| Manufacturer | Garmin |
|---|---|
| Type | Entry-level AMOLED GPS running watch |
| Series | Forerunner |
| Released | 20 February 2024 (announced 20 February 2024) |
| Price at launch | Forerunner 165: GBP 249.99 / USD 249.99 / EUR 279.99. Forerunner 165 Music: GBP 289.99 / USD 299.99 / EUR 329.99 |
| Predecessor | Forerunner 55 |
| Successor | Forerunner 170 |
| Sizes | 43mm (medium) |
| Variants | Forerunner 165; Forerunner 165 Music (adds music storage and Wi-Fi) |
| Colours | Black/Slate Grey, Mist Grey/Whitestone, Turquoise/Aqua, and Berry/Lilac; availability varies by edition |
Specifications as at launch. Features and activity profiles reflect the latest Garmin software.
Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Activity profiles | Comparisons | Quick answers | Further reading
Expert opinion
Garmin’s lowest-priced AMOLED Forerunner at launch, the 165 fits a 1.2-inch touchscreen into a light 39g case whose proportions suit slimmer wrists. Its defining quality is flexibility: daily suggested workouts, adaptive plans, audio coaching, and pace alerts give runners at every level much of the planning and in-run guidance of the Forerunner 265.
Wrist-based running power, HRV Status, and the Morning Report add depth, while Garmin Pay and the Music edition’s offline playlists extend it beyond the run. GPS scored a creditable 77 per cent in our formal accuracy test.
Garmin Forerunner 165
Light AMOLED running watch with the training plans a first race needs.
What’s new versus the Forerunner 55
Hardware
- 1.2″ (30.4mm) 390 x 390 AMOLED touchscreen with an always-on option, replacing the 1.04″ (26.3mm) 208 x 208 MIP display
- 43 x 43 x 11.6mm case at 39g, against 42 x 42 x 11.6mm and 37g
- Barometric altimeter, compass, thermometer, ambient light sensor, and Pulse Ox added
- 4GB storage, up from 200 hours of activity data
- NFC for Garmin Pay
- Music edition with onboard music storage and Wi-Fi
Software
- Wrist-based running power and running dynamics
- Training Effect
- Morning Report with sleep, training outlook, HRV Status, and weather
- HRV Status, Sleep Score, sleep stages, sleep insights, and nap detection
- Courses from Garmin Connect or third-party platforms, synced to the watch
- More than 25 activity profiles, including trail running, open water swimming, pickleball, and tennis
- Strength, HIIT, cardio, yoga, and Pilates workouts
- Incident detection, plus Connect IQ apps and watch faces
- Music edition: Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music downloads
Specifications
The Forerunner 165 comes in one size, 43mm (medium). Both editions share the same case, display, sensors, and storage; the Music edition adds music storage and Wi-Fi.
| Specification | Forerunner 165 | Forerunner 165 Music |
|---|---|---|
| Display | ||
| Display type | AMOLED, always-on option | |
| Display size | 30.4mm (1.2″) | |
| Resolution | 390 x 390 pixels | |
| Lens | Chemically strengthened glass | |
| Touchscreen | Yes | |
| Physical | ||
| Case size | 43mm (medium) | |
| Dimensions | 43 x 43 x 11.6mm | |
| Weight | 39g | |
| Bezel material | Fibre-reinforced polymer | |
| Band | 20mm quick release, silicone; fits wrists of 126 to 203mm | |
| Water rating | 5 ATM | |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | ||
| Sensors and positioning | ||
| GNSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | |
| Heart rate | Garmin Elevate Gen 4 | |
| Pulse Ox | Yes | |
| Other sensors | Barometric altimeter, compass, accelerometer, thermometer, ambient light sensor | |
| Connectivity and storage | ||
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+ | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi |
| NFC (Garmin Pay) | Yes | |
| Storage | 4GB | |
| Music | Controls smartphone music | Yes, offline Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music |
| Charging | Garmin proprietary plug charger | |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | ||
Battery life
Battery figures are the same for both editions, except the music mode on the Forerunner 165 Music.
| Mode | Forerunner 165 | Forerunner 165 Music |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch | Up to 11 days | Up to 11 days |
| Battery saver smartwatch | Up to 20 days | Up to 20 days |
| GPS Only | Up to 19 hours | Up to 19 hours |
| GPS Only + Music | Not applicable | Up to 7 hours |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | ||
Features
A full breakdown of Garmin platform features is available at Garmin features explained.
