Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs Garmin Forerunner 265: Smartwatch Ambitions vs Running Watch Reality
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs Garmin Forerunner 265: Smartwatch Ambitions vs Running Watch Reality
This is a weird comparison on paper. A $649 Samsung smartwatch against a $450 Garmin running watch. Different price points, different philosophies, different target buyers. But I keep getting asked about it, and I get why. If you are a runner who also wants a smartwatch, these two keep coming up. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is the most capable smartwatch Samsung has ever made, and they are clearly marketing it toward fitness-minded people. The Garmin Forerunner 265 is one of the best pure running watches you can buy at any price.
The question is not which watch is better. The question is which watch is better for you, specifically if running is your main thing but you also want a watch that does other stuff.
I have spent serious time with both. Here is what I actually think.
Spec Comparison Table
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra | Garmin Forerunner 265 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$649 | ~$450 |
| Weight | 60.5g | 47g |
| Display | 1.5” Super AMOLED (480x480) | 1.3” AMOLED (416x416) |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Physical buttons | 2 + rotating crown | 5 |
| Multi-band GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Music storage | Yes (streaming via LTE/WiFi) | Yes (up to 500 songs) |
| Maps | Google Maps (online) | Downloadable offline maps |
| OS | Wear OS 5 (One UI Watch 6) | Garmin proprietary |
| App ecosystem | Google Play Store | Garmin Connect IQ |
| Body composition | Yes (BIA sensor) | No |
| SpO2 sensor | Yes | Yes |
| HRV tracking | Yes (Samsung Health) | Yes (HRV Status) |
| Training readiness | Basic (Energy Score) | Training Readiness (0-100) |
| Race predictor | No | Yes |
| Running dynamics | Basic | With compatible accessory |
| Barometric altimeter | Yes | Yes |
| Water resistance | 10 ATM / IP68 | 5 ATM |
| LTE option | Yes | No |
| Battery (smartwatch) | ~2 days | Up to 13 days |
| Battery (GPS) | ~7 hours (multi-band) | Up to 20 hours (multi-band) |
| NFC payments | Google Pay / Samsung Pay | Garmin Pay |
The Core Difference: What These Watches Want to Be
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a smartwatch first and a fitness device second. It runs Wear OS, gives you the full Google Play Store, lets you reply to texts with a real keyboard, take calls from your wrist, use Google Maps, Google Assistant, and basically act like a mini phone on your arm. Samsung bolted on serious fitness features to make it appealing to athletes, and they did a decent job. But the DNA is smartwatch.
The Garmin Forerunner 265 is a running watch that also happens to have a nice AMOLED display and some smartwatch features. It was built from the ground up to track your training, analyze your performance, and help you get faster. The smartwatch stuff, notifications, music, contactless payments, is there because Garmin knows you want it, not because it is the watch’s reason for existing.
This distinction matters more than any spec sheet. It shapes every single experience you have with the watch.
Running Features: Garmin Wins This by a Mile
Let me be blunt. If running data and training guidance are what you care about most, the Forerunner 265 is in a completely different league from the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.
The FR 265 gives you Training Readiness, which is a single score from 0 to 100 that factors in your sleep, recovery time, HRV status, acute training load, stress, and sleep history. You wake up, glance at your wrist, and you know whether today is a day for intervals or an easy jog. It also gives you HRV Status, which tracks your heart rate variability trends over time and tells you if your body is adapting well to training or if you are accumulating fatigue.
Then there is the race predictor. The FR 265 estimates your finish times for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon based on your training data and fitness level. It is not perfect, but it is based on decades of Garmin’s FirstBeat analytics, and in my experience it gets surprisingly close to reality.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra has an “Energy Score” that is Samsung’s version of training readiness. It is fine. It gives you a number. But it does not factor in as many variables, it is not as refined, and it does not connect to your training data as deeply. Samsung Health does track HRV, but the analysis is surface level compared to what Garmin offers. There is no race predictor. The running dynamics are basic. You do not get the same depth of training load analysis.
If you are following a structured training plan, training for a specific race time, or trying to manage your training load to avoid injury, the FR 265 is the obvious choice. The Samsung can track your run. The Garmin helps you become a better runner.
We covered a similar dynamic in our Garmin vs Apple Watch for Running article, and the same logic applies here. Smartwatches are getting better at fitness, but dedicated running watches still own the training intelligence space.
