Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch vs Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch

9.1/10 Excellent

4.5★ (4,800 owners)

AMOLED, 17-day battery, dual-frequency GPS, offline maps, 38g ultralight. Best mid-range running watch.

Full Review

Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch

9.2/10 Excellent

4.5★ (8,400 owners)

AMOLED display, dual-band GPS, 13-day battery, HRV status. The serious runner's smart watch.

Full Review

At a Glance

	Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch	Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch
247Verdict Score	9.1/10	9.2/10
Owner Rating	4.5★ (4,800)	4.5★ (8,400)
Verdict	Excellent	Excellent
Battery	17 days AMOLED	13 days / 20hr GPS
GPS	Dual-frequency L1+L5	Dual-band L1+L5
Display	AMOLED	AMOLED 1.3"

Quick Verdict

This is a genuine draw — both score within 0.15 points of each other. Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch: AMOLED, 17-day battery, dual-frequency GPS, offline maps, 38g ultralight. Best mid-range running watch. Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch: AMOLED display, dual-band GPS, 13-day battery, HRV status. The serious runner's smart watch. Choose based on your specific needs. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch

17-day battery with AMOLED display — comparable to Garmin Fenix's battery in a sub-£200 watch
Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5) provides satellite accuracy that rivals Garmin Fenix in most conditions
38g weight — the lightest GPS running watch with AMOLED display
Offline maps allow route navigation without phone in mountain and trail environments
Coros EvoLab training analytics rivals Garmin's Coach algorithm for structured run training

Newer brand with smaller community vs Garmin's established training ecosystem
App less polished than Garmin Connect for non-running sports
Support for third-party training apps (Strava, TrainingPeaks) less deep than Garmin

Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch

AMOLED display is the clearest running watch screen available at this price
Dual-band GPS (L1+L5) delivers within 1% distance accuracy on technical routes
13-day battery in smartwatch mode, 20 hours GPS — enough for ultra-marathon training
Morning Report with HRV status and Body Battery guides daily training intensity
Training Readiness score prevents overtraining by analysing load vs recovery

13-day battery drops to 20 hours in GPS mode — fine for most, limiting for ultramarathon racing
No maps (topo maps are in the Fenix range)
AMOLED reduces battery vs transflective displays in previous Forerunner models

FAQ

Which is better, Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport or Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS?

Is the Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport worth the extra cost?

The Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch matches or exceeds it at a potentially lower price point.

Who is the Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport best suited to?

AMOLED, 17-day battery, dual-frequency GPS, offline maps, 38g ultralight. Best mid-range running watch.

Who is the Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS best suited to?

AMOLED display, dual-band GPS, 13-day battery, HRV status. The serious runner's smart watch.

What are the main downsides of each?

Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch: Newer brand with smaller community vs Garmin's established training ecosystem; App less polished than Garmin Connect for non-running sports. Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch: 13-day battery drops to 20 hours in GPS mode — fine for most, limiting for ultramarathon racing; No maps (topo maps are in the Fenix range).

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch sits at 4.5★ from 4,800 verified Amazon owners, and Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch at 4.5★ from 8,400.

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