Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Full details →| Garmin Forerunner 165 | Fitbit Versa | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $249 | $150★ |
| Subscription | ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr | ℹ️ Optional — $79/yr |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 39g | 38g★ |
| 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 25, 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.
Rare for a smartwatch with real GPS and health sensors to work fully on both platforms — Versa 4 does.
Turn-by-turn navigation and NFC payments without needing your phone in hand.
Sleep stages, daily readiness score, Active Zone Minutes, and SpO2 — all on a 6-day charge.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$387 vs $459 over 3 years · no required subscription.
11 days vs 6 days battery.
5 sensors.
38g · 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 →Android or iPhone users who want a balanced smartwatch with solid Fitbit health tracking, multi-day battery, and a clean square watch design — without the premium price of a Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch.
Full details →