Hey there! It’s your friendly neighborhood tech geek, Jenny Xiao, and I’m here to dive into a comparison review of two fantastic watches that are sure to get your heart racing, the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 and the Garmin Forerunner 265.
Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, a casual runner, or just someone who likes to keep track of their health and wellness, these watches have got you covered.
But which one is better, you ask?
Well, while comparing Xiaomi vs Garmin, it all depends on your needs. The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 is great for those who want a budget-friendly option with basic features like heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, while the Garmin Forerunner 265 is perfect for serious athletes who want advanced tracking and multi-sport modes.
So, grab a snack and let’s get into it!
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 265
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 265 : Specifications Comparison
| Specifications | Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 | Garmin Forerunner 265 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 1.75-inch AMOLED with 450 x 390 pixels | 1.3-inch color AMOLED touch with 416 x 416 pixels |
| Body | Plastic back and frame | Silicone and fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Weight | 37g | 47g |
| Water Resistance | 5ATM | 5 ATM certificate, water-resistant up to 50m |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi |
| Memory | Not specified | 8GB inbuilt memory |
| Battery | Li-Ion 289mAh non-removable battery | Up to 13 days in smartwatch mode, up to 20 hours in GPS-only GNSS mode |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, heart rate, compass, gyro, SpO2 | Heart rate, SpO2, thermometer, altimeter, pedometer, sleep monitor |
| Additional Features | Not specified | Multiple sports modes, weather tracking, find my device feature |
Xiaomi vs Garmin : Display & Design
First up, we have the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3. This little guy is as light as a feather, weighing only 37g. It’s got a plastic back and frame, but don’t let that fool you – it’s tough enough to handle your daily wear and tear.
With a 1.75-inch AMOLED display and 450 x 390 pixels, you’ll have no trouble seeing your stats. And if you’re a water baby, you’re in luck because it’s waterproof up to 5ATM!
Next, we have the Garmin Forerunner 265. It’s a bit heavier than its counterpart, coming in at 47g, but it’s still pretty lightweight. The watch is made from silicone and fiber-reinforced polymer, making it super durable.
The display is slightly smaller at 1.3 inches, but it’s a color AMOLED touch display with 416 x 416 pixels. And if you’re a swimmer or a diver, you’ll love that it’s water-resistant up to 50m with a 5 ATM certificate.
Xiaomi vs Garmin : Connectivity Options
Both the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 and the Garmin Forerunner 265 have Bluetooth and GPS, which is super handy for tracking your workouts and staying connected to your phone. But wait, there’s more!
The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 takes it up a notch with additional positioning options like GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, and QZSS. Sounds fancy, right? Basically, this means that you’ll have even more accurate location tracking, which is perfect for those of us who love to explore new places.
On the other hand, the Garmin Forerunner 265 not only has Bluetooth and GPS, but it also has Wi-Fi connectivity and an 8GB inbuilt memory. That means you can store your favorite tunes or podcasts right on your watch and listen to them on the go.
Plus, it has some cool additional sensors like a thermometer and multiple frequency positioning. This watch really has it all!
Whether you prefer the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 with its extra positioning options or the Garmin Forerunner 265 with its Wi-Fi and multiple sensors, you can’t go wrong with either one!
Xiaomi vs Garmin : Battery Life
Now let’s get to the most essential feature we all crave in a smartwatch – the battery life.
First up, we have the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3, which has a Li-Ion 289mAh non-removable battery. It may sound complicated, but basically, it means that you can expect to get a decent amount of battery life out of this little guy. No need to constantly worry about charging it every day!
Now, let’s talk about the Garmin Forerunner 265. This watch is a real champ when it comes to battery life. It can last up to 13 days in smartwatch mode, which means you can wear it all day and all night without worrying about charging it.
And if you’re going on a long run or hike, you’ll love that it can last up to 20 hours in GPS-only GNSS mode. That’s seriously impressive!
Xiaomi vs Garmin : Features
Taking a look at the additional features both these watches come with, the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 is jam-packed with sensors, including an accelerometer, heart rate monitor, compass, gyro, and SpO2.
That’s a lot of tech crammed into one little watch! With all these sensors, you’ll be able to track your workouts and health stats with ease.
The Garmin Forerunner 265 is a true multitasker, with sensors for heart rate, SpO2, and a whole bunch of other features like an altimeter, pedometer, and sleep monitor. Plus, it has multiple sports modes, so you can track all your activities – from running to swimming and everything in between.
And, if you’re someone who likes to stay up to date with the weather, you’ll love that the Forerunner 265 has weather tracking too!
But wait, there’s more – the Garmin Forerunner 265 also has a find my device feature. So if you ever misplace your watch (we’ve all been there!), you can use this feature to help locate it. That’s seriously cool!
