Wear Radar

Garmin Forerunner 965vsFitbit Charge

23d vs 7d
battery life
Garmin Forerunner 965 lasts longer
$479
price gap
Fitbit Charge cheaper
38g
lighter
Fitbit Charge
Garmin Forerunner 965
Buy/Wait:superseded

This model is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 970.

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Fitbit Charge
Buy/Wait:bad

Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming

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Garmin Forerunner 965Fitbit Charge
Pricing
Starting price$599$120
Subscriptionℹ️ Optional — $70/yrℹ️ Optional — $79/yr
Hardware
Weight53g15g
Water resistance5ATM50m
Battery23 days7 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
TierSports GPSFitness Tracker
Buy timing
ReleasedMar 1, 2023Sep 28, 2023
Cycle advicesupersededbad
Deals adviceclearancegreat
Next modelFitbit Charge 7 (Expected 2026)

Health Sensors

Garmin Forerunner 965 only
4 exclusive sensors
Stress TrackingStress estimate from HRV and physiological signals
Body BatteryGarmin's energy reserve — how much fuel left in the tank
Training ReadinessDaily recovery score — how ready you are to perform
Running DynamicsCadence, ground contact time, stride length, vertical oscillation
Both
3 shared
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Fitbit Charge only
3 exclusive sensors
ECGDetects irregular heart rhythms (AFib)
EDA / StressSkin conductance sensor measuring stress responses
Skin TempOvernight changes linked to illness or cycle tracking

Why buy each?

Garmin Forerunner 965

Full color topographic maps

Turn-by-turn navigation on full TopoActive maps — essential for trail running and mountain racing.

Running dynamics metrics

Cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, ground contact time, and running power.

23-day battery and 31h GPS

Enough for week-long trail ultras without a charge.

Fitbit Charge

ECG and EDA stress in a slim band

Full ECG, electrodermal activity stress sensing, SpO2, and continuous heart rate in a tracker thinner than most smartwatches.

Google apps integration

Google Maps navigation, Google Wallet NFC payments, and YouTube Music controls — more useful on-device apps than any previous Charge.

7-day battery with GPS

7 days of typical use, dropping to around 30 minutes per GPS workout session before needing a charge.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

For the budget
Fitbit Charge wins

$357 vs $809 over 3 years · no required subscription.

For battery life
Garmin Forerunner 965 wins

23 days vs 7 days battery.

For health depth
Garmin Forerunner 965 wins

7 sensors.

For daily comfort
Fitbit Charge wins

15g · no required subscription.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Forerunner 965-only sensors: Stress Tracking, Body Battery, Training Readiness, Running Dynamics.
  2. Charge-only sensors: ECG, EDA / Stress, Skin Temp.
  3. Weight. Charge is 38g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Charge is $479 cheaper upfront ($120 vs $599).
Pick the Garmin Forerunner 965 if…

Competitive runners, triathletes, and ultramarathon runners who want full maps, running dynamics, and premium build.

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Pick the Fitbit Charge if…

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.

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