Navigating the world of Garmin watches can be tricky, especially when model numbers are just a digit apart. The Forerunner 165 and 265 are prime examples – seemingly close, yet significantly different. While the Forerunner 965 and Epix comparison boasted over 65 distinctions, this guide zeroes in on the crucial differences between the 165 and 265, aiming for clarity without getting lost in every minute detail… though, spoiler alert, we might still uncover over 100! Let’s dive into what sets these two running watches apart and help you decide which Garmin Forerunner best fits your needs.
First, let’s address the price point, a key factor for many:
Garmin Forerunner 165 (Base Model): $249 USD
Garmin Forerunner 165 (Music Edition): $299 USD
Garmin Forerunner 265S: $449 USD
Garmin Forerunner 265: $449 USD
The Forerunner 165 Music adds offline music and WiFi for an extra $50. In contrast, the Forerunner 265 includes music as standard but offers two sizes. Let’s explore size and display first.
1) Display and Size: Finding Your Perfect Fit
Size matters, especially when it comes to wearable tech. The Forerunner series offers three distinct sizes and display dimensions:
Forerunner 165: 1.2” (390×390 pixels)
Forerunner 265S: 1.1” (360×360 pixels)
Forerunner 265: 1.3” (416×416 pixels)
Interestingly, the smaller Forerunner 265S boasts longer battery life than the larger 265. This is because both models use the same battery, but the smaller display of the 265S consumes less power.
In terms of physical case size, Garmin categorizes them as:
Forerunner 165: 43mm
Forerunner 265S: 42mm
Forerunner 265: 46mm
Despite a mere 1mm difference between the 165 and 265S on paper, the Forerunner 265S feels noticeably smaller on the wrist. For those with larger wrists, the FR265S might feel petite, while the FR165 offers a more standard watch feel.
The display glass also differs. The FR265 features a subtly curved edge, while the Forerunner 165 has a flat screen.
Forerunner 165 Glass Type: Chemically Strengthened Glass
Forerunner 265/265S Glass Type: Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Finally, weight considerations:
Forerunner 165: 39g
Forerunner 265S: 39g
Forerunner 265: 47g
With the specs laid out, let’s delve into the feature differences that truly distinguish these Garmin watches.
2) Training Readiness: Are You Ready to Push?
The most significant software disparity is the absence of Training Readiness on the Forerunner 165. Training Readiness is Garmin’s comprehensive metric that provides a dynamic score reflecting how prepared your body is for training at any given moment. It’s a holistic assessment of your recovery and training load.
Each morning, you receive a Training Readiness score, factoring in sleep quality, HRV (Heart Rate Variability), recent training intensity, and recovery time. A score of 55 out of 100 might indicate “good enough” readiness, while a score of 65 later in the day, after rest, signifies improved preparedness. Conversely, a strenuous workout can drastically lower your score, reflecting decreased readiness.
Training Readiness is calculated using six key components:
- Sleep: Analyzes the previous night’s sleep data.
- Recovery Time: Considers recovery time from your last workout.
- HRV Status: Compares your 7-day HRV trend against your historical baseline.
- Acute Load: Evaluates your training load over the past 7 days.
- Sleep History: Compares last night’s sleep to the previous two nights.
- Stress History: Examines daytime stress data over the past 3 days (excluding sleep).
Many users consider Training Readiness a standout Garmin feature. It serves as a valuable guide to prevent overtraining and identify optimal training windows. Consistently high scores (70-80s) might signal a need for increased training stimulus.
Training Readiness is exclusive to the Forerunner 265 in this comparison. Interestingly, the similarly priced Garmin Instinct 2 series includes this feature.
3) Training Status: Your Personal Digital Coach
Training Status, a component of Training Readiness, focuses more specifically on your training effectiveness. Think of it as your coach interpreting your recent workouts. For example, excessive high-intensity interval training without balanced recovery would likely be flagged as “unproductive” by Training Status, highlighting the importance of a well-rounded training regimen for improvement.
Garmin refined Training Status alongside the introduction of Training Readiness, sharpening its focus on training aspects within the broader recovery context.
Like Training Readiness, Training Status is not available on the Forerunner 165 but is featured on the Garmin Instinct 2 series, again at a comparable price point.
4) Training Load: Quantifying Your Effort
Training Load is a crucial element of both Training Status and Training Readiness. It starts with the load calculated for each activity, primarily determined by heart rate zone duration – higher intensity workouts equate to greater load.
The Forerunner 265 (right) displays per-workout Training Load, a feature absent in the Forerunner 165 (left).
This workout-specific load contributes to your overall weekly and monthly load averages. Weekly load is termed Acute Load, exclusive to the FR265 and higher models. Acute Load isn’t a simple sum; it’s weighted, giving more importance to recent workouts.
Acute Load effectively visualizes training trends over the past 7 days. A period of high activity followed by lower intensity days, like a ski trip, will show a downward trend despite long hours of activity due to lower workout load.