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 265 : Which is Better?
Alright, it’s time to break it down – which watch is the winner of this showdown?
If you’re looking for a watch with all the bells and whistles, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is the clear choice. It’s got a bigger, better display that will make all your stats and notifications pop.
Plus, it has a bunch of extra sensors, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a battery life that will blow your mind. Seriously, this watch is a beast!
But, if you’re on a budget and want something a little more lightweight, the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 might be the way to go. Sure, it might not have all the fancy sensors or Wi-Fi connectivity, but it’s still got plenty of features to keep you happy.
And, if you’re someone who likes to switch up your workouts and needs different positioning options, the Redmi Watch 3 has got you covered.
Xiaomi Mi Watch vs Garmin Forerunner 55
| Xiaomi Mi Watch | Garmin Forerunner 55 | |
| Display | 1.39-inch color AMOLED 454 x 454 resolution | 1.04-inch transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display208 x 208 resolution |
| Dimensions and weight | 45.9 x 53.35 x 11.8mm32g (without strap) | 42 x 42 x 11.6mm37g |
| Materials | Case: PlasticStrap: TPU | Plastic caseSilicone band |
| Colors | Case: Black, Navy blue, BeigeStrap: Black, Navy blue, Beige, Orange, Olive, Yellow | Black, White, Aqua |
| IP rating | 5ATM | 5ATM |
| Battery Life | 420mAh16 days with standard use | Up to 2 weeks in smartwatch modeUp to 20 hours in GPS mode |
| Sensors | Heart rate sensorSpO2 calculatorGPS / GLONASS / BDS / GalileoAccelerometerGyroscopeGeomagnetic sensorAir pressure sensorAmbient light sensorCompass | Garmin Elevate heart rate sensorGPSGLONASSGalileoAccelerometer |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 BLE | Bluetooth |
| Compatibility | Android 4.4 and aboveiOS 10.0 and above | Android, iOS |
| Smartwatch Features | Smartphone notificationsMusic controlTons of watch facesAmazon Alexa supportCamera ShutterSet Alarms | Connect IQ-compatibleSmartphone notificationsControls smartphone musicGarmin Assistance safety features |
Design
Xiaomi and Garmin have gone with a round design for the Xiaomi Mi Watch and the Garmin Forerunner 55. So regardless of which one you choose, you will get a similar design. And both designs are very good too. They both go for a simple, clean, elegant design that I love.
Both the Mi Watch and the Forerunner 55 feature plastic build which makes them both lightweight and comfortable to wear. The Garmin Forerunner 55 weighs 37 grams without the straps while the Mi Watch weighs just 32 grams without straps.
Both also feature swappable straps that are easy to change. Forerunner 55’s predecessor the Forerunner 45, didn’t have easily swappable straps so it’s a welcome addition to the new model. You might want to change the straps that come with the Forerunner 55 as they don’t seem to be of high quality which is a bummer. The Mi Watch costs less and comes with better-quality straps.
When it comes to dimensions, the Forerunner 55 is smaller than the Mi Watch in every aspect. The Forerunner’s dimensions are 42 x 42 x 11.6 mm while the Mi Watch is larger at 45.9 x 53.35 x 11.8 mm. The larger dimensions also make the Mi Watch feel a bit bulky despite being lighter than the Forerunner 55.
When it comes to looks, I prefer the Xiaomi Mi Watch’s less sporty design, because of the fewer buttons. Since the Garmin Forerunner 55 does not feature a touchscreen, it has 5 five that are used for navigating its interface, more on this later. And design-wise I prefer two buttons sticking out of the watch rather than five, it is aesthetically more pleasing.
On the backside of the watches, lie the heart rate sensors and the charging pins, and this is the same for both.
When it comes to design, I would prefer the Mi Watch over the Forerunner 55, but I can’t say the same for build quality. Both watches are sturdy and feel high quality despite being plastic builds. Both also are rated at 5 ATMs for water resistance making them useful for swimming and diving for up to 50 meters underwater.
Since Xiaomi holds the edge when it comes to design and better out-of-the-box straps, I would choose the Mi Watch in this category.
Display
When it comes to display quality, I feel it is going to be an unfair comparison between the two smartwatches as one features a touchscreen while the other doesn’t. The Xiaomi Mi Watch features a 1.39 inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels, making it sharp and crisp to look at. On the other hand, the Garmin Forerunner 55 features a 1.04-inch transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display of 208 x 208 pixels.
This is not even a competition when it comes to display quality, the Mi Watch is bigger, brighter, sharper, colorful, and awesome to look at while the Forerunner 55 feels like a bland mess.
