| Garmin Forerunner 165 | Fitbit Charge | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $249 | $120★ |
| Subscription | ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr | ℹ️ Optional — $79/yr |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 39g | 15g★ |
| 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 | Sep 28, 2023 |
| Cycle advice | bad | bad |
| Deals advice | good | great★ |
| Next model | Garmin Forerunner 170 (Expected March 2026) | Fitbit Charge 7 (Expected 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.
Full ECG, electrodermal activity stress sensing, SpO2, and continuous heart rate in a tracker thinner than most smartwatches.
Google Maps navigation, Google Wallet NFC payments, and YouTube Music controls — more useful on-device apps than any previous Charge.
7 days of typical use, dropping to around 30 minutes per GPS workout session before needing a charge.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$357 vs $459 over 3 years · no required subscription.
11 days vs 7 days battery.
6 sensors.
15g · 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 →Anyone who wants serious health and fitness tracking without the bulk or cost of a full smartwatch. Works with both Android and iPhone, making it the most accessible Fitbit tracker in the lineup.
Full details →