Smartwatches / Compare
Amazfit Balance 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 255
Product A: Amazfit
101 of 150 known
Change Amazfit Balance 3
Product B: Garmin
81 of 150 known
Change Garmin Forerunner 255
81 of 141 fields differ
- 46 different values
- 35 known for one only
- 22 the same
- 38 missing for both
Biggest differences
Each bar uses the scale of all 101 smartwatches.
- Water resistanceA: 10ATMB: 5ATMAmazfit is 5 ATM higher.
- Battery lifeA: 504hB: 336hAmazfit is 168 h higher.
Size, drawn to scale
Front and side.
- AAmazfit: 51.4 × 51.4 mm
- BGarmin: 45.6 × 45.6 mm
All 150 fields
Every value links to where we found it.


General
7 of 10 differ
Series
Model numbers
W2566AP1N, W2566AP2N, BA3ST-C1210035001, BA3TB-C1210035002, A2677, A25661Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026US SKUs W2566AP1N stainless steel and W2566AP2N titanium2Maker product pageeu.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026EU SKUs BA3ST-C1210035001 stainless steel and BA3TB-C1210035002 titanium black
GTIN / EAN
850082990313, 850082990320, 6972596109983, 69725961099761Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026US barcodes from the Shopify product feed: 850082990313 stainless steel, 850082990320 titanium2Maker product pageeu.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026EU barcodes from the Shopify product feed: 6972596109983 stainless steel, 6972596109976 titanium black
Not available
Announced
Status
Not available
Predecessor
Amazfit Balance 29Spec databasegadgetsandwearables.com/2026/06/06/amazfit-balance-3-vs-2-ultraRead 15 October 2026Compared against the Balance 2 as the previous model10Reviewnotebookcheck.net/Amazfit-Balance-Ultra-flagship-smartwatch-launches-with-titanium-case-and-30-day-battery-life.1313695.0.htmlRead 23 October 2026Notebookcheck says Amazfit unveiled the Balance 3 and the Balance Ultra as two successors to the Balance 2.
Not available
Successor
Not available
Garmin Forerunner 2658Reviewdcrainmaker.com/2023/03/garmin-forerunner-review-amoled.htmlRead 11 October 2026Review: the Forerunner 265 series at first glance seems like an AMOLED version of the Forerunner 255, with several hardware differences. It follows the 255 in the Forerunner line.10Maker product pagegarmin.com/nl-NL/blogRead 23 October 2026Garmin's Dutch blog says the Forerunner 265 is the successor of the Forerunner 255.
Launch price (US)
Launch price (EU)
Markets
US, DE3Press releasegarmin.com/en-US/newsroom/press-release/sports-fitness/garmin-celebrates-global-running-day-with-the-introduction-of-the-forerunner-255-seriesRead 11 October 2026US release with US dollar suggested retail prices.4Press articlenextpit.de/news/garmin-forerunner-255-und-955-vorgestellt-touchscreen-mehr-akkuRead 11 October 2026German launch pricing in euros. Documented subset together with the US release.
Colours
Stainless Steel, Titanium Black1Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026
Tidal Blue1Maker product pagegarmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01Read 11 October 2026US store lists Tidal Blue for this model. Other regional colours exist but are not listed on this page.3Press releasegarmin.com/en-US/newsroom/press-release/sports-fitness/garmin-celebrates-global-running-day-with-the-introduction-of-the-forerunner-255-seriesRead 11 October 2026Release names tidal blue as a new colour.
Segment
OS updates promised
Not available
Not available
Security updates until
Not available
Not available
Case
6 of 8 differ
Case size
Case shape
Case material
Fibre-reinforced polymer6Reviewandroidcentral.com/wearables/garmin-forerunner-255-reviewRead 11 October 2026Review spec box: materials fiber-reinforced polymer. The maker lists only the bezel as fiber-reinforced polymer and no other case material.7Spec databasegadgetsandwearables.com/technical-specs/garmin-forerunner-255Read 11 October 2026Spec table: fiber-reinforced polymer bezel and case, silicone strap.
Case material (as published)
Stainless Steel Frame & Parts, Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Shell1Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026
Back
Not available
Case dimensions
Height51.4Width51.4Thickness12.5mm(2 × 2 × 0.5 in)1Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026Thickness is the 12.5 mm figure excluding the heart rate sensor. Including the sensor it is 14.6 mm
Height45.6Width45.6Thickness12.9mm(1.8 × 1.8 × 0.5 in)1Maker product pagegarmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01Read 11 October 2026Specs: Physical size 45.6 x 45.6 x 12.9 mm. Not stated whether the heart rate sensor bump is included.
