Garmin Forerunner Compare: 165 Versus 265 Detailed Review

Garmin Forerunner Compare reveals key differences between the 165 and 265 models, offering insights for informed decisions. At COMPARE.EDU.VN, we provide a detailed comparison of these running watches, highlighting their features and functionalities. Explore the Garmin Forerunner series, evaluate activity tracking, and discover accurate GPS for enhanced fitness tracking.

1. Garmin Forerunner Compare: Price and Models

The Garmin Forerunner series offers different models at varying price points. The Forerunner 165 base model starts at $249 USD, while the music edition is priced at $299 USD. Both Forerunner 265S and Forerunner 265 models are available for $449 USD. The Forerunner 165 music edition includes offline music capability and WiFi connectivity for an additional $50, whereas the Forerunner 265 includes these features in all models. Instead, the Forerunner 265 offers two different sizes to cater to individual preferences.

2. Display and Size Specifications

When considering a Garmin Forerunner compare, display and size are important factors. The Forerunner 165 features a 1.2-inch display with 390×390 pixels, while the Forerunner 265S has a smaller 1.1-inch display with 360×360 pixels. The Forerunner 265 boasts a larger 1.3-inch display with 416×416 pixels. Interestingly, the smaller Forerunner 265S offers longer battery life than the larger Forerunner 265 due to its smaller display drawing less power.

The physical sizes of the watches are as follows:

Forerunner 165: 43mm
Forerunner 265S: 42mm
Forerunner 265: 46mm

Despite the Forerunner 165 being only 1mm larger than the FR265S, the FR265S feels notably smaller on the wrist. The FR265 has a slightly curved glass surface, while the FR165 has a flat glass surface made of chemically strengthened glass. The FR265/265S uses Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

Weight-wise:

Forerunner 165: 39g
Forerunner 265S: 39g
Forerunner 265: 47g

3. Training Readiness Analysis

A significant difference in the Garmin Forerunner compare is the lack of Training Readiness on the Forerunner 165. Training Readiness is Garmin’s comprehensive score that combines several metrics to assess training load and recovery. It provides a daily score indicating how prepared you are to train. The score is based on sleep data, HRV data, and recent training load and recovery data.

The Training Readiness score incorporates six core components:

Sleep: Evaluates the quality of the previous night’s sleep.
Recovery time: Considers the recovery time from the last workout.
HRV Status: Compares the 7-day HRV trend against historical data.
Acute Load: Assesses the training load over the past 7 days.
Sleep History: Examines the last night’s sleep compared to the previous two nights.
Stress History: Analyzes the daytime stress data over the past three days.

Training Readiness is a valuable feature for monitoring training and recovery. It is not available on the Forerunner 165 but is included in Garmin’s Instinct 2 series devices.

4. Training Status Evaluation

Training Status is another important aspect of the Garmin Forerunner compare. It focuses on the training aspect of your fitness routine. Training Status provides insights into your training effectiveness based on your recent workouts. It helps you understand if your training is productive and balanced. Garmin updated Training Status about two years ago, focusing on the components of training.

Training Status is not available on the Forerunner 165 but is included in Garmin’s Instinct 2 series devices.

5. Training Load Analysis

Training Load is a key component of Training Status and Training Readiness, making it an important consideration in a Garmin Forerunner compare. It refers to the load from any completed activity, largely driven by heart rate zone time. Higher intensity workouts result in a higher training load.

The Forerunner 165 does not display this data, while the Forerunner 265 does. Training Load is compiled into weekly and monthly averages, with the weekly load known as Acute Load. Acute Load considers the recency of workouts, giving more weight to recent activities.

In addition to per-workout load and acute load, there’s also Load Focus, which tells you how balanced your training diet is (e.g., high intensity vs low intensity), as well as Load Ratio (whether or not you’re increasing or decreasing load too fast relative to your history).

All these Training Load metrics are not available on the Forerunner 165, though they are available on Garmin’s Instinct 2 series devices, which are now the same price as the Forerunner 165 Music, at $299.

6. Triathlon and Multisport Functionalities

Another key factor in the Garmin Forerunner compare is the triathlon and multisport capabilities. The Forerunner 165 lacks triathlon modes, including duathlon and custom multisport modes. While the Forerunner 165 can record individual parts of a triathlon, it cannot record them as a single workout with transition times. The Forerunner 265 offers this capability.

Multisport and triathlon metrics are not available on the Forerunner 165 but are included in Garmin’s Instinct 2 series devices.

7. Skiing and Snowboarding Sport Profiles

In this Garmin Forerunner compare, a notable difference is the availability of skiing and snowboarding sport profiles. The Forerunner 165 does not support any ski modes, which is surprising considering that other Garmin watches at the same price point do. The Forerunner 265 includes these sport profiles.

Skiing and snow sports modes are not available on the Forerunner 165 but are included in Garmin’s Instinct 2 series devices.

8. Compatibility of Power Meters and Sensors

The Forerunner 165 lacks several sensor accessory types, with the most notable being cycling power meter connectivity. This is a significant omission, as other watches in the same price range offer this feature. The Forerunner 265 supports various sensor types.

Key sensors missing from the Forerunner 165 include:

Power meter sensors (ANT+/Bluetooth)
eBike sensors (ANT+)
Extended Display connectivity (ANT+)
Running RD pod support (ANT+)
Smart Trainer connectivity (ANT+)
VIRB connectivity (ANT+)

All these sensors are not available on the Forerunner 165 but are included in Garmin’s Instinct 2 series devices.

9. Sport Profiles Offered

Another aspect to consider in this Garmin Forerunner compare is the number of available sport profiles. The Forerunner 265 has a significantly larger list of sport profiles, with 37 additional ones specifically. Garmin constantly adds new sport profiles, particularly to the Forerunner 265.

