Wear Radar

Xiaomi Smart Band 10vsGarmin Forerunner 165

21d vs 11d
battery life
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 lasts longer
$199
price gap
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 cheaper
23g
lighter
Xiaomi Smart Band 10
Xiaomi Smart Band 10
Buy/Wait:bad

Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming

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Garmin Forerunner 165
Buy/Wait:bad

Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming

Full details →
Xiaomi Smart Band 10Garmin Forerunner 165
Pricing
Starting price$50$249
Subscription✓ Noneℹ️ Optional — $70/yr
Hardware
Weight16g39g
Water resistance5ATM5ATM
Battery21 days11 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
TierFitness TrackerSports GPS
Buy timing
ReleasedJun 30, 2025Mar 5, 2024
Cycle advicebadbad
Deals advicegoodgood
Next modelGarmin Forerunner 170 (Expected March 2026)

Health Sensors

Xiaomi Smart Band 10 only
1 exclusive sensor
Sleep TrackingMonitors sleep stages: light, deep, and REM
Both
3 shared
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
Stress TrackingStress estimate from HRV and physiological signals
Garmin Forerunner 165 only
2 exclusive sensors
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Body BatteryGarmin's energy reserve — how much fuel left in the tank

Why buy each?

Xiaomi Smart Band 10

Brighter AMOLED at under $40

The Smart Band 10's 1.72" display peaks at 1500 nits — 200 nits brighter than the Band 9 — making it more readable in sunlight, all for around $40.

21-day battery with health monitoring

Continuous heart rate, SpO2, stress, and sleep tracking — all running for 3 weeks before charging. Seven more days than the already impressive Band 9.

Works with iPhone and Android

Full functionality on both platforms via the Mi Fitness app, including notifications, sleep analysis, and health trends. Bluetooth 5.4 for improved connection stability.

Garmin Forerunner 165

AMOLED display at entry-level price

The FR165 is the first Garmin entry-level running watch with an AMOLED display — dramatically more readable than the LCD it replaces.

Full Garmin running analytics

Training load, recovery time, Body Battery, HRV status, VO2 max estimation — the same analytics found on watches costing twice as much.

11 days of battery

11 days typical use and roughly 19 hours GPS — enough for most training blocks without mid-week charging.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

For the budget
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 wins

$50 vs $459 over 3 years · no required subscription.

For battery life
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 wins

21 days vs 11 days battery.

For health depth
Garmin Forerunner 165 wins

5 sensors.

For daily comfort
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 wins

16g · no required subscription.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Smart Band 10-only sensors: Sleep Tracking.
  2. Forerunner 165-only sensors: HRV, Body Battery.
  3. Weight. Smart Band 10 is 23g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Smart Band 10 is $199 cheaper upfront ($50 vs $249).
Pick the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 if…

Anyone who wants basic health tracking — steps, sleep, heart rate, SpO2 — without spending more than $40 or carrying a bulky watch. Works with both iPhone and Android. A popular choice for kids, older adults, and budget-conscious fitness beginners who want the world's top-selling fitness band.

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Pick the Garmin Forerunner 165 if…

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.

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