2Rank 02 of 8 · Best Fitness Trackers
Garmin Garmin Forerunner 165
The running watch in this ranking — multi-band satellite positioning, genuine training-load analysis and two weeks of battery, with no subscription.
8.8BPR score
- €190Price
- Multi-band GNSS; Elevate v4 optical sensorMeasured heart-rate accuracy against an ECG chest strap
- 2 of 8in Best Fitness Trackers
- 8.8BPR score 0–10
Review
What this product is
Written after the analysis, from the same sources the score is built on: the manufacturer's documentation, available studies and verified owner feedback.
Everything else here tracks your exercise. This one is built to structure it.
Multi-band GNSS is the headline and it matters more than most spec-sheet lines: dual-frequency reception is what stops your pace readout inventing 30-second swings between buildings. Single-band devices — the Fitbit here, the cheap bands — cannot do this at any price.
The training software is the real product: training load, training status, recovery time, race predictor and a genuinely usable daily suggested workout, all of it free with no subscription. Garmin's Elevate v4 optical sensor is solid at steady effort; like every wrist sensor it lags during intervals, and the watch pairs with ANT+ and Bluetooth chest straps when you want the real number.
Battery is up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and around 19 hours with GPS running — a marathon is not a battery decision.
Limitations. There is no ECG on this model, unlike the Fitbit at less than half the price. The AMOLED screen shortens the battery figure meaningfully if you enable always-on. And Garmin's interface has a learning curve that its owners defend and newcomers find genuinely irritating for the first fortnight.
Technical data
Specification
Figures from the manufacturer's documentation, verified against available outside sources. Values we could not confirm are marked as declared.
- Heart rate
- Garmin Elevate v4 optical
- GNSS
- Multi-band (dual frequency)
- Battery
- Up to 11 days smartwatch, ~19 h GPS
- ECG
- No
- External sensors
- ANT+ and Bluetooth
- Display
- AMOLED
Component scores
Where the score
comes from.
Four components, equal weight, each on a 0–10 scale and each resting on a named source. The overall score is their mean — the full procedure is in the methodology.
What we liked
- Multi-band GNSS — accurate pace in cities and woodland
- Full training load, recovery and race-prediction suite with no subscription
- Up to 11 days battery, ~19 hours with GPS active
- Pairs with ANT+ and Bluetooth chest straps
- AMOLED display
Worth knowing
- No ECG feature
- Always-on display cuts battery life sharply
- Interface takes a couple of weeks to learn
- No user-replaceable battery
Comparison
How it compares
within the category
All values come from the same analysis and are comparable only within the category Best Fitness Trackers.
| Product | Score | Measured heart-rate accuracy against an ECG chest strap | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitbit Charge 6Top score | 8.9 | ~1% deviation vs Polar H10 chest strap | €85 |
| Garmin Forerunner 165This product | 8.8 | Multi-band GNSS; Elevate v4 optical sensor | €190 |
| Category average8 products analysed | 8.2 | — | — |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Forerunner 165 or Fitbit Charge 6 for running?
The Garmin, if you follow a training plan or run where GPS struggles — multi-band positioning and training load are things the Fitbit simply does not have. The Fitbit, if you mostly want an accurate heart rate and an ECG for half the money.
Do I need a Garmin subscription?
No. Garmin Connect and all the training metrics on this watch are free. Garmin Connect+ exists but nothing described here requires it.
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The same protocol, the same key parameter, the same set of sources.
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