Wear Radar

Apple Watch SEvsGarmin Forerunner 965

23d vs 18h
battery life
Garmin Forerunner 965 lasts longer
$350
price gap
Apple Watch SE cheaper
27g
lighter
Apple Watch SE
2
more health sensors
Garmin Forerunner 965
Apple Watch SE
Buy/Wait:good

Early in release cycle

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Garmin Forerunner 965
Buy/Wait:superseded

This model is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 970.

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Apple Watch SEGarmin Forerunner 965
Pricing
Starting price$249$599
Subscription✓ Noneℹ️ Optional — $70/yr
Hardware
Weight26g53g
Water resistance50m5ATM
Battery18h23 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
PlatformiOS onlyiOS & Android
TierSmartwatchSports GPS
Buy timing
ReleasedSep 19, 2025Mar 1, 2023
Cycle advicegoodsuperseded
Deals adviceneutralclearance
Next modelApple Watch SE 4 (Expected fall 2027)

Health Sensors

Apple Watch SE only
3 exclusive sensors
Irregular RhythmBackground optical check for irregular heart rhythms
Crash DetectionDetects vehicle crashes and alerts emergency contacts
Fall DetectionAuto-calls emergency services after a hard fall
Both
2 shared
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Garmin Forerunner 965 only
5 exclusive sensors
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
Stress TrackingStress estimate from HRV and physiological signals
Body BatteryGarmin's energy reserve — how much fuel left in the tank
Training ReadinessDaily recovery score — how ready you are to perform
Running DynamicsCadence, ground contact time, stride length, vertical oscillation

Why buy each?

Apple Watch SE

Full watchOS at a lower price

Access the entire watchOS app ecosystem, Apple Pay, Siri, and Family Setup — for $150 less than the Series 11.

Crash and fall detection

Emergency SOS, fall detection, and Crash Detection give real safety value even without premium health sensors.

Aluminium in four colours

Available in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and (PRODUCT)RED with a wide range of Apple Watch-compatible bands.

Garmin Forerunner 965

Full color topographic maps

Turn-by-turn navigation on full TopoActive maps — essential for trail running and mountain racing.

Running dynamics metrics

Cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, ground contact time, and running power.

23-day battery and 31h GPS

Enough for week-long trail ultras without a charge.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

For the budget
Apple Watch SE wins

$249 vs $809 over 3 years · no required subscription.

For battery life
Garmin Forerunner 965 wins

23 days vs 18h battery.

For health depth
Garmin Forerunner 965 wins

7 sensors.

For daily comfort
Apple Watch SE wins

26g · no required subscription.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Watch SE-only sensors: Irregular Rhythm, Crash Detection, Fall Detection.
  2. Forerunner 965-only sensors: SpO2, Stress Tracking, Body Battery, Training Readiness, Running Dynamics.
  3. Weight. Watch SE is 27g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Watch SE is $350 cheaper upfront ($249 vs $599).
Pick the Apple Watch SE if…

iPhone users who want Apple Watch's core experience — activity tracking, notifications, crash detection, and Apple Pay — at a lower price point. Ideal for kids, teens, or anyone upgrading from a much older watch without needing the advanced health sensors.

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Pick the Garmin Forerunner 965 if…

Competitive runners, triathletes, and ultramarathon runners who want full maps, running dynamics, and premium build.

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