Garmin Forerunner 165 Review

Garmin Forerunner 165 Review: The New Sweet Spot for Runners

For years, Garmin’s running watch lineup had a clear, albeit aging, entry point: the Forerunner 55. It was capable, reliable, and affordable, but its transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display felt increasingly dated in a world of vibrant smartwatches. Enter the Garmin Forerunner 165. This isn’t just a simple refresh; it’s a strategic move that fundamentally redefines Garmin’s entry-to-mid-range offering. By equipping it with a brilliant AMOLED display and a suite of proven training tools, Garmin has crafted a device that feels less like a compromise and more like the perfect sweet spot for the vast majority of dedicated runners.

Design and Display: A Welcome Dose of Vibrancy

The first thing you’ll notice about the Forerunner 165 is its stunning 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen. This is the watch’s headline feature, and it delivers. Colors are rich, blacks are deep, and text is exceptionally crisp, making everything from glancing at stats mid-run to reading notifications a genuine pleasure. The display is bright enough for direct sunlight and responsive to both touch and Garmin’s classic five-button navigation system, offering the best of both worlds.

The watch itself is unapologetically a Garmin. Housed in a lightweight, fiber-reinforced polymer case, it prioritizes function and comfort over luxury. At just 39 grams, it’s virtually unnoticeable on the wrist during long runs or overnight sleep tracking. While the plastic build and chemically strengthened glass don’t scream “premium” like a Fenix or even the higher-end Forerunners, the construction is solid and purpose-built for the rigors of daily training.

Performance and Core Features

At its heart, the Forerunner 165 is a formidable running companion. It locks onto GPS signals quickly and provides reliable tracking for most everyday scenarios. It’s important to note that it uses an “All-Systems” GNSS setting rather than the more precise Multi-Band GPS found on the pricier Forerunner 265. For runners in open areas, the difference is negligible. However, those frequently training in dense urban canyons or under heavy tree cover might miss the rock-solid accuracy of the higher-end models.

Where the 165 truly shines is in its software. It inherits a wealth of Garmin’s best training features, including Daily Suggested Workouts tailored to your fitness, PacePro for race-day strategy, and post-run metrics like Training Effect and Recovery Time. The excellent Morning Report feature gives you a concise overview of your sleep, recovery, and day’s workout suggestion. Add in 24/7 health tracking staples like Body Battery, advanced sleep monitoring, and blood oxygen sensing, and you have a holistic wellness tool. The optional Music variant, which allows for phone-free listening with Spotify or Amazon Music, and the inclusion of Garmin Pay for contactless payments elevate the 165 from a simple running watch to a capable everyday smartwatch.

Value Proposition: Hitting the Bullseye

The Forerunner 165 is a masterclass in product segmentation. It sits neatly between the bare-bones Forerunner 55 and the feature-packed 265, forcing a compelling value calculation. Compared to its predecessor, the leap is immense: a modern AMOLED screen, more advanced running dynamics, Garmin Pay, and optional music storage are significant upgrades.

The more critical comparison is with the Forerunner 265. For the extra money, the 265 offers Multi-Band GPS, the more advanced Training Readiness metric, a slightly more premium feel, and a few extra activity profiles. For elite athletes and data purists, those features may be worth the premium. For everyone else—from the 5K enthusiast to the dedicated marathon trainee—the Forerunner 165 delivers over 90% of the essential experience for a significantly lower price. It trims the pro-level fat, leaving a lean, powerful, and beautifully modern tool that perfectly serves its target audience.

The Final Verdict

The Garmin Forerunner 165 is the running watch many have been waiting for. It successfully bridges the gap between basic functionality and premium features, creating a new benchmark for what a sub-$300 GPS watch can be. It’s for the runner who has outgrown their entry-level device and craves the motivation of a gorgeous display and a robust set of training tools, but doesn’t need or want to pay for the most elite-level analytics. By carefully curating its feature set, Garmin has created more than just an update; it has delivered the new de facto standard for the dedicated runner.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon