Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Full details →| Garmin Forerunner 165 | Fitbit Sense | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $249 | $199★ |
| Subscription | ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr | ℹ️ Optional — $79/yr |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 39g | 26g★ |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 50m |
| Battery | 11 days★ | 6 days |
| Always-on display | ❌ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Tier | Sports GPS | Smartwatch |
| Buy timing | ||
| Released | Mar 5, 2024 | Sep 28, 2022 |
| Cycle advice | bad | bad |
| 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.
The EDA (electrodermal activity) sensor tracks physiological stress throughout the day — a feature absent from most competitors at this price.
Comes with Fitbit Premium for advanced sleep analysis, HRV trends, stress management scores, and personalised health insights.
Unlike Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, Sense 2 pairs with any smartphone and runs 6 days before charging.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$436 vs $459 over 3 years · no required subscription.
11 days vs 6 days battery.
6 sensors.
26g · 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-conscious users on any platform who want continuous stress monitoring (EDA sensor), ECG, and Fitbit's deep wellness coaching — without paying Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch prices. Particularly strong for iPhone users who want serious health tracking at under $250.
Full details →