Plan
- Daily Suggested Workouts for running, pace and heart rate based
- Garmin Running Coach plans and Garmin Running Coach Experts
- Garmin Coach prebuilt cycling plans
- Cardio, strength, HIIT, yoga, and Pilates workouts
- Downloadable training plans and advanced workouts
- Race widget and course- and weather-specific race predictor
- Morning Report
Prepare
- HRV Status
- Recovery Time
- Body Battery energy monitoring
- Sleep score, advanced sleep monitoring, and nap detection
- All-day stress and respiration tracking
- Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation
- Health Snapshot
- Breathwork, relaxation reminders, and relaxation breathing timer
- Meditation on the Forerunner 165 Music, added by software update
- High and low heart rate alerts
- Women’s health and hydration tracking in Garmin Connect
Perform
- VO2 max for running and trail running
- Aerobic and anaerobic Training Effect with primary benefit labels
- Wrist-based running power and running dynamics, including ground contact time
- PacePro pacing strategies
- Course guidance with elevation profile, breadcrumb trail, TracBack, and back to start
- UltraTrac mode
- Pool and open-water swim metrics with stroke detection and underwater heart rate
- Interval training, lap alerts, and voice alerts
- Foot pod and speed and cadence sensor support
- Varia radar, lights, and headlight camera compatibility
Connect
- Smart notifications, with text replies on Android
- Garmin Pay contactless payments
- Music storage and playback on the Forerunner 165 Music
- Incident detection and assistance during select activities
- Live event sharing on Android
- Compatible with the Garmin Messenger app, added by software update
- Find My Phone during GPS activities, added by software update
- Garmin Share, added by software update
- Watch passcode, added by software update
- Connect IQ Store on the watch
- Red Shift mode
- Heart rate broadcast over ANT+
Activity profiles
| Category | Profiles |
|---|---|
| Running | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Ultra Running, Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Virtual running |
| Cycling | Biking, Indoor Biking |
| Swimming | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming |
| Gym and fitness | Strength, HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Pilates, Yoga |
| Outdoor | Walking, Hiking |
| Other | Racket sports: Tennis, Pickleball, Padel (added by software update) |
Garmin Forerunner 165
Light AMOLED running watch with the training plans a first race needs.
Comparisons and upgrade guides
- Garmin Forerunner 165 against the Forerunner 55 and Forerunner 265, the upgrade case from the 55 and the choice against the 265
- COROS Pace 4 review, the lightweight AMOLED rival measured against the Forerunner 165
- Garmin Forerunner 170 review, the successor
Quick answers
When was the Garmin Forerunner 165 released?
Garmin announced and released the Forerunner 165 on 20 February 2024. The launch price was GBP 249.99 or USD 249.99, and GBP 289.99 or USD 299.99 for the Forerunner 165 Music.
Is the Forerunner 165 waterproof?
Forerunner 165 has a water rating of 5 ATM. It includes Pool Swimming and Open Water Swimming profiles, with underwater heart rate.
Does the Forerunner 165 have music?
Only the Forerunner 165 Music stores music, with offline Spotify, Deezer and Amazon Music and Wi-Fi. The standard Forerunner 165 controls music on a smartphone.
Does the Forerunner 165 have Garmin Pay?
Yes, both editions of the Forerunner 165 have NFC for Garmin Pay contactless payments.
What size and weight is the Forerunner 165?
Forerunner 165 comes in a single 43mm size, is 11.6mm thick and weighs 39g. It takes a 20mm band and has a 1.2 inch AMOLED touchscreen.
How long does the Forerunner 165 battery last?
Garmin rates Forerunner 165 for up to 11 days in smartwatch mode, 20 days in battery saver mode and 19 hours in GPS-only mode.
Further reading
- Garmin Forerunner 165 review
- Forerunner 70 and 170 launch: what replaced the Forerunner 165
- New Garmin features for the Forerunner 165 and other Forerunners
- Garmin watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming Garmin watches
Related watches
Predecessor: Garmin Forerunner 55, the lighter MIP-screened entry-level Forerunner with longer smartwatch battery life.
Successor: Garmin Forerunner 170, the May 2026 replacement for the Forerunner 165.
Also consider: COROS Pace 4, a lightweight AMOLED running watch at a similar price.
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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