Yes (with connected phone) | Yes (with connected phone) | Yes (with connected phone) |
Group tracking | No | Yes (with connected phone) | Yes (with connected phone) | Yes (with connected phone) |
Emergency/SOS Message Notification (from watch to contacts) | Yes (via phone) | Yes (with connected phone) | Yes (with connected phone) | Yes (with connected phone) |
Built-in cellular chip (no phone required) | No | No | No | No |
Cycling | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Designed for cycling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter Capable | WITH SOME CONNECT IQ APPS (BUT CANNOT RECORD DATA) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter Configuration/Calibration Options | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter TSS/NP/IF | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Speed/Cadence Sensor Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Strava segments live on device | No | No | No | Yes |
Crash detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Running | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Designed for running | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Footpod Capable (For treadmills) | YES (Also has INTERNAL ACCELEROMETER) | YES (Also has INTERNAL ACCELEROMETER) | YES (Also has INTERNAL ACCELEROMETER) | Yes |
Running Dynamics (vertical oscillation, ground contact time, etc...) | Yes (with accessory) | Yes WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI, HRM-PRO, HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) | Yes | Yes WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI, HRM-PRO, HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) |
Running Power | No | Yes WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI, HRM-PRO, HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) | Yes | Yes WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI, HRM-PRO, HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) |
VO2Max Estimation | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Race Predictor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Recovery Advisor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Run/Walk Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Track Recognition Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Swimming | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Designed for swimming | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Openwater swimming mode | No | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Lap/Indoor Distance Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Record HR underwater | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Openwater Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Indoor Drill Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indoor auto-pause feature | No | No | No | No (it'll show rest time afterwards though) |
Change pool size | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Indoor Min/Max Pool Lengths | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M |
Ability to customize data fields | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Captures per length data - indoors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Alerts | | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Triathlon | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Designed for triathlon | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Multisport mode | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Workouts | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Create/Follow custom workouts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
On-unit interval Feature | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Training Calendar Functionality | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Functions | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Auto Start/Stop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Virtual Partner Feature | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Virtual Racer Feature | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Records PR's - Personal Records (diff than history) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Tidal Tables (Tide Information) | No | No | No | No |
Weather Display (live data) | YEs | YEs | YEs | Yes |
Navigate | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Follow GPS Track (Courses/Waypoints) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Markers/Waypoint Direction | No | Yes (Up Ahead support) | Yes (Up Ahead support) | Yes |
Routable/Visual Maps (like car GPS) | No | No | No | Yes |
Back to start | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Impromptu Round Trip Route Creation | No | No | No | Yes |
Download courses/routes from phone to unit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sensors | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Altimeter Type | GPS | Barometric | Barometric | Barometric |
Compass Type | N/A | Magnetic | Magnetic | Magnetic |
Optical Heart Rate Sensor internally | YEs | YEs | YEs | Yes |
SpO2 (aka Pulse Oximetry) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ECG Functionality | | No | No | No |
HRV Recording | | Yes (nightly and on-demand) | Yes (nightly and on-demand) | Yes (nightly and on-demand) |
Heart Rate Strap Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Heart Rate Strap Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Speed/Cadence Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Footpod Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Power Meter Capable | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Lighting Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Bike Radar Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Trainer Control (FE-C) | NO | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Remote Control | YES FOR GARMIN VIRB | No | No | No |
ANT+ eBike Compatibility | NO | Yes | Yes | No |
ANT+ Gear Shifting (i.e. SRAM ETAP) | No | No | No | Yes |
Shimano Di2 Shifting | NO | No | No | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart HR Strap Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart Footpod Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart Power Meter Capable | NO | Yes | Yes | YEs |
Temp Recording (internal sensor) | NO | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Temp Recording (external sensor) | YES (TEMPE) | YES (TEMPE) | YES (TEMPE) | Yes |
Software | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | PC Application | Garmin Express | Garmin Express | Garmin Express | Garmin Express |
Web Application | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect |
Phone App | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android | iOS/Android | iOS/Android |
Ability to Export Settings | No | No | No | No |
Purchase | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Amazon | Link | Link | Link | Link |
Backcountry.com | Link | Link | Link | Link |
Competitive Cyclist | Link | | | |
REI | Link | Link | Link | Link |
TPC | | | Link | Link |
DCRainmaker | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 255 Music | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar | Review Link | Link | Link | Link | Link |