Here’s the total Forerunner 165 list:

Run, Track Run,Treadmill, Virtual Run, Indoor Track, Trail Run, Ultra Run, Hike, Walk, Walk Indoor, Bike, Bike Indoor, Pool Swim, Open Water Swim, Cardio, Tennis, Pickleball, Padel, Strength, Yoga, Pilates, Breathwork, HIIT, Floor Climb, Elliptical, Stair Stepper

And here’s the total Forerunner 265 list:

Run, Track Run, Ultra Run, Trail Run, Virtual Run, Indoor Track, Treadmill, Hike, Walk, Walk Indoor, Bike, Bike Indoor, MTB, eBike, eMTB, Pool Swim, Open Water Swim, Triathlon, Multisport, Row Indoor, 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

10. GPS and GNSS Capabilities

In this Garmin Forerunner compare, GPS capabilities are an essential consideration. The Forerunner 265 series features multiband (dual-frequency) GNSS systems. This type of GPS connectivity allows the watch to connect to different satellite frequencies, which can improve accuracy in challenging conditions.

Despite this advantage, the Forerunner 165 offers excellent GPS accuracy, often matching or even surpassing other companies’ multiband watches. Unless you frequently run in areas with tall buildings, the difference between the two units may be minimal.

The Forerunner 265 series also includes Garmin’s SatIQ technology, which dynamically switches from multiband to non-multiband based on conditions to save battery life.

11. Battery Performance

Battery life is a crucial factor in any Garmin Forerunner compare. Below are the official battery life claims for each model:

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: Unspecificed
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

The smaller Forerunner 265S offers longer battery life than the larger Forerunner 265 because it uses the same battery but has a smaller display that consumes less power.

12. Minor Differences in Features

In this Garmin Forerunner compare, several minor differences may still be important to individual users. These are features that the Forerunner 165 does not have:

Lap Undo feature
Ability to create organizing folders for widgets/glances
Sleep Coach (but Garmin plans to add it in a future update)
ABC widget (Altimeter/Barometer/Compass)
Altimeter quick-access button
Barometer quick-access button
Compass quick-access button
Ability to calibrate altimeter
RedShift mode
Training Readiness Morning Report option
Barometer alerts
Ability to set Voice Prompt alerts to Male or Female
Critical Swim Speed metrics/settings
Cycling power zones/settings
XC Ski power zones/settings
Max HR Zone detection
Lactate threshold detection (running, with chest strap)
Dedicated navigation data screens
Heading “bug” option
Navigation alerts and options for Final Distance, Final ETE, Off Course, and Turn Prompts
Ability to turn off vibration alerts in one shot/setting
Ability to turn off touch during sleep entirely
Dedicated automatic Do Not Disturb timeframes
Performance condition alert
Running Metronome feature
Auto Climb option
3D Speed and 3D Distance options
Auto scroll option
Record Temperature option
Dedicated compass data page for sport profiles
Extra data fields for barometric pressure and a barometric pressure chart, plus training load data fields
Supports up to 8 data fields per page, versus max 4 data fields per page on FR165
Ability to add specific structured workout data fields to custom data pages
Ability to ‘Race an Activity’ to race past activities
Guided Lactate Threshold test feature
Curved glass
Muscle map (in strength workouts)

Conversely, the Forerunner 165 has one feature that the Forerunner 265 lacks:

Walk incident (fall) detection

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the main differences between the Garmin Forerunner 165 and 265?

The main differences include Training Readiness, Training Status, Training Load, triathlon modes, skiing profiles, sensor compatibility, and sport profiles.
Does the Garmin Forerunner 165 support power meters?

No, the Forerunner 165 does not support cycling power meters.
Which watch has better battery life, the Forerunner 165 or 265?

The Forerunner 265S has the best battery life, followed by Forerunner 165, and then the Forerunner 265.
Does the Forerunner 165 have GPS?

Yes, the Forerunner 165 has GPS, but the Forerunner 265 has multiband GPS for better accuracy in difficult conditions.
Can the Forerunner 165 track swimming?

Yes, both the Forerunner 165 and 265 can track pool and open water swimming.
Does the Forerunner 265 have music storage?

Yes, the Forerunner 265 has music storage, while the Forerunner 165 requires the music edition for this feature.
What is Training Readiness on a Garmin watch?

Training Readiness is a score that combines sleep data, HRV, and training load to indicate how prepared you are to train.
Which Forerunner is best for triathletes?

The Forerunner 265 is better for triathletes due to its dedicated triathlon and multisport modes.
What is the price difference between the Forerunner 165 and 265?

The Forerunner 165 starts at $249, while the Forerunner 265 is priced at $449.
Where can I find more detailed comparisons of Garmin watches?

You can find detailed comparisons at COMPARE.EDU.VN.

Conclusion

The Garmin Forerunner 165 and 265 cater to different needs and budgets. The Forerunner 265 offers advanced features like Training Readiness, multiband GPS, and more sport profiles, making it suitable for serious athletes. The Forerunner 165 is a more budget-friendly option for casual fitness enthusiasts. By understanding the key differences through this Garmin Forerunner compare, you can make an informed decision based on your specific requirements.

Making a choice between fitness trackers can be difficult. If you’re struggling to compare different fitness trackers and smartwatches, visit COMPARE.EDU.VN for comprehensive, unbiased comparisons. We make it easy to evaluate features, prices, and user reviews, empowering you to select the best device for your active lifestyle. Don’t make a decision without us—find your perfect fitness companion at COMPARE.EDU.VN today!

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