Garmin Forerunner 165
Exact average 83.5 · 10 printed, 5 estimated · printed scores only: 81
Image: Garmin15 professional reviewers tested the Garmin Forerunner 165, and 12 recommend it. Most praised: battery life and display. Most common complaint: battery life.
Reviewed by CleverHiker, Android Central, Coach and 12 more
The catch: There is no dual-band GPS or triathlon mode.
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What 15 critics said
Highest score first · all converted to 0–100- 90CleverHiker
A best-selling, accurate GPS watch offering premium features without the premium price, with a vibrant display at the cost of mid-pack battery life.
Read CleverHiker review - 90Android Central
Nails the balance between cost-cutting and quality, with accurate GPS and heart rate, an AMOLED screen and big savings over pricier Forerunners, unless Training Load matters.
Read Android Central review - 90Coach
An affordable AMOLED sports watch that does the essentials well and is among the best sports watches around, missing dual-band GPS and triathlon mode.
Read Coach review - 86Pocket-lint
A nearly perfect budget running watch whose AMOLED display, reliable tracking and Garmin's core features make it a great choice for all but triathletes.
Read Pocket-lint review - 80WIRED
A solid Forerunner with lots of accurate data and good battery, whose main flaw is a painful music download process on the Music version.
Read WIRED review - 80Tech Advisor
A strong AMOLED multisport watch at a lower price with good battery, though it lacks dual-band GPS and Training Readiness and sits in a crowded Garmin range.
Read Tech Advisor review - 80Trusted Reviews
A good-looking, reliable running watch with accurate core tracking and strong AMOLED battery efficiency, ideal for beginner and intermediate runners.
Read Trusted Reviews review - 75OutdoorGearLab
Very accurate, light and affordable, a great value GPS watch that the testers highly recommend despite weaker battery life and a smaller screen.
Read OutdoorGearLab review - 70Woman & Home
An easy-to-use, essentials-focused running watch that is great for newcomers, with solid sleep and workout tracking and a bright display.
Read Woman & Home review - 70RunningShoesGuru
Detailed running statistics and fast charging, but weak navigation, off sleep data and an overall feeling that it falls short of the Coros Pace 3.
Read RunningShoesGuru review - 89est.NBC Select
After a month of use the reviewers call it one of the best fitness trackers for runners thanks to comfort, battery life and training tools, with only a learning curve in the app.
Read NBC Select review - 89est.Run to the Finish
The bright AMOLED screen and added features make this the reviewer's new pick for an entry-level running watch, with compromises such as no multiband GPS and no triathlon mode.
Read Run to the Finish review - 89est.Reviewed
An excellent-value running watch for beginner and intermediate runners with helpful workout suggestions and rich health data; only the large face and missing advanced running metrics hold it back.
Read Reviewed review - 89est.The Verge
Essentially a cheaper clone of the Forerunner 265S that keeps nearly everything most runners need; the tradeoffs are worth the savings and it is the reviewer's entry-level Garmin pick.
Read The Verge review - 85est.Wareable
A comfortable, good-looking and accurate running watch that suits beginners and intermediates, though it costs more than rivals and locks music behind a separate edition.
Read Wareable review
"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
What critics praise most
What critics dislike most
Other smartwatches critics rate highly
Common questions
Is the Garmin Forerunner 165 worth it?
Most critics think so: 12 of 15 recommend it. There is no dual-band GPS or triathlon mode.
Do critics agree about the Garmin Forerunner 165?
Broad agreement: scores range from 70 (Woman & Home) to 90 (CleverHiker), a spread of 20 points across 15 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.
What do critics dislike about the Garmin Forerunner 165?
Battery life (4 of 15 reviews), Price (4 of 15 reviews), Software (2 of 15 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Garmin Forerunner 165?
The Coros Nomad (critic score 89), top pick, narrowly.