Forerunner 165
Forerunner 165 launched 20 Feb 2024 at $249+. AMOLED at the entry-mid tier
The take
AMOLED, sane training guidance and $249 — the 165 is the entry watch we used to tell people to stretch for. No dual-band, and accuracy is fine rather than great. For pure road running, still the sensible default.
The basics
- Brand
- Garmin
- Line
- Running
- Released
- 2024-02-20
- Launch price
- $249+
- Replaces
- Forerunner 55
- Family
- Forerunner entry
- Official site
- garmin.com ↗
AMOLED at the entry-mid tier
Release history
- 2026-05-12Forerunner 70 / 170
- 2024-02-20Forerunner 165
- 2021-06-02Forerunner 55
Video coverage
All 48 videos
▶Garmin Forerunner 165 In-Depth Review: Best Bang for Buck?DC Rainmaker · Wed, 18 Sep 2024
▶Garmin Forerunner 165: The Complete Guide - Start Here!DC Rainmaker · Wed, 18 Sep 2024
▶Garmin Forerunner 165 vs COROS Pace 3 // What's the Best Running & Fitness Watch for the Money?DesFit · Wed, 18 Sep 2024
▶Garmin Forerunner 165 | Everything you need to knowPlayBetter · Wed, 18 Sep 2024Podcast coverage
- The FIT FileThe End of MIP Displays? Garmin Forerunner 165 and New Cycling Power Meters
Forerunner 55 / 165 / 170 generation comparison
Full compare page| 70 / 1702026-05 | 1652024-02 | 552021-06 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $249 | $249 | $199 |
| Display | 1.2″ AMOLED touch | 1.2″ AMOLED touch | 1.04″ MIP, non-touch |
| Sizes | 43 mm | 43 mm | 42 mm |
| Thickness | 11.9 mm | 11.6 mm | 11.6 mm |
| Battery (smartwatch / GPS) | 10–13 days; 20–23 h | 11 days; 19 h | 2 weeks; 20 h |
| Wrist HR | Elevate v4 | Elevate v4 + Pulse Ox | Elevate v3 |
| Multi-band GPS | — | — | — |
| Maps | Breadcrumb, Up Ahead | Breadcrumb + courses | — |
| Music storage | 170 Music (+$50) | Music model (+$50) | Phone control only |
| Garmin Pay | 170 only | Yes | — |
| Signature | Training Readiness, Quick Workouts debut | AMOLED at $249, nap detection | PacePro, daily suggested workouts |
Battery figures are launch-day claims.