| Amazfit Balance | Garmin Forerunner 165 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $299 | $249★ |
| Subscription | ✓ None | ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 42g | 39g★ |
| Water resistance | 10ATM★ | 5ATM |
| Battery | 21 days★ | 11 days |
| Always-on display | ✅★ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Tier | Smartwatch | Sports GPS |
| Buy timing | ||
| Released | Jun 24, 2025 | Mar 5, 2024 |
| Cycle advice | neutral★ | bad |
| Deals advice | neutral | good★ |
| Next model | — | Garmin Forerunner 170 (Expected March 2026) |
21 days typical use and 33 hours GPS — combined with a scratch-resistant sapphire glass 1.5" AMOLED that outshines most watches at this price.
Precise dual-frequency L1+L5 GPS across six satellite systems, with downloadable offline topo maps and turn-by-turn navigation — rare at this price tier.
First Amazfit with official HYROX training and competition modes, 40,000-course golf maps, and SCUBA dive support — more sport breadth than any previous Balance.
The FR165 is the first Garmin entry-level running watch with an AMOLED display — dramatically more readable than the LCD it replaces.
Training load, recovery time, Body Battery, HRV status, VO2 max estimation — the same analytics found on watches costing twice as much.
11 days typical use and roughly 19 hours GPS — enough for most training blocks without mid-week charging.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$299 vs $459 over 3 years · no required subscription.
21 days vs 11 days battery.
7 sensors.
39g · no required subscription.
Android and iPhone users who want a premium smartwatch experience — full offline maps, ECG, long battery, and a bright sapphire display — at a price well below Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch. A strong choice for runners, hikers, and health-focused users who want GPS map navigation without a subscription.
Full details →Beginner and intermediate runners who want real GPS accuracy and Garmin's analytics depth without the price of the 265 or 965. Also ideal as a first serious GPS watch for anyone moving up from a fitness tracker.
Full details →