Running watches with AMOLED displays typically cost $300 to $500. The Garmin Forerunner 165 has one, and Amazon currently has it at $195, down from its regular $249, a record low that puts Garmin’s best entry-level AMOLED running watch well below what basic GPS watches with transflective LCD displays cost from competing brands. The screen alone justifies the choice at this price.
AMOLED display, 11 days of battery, and personalized training plans
The AMOLED touchscreen is the visual upgrade that makes running data genuinely readable at a glance during a workout, with the color accuracy and brightness that LCD running watches cannot match in varying light conditions. The 43mm case keeps it lightweight for all-day wear and sleep tracking, and the traditional button controls alongside the touchscreen give you precise input options when gloves or sweat make touch interaction unreliable. Built-in GPS tracks pace and distance without needing a phone, and wrist-based heart rate monitoring runs continuously throughout the day and during workouts.
The training intelligence is where the Forerunner 165 earns its position above basic GPS watches. Personalized daily suggested workouts adapt based on your recent performance and recovery status, so the watch tells you when to push hard, when to run easy, and when to rest rather than following a generic plan that ignores how your body is actually responding. Training effect and training effect labels show how each workout impacts your overall fitness and what the primary benefit of that session was, and recovery time gives you a specific window before your next high-effort effort is recommended. Garmin Coach adds adaptive training plans for specific race events if you are working toward a goal.
The morning report delivers an overview of sleep quality, HRV status, recovery outlook, and weather before you start the day, which gives you context for how hard to push before you lace up. Over 25 built-in activity profiles cover running, cycling, HIIT, strength training, and more, and Garmin Pay handles contactless payments during runs so you can leave your wallet behind.
The Forerunner 165 at $195 beats it on price while adding the AMOLED display that Polar does not offer in that range. With 4.7 stars from over 3,700 reviews and more than 6,000 units sold last month, the record low price on the most visually capable entry-level Garmin running watch available is the clearest buying opportunity in the category right now.