Are the $550+ Venu 4 or Forerunner 570 really worth the extra money? Our expert says no.
With massive holiday discounts now live, the acclaimed Garmin Forerunner 265 and Garmin Venu 3 are the ultimate value watches for 90% of athletes.
You can save up to $150 and still get best-in-class health and training features.
Why This is the Garmin Deal to Buy Right Now (Save Up to 33%)
In the world of Garmin, the “last-gen” models often provide the best price-to-feature ratio. The newer watches offer marginal upgrades but come with a huge price jump.
These deals provide sophisticated tracking tools that will genuinely help you improve, without draining your wallet.
| Watch Model | Original Price | Holiday Sale Price | Savings | Amazon Link |
| Garmin Forerunner 265 | $449.99 | $299.99 | $150 OFF (33%) | Buy on Amazon |
| Garmin Venu 3 | $449.99 | $349.99 | $100 OFF | Buy on Amazon |
You can find even more incredible offers in our Garmin Black Friday Sale: Get $250 Off Flagship Smartwatches Early!
Forerunner 265: The Training Titan at a Budget Price
The Forerunner 265 is Garmin’s best running watch for the money, specializing in detailed performance metrics that genuinely inform your training.
Key Features That Rival the Newest Models:
- Training Readiness: Wake up to a score that tells you if you should push hard or rest, based on sleep, recovery, and recent training load.
- Hyper-Accurate GPS: Features Garmin’s patented dual-band GPS for precise tracking, even in challenging city or dense tree cover environments.
- Running Dynamics: Includes sensor essentials like an altimeter and gyroscope for elevation changes and form analysis (like cadence and stride length).
- Battery Life: Delivers up to 13 days in smartwatch mode.
The Decision: Is the Forerunner 265 Right for You?
- ✅ Buy If: You are a dedicated runner, triathlete, or outdoor athlete who prioritizes deep training data, Training Readiness, and reliable multi-band GPS above all else.
- ❌ Skip If: You absolutely require offline maps (a Forerunner 965 feature) or need advanced, call-centric smart features (see Venu 3 below).
If you’re comparing other brands, you might also want to check out the Fitbit Versa 4 Black Friday Deal for another excellent smartwatch option.
Venu 3: The Health & Lifestyle Companion
The Venu 3 is the ultimate daily-wear smartwatch, bridging the gap between Garmin’s fitness ecosystem and traditional smart features. It emphasizes health, recovery, and style.
Why the Venu 3 is Still a Flagship-Level Health Watch:
- Advanced Wellness Sensors: Features Garmin’s fifth-generation Elevate sensors, enabling advanced features like ECG (in supported regions) and skin temperature data.
- True Smartwatch Functions: Built-in mic and speaker allow you to take calls and use your phone’s voice assistant directly from your wrist.
- Recovery Focus: It offers Sleep Coaching and Nap Detection, providing personalized guidance to optimize your rest—a huge win for general health tracking.
- Aesthetics: The premium 1.4-inch AMOLED display and stainless steel bezel offer a sleeker look than most plastic-heavy Forerunners.
The Decision: Is the Venu 3 Right for You?
- ✅ Buy If: You want a beautiful, long-lasting smartwatch with strong health/sleep focus, can take calls on your wrist, and enjoy guided indoor workouts.
- ❌ Skip If: You are chasing marathon PRs and need the absolute most advanced GPS and running-specific metrics available.
If you’re looking for even more smartwatch deals, keep an eye on our comprehensive Deal Alert: The Apple Watch SE 3 Just Hit a New Low Price! and our other holiday guides.
Final Verdict: Our Expert Opinion
As an experienced reviewer of both devices, I strongly recommend taking advantage of these sales.
The Forerunner 265 and Venu 3 are no longer “new,” but their feature sets are far from outdated.
They deliver the foundational data, durability, and battery life that made Garmin famous, all while saving you hundreds of dollars compared to the current top-tier models.
Don’t wait—deals on premium Garmin watches at this price point usually sell out fast.
