Garmin Venu 3 generally offers a better battery life than Garmin Forerunner 265 during GPS-intensive activities, though the differences vary slightly depending on specific usage and GPS mode.
Battery Life Comparison on GPS Activities
- The Garmin Venu 3 can provide up to 20 hours in All Systems GPS mode, and about 26 hours in GPS-only mode according to official specs. With playback playing, it still manages about 11 hours of GPS usage.
- The Garmin Forerunner 265 delivers up to 20 hours of GPS usage in All Systems GPS mode, which matches the Venu 3 in typical multi-GNSS use. Using the most accurate multiband GNSS mode, the Forerunner 265 offers around 14 hours of GPS tracking, somewhat less than the Venu 3.
- For GPS with playback playback, the Forerunner 265 offers around 7 hours, which is noticeably less than the Venu 3's 11 hours.
Real-World Battery Performance
- Users testing the Venu 3 in realistic conditions with regular short GPS activities report battery drainage around 8 days total with multiple hours of GPS activity per week, typically with smart features like notifications and health tracking enabled. This performance is slightly below Garmin's 14-day smartwatch mode claim but solid for active use.
- Comparative reviews affirm that for frequent GPS use, both watches require charging every few days, but the Venu 3's slightly larger battery capacity affords a bit more endurance during extended tracking sessions.
Usage Focus and Style Impact on Battery
- The Venu 3 is designed more as a lifestyle and wellness companion with additional smart features like voice calls and voice assistant support. This can affect battery life but is balanced by efficient power management.
- The Forerunner 265 is more training-focused, targeted at serious runners and endurance athletes, trading some battery life for detailed training and running metrics.
- Both watches come with brightness and display mode adjustments that affect battery; for example, Always-On Display mode consumes more power but both can sustain it up to about 5 days.
Summary
- For GPS-intensive activities, especially those involving long outdoor workouts or multi-hour tracking, the Garmin Venu 3 slightly edges out the Forerunner 265 in battery longevity, offering up to 20 hours in All Systems GPS mode versus the Forerunner's similar 20 hours but less in multiband mode.
- The Forerunner 265's advanced training metrics come at a minor battery cost compared to the more lifestyle-oriented Venu 3.
- In general, users can expect to charge both devices every few days with heavy GPS use, but the Venu 3 provides a marginally better battery envelope enabling more extended activity tracking sessions with a single charge.