Beyond per-workout and acute load, the Forerunner 265 offers Load Focus, assessing the balance of your training (high vs. low intensity), and Load Ratio, indicating whether load increases are too rapid compared to your training history.
Load Ratio reflects training consistency. A ski week, for example, might result in a lower load ratio compared to typical training weeks.
All Training Load metrics – per-workout load, acute load, load focus, and load ratio – are absent on the Forerunner 165 but are available on the Garmin Instinct 2 series at the same price as the Forerunner 165 Music.
5) Triathlon and Multisport Modes: Seamless Transitions
A straightforward differentiator: the Forerunner 165 lacks dedicated triathlon, duathlon, and custom multisport modes. While the Forerunner 165 can record individual swim, bike, and run activities, it cannot track them as a single, continuous workout with transition times. The Forerunner 265 seamlessly handles multisport events.
Multisport and triathlon capabilities are not included in the Forerunner 165, yet are present in the Garmin Instinct 2 series, again, priced similarly to the Forerunner 165 Music.
6) Skiing and Snowboarding Profiles: Hit the Slopes Prepared
For winter sports enthusiasts, this is crucial. The Forerunner 165 inexplicably omits skiing and snowboarding sport profiles. This is surprising considering the Venu SQ 2 and Vivoactive 5, at the same price point, offer these modes, as do many older, even more affordable Garmin watches.
If winter sports tracking is a priority, the Forerunner 165 falls short. Hopefully, Garmin will add these profiles in a future update.
Skiing and snow sports modes are unavailable on the Forerunner 165, but are standard on the Garmin Instinct 2 series and virtually every other Garmin watch, including those in the same price range as the Forerunner 165 Music.
7) Sensor Compatibility: Power Up Your Training
The Forerunner 165 has limitations in sensor compatibility, most notably lacking cycling power meter connectivity. This is a peculiar omission, especially as Apple Watches in the same price bracket support power meters, and Garmin includes it in the Instinct 2 and even budget bike computers under $200.
The Forerunner 165 misses out on key sensor types found in the Forerunner 265:
No power meter sensors (ANT+/Bluetooth), eBike sensors (ANT+), Extended Display connectivity (ANT+), Running Dynamics Pod support (ANT+), Smart Trainer connectivity (ANT+), or VIRB connectivity (ANT+).
While Running Dynamics Pod support is less critical as the watch provides native running dynamics, the absence of power meter support is significant for cyclists.
Again, these sensor capabilities are absent on the Forerunner 165 but present in the Garmin Instinct 2 series, priced the same as the Forerunner 165 Music.
8) Sport Profiles: Tailored Activity Tracking
The Forerunner 265 boasts a significantly larger library of sport profiles – 37 more than the Forerunner 165. Garmin continually updates sport profiles, particularly for the 265. This comparison reflects profiles available as of February 22nd, 2024, including those in the public beta.
Forerunner 165 Sport Profiles:
Run, Track Run, Treadmill, Virtual Run, Indoor Track, Trail Run, Ultra Run, Hike, Walk, Indoor Walk, Bike, Indoor Bike, Pool Swim, Open Water Swim, Cardio, Tennis, Pickleball, Padel, Strength, Yoga, Pilates, Breathwork, HIIT, Floor Climb, Elliptical, Stair Stepper.
Forerunner 265 Sport Profiles:
Run, Track Run, Ultra Run, Trail Run, Virtual Run, Indoor Track, Treadmill, Hike, Walk, Indoor Walk, Bike, Indoor Bike, MTB, eBike, eMTB, Pool Swim, Open Water Swim, Triathlon, Multisport, Indoor Row, Strength, Cardio, HIIT, Yoga, Pilates, Elliptical, Stair Stepper, Floor Climb, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Jump Rope, Archery, Inline Skating, Ski, Snowboard, XC Classic Ski, Ice Skating, SUP, Row, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Cricket, Softball, Baseball, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer/Football, Ultimate Disc, Tennis, Padel, Table Tennis, Platform Tennis, Pickleball, Squash, Racquetball, Badminton, Breathwork, Other.
The Instinct 2 series, once again, offers a comparable or even broader range of sport profiles.
9) Dual-Frequency GPS and SatIQ: Enhanced Accuracy and Efficiency
The Forerunner 265 series incorporates multiband (dual-frequency) GNSS. This advanced GPS technology enhances accuracy, especially in challenging environments like urban canyons or dense forests, by utilizing multiple satellite frequencies.
While multiband GPS is beneficial, the Forerunner 165’s GPS accuracy is remarkably good, often matching or exceeding multiband watches in real-world conditions. Unless you frequently run in extremely demanding GPS environments, the practical difference in accuracy might be minimal.
The Forerunner 265 also features Garmin’s SatIQ technology, intelligently switching between multiband and standard GPS modes to optimize battery life based on signal conditions. Since the Forerunner 165 lacks multiband, SatIQ is not relevant to this model.
