| Manufacturer | Garmin |
|---|---|
| Type | Premium multisport AMOLED GPS running watch |
| Series | Forerunner |
| Released | 17 March 2023 (announced 2 March 2023) |
| Price at launch | GBP 599.99 / USD 599.99 / EUR 649.99 |
| Predecessor | Forerunner 955 |
| Successor | Forerunner 970 |
| Sizes | 47mm (medium) |
| Variants | Single edition (titanium bezel, music, maps, 32GB storage) |
| Colours | Carbon Grey DLC titanium bezel with Black case and Amp Yellow/Black band; Whitestone case with titanium bezel and Whitestone/Powder Grey band; Black case with titanium bezel and Black/Powder Grey band |
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 2023 flagship Forerunner brought a large, sharp AMOLED display and a titanium bezel to triathlon training while keeping strong battery life, and it served as the5krunner’s main triathlon training watch.
Its training software carried over from the Forerunner 955, with new metrics arriving by software update. In the5krunner testing, GPS accuracy was market-leading and overall accuracy good to excellent, and the interface was more attractive and easier to use.
Garmin Forerunner 965
AMOLED triathlon watch with maps and the full set of Garmin training insights.
What’s new versus the Forerunner 955
Hardware
- AMOLED display with an optional always-on mode, replacing the MIP display
- Larger, sharper display: 35.4mm (1.4″) at 454 x 454 pixels, up from 1.3″ at 260 x 260 pixels
- Titanium bezel, replacing fibre-reinforced polymer
- Thinner case: 13.2mm, down from 14.4mm
- Smartwatch battery up to 23 days, up from 20 days; GPS-only battery up to 31 hours, against 42 hours on the 955
- USB-C plug at the computer end of the charging cable
Software
- Load Ratio, comparing acute and chronic training load
- Wrist-based running dynamics and running power without an accessory
- Redesigned user interface for the AMOLED display
- Physio TrueUp 2.0
Specifications
The Forerunner 965 comes in one size, 47mm, and one edition, so every colourway shares the figures below.
| Specification | Forerunner 965 47mm |
|---|---|
| Display | |
| Display type | AMOLED, always-on option |
| Display size | 35.4mm (1.4″) |
| Resolution | 454 x 454 pixels |
| Lens | Corning Gorilla Glass DX |
| Touchscreen | Yes, plus buttons |
| Physical | |
| Case size | 47mm (medium) |
| Dimensions | 47.1 x 47.1 x 13.2mm |
| Weight | 53g |
| Bezel material | Titanium |
| Band | 22mm QuickFit, silicone |
| Wrist fit | 135 to 205mm circumference |
| Water rating | 5 ATM |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GNSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, multi-band with SatIQ |
| Heart rate | Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate monitor |
| ECG | No |
| Pulse Ox | Yes |
| Skin temperature | No |
| Other sensors | Barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer, ambient light sensor |
| Connectivity and storage | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi |
| NFC (Garmin Pay) | Yes |
| Storage | 32GB |
| Music | Yes, music storage and playback |
| Maps | Preloaded road and trail maps, ski resort maps and downloadable cartography |
| LED flashlight | No |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Battery life
Battery figures are the same for every colourway.
| Mode | 47mm |
|---|---|
| Smartwatch | Up to 23 days |
| GPS Only | Up to 31 hours |
| GPS Only + Music | Up to 10.5 hours |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Features
A full breakdown of Garmin platform features is available at Garmin features explained.