Xiaomi vs Garmin Display
And it gets worse because the Forerunner 55 is not a touchscreen-equipped display, while the Mi Watch is. While you get 5 physical buttons for navigation on the Garmin Forerunner 5, the touchscreen on the Mi Watch is just more convenient for regular use.
The only advantage the physical buttons have is that they are better when you have to use them during workouts. And Xiaomi combats this by offering two buttons. And at this price, it is shocking that the Forerunner doesn’t have a touchscreen just like its predecessors.
I would choose the Xiaomi Mi Watch over the Garmin Forerunner 55 any day when it comes to display and user experience. But since these are fitness smartwatches, the display is not the end of the world. Let’s see how both smartwatches handle fitness tracking.
Fitness and Health Tracking
The Xiaomi Mi Watch feels more like a smartwatch with fitness capabilities while the Garmin Forerunner 55 is a fitness tracker with smartwatch capabilities. Nevertheless, both watches have lots of sensors for tracking motion, heart rate, oxygen levels, and more.
The Mi watch features a heart rate sensor, a blood oxygen calculator, GPS, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a geomagnetic sensor, an air pressure sensor, a compass, and an ambient light sensor. This allows the Mi Watch to calculate motion, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and more.
The Mi Watch takes advantage of Firstbeat to offer VO2 Max insights, training sessions, and heartbeat analysis. The Mi Watch features an additional Energy feature similar to that of the Garmin’s Body Battery monitor. This will monitor your sleep, activity, and heart rate to give you info on how well you can tackle the day.
Along with this, Xiaomi offers 117 workout modes with the Mi Watch. There are 17 core workout modes that offer more activity-specific metrics for the core workout modes. These include activities like walking, running, swimming, and more.
Similarly, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is loaded with sensors for tracking many activities like running, outdoor running, treadmill, indoor track, indoor/outdoor cycling, indoor/outdoor walking, cardio, yoga, elliptical, stair stepper, breathwork, and an “other” category, in addition to the new activities previously listed.
Garmin uses these sensors to track the above activities, a heart rate sensor, a GPS with GLONASS, Galileo, and an accelerometer. While the sensor list and activities list is far less than that of the Mi Watch, the accuracy of data collected is better.
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is better at collecting data like heart rate, movement, and more accurately, presumably due to the better sensors on offer. The Mi Watch falters a lot when it comes to a high-intensity workout, as it makes erratic readings. On the other hand, the Garmin Forerunner 55 does a great job of accurately collecting data during such workouts.
Both smartwatches can track sleep too and both do a good job of accurately tracking sleep data. The Mi Watch does offer more insights thanks to its use of Fistbeat Analytics.
Overall, I feel like the fitness and health tracking of the Garmin Forerunner 55 is much better than that of the Xiaomi Mi Watch. This is probably due to Garmin’s longer foray into the fitness tracking game and better sensors. If you want the best fitness tracking experience, you should choose the Forerunner 55 over the Mi Watch.
Smartwatch features
Both Xiaomi and Garmin have packed these watches with smart features too. And when it comes to smartwatch features I have to give the edge to the Mi Watch as it does more than the Forerunner 55.
The Mi Watch displays notifications, offers tons of watch faces to customize your smartwatch, works as a camera shutter for your smartphone, can set alarms, control music playback of your phone, and more. The Mi Watch also supports Amazon Alexa and this feature works when you connect the Mi Watch to your smartphone over Bluetooth. And finally, you can connect the smartwatches to the Mi Home app.
The Garmin Forerunner 55 on the other hand, has only a handful of features like smartphone notifications, smartphone music control, and Garmin safety features assistance. You can also connect the watch to the Connect-IQ app on your smartphone for more detailed insight about workouts and more.
Battery
The Xiaomi Mi Watch trounces the Garmin Forerunner 55 when it comes to battery life. The Mi Watch can offer up to 16 days of battery life in standard mode and you can extend this up to 22 days when in long battery mode thanks to its 420 mAh battery cell. In comparison, the Forerunner 55 can last a maximum of two weeks in the best-case scenario and only 20 hours when using GPS.
While it is a strong showing from both the Mi Watch and the Forerunner 55, if you want the best battery life, then you should get the Xiaomi Mi Watch over the Forerunner 55.
Conclusion
This is a tricky comparison as both smartwatch manufacturers have gone for different approaches. The Mi Watch has been designed to be a better smartwatch, while the Forerunner 55 is designed to be a better fitness tracker.
If you are looking for a smartwatch that can do everything then, the Mi Watch is the better option, it is a jack of all trades. The Garmin Forerunner is an excellent fitness tracker and beats every other smartwatch in the price category when it comes to fitness tracking.
The Mi Watch is the better smartwatch while the Forerunner 55 is the better fitness tracker so, choose what you need.
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