Wear Radar

Xiaomi WatchvsGarmin Forerunner 965

23d vs 6d
battery life
Garmin Forerunner 965 lasts longer
$314
price gap
Xiaomi Watch cheaper
2
more health sensors
Garmin Forerunner 965
Xiaomi Watch
Buy/Wait:good

Early in release cycle

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Garmin Forerunner 965
Buy/Wait:superseded

This model is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 970.

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Xiaomi WatchGarmin Forerunner 965
Pricing
Starting price$285$599
Subscription✓ Noneℹ️ Optional — $70/yr
Hardware
Weight56g53g
Water resistance5ATM5ATM
Battery6 days23 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
PlatformAndroid onlyiOS & Android
TierSmartwatchSports GPS
Buy timing
ReleasedFeb 28, 2026Mar 1, 2023
Cycle advicegoodsuperseded
Deals adviceneutralclearance
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Health Sensors

Xiaomi Watch only
2 exclusive sensors
ECGDetects irregular heart rhythms (AFib)
Skin TempOvernight changes linked to illness or cycle tracking
Both
3 shared
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
Garmin Forerunner 965 only
4 exclusive sensors
Stress TrackingStress estimate from HRV and physiological signals
Body BatteryGarmin's energy reserve — how much fuel left in the tank
Training ReadinessDaily recovery score — how ready you are to perform
Running DynamicsCadence, ground contact time, stride length, vertical oscillation

Why buy each?

Xiaomi Watch

6-day battery on Wear OS

Dual-chip design keeps the main Snapdragon W5 dormant during light tasks, dramatically extending battery life beyond any rival Wear OS watch.

Wear OS 6 with ECG and eSIM

First Wear OS 6 device on the market — with ECG monitoring, EMG gesture control, and eSIM for standalone calling.

1.54" AMOLED at a competitive price

Larger and brighter display than Galaxy Watch 8 or Pixel Watch 4, with Hasselblad-tuned health sensors, starting at around $285.

Garmin Forerunner 965

Full color topographic maps

Turn-by-turn navigation on full TopoActive maps — essential for trail running and mountain racing.

Running dynamics metrics

Cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, ground contact time, and running power.

23-day battery and 31h GPS

Enough for week-long trail ultras without a charge.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

For the budget
Xiaomi Watch wins

$285 vs $809 over 3 years · no required subscription.

For battery life
Garmin Forerunner 965 wins

23 days vs 6 days battery.

For health depth
Garmin Forerunner 965 wins

7 sensors.

For daily comfort
Garmin Forerunner 965 wins

53g · no required subscription.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Watch-only sensors: ECG, Skin Temp.
  2. Forerunner 965-only sensors: Stress Tracking, Body Battery, Training Readiness, Running Dynamics.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Watch is $314 cheaper upfront ($285 vs $599).
Pick the Xiaomi Watch if…

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.

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Pick the Garmin Forerunner 965 if…

Competitive runners, triathletes, and ultramarathon runners who want full maps, running dynamics, and premium build.

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