The Garmin Forerunner 165 is the latest addition to the brand's celebrated lineup of running watches, promising a vibrant AMOLED display and a compelling feature set at an accessible price point. As it fills the gap between the entry-level Forerunner 55 and the more advanced 265, a key question for many runners is where it fits on their personal journey. Does this watch have enough to satisfy the needs of an intermediate runner, or is it best suited for someone just entering the fitness world?
Our detailed review to upgrade your gadget zone dives deep into its performance, features, and value to help you decide if it's the ideal running companion for you.
Garmin Forerunner 165 Review: Features
The Garmin Forerunner 165 packs a surprising amount of features for its price point.
- The watch boasts a brilliant 1.2-inch AMOLED display, a first for a watch at this level, which provides crisp, vibrant visuals even in direct sunlight.
- On the health tracking front, it offers comprehensive metrics including wrist-based heart rate, VO2 max, sleep monitoring with score, stress tracking, and the popular Body Battery energy monitor.
- For runners, the smartwatch provides essential GPS-based data like pace, distance, and time, along with more advanced metrics like wrist-based running power and cadence.
- It includes daily suggested workouts that adapt to your performance and recovery, plus access to Garmin Coach for free training plans.
- The Forerunner 165 also supports a variety of other sports with over 25 built-in activity profiles, including cycling, open-water swimming, and strength training.
- Additionally, it has a barometric altimeter, Garmin Pay for contactless payments, and a music version with onboard storage.
Also Read: How Accurate Are Smartwatch Fitness Trackers?
Garmin Forerunner 165 Review: Safety Features
For those concerned with personal safety, the Garmin Forerunner 165 offers a robust suite of features designed to provide peace of mind during solo activities. The core of this system includes Incident Detection and Assistance. When paired with your smartphone, the watch can automatically detect a potential fall or crash during select outdoor activities like running or cycling. If an incident is detected, it will send an alert with your name and real-time GPS location to your pre-selected emergency contacts.
Additionally, the Assistance feature allows you to manually trigger an alert. The LiveTrack feature itself is another excellent safety tool, allowing friends and family to follow your activity in real-time, providing an extra layer of security.
Who is the Garmin 165 Best For?
The Garmin Forerunner 165 is an excellent choice for a wide range of runners, striking a near-perfect balance between essential features and cost.
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For Beginners, this watch is a top-tier option. It provides all the foundational data you need, pace, distance, and heart rate, in an easy-to-read format on its vibrant AMOLED display. With built-in features like Daily Suggested Workouts and free training plans via Garmin Coach, it offers a personalised roadmap to help you achieve your first running goals without the need for an expensive, complex device.
For Intermediate Runners, the Forerunner 165 is still a very strong contender. It includes valuable metrics like running power and VO2 max, which can help you refine your training. While it lacks some advanced features found in pricier models, like multi-band GPS or a "Training Readiness" score, it more than satisfies the needs of runners focused on improving their performance for 5K, 10K, or even half-marathon races.
So, overall, it totally depends on your requirements and budget. For beginners, this is the best choice and for intermediates, it is a good choice, but if you can increase your budget, it is good to go for the next model to get more advanced features.
