Garmin is serving up some of the deepest discounts ahead of Black Friday 2025, with flagship fitness watches dropping to their lowest prices. The Garmin Forerunner 265 just hit $299 (down from $450), while the Venu Sq 2 crashed to $149 - making premium GPS tracking and week-long battery life more accessible than ever.
Garmin just dropped its most aggressive pricing of the year, turning what's traditionally been a premium-priced wearables category into something approaching mainstream affordability. The company that built its reputation on rugged, week-long battery life GPS watches is making a serious play for holiday shoppers who've been eyeing the ecosystem but balking at four-figure price tags. The Forerunner 265, which normally commands $450, has hit $299 across Amazon, Best Buy, and Garmin's own store. That's significant because this isn't some older clearance model - the 265 launched earlier this year with an OLED display and dual-frequency GPS that rivals watches costing twice as much. The feature that really sets it apart is multiband GPS positioning, which accesses both L1 and L5 satellite frequencies for accuracy that makes Apple Watch GPS look amateur by comparison. Victoria Song from The Verge noted during testing that she "still had over 80 percent battery" after a half marathon with always-on display and dual-frequency GPS both enabled - performance metrics that would drain most smartwatches completely. But the real story isn't just flagship discounts. Garmin has systematically cut prices across its entire range, creating entry points that compete directly with Fitbit and mainstream smartwatch pricing. The Venu Sq 2, now $149 down from $249, offers what amounts to an Apple Watch alternative with 11-day battery life and built-in GPS. The pricing matters because Garmin has been steadily adding premium features to lower-tier models. The entry-level Forerunner 165 series, now starting at $249, includes Race Predictor algorithms and Training Readiness metrics that used to be reserved for $600+ models. Even the budget Vivomove Sport at $165 delivers continuous heart rate monitoring and Garmin's Body Battery recovery tracking in a package that weighs just 19 grams. The company's decision to discount the Epix Pro to $550 (down from $999) is particularly telling. This isn't old inventory clearing - it's strategic positioning against Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra models that cost similar amounts but offer fraction of the battery life. The Epix Pro delivers up to 16 days on a single charge with topographical mapping, turn-by-turn navigation, and what's become Garmin's signature feature: a hands-free flashlight that activates with a double button press. Industry analysts point out that Garmin's pricing offensive comes as traditional smartwatch sales have plateaued. continues dominating the premium segment, but growth is increasingly coming from fitness-focused users who prioritize battery life over app ecosystems. Garmin's bet is that discounted entry pricing will hook users into its ecosystem of training metrics, coaching programs, and navigation features that keep people upgrading within the brand family. The timing also coincides with Garmin introducing subscription features through Connect Plus at $6.99 monthly. While core fitness tracking remains free, AI-powered insights and expanded analytics now require paid subscriptions - creating a services revenue stream that allows for more aggressive hardware pricing. What makes these deals particularly attractive isn't just the immediate savings, but the longevity factor. While Watches typically need replacement every 2-3 years due to battery degradation, Garmin owners routinely use devices for 5+ years with minimal performance loss.
