Garmin Forerunner 165 Review

The Forerunner 165 is a great lightweight option that offers many features athletes may appreciate, and the smaller display may be appealing to those with smaller wrists. It also comes at a great price. Since May 2024, the Garmin Forerunner 165 has received several meaningful updates that enhance its utility and reliability. Notable additions include Device Settings Backup and Restore, Garmin Share for easily sharing workouts and routes, and new activities like Meditation. Pool swim features were improved with pace alerts and Critical Swim Speed metrics. Garmin also resolved issues with daily suggested workouts, time zone scheduling errors, and display bugs.

Accuracy

Our accuracy assessment involved testing both the GPS chipset and the heart rate sensor and scoring for accuracy accordingly. To evaluate GPS accuracy, each watch was taken through a predetermined 2.80-mile course, and its total distance was compared to the actual distance. For heart rate assessment, we wore a watch on each wrist while running 0.50 miles, comparing their readings to those of our scientifically validated Polar H10 chest strap. To be sure there would be as little inconsistency due to weather as possible, we tested the GPS capabilities of these watches on the same day. To ensure consistent heart rate testing, we made sure to tighten each watch to the same fit. Timestamped data from both the chest-worn heart rate monitor and the GPS watch were exported for an equitable comparison.

As with all of the Garmin units we tested, the accuracy was very good compared to our control H10 polar chest strap. The watch provided heart within +/-0.30 BPM, and the GPS was similarly impressive, +/-0.03 miles of our final 2.8-mile distance. For a watch of this price, these accuracy scores are hard to beat; across our lineup, it's hard to beat the accuracy of the Garmin sensors. While this model doesn't have multi-dual frequency, the GPS was still excellent, and in most cases, we don't find this added feature essential.

Activity Use

The Forerunner has long been a favorite of the running community. Its thin design makes it one of the lightest in our test group and, therefore, one of the best for high-arm movement activities. While it's not as rugged as other options, we have no durability concerns and are always impressed with the Garmin build quality. The AMOLED display looks great during activities, but we still prefer MIP. One of our biggest pet peeves is that the display, unless set to always on, takes a second to wake up when raising your wrist. During activities, we have Always-On set. Keep in mind, this will use more battery, but we find it essential. If you're an athlete concerned with battery life, we'd opt for a MIP display.

There aren't detailed maps on the 165, but there are breadcrumb maps and loadable GPX files, which have long felt more than good enough, especially if you use a phone to do more complex navigation. The Forerunner series continues to be among the best running watches on the market.

Everyday Use

There are a host of tools and metrics to give you insights about your day. Items like step count, daily HR, stress levels, and sleep scores. These health tracking features can let you know when to take it easy or when your body could be ready for more effort. By connecting your phone to the mobile companion app, you can view a suite of data on your iPhone or Android. By linking your phone, you can turn on notifications and access functions like Find My Phone or Find My Watch. The Garmin Connect application recently saw a major update, which changed many of the items on the home screen, making it easier to use and understand. We use a Garmin watch in our daily lives and find it to have a great combination of datasets and usability. The Garmin toolbar and glances give you easy access to on/off settings, and there are loads of helpful widgets like weather, altitude, and compass.

Extra Features

As with all Garmin models, there is a host of extra features on devices, including ones that can be added via third-party widgets. The ConnectIQ store allows you to download third-party watch faces, data screens, and more. We haven't found this to be super useful, but it's available to you if you choose. The widgets and tools offered are similar to other Garmin options — things like Garmin Pay, and safety and tracking features. Where the Forerunner 165 saves costs is by reducing the amount of training and recovery metrics.

Wearability

We like the design of the Forerunner series, and while we prefer a larger display, the Forerunner 165 is a great watch for loads of people. The design is slim and fits under a variety of layers and doesn't call a ton of attention by being overly built or rugged. The dedicated buttons are less likely to be bumped; therefore, a screen lock isn't necessary. Other options with scroll wheels need a screen lock to prevent inadvertent touches. There are many options for different watch straps, which are easily removed for cleaning or changing out. One downside of the AMOLED display is that the time isn't always displayed unless you turn on Always-On. We like the look and function of the watch face and the time being present even when you aren't interacting with the device. If you are the same way, we'd opt for an AMOLED device with a larger battery or use an MIP device, which is our favorite.

Battery Life

The Forerunner 165 gave us 19 hours of GPS recording time and took roughly 100 minutes to fully charge. If you plan on using the Always-On Display, you may consider a watch with more battery. We enjoy being able to see the time at a variety of wrist angles; this means you don't always have to raise your arm to wake your display. You can expect roughly 11 days of smartwatch mode if you aren't using the GPS heavily. For ultra athletes or those doing many multi-hour activities a week, you may consider a larger model that will provide more battery.

Should You Buy the Garmin Forerunner 165?

We are really impressed with the value and price of the Forerunner 165; this is one of the best in our lineup. If you are looking for a Garmin model but don't want to spend a ton, this is a great option for you. We prefer a slightly larger display, but for smaller wrists or those who want a smaller display, don't overlook this model.

What Other GPS Watches Should You Consider?

If you want an increased battery and a larger display but still like the thin nature of the Forerunner 165, we'd recommend the Garmin Forerunner 965; for a similarly priced option with great performance, we'd recommend the Coros Pace 3. If you want a watch with less activity focus and more smartwatch features, check out the Garmin Vivoactive 5.