Garmin · Updated June 2026
Garmin Forerunner 165: price, specs & release date
Garmin Forerunner 165, released 2024-02. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: dcrainmaker.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
The Garmin Forerunner 165 is listed at $249 on dcrainmaker.com as of 2026-06-27, #3 cheapest of 18 smartwatches (median $360); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Gold Deskmark — 65/100 pay-blind standing, #4 of 21 in class.
Verified Jun 27, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Bright, vibrant AMOLED touchscreen; Accurate GPS that rivals premium multi-band Garmins.
- Skip if No dual-band/multi-band GPS is a dealbreaker.
Is the Garmin Forerunner 165 a good buy?
At $249, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is #2 cheapest of the 17 smartwatches we track, where the median is $349.99. On the spec sheet, its water resistance of 50 m is the lowest of the 23, its case size of 43 mm is above the median of the 23, and its battery hr of 264 is above the median of the 19.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 3
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 6
- Outlets on recordall tested
- 3
3 independent labs measured this product, logging 6 distinct physical metrics between them — dimensional accuracy, optical hr settle, battery and 3 more. That is how much independent evidence stands behind any claim about it — not a rating of the product.
dimensional accuracy · optical hr settle · battery · range · elevation gain vs · gps signal acquisition
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the Garmin Forerunner 165
Three whitelisted hands-on testers — DC Rainmaker, TechRadar, and Tom's Guide — all rate the Garmin Forerunner 165 an excellent budget/beginner running watch: a bright AMOLED touchscreen, GPS accuracy that rivals pricier multi-band Garmins, and premium training tools (Morning Report, Body Battery) trickled down to a lower price. All three note the omission of dual-band/multi-band GPS. DC Rainmaker and TechRadar additionally flag the missing Training Readiness score; only Tom's Guide measured a slow (~45s) GPS lock. Every quote and measured value was verified as present in the source text, and all three sources survived.
Based on 3 reviews · 3 lab-tested · 2024-02-20–2024-06-14
Tested by DC Rainmaker, TechRadar, Tom's Guide
Consistently praised
- Bright, vibrant AMOLED touchscreen · 3 sources
- Accurate GPS that rivals premium multi-band Garmins · 3 sources
- Premium training/recovery tools (Morning Report, Body Battery, Garmin Coach) trickled down to a budget price · 3 sources
- Multi-day battery life that meets Garmin's stated claims in real-world testing · 2 sources
- Lightweight, comfortable design · 2 sources
Commonly flagged
- No dual-band/multi-band GPS · 3 sources
- Missing Training Readiness and advanced training-load/recovery scores found on pricier models · 2 sources
- Fewer sport profiles than the Forerunner 265; no multisport/triathlon mode · 2 sources
- Music storage costs $50 extra; TechRadar says it isn't cheap enough to fully replace the FR45/55 · 2 sources
Where reviewers disagree Testers split on value. TechRadar docked value to 3.5/5, calling it 'not cheap enough' and wishing it were under $200. Tom's Guide named it an Editor's Choice and judged the ~$250 price a solid deal. DC Rainmaker called the watch itself 'great in isolation,' but its main reservation was the crowded field of similarly priced Garmins rather than the price being too high.
The sources (3)
GPS off-course deviation (post-underpass exits): ~2-3 m · optical HR settle time (cold start into steep hill): ~8 min · charge time, empty to full: ~1 hour
This watch in isolation is great.
the high-level GPS track, which basically looks identical to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Garmin Forerunner 965
leaving out most of the training & recovery tools found in higher watches
battery life, tested with daily GPS use: ~9 days
Its GPS tracking compared well with the same routes run while wearing the Garmin Epix Pro
the gyroscope on the 165 actually counted my bench press reps very accurately, better than many more expensive watches
Not cheap enough to replace the Forerunner 45 or 55
GPS-tracked distance (~10 mi ride) vs Strava: 9.54 mi (Strava 9.48 mi) · elevation gain vs Strava: 577 ft (Strava 534 ft) · GPS signal acquisition time at start: ~45 sec
The Garmin Forerunner 165 is a comfortable and lightweight GPS smartwatch sporting a bright AMOLED touchscreen, plenty of physical controls, solid battery life, accurate health sensors and advanced training and recovery tools borrowed from higher-end Garmin wearables.