Smartwatch Features: Samsung Wins This by Even More
Flip the script entirely. If you want a smartwatch that also tracks runs, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is so far ahead of the Garmin FR 265 that it is almost unfair to compare them.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra runs Wear OS 5 with Samsung’s One UI Watch overlay. You get the Google Play Store. You can install Google Maps, WhatsApp, Spotify (with streaming over LTE or WiFi), Google Calendar, Gmail, and hundreds of other apps. You can reply to messages with a full keyboard, voice dictation, or quick replies. You can take phone calls from your wrist if you have the LTE model. Google Assistant is built in and actually useful.
The FR 265 can show you notifications. You can dismiss them. You can send quick replies if you have an Android phone. That is about it. There is no app store worth mentioning (Connect IQ has some useful data fields and watch faces, but it is not a real app ecosystem). You cannot browse the web, you cannot use a maps app with real-time directions, you cannot do basically anything that makes a smartwatch feel like a smartwatch.
Samsung also includes a body composition sensor (BIA) that estimates your body fat percentage, muscle mass, and water weight. It is not medical-grade accuracy, but it is a useful trend tracker if you are trying to lose weight or build muscle alongside your running.
If you want one device that handles your runs and also functions as a capable smartwatch for daily life, the Samsung is the only real option here. The Garmin is a running watch that sends notifications.
Battery Life: This Is Where Samsung Falls Apart
Here is the dealbreaker for a lot of runners. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra lasts about 2 days with normal use. Maybe. If you turn off the always-on display and limit GPS use, you might stretch it to 2.5 days. But realistically, you are charging this watch every other day.
The Garmin Forerunner 265 lasts up to 13 days in smartwatch mode. With the always-on display on, you still get 6 or 7 days. In full multi-band GPS mode, the FR 265 lasts up to 20 hours compared to about 7 hours for the Samsung.
Let me put that in real terms. If you run 4 times a week for 45 minutes, that is 3 hours of GPS use per week. The FR 265 can handle that plus daily wear for over a week between charges. The Samsung will need a charge after 3 or 4 days of that usage pattern, and you will need to plan your charging around your runs.
For anyone training for a half marathon or marathon, where your long runs can hit 2 to 3 hours, the Samsung’s 7-hour GPS battery is cutting it close. We have a dedicated guide on Garmin watch battery tips if squeezing maximum runtime matters to you. You cannot afford to start a long run with 40% battery and wonder if you will make it home with data. The Garmin gives you a comfortable margin.
Battery life is the single biggest practical difference between these watches, and it is the reason I hesitate to recommend the Samsung to anyone who runs more than casually. Charging a watch every other day gets old fast, especially when your $450 alternative lasts two weeks.
GPS Accuracy: Both Are Good, Garmin Is More Consistent
Both watches have multi-band GPS, which means they can connect to multiple satellite frequencies for better accuracy in challenging environments like dense tree cover or urban canyons.
In my experience, both are good. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra locks on reasonably fast and tracks well on most runs. The Garmin FR 265 is slightly more consistent, especially in tricky conditions. I have had a few Samsung runs where the GPS drifted a bit in the first half mile before settling down, which is something I rarely see with the Garmin.
Neither watch will embarrass you with wildly inaccurate data. But if GPS precision matters for your training, the Garmin has a slight edge. It is also worth noting that Garmin has been refining its GPS algorithms for decades. For a deeper dive into how Garmin compares across the broader smartwatch landscape, our COROS vs Garmin 2026 comparison covers GPS performance in detail. Samsung has gotten much better, but the experience gap is still there.
We covered GPS accuracy across brands in our Garmin vs Coros vs Apple Watch comparison, and the takeaway remains the same: Garmin and Coros lead the pack, Samsung is competitive but not class-leading.
Display: Both Look Great
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra has a 1.5-inch Super AMOLED display at 480x480 resolution. It is gorgeous. Bright, sharp, vivid colors, excellent viewing angles. It is one of the best smartwatch displays you can get.
The Garmin FR 265 has a 1.3-inch AMOLED at 416x416. It is also excellent. Not quite as large or as high-resolution as the Samsung, but still a massive upgrade over older Garmin MIP displays and perfectly competitive with other AMOLED watches in this price range.
Both displays are great for running. You can read your data at a glance in any lighting condition. The Samsung is bigger and slightly nicer, but this is not a meaningful differentiator for running use. You are looking at numbers for a second or two at a time.
The Samsung does have an advantage in direct sunlight for general use, with its peak brightness going higher than the Garmin. On a run, though, both are fine.
