First-generation product — no historical cycle data to predict a successor
Full details →| Garmin Forerunner 165 | Fitbit Air | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $249 | $99★ |
| Subscription | ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr | ℹ️ Optional — $99/yr |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 39g | 12g★ |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 50m |
| Battery | 11 days★ | 7 days |
| Always-on display | ❌ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅★ | ❌ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Tier | Sports GPS | Fitness Tracker |
| Buy timing | ||
| Released | Mar 5, 2024 | May 7, 2026 |
| Cycle advice | bad | good★ |
| Deals advice | good | good |
| Next model | Garmin Forerunner 170 (Expected March 2026) | — |
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.
Unlike WHOOP, there is no mandatory membership — pay $99 once and use Fitbit Air with the free Google Health app. Google Health Premium ($9.99/month) is optional.
Continuous heart rate, SpO2, HRV, and skin temperature tracking plus background FDA-certified AFib detection, in a 12g pebble designed to be worn and forgotten.
A week between charges, with a 5-minute top-up delivering a full day of use — significantly less downtime than WHOOP's slide-on charging system.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$396 vs $459 over 3 years · no required subscription.
11 days vs 7 days battery.
5 sensors · 0.5 Hz HR sampling.
12g · no required subscription.
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 →Health-focused users who want passive, 24/7 biometric tracking without a screen on their wrist. Particularly strong for those drawn to WHOOP but put off by the subscription model — the Fitbit Air delivers comparable core health data for $99 outright. Works with both iOS and Android.
Full details →