| Xiaomi Watch | Garmin Forerunner 165 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $285 | $249★ |
| Subscription | ✓ None | ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 56g | 39g★ |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 5ATM |
| Battery | 6 days | 11 days★ |
| Always-on display | ✅★ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ✅★ | ❌ |
| Platform | Android only | iOS & Android |
| Tier | Smartwatch | Sports GPS |
| Buy timing | ||
| Released | Feb 28, 2026 | Mar 5, 2024 |
| Cycle advice | good★ | bad |
| Deals advice | neutral | good★ |
| Next model | — | Garmin Forerunner 170 (Expected March 2026) |
Dual-chip design keeps the main Snapdragon W5 dormant during light tasks, dramatically extending battery life beyond any rival Wear OS watch.
First Wear OS 6 device on the market — with ECG monitoring, EMG gesture control, and eSIM for standalone calling.
Larger and brighter display than Galaxy Watch 8 or Pixel Watch 4, with Hasselblad-tuned health sensors, starting at around $285.
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.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$285 vs $459 over 3 years · no required subscription.
11 days vs 6 days battery.
5 sensors.
39g · no required subscription.
Android users who want a full-featured Wear OS smartwatch — ECG, eSIM, a large bright screen — at a price well below Samsung and Google competitors. A natural pairing with Xiaomi phones but fully compatible with any Android device.
Full details →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 →