Ecosystem: Google vs Garmin
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra runs Wear OS, which means it plugs into the Google ecosystem. Google Maps, Google Pay, Google Calendar, Google Assistant, YouTube Music. If you are an Android user, this feels natural. Your watch syncs with your phone in a way that feels seamless.
The Garmin FR 265 uses Garmin Connect, which is the most comprehensive fitness ecosystem available. If you are considering other Garmin models, the Garmin Venu 4 vs Forerunner 265 comparison is worth reading since the Venu 4 competes more directly with smartwatches like the Samsung. Years of training data, deep integration with Strava, TrainingPeaks, Komoot, and dozens of other platforms. The Connect IQ store adds watch faces, data fields, and some apps. It is not as versatile as the Google Play Store, but for fitness-specific functionality, it is excellent.
The trade-off is clear. Samsung gives you a better general smartwatch experience. Garmin gives you a better running ecosystem. If you already have years of data in Garmin Connect, switching to Samsung means starting over. If you are new to both, the choice depends on whether you value smartwatch breadth or running depth.
Price and Value
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is $649. The Garmin Forerunner 265 is $450. Check our Forerunner series pricing guide for how the 265 stacks up against the rest of the lineup. That is a $200 difference, and you need to think about what you are getting for that money.
With Samsung, you are paying for a premium smartwatch with LTE capability, a titanium case, 10 ATM water resistance, body composition tracking, and the full Wear OS ecosystem. If you want all of that, $649 is not unreasonable for a flagship smartwatch.
With Garmin, you are paying for a dedicated running watch with best-in-class training features, excellent GPS, multi-day battery life, and offline maps. At $450, it is one of the best values in the running watch market.
The question is whether the Samsung’s smartwatch features are worth $200 more while giving up battery life and running-specific training intelligence. For most runners, I do not think they are.
The Verdict: Who Should Buy What
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra if:
- You want a full smartwatch that also tracks runs
- You need LTE connectivity on your wrist
- You use Google apps heavily and want them on your watch
- Battery life of 2 days does not bother you
- You are a casual runner who logs 3 to 4 easy runs per week
- Body composition tracking matters to you
Buy the Garmin Forerunner 265 if:
- Running is your primary sport and you want the best training data
- You are training for a race and want a race predictor, Training Readiness, and HRV Status
- Battery life matters to you (13 days vs 2 days is a massive gap)
- You want offline maps for running in new places
- You value physical buttons for lap splits during hard efforts
- You want a watch that can handle a marathon training block without dying mid-week
My honest opinion: for runners, the Garmin FR 265 is the better buy. It costs $200 less, lasts 6 times longer between charges, and gives you training intelligence that Samsung simply does not match. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is an excellent smartwatch, but it is a smartwatch first and a running watch second. If running is what you care about, buy the tool that was built for the job.
If you are torn between Garmin models, our Garmin Forerunner 170 vs 265 article breaks down whether the 265 is worth the upgrade over the cheaper 170. If you want to see how the 265 compares to a higher-end Garmin, the Forerunner 265 vs 965 comparison covers the upgrade question at a different price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra track running pace accurately?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra uses multi-band GPS and tracks pace reasonably well. In my experience it is slightly less consistent than the Garmin FR 265, especially in the first few minutes of a run and in challenging GPS environments like dense tree cover or urban canyons. For most recreational runners, the accuracy is perfectly fine.
Does the Garmin Forerunner 265 have LTE?
No, the FR 265 does not have LTE. You need to carry your phone if you want to stream music, receive calls, or use any connected features during a run. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra has an LTE option for standalone connectivity.
How does Samsung’s Energy Score compare to Garmin’s Training Readiness?
Samsung’s Energy Score is a simpler, less comprehensive metric. It factors in sleep and some activity data, but it does not incorporate acute training load, HRV trends, or recovery time as deeply as Garmin’s Training Readiness. For runners following structured training plans, Garmin’s version is significantly more useful and actionable.
Can I use Google Maps on the Garmin Forerunner 265?
No, the FR 265 does not support Google Maps. It has its own downloadable offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation, which are actually more useful for running because they work without a phone or data connection. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra runs Google Maps, but it requires an internet connection for full functionality.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra too heavy for running?
At 60.5 grams, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is noticeably heavier than the 47-gram FR 265. Whether that bothers you is personal. Most runners get used to it, but if you are sensitive to wrist weight during speed work or long runs, the lighter Garmin is more comfortable. The weight difference is more noticeable during sleep tracking than during running.