Garmin Forerunner 165 vs. 265: I Tried Both
The Forerunner 165 and 265 are some of Garmin’s most popular models. I’ve used both for a few months to a year, so this comparison is from my first-hand experience. This post will go over the differences between the two models so you can make the best decision for you.
As more context, I’m a distance runner who mostly trains for half and full marathons, but I’ve also dabbled in triathlons and trail running. I’ve been testing running watches since 2018, and I write a lot of GPS watch comparisons to help you pick the best watch for your needs.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I earn a small commission on any purchases through those links, at no extra cost to you. Your support allows me to keep writing reviews like this one 🙂
Need a quick recommendation? The Forerunner 265S Music is my pick, since it has longer battery life, a thinner strap for smaller wrists, music streaming apps, and multisport modes.
Things in Common: Forerunner 165 and 265
Before I dive into the differences between the watches, here are the things they both do.
Fitness tracking for common activities: You’ll be able to track a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities, including:
| Category | Activity Profiles |
| Running | Running, Treadmill Running, Track Running (indoor + outdoor), Trail Running, Ultra Running, Virtual Running |
| Biking | Biking, Indoor Biking |
| Swimming | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming |
| Outdoors | Walking, Hiking |
| Gym | Strength, HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Yoga, Pilates, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, |
| Racquet Sports | Tennis, Padel, Pickleball |
Everyday fitness stats: Steps, floors climbed, heart rate, Pulse Ox, stress, sleep, menstrual cycle.
Training metrics:
- VO2 max
- Recovery Time
- Race Predictor (and how your predicted paces have trended over the last 4 weeks)
- Training Status (how productive your training is)
- Training Load (whether your training is a smart amount)
- Training Effect (how your workouts impact your endurance, speed, and power)
- HRV status (heart rate variability while you sleep helps you understand your health and recovery)
- Body Battery (energy levels based on heart rate variability, stress, and activity)
More precise tracking: All-Systems mode lets your watch use any of the satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS) and switch between them based on the quality of their signals.
Workout features: Interval workouts, PacePro (helps you create and stick to a pacing plan), suggested workouts, breadcrumb navigation, Audio Prompts.
Smartwatch features: AMOLED display and touchscreen. Also includes weather, calendar, messages, Garmin Pay (contactless payments), find my phone/watch, Smart Lock (automatically unlock your phone when your watch is in range).
Music functionality: Download tracks to your watch or use Spotify Premium, Amazon Music, Deezer, or iHeartRadio. Available on the FR165 music version only and all versions of the FR265.
Safety features: LiveTrack and Incident Detection, allowing loved ones to track you during your workouts and be alerted if an incident is detected (your watch must be connected to your phone to access these features).
They do have pretty substantial differences though, so let’s get into those now.
Reasons to Pick the Forerunner 165
This section is going to naturally be shorter since the Forerunner 165 is the less advanced model. The real question will be whether or not you need the additional features of the Forerunner 265.
1. $200 Cheaper.
The FR165 retails for $250 ($300 with music) while the FR265 retails at ($450). That’s a major price gap, and I’d argue that it puts the FR265 in the mid-tier range instead of entry-level.
2. Newer release.
The FR165 was released in February 2024 while the FR265 was released in March 2023. It’s likely that the FR275 will come out within the next year, so if you want to avoid FOMO for a bit longer, it might be better to get the FR165.
3. Slightly bigger screen comparing the FR165 vs FR256S
The FR265 comes in 2 sizes, the 42mm (FR265S) and the 46mm. The FR265S is the same weight as the FR165 but has a slightly smaller display (1.1″ display vs. 1.2″).
The FR265S also has a slightly thicker band than the FR165 (18mm vs 20mm). I personally prefer the FR265S band but 20mm is a more standard size and may be more comfortable if you don’t have small wrists.
Reasons to Pick the Forerunner 265
1. Significantly more tracking profiles (including triathlon/multisport).
The Forerunner 165 has open water swimming, so it can definitely track all triathlon disciplines, but you won’t be able to save it as one activity. The FR265, however, has triathlon and multisport as activity profiles.
It also has more specialized sport profiles, which you can see below:
| Category | Activity Profiles |
| Multisport | Triathlon, Multisport |
| Biking | Mountain Biking, eBiking, Mountain eBiking |
| Outdoor | Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Archery |
| Indoor | Indoor Rowing, Mixed Martial Arts |
| Winter | Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Ice Skating |
| Racquet | Table Tennis, Platform Tennis, Squash, Raquetball, Badminton |
| Team | Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football/Soccer, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball |
2. Longer battery life.
The FR265S has slightly longer battery life than the FR165, which the FR265 is about even. This is because the FR265S and 265 have the same size battery to power different size displays.
| FR 165 | FR265S | FR265 | |
| Smartwatch mode | 11 days | 15 days | 13 days |
| GPS mode | 19 hours | 24 hours | 20 hours |
| All-Systems | 17 hours | * | * |
| Auto Select mode | N/A | 18 hours | 16 hours |
| GPS mode with music | 7 hours | 7.5 hours | 7 hours |
3. More accurate tracking with Multi-Band mode.
Multi-Band mode is the most accurate tracking option that allows your watch to get L1 and L5 frequency signals. Of course, both the Forerunner 165 and 265 have had very accurate tracking, even when “just” using All-Systems mode.
That said, if you’re running in trickier spaces like large cities with tall buildings or more remote areas, you may prefer the FR265 for its Multi-Band mode.
The FR265 also has an Auto Select mode that chooses the best tracking system based on your environment.
4. Significant discounts when buying used.
You can find both the FR165 and FR265 used, but since the FR265 is a bit older and part of the well-loved 200 series, you can find larger discounts. I’ve seen the FR265S go for under $300. That’s $150 off retail!
Check eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Swappa, Mercari, and more for deals.
The Bottom Line
The Forerunner 165 is a much simpler watch, but still boasts helpful performance metrics like Race Predictor and Training Status. It honestly covered all my bases for the year I had it since I haven’t done triathlon in ages.
I personally prefer the FR265S for its thinner strap, making it easier to wear on my small wrists. I also appreciated the extra few days of battery life since I don’t like charging my watches often.
If you’re a recreational runner, the FR165 should do everything you need. But if you also want to track more specialized activities (especially team sports) and want more accurate tracking, the FR265 is a better choice.
Where to Buy the Forerunner 165 and 265
If this review helped you, it would mean a ton if you purchased through my affiliate links. I also want to encourage you to buy secondhand or from small, local running stores if you can. I don’t get paid if you do that, so if you still want to show your appreciation financially, you’re welcome to buy me a virtual coffee.
Directly from Garmin/COROS:
Amazon
Let us know what you decide on, and happy training!