Weight (case only)
Not available
Weight with strap
Not available
Not available
Durability
7 of 8 differ
Water resistance
Water resistance standard
Not available
Dust and water rating
Not available
Not available
Dive rating
EN13319:2000, ISO 6425:2018, GB/T 30106:20131Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026Footnote 19: EN13319:2000, ISO 6425:2018 and GB/T 30106:2013
Not available
Max dive depth
Not available
MIL-STD-810
Not available
MIL-STD-810 tests
Low pressure, High temperature, Low temperature, Temperature shock, Vibration, Impact1Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026Military-Grade Resistance row: low pressure, high temperature, low temperature, temperature shock, vibration and impact tests
Not available
Operating temperature
Display
10 of 14 differ
Display type
Display type (as published)
Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)1Maker product pagegarmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01Read 11 October 2026
Screen size
Resolution
Pixel density
Not available
Display area
Not available
Not available
Touchscreen
Max refresh rate
Not available
Not available
Min refresh rate
Not available
Not available
Peak brightness
Not available
Minimum brightness
Not available
Not available
Always-on display
Not available
Display cover
Display cover (as published)
Platform
6 of 15 differ
Platform
OS at launch
Not available
Software
Not available
Not available
Latest OS
Not available
Works with
Phone requirement
Android 8.0 and above, iOS 17.0 and above1Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026Supported Devices: Android 8.0 and Above, iOS 17.0 and Above
Not available
App store
Voice assistants
Not available
Chipset
Not available
Process
Not available
Not available
CPU cores
Not available
Not available
CPU configuration
Not available
Not available
Max CPU clock
Not available
Not available
GPU
Not available
Not available
Low-power coprocessor
Not available
Not available
Memory
1 of 2 differ
RAM
Not available
Not available
Storage
4GB1Maker product pagegarmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01Read 11 October 2026Specs: Memory/History 4 GB. The manual lists up to 4 GB of music storage for Music models only.2Owner's manualwww8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-676967A0-1B23-4384-9BC9-76F3D643F1C8/EN-US/Forerunner_255_OM_EN-US.pdfRead 11 October 2026Music storage up to 4 GB applies to Music models.
Health sensors
5 of 8 differ
Heart rate sensor
BioTracker 6.0 PPG biometric sensor (5PD + 2LED)1Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026Sensors, Health: BioTracker 6.0 PPG Biometric Sensor (5PD + 2LED)
Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate monitor1Maker product pagegarmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01Read 11 October 2026
ECG capability
Blood oxygen sensing
Skin temperature sensing
No2Owner's manualwww8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-676967A0-1B23-4384-9BC9-76F3D643F1C8/EN-US/Forerunner_255_OM_EN-US.pdfRead 11 October 2026The manual describes an internal temperature sensor whose reading is affected by body temperature and offers an external tempe sensor for ambient temperature. No skin temperature function is described.7Spec databasegadgetsandwearables.com/technical-specs/garmin-forerunner-255Read 11 October 2026Spec table: skin temperature No. The Garmin page lists only a thermometer.
Blood pressure feature
Not available
Body composition sensor
Not available
Skin conductance (EDA)
Not available
Medical clearances
Not available
Not available
Motion and environment sensors
2 of 9 differ
Accelerometer
Accelerometer range
Not available
Not available
Gyroscope
Barometric altimeter
Compass
Yes1Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026Movement sensors row lists a geomagnetic sensor. The manual Control Center lists a Compass control3Owner's manualsupport.amazfit.com/en/amazfit_balance_3/files/user-manual.pdf.pdfRead 15 October 2026Control Center lists Compass and Barometer as addable controls
Ambient light sensor
Depth gauge
Not available
Depth gauge range
Not available
Not available
Water temperature sensor
Not available
Not available
Health and fitness
3 of 5 differ
Health features
Continuous heart rate, Heart rate alerts, Blood oxygen app, Heart rate variability, Sleep tracking, Sleep stages, Stress tracking, Readiness score, Cycle tracking1Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 202624H heart rate, blood oxygen and stress. Heart rate and blood oxygen alerts. Sleep HRV and sleep stages. HybridCharge readiness. Menstrual cycle tracking. Not medical devices (footnote 2)
Continuous heart rate, Heart rate alerts, Blood oxygen app, Heart rate variability, Sleep tracking, Sleep stages, Stress tracking, Cycle tracking1Maker product pagegarmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01Read 11 October 2026Specs list heart rate every second, high and low abnormal heart rate alerts, Pulse Ox, HRV status, advanced sleep, all-day stress and women's health in Garmin Connect. Sleep stages are in the manual.2Owner's manualwww8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-676967A0-1B23-4384-9BC9-76F3D643F1C8/EN-US/Forerunner_255_OM_EN-US.pdfRead 11 October 2026Sleep statistics include total hours of sleep, sleep stages and sleep score (page 42 area).
