Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Forerunner 265
Garmin Forerunner 265 wins 5 of the 7 categories we compared, against 1 for Garmin Forerunner 165 (1 tied) — including battery life (13 days vs 11 days).
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Forerunner 265: our verdict
Forerunner 165 makes more sense for runners who want a lighter, thinner watch that feels less bulky all day and costs less to get into. You will be charging it more often.
Step up to the Forerunner 265 if you want longer battery life, a larger and sharper display, dual-band GPS, music storage, and more advanced training metrics. You pay $200 more and give up a lighter, slimmer build.
Summarised from our video comparison of these two wearables.
Watch the video comparison
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Forerunner 265: Battery & Charging
| Spec |
 Garmin Forerunner 165
|
 Garmin Forerunner 265
|
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 11 days | 13 days |
| GPS battery life | 19 hours | 20 hours |
| Charging time | 120 min | 50 min |
| Charging | Garmin proprietary charging cable | Garmin proprietary charging cable |
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Forerunner 265: Display
| Spec |
Garmin Forerunner 165
|
Garmin Forerunner 265
|
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 1.2 in | 1.3 in |
| Display type | AMOLED touchscreen | AMOLED touchscreen |
| Resolution | 390 x 390 | 416 x 416 |
| Screen protection | Chemically strengthened glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Forerunner 265: Health Sensors
| Spec |
Garmin Forerunner 165
|
Garmin Forerunner 265
|
|---|---|---|
| Heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| ECG | No | No |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate variability | Yes | Yes |
| Skin temperature | No | No |
| Blood pressure alerts | No | No |
| Irregular rhythm alerts | No | No |
| Breathing rate | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Stress tracking | Yes | Yes |
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Forerunner 265: GPS & Navigation
| Spec |
Garmin Forerunner 165
|
Garmin Forerunner 265
|
|---|---|---|
| Built-in GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Dual-band GPS | No | Yes |
| Satellite systems | 3 | 3 |
| Offline maps | No | No |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | Yes | Yes |
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Forerunner 265: Smart Features
| Spec |
Garmin Forerunner 165
|
Garmin Forerunner 265
|
|---|---|---|
| Contactless payments | Yes | Yes |
| Music storage | No | Yes |
| Calls from the wrist | No | No |
| Cellular (LTE) | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | Yes |
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Fall detection | Yes | Yes |
| Emergency SOS | Yes | Yes |
| Software | Garmin proprietary | Garmin proprietary |
| Works with | Android & iOS | Android & iOS |
| Voice assistant | No | No |
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Forerunner 265: Design & Durability
| Spec |
Garmin Forerunner 165
|
Garmin Forerunner 265
|
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 39 g | 47 g |
| Thickness | 11.6 mm | 12.9 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m |
| Military-grade toughness | No | No |
| Case size | 43 mm | 46.1 mm |
| Material | Plastic | Plastic |
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Forerunner 265: Price & Colors
| Spec |
Garmin Forerunner 165
|
Garmin Forerunner 265
|
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Mist Grey/Whitestone, Black/Slate Grey | Black/Powder Grey, Whitestone, Aqua/Black |
| Release year | 2024 | 2023 |
Where each one wins
Garmin Forerunner 165
- Weight: 39 g (vs 47 g)
- Thickness: 11.6 mm (vs 12.9 mm)
Garmin Forerunner 265
- Battery life: 13 days (vs 11 days)
- GPS battery life: 20 hours (vs 19 hours)
- Charging time: 50 min (vs 120 min)
- Screen size: 1.3 in (vs 1.2 in)
- Dual-band GPS
- Music storage
- Wi-Fi
Wearables Similar to Garmin Forerunner 165 or Garmin Forerunner 265
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, the Garmin Forerunner 165 or the Garmin Forerunner 265?
Garmin Forerunner 265 wins 5 of the 7 categories we compared, against 1 for Garmin Forerunner 165 (1 tied) — including battery life (13 days vs 11 days).
Which is cheaper, the Garmin Forerunner 165 or the Garmin Forerunner 265?
The Garmin Forerunner 165 costs around $249, $200 less than the Garmin Forerunner 265 at around $449.
What are the main differences between the Garmin Forerunner 165 and the Garmin Forerunner 265?
The biggest gaps are in battery life (13 days on the Garmin Forerunner 265 vs 11 days); weight (39 g on the Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 47 g); GPS battery life (20 hours on the Garmin Forerunner 265 vs 19 hours).