#Ad · We may earn a commission from links on this page. How we make money
Garmin’s Forerunner 165 and Forerunner 265 look similar: both have bright AMOLED touchscreens, accurate GPS and Garmin’s free training plans. The difference is in the training tools and battery. Both are on offer below RRP on Amazon.ie right now.
The short answer
- Get the Forerunner 165 if you run for fitness, are training for your first 5K or 10K, or want a great-looking running watch for less.
- Get the Forerunner 265 if you’re training for a half or full marathon, want training readiness scores to guide hard days and easy days, or do triathlons.
Side by side
| Feature | 8.8 Garmin Forerunner 165 GPS Running SmartwatchSee today’s price See today’s priceat Amazon.ie | 8.9 Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch (46mm)See today’s price See today’s priceat Amazon.ie |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Store | Amazon.ie | Amazon.ie |
| Price | See today’s price | See today’s price |
| You save | – | – |
| Buyer rating | – | – |
| DealDepot score | 8.8/10 | 8.9/10 |
| Best for | New runners | Serious runners |
| Our verdict | The best first “proper” running watch for most people: a gorgeous screen, accurate GPS and Garmin’s training features at a much lower price than the premium models. | One of the best running watches for most people: a gorgeous screen, accurate tracking and smart training tools. It’s pricier than the Forerunner 165, but if you’re training for a… |
| What we like |
|
|
| Watch out for |
|
|
| Specifications | ||
| Screen | AMOLED touchscreen, 43 mm | AMOLED touchscreen |
| Battery | Up to 11 days (smartwatch), 19 hours (GPS) | Up to 13 days (smartwatch), 20 hours (GPS) |
| GPS | Built-in | – |
| Heart rate | Wrist-based, with HRV status | – |
| Activity profiles | 25+ | – |
| Music | No (165 Music version has it) | – |
| Size | – | 46mm |
| Training | – | Morning report, HRV status, training readiness, race widget |
| Sports | – | 30+ activity profiles |
| Forerunner 165 | Forerunner 265 | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | AMOLED touchscreen + buttons | AMOLED touchscreen + buttons |
| Battery (smartwatch) | Up to about 11 days | Up to 13 days |
| Battery (GPS) | Up to about 19 hours | Up to 20 hours |
| Training readiness | No | Yes |
| Triathlon mode | No | Yes |
| Best for | Fitness and first races | Serious training and racing |
What they both do well
- Bright, sharp AMOLED screens that are easy to read on the run.
- Accurate built-in GPS for pace and distance.
- Free Garmin Coach plans and daily suggested workouts.
- A morning report with your sleep and the day ahead.
- Safety features like incident detection and LiveTrack (with your phone).
What the 265 adds
The Forerunner 265 adds Garmin’s training readiness, training status and training load. Training readiness, combines sleep, recovery, training load and HRV status to tell you whether today is a day to push or rest. It also adds multisport and triathlon modes and a race widget that plans your training around a target race. TechRadar calls it one of the best running watches for most people, while noting it costs more and has no maps.
Battery
Both last well over a week as a smartwatch. The 265 has a slight edge: up to 13 days in smartwatch mode and 20 hours with GPS, according to Garmin. TechRadar got about ten days between charges in real use.
Our verdict
For most runners, the Forerunner 165 has everything you need, in a lovely package. If you’re serious about improving your times, or you swim, bike and run, the Forerunner 265 is worth the upgrade. On a tighter budget? Read our Forerunner 55 vs 165 comparison.
We haven’t tested these products ourselves. Our picks are based on independent expert reviews (linked below) and the manufacturers’ specifications. Prices change often, so each product links to today’s price.
Sources: TechRadar: Garmin Forerunner 265 review, Wareable: Forerunner 165 vs 55.