Fitness features
Automatic workout detection, VO2 max, Training load, Recovery advice, Running power, Pool swim, Open water swim, Strength rep counting, Interval workouts, Route navigation, Turn-by-turn navigation, Trackback, Golf courses, Ski resort maps1Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026Smart recognition of 8 sports movements. VO2 max, training stress balance and training load. Running power. Pool and open water swimming modes. Strength training with 25 recognised exercises. Interval training on the watch. Offline maps with turn-by-turn directions. Golf with downloadable course maps. Ski resort maps3Owner's manualsupport.amazfit.com/en/amazfit_balance_3/files/user-manual.pdf.pdfRead 15 October 2026Navigation, pages 17-18: Return to starting point offers a straight line or Backtracking along the recorded route. The other features come from the maker page
VO2 max, Training load, Recovery advice, Running dynamics, Running power, Pool swim, Open water swim, Strength rep counting, Interval workouts, Route navigation, Trackback1Maker product pagegarmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01Read 11 October 2026Specs list VO2 Max (run), training load, recovery time, running dynamics, running power, pool and open-water swim metrics, automatic rep counting, interval training, course guidance and TracBack. Running dynamics need a pod or HRM-Pro. No golf course or ClimbPro entry.2Owner's manualwww8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-676967A0-1B23-4384-9BC9-76F3D643F1C8/EN-US/Forerunner_255_OM_EN-US.pdfRead 11 October 2026Page 62: running power can be measured with a compatible running dynamics accessory or the watch sensors. Page 63: Running Dynamics Pod records running dynamics.
Sport profiles
Not available
Not available
Dive modes
Freedive, Scuba, single gas3Owner's manualsupport.amazfit.com/en/amazfit_balance_3/files/user-manual.pdf.pdfRead 15 October 2026Diving section: recreational scuba diving with one configurable breathing gas (default Air) and freediving, with automatic dive detection
Not available
External sensors
Heart rate strap, Power meter, Speed and cadence, Foot pod, Smart trainer1Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026Heart rate belts, running and cycling power meters, cycling speed and cadence sensors. Stryd footpods named for HYROX Race Mode pace. OTA 7 (September 2026) added FTMS bike trainers and spin bikes
Heart rate strap, Power meter, Speed and cadence, Foot pod, Smart trainer1Maker product pagegarmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01Read 11 October 2026Specs list heart rate from external HRM, power meter compatible, speed and cadence sensor support, foot pod capable and smart trainer control.
Safety
3 of 6 differ
Fall detection
No1Maker product pagegarmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01Read 11 October 2026Specs list only incident detection during select activities, which is limited to certain outdoor activities. Not counted as general fall detection.2Owner's manualwww8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-676967A0-1B23-4384-9BC9-76F3D643F1C8/EN-US/Forerunner_255_OM_EN-US.pdfRead 11 October 2026Page 83: incident detection is a supplemental feature available only for certain outdoor activities.
Car crash detection
Not available
Not available
Emergency SOS
Yes1Maker product pagegarmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01Read 11 October 2026Specs list Assistance. The manual says it sends a message with name, LiveTrack link and GPS location to emergency contacts through a paired phone with data. It does not call emergency services.2Owner's manualwww8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-676967A0-1B23-4384-9BC9-76F3D643F1C8/EN-US/Forerunner_255_OM_EN-US.pdfRead 11 October 2026Safety and Tracking, page 84: Assistance sends a message with name, LiveTrack link and GPS location to emergency contacts. Paired phone with data plan required.
Emergency siren
Not available
Not available
Live location sharing
Not available
Yes1Maker product pagegarmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01Read 11 October 2026Specs list live event sharing (Android only). The manual lists LiveTrack.2Owner's manualwww8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-676967A0-1B23-4384-9BC9-76F3D643F1C8/EN-US/Forerunner_255_OM_EN-US.pdfRead 11 October 2026Safety and Tracking: LiveTrack lets friends and family follow activities in real time.
