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.
Full details →Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming
Best for: 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 →| Google Pixel Watch | Garmin Forerunner 165 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Smartwatch | Sports GPS |
| Platform | Android only | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 1.5 days | 11 days |
| Always-on display | ✅ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ✅ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | ecg, spo2, skin temp, hrv, loss of pulse | hr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery |
| Released | Oct 9, 2025 | Mar 5, 2024 |
| Cycle length | 394 days | 1006 days |
| Cycle advice | good | bad |
| Deals advice | neutral | good |
| Next model | Pixel Watch 5 (Expected fall 2026) | — |
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.
Six months of Fitbit Premium comes in the box, with daily readiness score, HRV analysis, and advanced sleep stages.
Google's cleanest Wear OS implementation with fast updates, Gemini AI on wrist, Google Maps, and Google Wallet built in.
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.