| Garmin Forerunner 165 | Garmin vivosmart 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $249 | $149★ |
| Subscription | ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr | ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 39g | 25g★ |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 5ATM |
| 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 | Apr 26, 2022 |
| Cycle advice | bad | bad |
| Deals advice | good | great★ |
| Next model | Garmin Forerunner 170 (Expected March 2026) | Garmin vivosmart 6 (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.
Body Battery energy monitoring — the feature Garmin is known for — in a wristband that's thinner than most fitness trackers.
Continuous heart rate variability monitoring and all-day stress tracking give a more complete picture of recovery and readiness than step counts alone.
All data syncs to Garmin Connect, compatible with thousands of third-party apps, coaches, and integrations across the Garmin platform.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$359 vs $459 over 3 years · no required subscription.
11 days vs 7 days battery.
5 sensors.
25g · 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 →Garmin users and health-focused individuals who want Body Battery, HRV, and advanced sleep analytics in a slim, discreet wristband rather than a sports watch. Compatible with both iPhone and Android via Garmin Connect.
Full details →