Dedicated LED flashlight
No2Owner's manualwww8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-676967A0-1B23-4384-9BC9-76F3D643F1C8/EN-US/Forerunner_255_OM_EN-US.pdfRead 11 October 2026Controls menu: Flashlight turns on the screen to use the watch as a flashlight. A lit display is not a dedicated LED.7Spec databasegadgetsandwearables.com/technical-specs/garmin-forerunner-255Read 11 October 2026Spec table: LED flashlight No, matching the manual.
Positioning
2 of 3 differ
Positioning
Dual-band GNSS
Offline maps
Connectivity
7 of 15 differ
Bluetooth
Bluetooth version
Not available
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi standard
Not available
Wi-Fi bands
Not available
Cellular
Network
Not available
Not available
4G bands
Not available
Not available
5G bands
Not available
Not available
NFC
Not available
Contactless payments
Payment services
Ultra-wideband
Satellite
Not available
Not available
Audio
4 of 4 differ
Speaker
Microphones
Not available
Calls on the watch
Music on the watch
Controls
5 of 5 differ
Buttons
Named operating buttons
Up button, Down button, Power/Back button4Owner's manualsupport.amazfit.com/en/amazfit_balance_3/imgs/electronic_manual.pdfRead 15 October 2026About the Watch, page 1 labels Upper, Lower, Select and Power/Back buttons. The user manual names the controls Up, Down and Back, with the crown press as Select. The crown is counted separately
Crown
Rotating bezel
Not available
Battery and charging
9 of 13 differ
Battery capacity
Not available
Claimed battery life
AAmazfit Balance 3
| Mode | With solar | Hours (h) |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch | No | 504 |
| Heavy use | No | 240 |
| Always-on | No | 168 |
| GPS, dual-band | No | 41 |
| GPS, power saving | No | 84 |
BGarmin Forerunner 255
| Mode | With solar | Hours (h) |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch | No | 336 |
| GPS | No | 30 |
| GPS, all systems | No | 25 |
| GPS, dual-band | No | 16 |
Smartwatch mode (claimed)
504h
336h
AOD battery life (up to)
168h
Not available
GPS mode (claimed)
Not available
30h
Solar charging
Not available
Charging method
Charging guidance
Charges on the supplied magnetic charging head. A USB-C cable is not included. The manual recommends a power adapter with a charging current of 1 A or above and lists the input as DC 5 V 1.5 A max.4Owner's manualsupport.amazfit.com/en/amazfit_balance_3/imgs/electronic_manual.pdfRead 15 October 2026Charging the Watch, page 3: a power adapter with a charging current of 1 A or above gives the best speed. Basic Parameters, page 6: Input DC 5 V 1.5 A MAX
Not available
Max charging power (watch)
Not available
Not available
Fast charging
Not available
Not available
Quick charge claim
Not available
Not available
Charge 0 to 80% (claimed)
Not available
Not available
Full charge time (claimed)
Not available
Measured
None of 4 known
Peak brightness (measured)
Not available
Not available
Battery life (measured)
Not available
Not available
Battery tests (measured)
Not available
Not available
Full charge time (measured)
Not available
Not available
Strap
2 of 6 differ
Lug width
Quick-release strap
Strap system
Industry standard 22 mm quick release bands1Maker product pagegarmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01Read 11 October 2026
Strap material
Strap
Not available
Not available
Strap sizes
AAmazfit Balance 3
| Wrist (min) (mm) | Wrist (max) (mm) |
|---|---|
| 140 | 210 |
BGarmin Forerunner 255
| Wrist (min) (mm) | Wrist (max) (mm) |
|---|---|
| 130 | 205 |
Regulatory
1 of 3 differ
FCC ID
Not available
Not available
SAR limb (US)
Not available
Not available
SAR limb (EU)
Not available
Not available
Other certifications
Not available
In the box
1 of 2 differ
In the box
Smartwatch (including Standard Strap), Magnetic Charging Head (no cable), Instruction Manual1Maker product pageus.amazfit.com/products/balance-3Read 15 October 2026Packing list
Forerunner 255, Charge/data cable, Documentation1Maker product pagegarmin.com/en-US/p/780139/pn/010-02641-01Read 11 October 2026In the Box tab: Forerunner 255, charge/data cable, documentation.
Links
Not compared
Product page
Spec sheet
Manual
EPREL registration number
Not available
Not available
Warranty
0 of 1 differ
Manufacturer warranty (source market)
Both are also in the API. Back to all smartwatches.














