Need help keeping track of your runs and workouts? A fitness tracker and smartwatch all in one can make things exceptionally easy for you. The Garmin Forerunner 165 is the perfect option that you can
This watch brings AMOLED display tech and most of Garmin’s training software down to a more approachable price than the brand’s flagship running watches. The bright 1.2-inch touchscreen makes pace, distance, and heart rate easy to read in any light, while five physical buttons handle the same tasks if you’d rather skip the swipes.
A fitness tracker that can help you keep an eye on everything you accomplish
The watch can keep track of all your daily workouts and adapt based on your recent performance and recovery. Plus, its Garmin Coach and race adaptive training plans cover 5K, 10K, and half-marathon goals. There are over 25 built-in activity profiles, including running, cycling, HIIT, and strength training. A morning report covers sleep, recovery, and training outlook in a single view. So you can enter just about everything you do into the tracker and keep it handy if needed.
The attery life runs up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours with GPS active. That’s enough for a full week of training plus a long run or race weekend before you have to charge it. The built-in GPS handles pace and distance for outdoor runs, rides, and walks, and the watch syncs your data to the Garmin Connect app over Bluetooth. You can also pull existing courses from the app and sync them to the watch.
Heart rate monitoring runs 24/7 directly from the wrist, paired with sleep tracking, stress monitoring, and Body Battery energy tracking that shows when your reserves are high or low. The watch estimates VO2 max as a fitness benchmark and uses Training Effect labels to explain how each workout impacts your aerobic and anaerobic fitness. Recovery time tells you how long to wait before pushing hard again, too.
Smart notifications from a paired Android or iPhone show up on the wrist, so you can see calls, texts, and alerts without reaching for your phone. Garmin Pay handles contactless payments at checkout terminals where it’s supported.
The Forerunner 165 covers a lot of ground for anyone after a Garmin watch with an AMOLED touchscreen, real training intelligence, and a comfortable all-day fit without stepping up into the higher tiers. Long battery life, adaptive training plans, and detailed recovery and health metrics make it capable enough to support more serious training over time. If you’re ready to start getting serious about training, this is a great smartwatch to start with, and an affordable one too.