found it beats and/or competes with many of the best fitness trackers available right now when it comes to distance and location accuracy
The Forerunner took about 45 seconds to connect to GPS at the start of my ride, which is a pretty long time compared to dual-band GPS watches.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $249 MSRP, non-music variant |
|---|---|
| Brand | Garmin |
| Released | 2024-02 |
| Case size (mm) | 43 |
| Display type | AMOLED |
| Battery hr | 264 |
| Gps | Yes |
| Lte option | No |
| Water resistance (m) | 50 |
| OS | Garmin OS |
| Ecg | No |
| Weight (g) | 39 |
Source: dcrainmaker.com (verified 2026-06-15) · corroborated by en.wikipedia.org. DCRainmaker review: 43 mm case, AMOLED 1.2-in 390x390, up to 11 days smartwatch mode (=264 hr), multi-GNSS GPS (not multiband), no LTE, 5 ATM (50 m), Garmin OS, no ECG (4th-gen HR sensor, no ECG), weight 39 g, $249 (non-music) / $299 (music). Wikipedia: 43 mm, AMOLED 390x390, 39 g, 5 ATM, released February 20 2024. battery_hr=264 = 11×24.
Is the Garmin Forerunner 165 worth it vs cheaper smartwatches?
Garmin Forerunner 165 against its closest cheaper and pricier smartwatches on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 18 ranked
| Product | Price | Case size (mm) | Display type | Battery hr | Gps | Lte option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Forerunner 165 this | $249 | 43 | AMOLED | 264 | Yes | No |
| COROS Pace 3 | $199 | 42 | Transflective | 360 | Yes | No |
| Fitbit Sense 2 | $299.95 | 41 | OLED | 144 | Yes | No |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the Garmin Forerunner 165?
Three whitelisted hands-on testers — DC Rainmaker, TechRadar, and Tom's Guide — all rate the Garmin Forerunner 165 an excellent budget/beginner running watch: a bright AMOLED touchscreen, GPS accuracy that rivals pricier multi-band Garmins, and premium training tools (Morning Report, Body Battery) trickled down to a lower price. All three note the omission of dual-band/multi-band GPS. DC Rainmaker and TechRadar additionally flag the missing Training Readiness score; only Tom's Guide measured a slow (~45s) GPS lock. Every quote and measured value was verified as present in the source text, and all three sources survived. Praised: Bright, vibrant AMOLED touchscreen; Accurate GPS that rivals premium multi-band Garmins; Premium training/recovery tools (Morning Report, Body Battery, Garmin Coach) trickled down to a budget price; Multi-day battery life that meets Garmin's stated claims in real-world testing; Lightweight, comfortable design. Flagged: No dual-band/multi-band GPS; Missing Training Readiness and advanced training-load/recovery scores found on pricier models; Fewer sport profiles than the Forerunner 265; no multisport/triathlon mode; Music storage costs $50 extra; TechRadar says it isn't cheap enough to fully replace the FR45/55; GPS can be slow to acquire a signal (~45s at workout start). (From 3 tester reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
How much does the Garmin Forerunner 165 cost?
The Garmin Forerunner 165 has a US price of $249 (MSRP, non-music variant), as of 2026-06-15.
How does the Garmin Forerunner 165 compare on price?
At $249, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is #2 cheapest of the 17 smartwatches we track, where the median is $349.99.
When was the Garmin Forerunner 165 released?
The Garmin Forerunner 165 was released 2024-02.
What are the Garmin Forerunner 165's key specs?
Garmin Forerunner 165 (Garmin): case size mm 43, display type AMOLED, battery hr 264, gps Yes, lte option No. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.
Price of record: $249 at dcrainmaker.com, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
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