10) Battery Life: Power for the Long Run
Battery life is a key consideration for any GPS watch. Garmin’s official battery life claims for both models are generally accurate and even slightly conservative in testing. Smartwatch times assume 1-2 hours of daily GPS workouts.
Forerunner 165 Battery Specifications:
Smartwatch mode: Up to 11 days (4 days always-on display)
Battery Saver Smartwatch mode: Up to 20 days
GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 19 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 17 hours
GPS-Only GNSS mode with music: Up to 7 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode with music: Up to 6.5 hours
Forerunner 265S Battery Specifications:
Smartwatch mode: Up to 15 days (5 days always-on display)
Battery Saver Smartwatch mode: Unspecified
GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 24 hours
SatIQ (AutoSelect) Mode: Up to 18 hours
Multiband/Dual Frequency GNSS mode: Up to 15 hours
GPS-Only GNSS mode with music: Up to 7.5 hours
SatIQ (AutoSelect) mode with music: Up to 7 hours
Multiband/Dual Frequency GNSS mode with music: Up to 6 hours
Forerunner 265 Battery Specifications:
Smartwatch mode: Up to 13 days (5 days always-on display)
Battery Saver Smartwatch mode: Unspecified
GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 20 hours
SatIQ (AutoSelect) Mode: Up to 16 hours
Multiband/Dual Frequency GNSS mode: Up to 14 hours
GPS-Only GNSS mode with music: Up to 7 hours
SatIQ (AutoSelect) mode with music: Up to 6.5 hours
Multiband/Dual Frequency GNSS mode with music: Up to 6 hours
Notably, the smaller Forerunner 265S offers superior battery life compared to the larger Forerunner 265 due to its smaller, less power-hungry display, despite sharing the same battery.
Minor Differences: The Details That Matter
Beyond the major distinctions, numerous smaller features differentiate the Forerunner 165 and 265. While individually minor, they can collectively sway your decision based on your specific needs.
Forerunner 265 Exclusive Features:
- Lap Undo: Correct accidental lap markings during activities.
- Widget Folders: Organize widgets for cleaner navigation.
- Sleep Coach: (Firmware update planned for FR165) Provides personalized sleep guidance.
- ABC Widget: Altimeter, Barometer, Compass at a glance.
- Quick Access Buttons: Dedicated buttons for Altimeter, Barometer, Compass.
- Altimeter Calibration: Manually calibrate altimeter for accuracy.
- RedShift Mode: Screen dimming and red tint for nighttime use.
- Training Readiness Morning Report Option: Include Training Readiness in morning report.
- Barometer Alerts: Receive alerts for pressure changes.
- Voice Prompt Gender Selection: Choose male or female voice prompts.
- Critical Swim Speed Metrics: Advanced swim training metrics.
- Cycling and XC Ski Power Zones: Customized power zones for cycling and XC skiing.
- Max HR Zone Detection: Automatic detection of maximum heart rate zones.
- Lactate Threshold Detection: (with chest strap) Estimate lactate threshold.
- Navigation Data Screens: Dedicated data pages during navigation.
- Heading “Bug”: Visual heading indicator during navigation.
- Navigation Alerts: Distance to Final, Final ETE, Off Course, Turn Prompts.
- Vibration Alert Control: Single setting to disable all vibration alerts.
- Touchscreen Sleep Mode: Disable touch during sleep (duplicate with ‘General Use’ option).
- Automatic Do Not Disturb Timeframes: Scheduled DND periods (overlaps with sleep mode).
- Performance Condition: Real-time performance feedback during workouts.
- Running Metronome: Pace-guiding metronome for running.
- Auto Climb: Automatically switch data pages on ascents.
- 3D Speed and Distance: Enhanced accuracy in steep terrain.
- Auto Scroll: Automatically cycle through data pages.
- Record Temperature Option: Log temperature during activities.
- Compass Data Page: Dedicated compass display within sport profiles.
- Compass Data Fields: Customizable compass data fields.
- Barometric Pressure Data Fields and Chart: Barometric pressure information.
- Training Load Data Fields: Real-time training load data.
- Data Fields Per Page: Supports up to 8 data fields per page (vs. 4 on FR165).
- Structured Workout Data Fields: Add specific structured workout data to custom pages.
- Race an Activity: Compete against past activity performances.
- Guided Lactate Threshold Test: Step-by-step lactate threshold test.
- Curved Glass: Sleek curved display glass.
- Muscle Map: (Strength workouts) Visual muscle group engagement.
Forerunner 165 Exclusive Feature:
- Walk Incident Detection: Fall detection specifically for walking activities (oddly absent on FR265).
Ultimately, the Forerunner 265 offers a more feature-rich experience, particularly for serious athletes focused on training metrics and performance analysis. However, the Forerunner 165 remains a compelling option for those prioritizing core GPS and smartwatch functionality at a more accessible price point.
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Garmin Forerunner 165
Amazon $225 | Backcountry | REI
Garmin Forerunner 265
Amazon $414 | Backcountry $450 | REI
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