Plan
- Daily Suggested Workouts for running and cycling
- Garmin Running Coach, Garmin Cycling Coach and prebuilt cycling plans
- Garmin Coach strength plans, added by software update
- Cardio, strength, HIIT, yoga and Pilates workouts with on-screen animations and muscle maps
- Race Widget and course- and weather-specific race predictor
- Morning Report
- Round-trip course creator and Trendline popularity routing
Prepare
- Training Readiness, Training Status, Training Load and Load Ratio
- HRV Status
- Recovery Time
- Body Battery energy monitoring
- Sleep score and advanced sleep monitoring
- Sleep coach and nap detection, added by software update
- All-day stress and respiration tracking
- Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation
- Meditation, added by software update, plus breathwork and relaxation breathing
- Health Snapshot and Jet Lag Adviser
- Heat and altitude acclimation
- Women’s health and hydration tracking
Perform
- VO2 max for running and trail running
- Hill Score and Endurance Score, added by software update
- Real-Time Stamina
- Wrist-based running power and running dynamics
- Lactate threshold and FTP, with automatic estimates added by software update
- PacePro, ClimbPro and grade-adjusted pace
- Up Ahead for aid stations and checkpoints
- Preloaded road and trail maps with NextFork navigation
- Preloaded ski resort maps
- 43,000 preloaded golf courses
- Power curve and advanced cycling dynamics with a compatible power meter
- Critical swim speed, added by software update
- Multisport auto transition, added by software update
- Strava Live Segments and Garmin Live Segments
Connect
- Smart notifications, with text replies and notification images on Android
- Garmin Pay contactless payments
- Music storage and playback
- Incident detection and assistance during select activities
- LiveTrack and live event sharing
- Compatible with the Garmin Messenger app, added by software update
- Find My Phone during GPS activity, added by software update
- Connect IQ Store on the watch
- Red Shift mode and large font option, added by software update
- Garmin Share and passcode
- Smart trainer control
Activity profiles
| Category | Profiles |
|---|---|
| Running | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Ultra Running, Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Virtual running |
| Cycling | Biking, Road biking, Mountain Biking, Gravel biking, Bike commuting, Bike touring, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking, Cyclocross, BMX |
| Swimming | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming |
| Multisport | Triathlon, Swimming/Running |
| Gym and fitness | Strength, HIIT, Cardio and Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor rowing, Indoor Climbing, Boxing, Mixed martial arts, Walking, Pilates, Yoga |
| Outdoor | Hiking, Mountaineering, Bouldering, Golfing, Disc Golf, Inline Skating |
| Other | Winter sports: Skiing, Snowboarding, Backcountry Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing | Water sports: Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing | Team sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball | Racket sports: Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball | Motorsports: Motorcycling, Overlanding, Motocrossing, ATVing, Snowmobile |
Garmin Forerunner 965
AMOLED triathlon watch with maps and the full set of Garmin training insights.
Comparisons and upgrade guides
- Polar Vantage V3 vs Suunto Race vs Garmin Forerunner 965, three AMOLED multisport watches side by side
- Garmin Forerunner 970 review, the successor and the upgrade path from the 965
- Garmin triathlon battery life comparisons, the 965 against the 745, 265 and 265S
Quick answers
When was the Garmin Forerunner 965 released?
Garmin announced the Forerunner 965 on 2 March 2023, and it was released on 17 March 2023. The launch price was GBP 599.99 or USD 599.99.
Is the Forerunner 965 waterproof?
Forerunner 965 has a water rating of 5 ATM. It includes Pool Swimming and Open Water Swimming profiles as well as Triathlon.
Does the Forerunner 965 have maps?
Yes, Forerunner 965 has preloaded road and trail maps, ski resort maps and downloadable cartography. It also has NextFork navigation, ClimbPro and a round-trip course creator.
Does the Forerunner 965 have ECG or a flashlight?
No, Forerunner 965 has no ECG and no LED flashlight. It does have 32GB of storage for music.
What size and weight is the Forerunner 965?
Forerunner 965 comes in a single 47mm size, is 13.2mm thick and weighs 53g. It takes a 22mm QuickFit band and has a 1.4 inch AMOLED touchscreen.
How long does the Forerunner 965 battery last?
Garmin rates Forerunner 965 for up to 23 days in smartwatch mode and 31 hours in GPS-only mode, or 10.5 hours with music.
Further reading
- Garmin Forerunner 965 review
- Garmin Forerunner 965 accuracy report
- Garmin Forerunner 965 tips and hidden features
- Garmin watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming Garmin watches
Related watches
Successor: Garmin Forerunner 970, the next-generation AMOLED Forerunner flagship.
Predecessor: Garmin Forerunner 955, the MIP-display triathlon watch with a Solar edition and longer GPS battery life.
Also consider: Suunto Race 3S, a titanium-bezel AMOLED multisport watch with dual-band GPS and offline maps.
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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