First-generation product — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Competitive road and trail runners who want Suunto's clean and precise GPS tracking, an AMOLED display, and multi-week battery life. A strong choice for Suunto loyalists or anyone exploring alternatives to Garmin and COROS.
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 →| Suunto Race | Garmin Forerunner 165 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Sports GPS | Sports GPS |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 26 days | 11 days |
| Always-on display | ✅ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | hr, spo2, hrv, training load | hr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery |
| Released | May 1, 2023 | Mar 5, 2024 |
| Cycle length | null days | 1006 days |
| Cycle advice | neutral | bad |
| Deals advice | neutral | good |
| Next model | — | — |
Suunto's efficient software keeps the AMOLED always active while delivering 26 days of smartwatch use — ahead of most AMOLED competitors.
Dual-frequency L1+L5 GPS for accurate tracking in urban areas, under tree cover, and on technical trails.
Built-in route navigation from Suunto's route library with breadcrumb maps and back-to-start guidance.
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.