Garmin Forerunner 165, Running Smartwatch, Colorful AMOLED Display, Training Metrics and Recovery Insights, Black
Best for
Best for running / GPS sports
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Based on 1 trusted source
Current price
$190.99
Updated Jun 27, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
10 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is the standout value running watch, repeatedly described in r/Garmin threads (a high-trust specialist community) as a fantastic AMOLED watch with numerous features at a lower cost than the pricier 265. Community reviewers highlight how light and compact it is, one noting it drops to around 22g with a third-party nylon band, and several frame it as Garmin's answer to the Coros Pace 3 for runners who don't want a hand-holding interface. Walmart verified-purchase reviewers specifically praise GPS accuracy and call it ideal for beginner runners.
What reviewers liked
- High-trust r/Garmin consensus rates it excellent value with a deep running feature set
- Very light and compact for all-day and race-day wear
- Walmart verified-purchase reviewers praise GPS accuracy for beginners
- Bright AMOLED display with both buttons and touchscreen, plus multi-day battery
Where it falls short
- Community reviewers say the build doesn't feel premium
- Lacks some advanced metrics found on higher-end Garmin models
- Smartwatch/app features are basic compared with Apple and Samsung
- Some rivals offer longer battery life per r/GarminWatches discussion
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Across the reviewers we read, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is the standout value running watch, repeatedly described in r/Garmin threads (a high-trust specialist community) as a fantastic AMOLED watch with numerous features at a lower cost than the pricier 265. Community reviewers highlight how light and compact it is, one noting it drops to around 22g with a third-party nylon band, and several frame it as Garmin's answer to the Coros Pace 3 for runners who don't want a hand-holding interface. Walmart verified-purchase reviewers specifically praise GPS accuracy and call it ideal for beginner runners.
The Amazon listing and retailer signals cite an 11-day smartwatch battery and roughly 19 hours in GPS mode, plus a 1.2-inch AMOLED display and the combination of physical buttons and touchscreen that runners tend to prefer. The 4.7 average across 4,161 Amazon reviews reinforces broad satisfaction, and YouTube reviewers we read echo the 'best value running watch' framing.
Honest caveats appear in the community signals: one r/Garmin reviewer noted the watch itself doesn't ooze premium quality even though it's pleasingly light, and r/GarminWatches discussion points out it lacks some features found on higher-end Garmins (and that certain rivals edge it on battery). As a focused running and fitness tool rather than a do-everything smartwatch, it's positioned for athletes more than notification-and-app power users.
- Easy-to-use running smartwatch with built-in GPS for pace/distance and wrist-based heart rate; brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display with traditional button controls; lightweight design in 43 mm size
- Up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode
- Reach your goals with personalized daily suggested workouts that adapt based on performance and recovery; use Garmin Coach and race adaptive training plans to get workout suggestions for specific events
- 25+ built-in activity profiles include running, cycling, HIIT, strength and more
- As soon as you wake up, get your morning report with an overview of your sleep, recovery and training outlook alongside weather and HRV status (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
- With training effect and training effect labels, you’ll see how your workouts impact your fitness and understand the primary benefit achieved from your workout.; recovery time lets you know how long you need to recover before your next high-effort workout
- Safety and tracking features, including incident detection (during select outdoor activities) and Assistance, send a message with your live location to emergency contacts when paired with your compatible smartphone; requires setup and your smartphone to be in an area with network coverage where data connectivity is available
- Never miss a call or text with smart notifications from your paired Android or Apple smartphone
The FR 165 is a nice and small package. It's slimmer and lighter than most other watches. With a third party nylon band it's a mere 22 g / 0.8 oz.
I'm happy with the watch. At the end of the day I don't think it mattered too much. Functions I'm mainly using are fitness, running and steps ...
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“Garmin Forerunner 165” · A Smartwatch That's Invested In YOU
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