Wear Radar

Garmin Forerunner 965vsGoogle Pixel Watch

Garmin Forerunner 965
Buy/Wait:bad

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

Best for: Competitive runners, triathletes, and ultramarathon runners who want the complete Garmin running analytics suite: full maps, running dynamics, training load, race predictor, and race day guidance — in the lightest, most running-optimised Garmin form factor.

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Google Pixel Watch
Buy/Wait:good

Early in release cycle

Best for: Pixel phone owners and Android users who want clean Wear OS integration, Fitbit health tracking, and safety-focused features. Ideal for fitness-focused users who prefer Google's approach over Samsung's more feature-packed ecosystem.

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Garmin Forerunner 965Google Pixel Watch
TierSports GPSSmartwatch
PlatformiOS & AndroidAndroid only
Battery23 days1.5 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
Health sensorshr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, training readiness, running dynamicsecg, spo2, skin temp, hrv, loss of pulse
ReleasedMar 1, 2023Oct 9, 2025
Cycle length1024 days394 days
Cycle advicebadgood
Deals advicegoodneutral
Next modelPixel Watch 5 (Expected fall 2026)

Why buy each?

Garmin Forerunner 965

Full color topographic maps

Turn-by-turn navigation on full TopoActive maps — the key differentiator from the FR265. Essential for trail running and mountain racing.

Running dynamics metrics

Cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, ground contact time, and running power — the full biomechanics suite for optimising form and efficiency.

23-day battery and 31h GPS

More than double the FR265 battery life. Enough for week-long trail ultras without a charge.

Google Pixel Watch

Loss of Pulse Detection

Pixel Watch 4 can detect when your heart stops and automatically call emergency services — a unique safety feature not found on Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch.

Fitbit Premium included

Six months of Fitbit Premium comes in the box, with daily readiness score, HRV analysis, and advanced sleep stages.

Pure Wear OS experience

Google's cleanest Wear OS implementation with fast updates, Gemini AI on wrist, Google Maps, and Google Wallet built in.