Garmin Forerunner 165 Review: Budget-Friendly Running Excellence
For UK runners seeking a cost-effective sports watch to elevate their performance, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is a top choice. As the latest and most affordable entry in the Forerunner series, launched in February 2024, it blends accurate tracking, advanced training features, and a user-friendly design. This review explores its capabilities, pros, cons, and ideal users.
Specifications and Features
The Forerunner 165 features a vibrant 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, ideal for runners balancing performance and convenience. With up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, it supports extended training. Garmin Pay enables contactless payments, and 5 ATM water resistance suits swimming. Connectivity includes Bluetooth, ANT+, NFC, and multi-system GPS (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS).
| Specification | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|
| Display | 1.2-inch (30.4mm) AMOLED touchscreen |
| Battery Life | Smartwatch mode: up to 11 days Power-saving mode: up to 20 days GPS-only mode: up to 19 hours All-systems mode: up to 17 hours |
| Storage | 4 GB |
| Water Resistance | 5 ATM (up to 50 meters) |
| Weight | 39 g |
| Dimensions | 43 x 43 x 11.6 mm |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, NFC, GPS (Galileo, GLONASS) |
| Features | Smartphone notifications, Garmin Pay, offline music (Music variant) |
Compared to all-round smartwatches like the Samsung Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch, the Forerunner 165 has limited smart features. It supports notifications but lacks advanced phone control, Google Maps, hands-free calling, or digital assistants like Siri or Alexa.
Starting at £249
Design and Build
The Forerunner 165 retains a familiar design with three buttons on the left and two on the right, ensuring smooth navigation through menus and functions like the stopwatch, even with wet fingers. Made of fibre-reinforced polymer and chemically strengthened glass, it’s durable but prone to scratches, so a screen protector is recommended. Its 20mm quick-release silicone straps are easily swapped. Customise with our Garmin Forerunner 165 straps.
Differences from the Forerunner 155
Since there was no Forerunner 155, we compare the Forerunner 165 to its predecessor, the Forerunner 55. Key upgrades include:
- 1.2-inch AMOLED display vs. 1.04-inch transflective MIP screen.
- 4 GB storage vs. 32 MB, enabling music playback and advanced training plans.
- Faster processor for improved navigation and map reading.
- Shorter battery life (11 days vs. 14 days in smartwatch mode).
Health and Sports Features
The Forerunner 165 excels in sports and health tracking, supporting running, swimming, cycling, yoga, and more. It offers heart rate, step, sleep, stress, and recovery tracking, plus runner-specific metrics like VO2 Max, recovery time, and race time predictions. The Garmin Connect IQ store allows app and watch face downloads, but the lack of a triathlon mode requires manual switching between activities. Explore Garmin accessories to enhance your experience.
Conclusion
The Garmin Forerunner 165, priced at £249, is the most affordable and recent addition to the Forerunner series. Its vibrant AMOLED display, intuitive five-button and touchscreen interface, and robust sports features make it ideal for UK runners. While it lacks a triathlon mode and has a scratch-prone screen, it offers excellent value, rivaling the pricier Forerunner 265 (£429). Key points:
- ✔ Vibrant AMOLED display
- ✔ Impressive battery life
- ✔ Accurate GPS and heart rate tracking
- ✔ Interchangeable straps
- ✖ Scratch-prone screen (mitigated with a protector)
- ✖ No triathlon mode
Personalise with our Garmin chargers, all with free UK delivery.
Dejar un comentario
Todos los comentarios se revisan antes de su publicación.
Este sitio está protegido por hCaptcha y se aplican la Política de privacidad de hCaptcha y los Términos del servicio.