Garmin Forerunner 165 /// An Unbiased In-depth Review

Garmin’s new Forerunner 165 is basically Garmin's entry level running watch and it's fantastic but it's missing some odd features.

Best place to buy the 165:

The FR 255 is also on sale:

FR 165 Screen Protectors:

Extra Watch Band options (20mm):

I seem to always be online somewhere:

DISCLAIMER:
Some of these links are affiliate links, if you purchase gear with these links I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my channel and allowing me to continue to make triathlon content!

Tags used:
Best GPS Watch,Garmin,Garmin 165,Garmin Forerunner,Garmin Forerunner 165,Garmin Forerunner 165 review,top garmin watch,affordable garmin watch,cheap gps watch,value gps watch,cheap garmin,affordable garmin,Garmin Forrunner,165,fr 165,Forerunner 165,Forerunner 165 review,165 review,fr 165 review,best Garmin watch,garmin watch review,gps watch review,top gps watches,under 300,under 200,amoled,why garmin,best running watch,top running watch

[mlegrand]

Thanks for checking this one out!
Best place to buy the 165:

The FR 255 is also on sale:

FR 165 Screen Protectors:

Extra Watch Band options (20mm):

[KwyjiboVanDeKamp]

I'm repeating myself...
For all considering the 165 you might as well check out the "old" 255! Apart from training readyness and the AMOLED touch display it has basically the same features as the 265 but nowadays for the price of the 165 (at least in Germany/Europe when on sale). So if you can live without AMOLED and touch the 255 is definitely the better pick over the 165.
Bigger display with Gorilla glass, better battery life, triathlon plus power meter support, much more sport profiles, better GPS options, advanced training analysis like training load and training focus, more data fields per each page during an activity.
Don't get me wrong, the 165 is a super nice little watch to get you into (running) sports. But given the fact that the Forerunner 255 is about the same price now I personally would go for it.

[DJ.Skyhawk]

I use a Fenix 7 Pro. I’m only watching this video because Matt made it. Always bangers.

[sreinst]

A small correction: Dual frequency does not mean connecting to multiple types of satellites at the same time; this happens also in "all systems" mode. Dual frequency means getting signals of two different frequencies from the same satellite. Garmin has a page for that, titled "What is dual frequency/multi-band GPS?".

[pavan]

Ohh the battery life comparison. Ace!!! :) Fantastic editing and video as always :)

[MinoMarimat]

I’ve been waiting for this review since I bought my FR165M almost three months ago just to validate my purchase 😂 but I would say this is great for someone like me who just started getting into running.. three months ago! Yes - I decided I wanted to start running, and I was looking for a replacement for my broken AWS6 so AMOLED is definitely an item in the list. This is the cheapest one out there that checks out all the boxes - great display, amazing fitness features that provide structured training plans for a beginner, and does not break the bank (too much). I love this thing. 😊

Great review as always! Better A-roll of you than the previous (I think you went to town with the vignette - the corners were very dark haha). One of the best quality fitness watch reviewers out there for sure.

[FoxyScott]

"I guess I'm just cheap". No, you're considered. Love your videos, keep it up.

[jari]

I got mine recently and it's also my first "smartwatch", so to speak. For the money, it's hard to beat!

I don't mind not having multiband gps because i'm not constantly looking at my watch whilst running.

Battery life is fine. You charge your phone almost everyday too, so this watch not having the most insane battery life is not a problem.

Data is very accurate. My friend has the 965 and the difference in tracking etc. is slim to none.


Remember; it's your first one and it's great for getting familiar with such a unit whilst also recieving accurate feedback and stats with regards to your training/lifestyle.

By the time you're gonna be looking for a new "smartwatch" you'll be familiar with features you like/dislike and features you're missing or don't need.

[robhunt]

Your videos are always highly entertaining, good work. Props for not forgetting older but still very capable watches like the 255 too!

[Aldinequeen]

As always a great review. You also grew up running without technology like me. I ran high school and college cross country before gps watches (or before I knew about them). I used to track my miles in a notebook. Lost that notebook in 2001 when my townhome flooded. I love all my gps watches now ( I have several from Garmin, Suunto, and 2 from Coros. My Epix Pro titanium is my favorite, with my Suunto Race and Vertical being close second but I like the simple lightweight Coros Pace 3, especially for track workouts and matching my race kits😂😂😂. My 50 year old self loves all of this gps watch technology. I normally gift my watches to our local high school or young runners in my local running group. The 165 is perfect for high school and college runners.

[ghost_lukh]

Great review. After back and forth between choosing 165, Venu 3 and 965 - I settled for Epix Gen 2 due to the price drop cause of the new Fenix 8.

[fitgearhunter]

Love love love the new battery graphs!

[SmartWatchDumbPhone]

Hey Matt. Longtime subscriber here so thank you for always putting out super high quality content. Being notified that you have new content posted to YouTube is always brings a smile to my face!

I’m a weekend warrior triathlete with a 5mo old and have an Apple Watch Ultra series one. It does the job just fine, but I can’t stand all the whole ring closing thing or that Apple won’t share my fitness info with apps like Garmin. So very much looking at the 165 to get back to the Garmin ecosystem (have a Garmin scale and cycling computer). If this watch had triathlon it would be a definite win for me, but even without it, given your positive points on its running and swimming capabilities I think I’m gonna get one.

Keep up the fantastic content sir! And thanks for the information / advice! 👍😁

[PeterHerget]

Garmin accuracy... always a tough task to communicate during a concise video. Another nice wearable review & a fabulous intro 🤠

[sarveshvjagtap]

Im actually just ordering the 165 music.. so perfect timing for the review! I chose this over the 255 simply because of the amoled screen. I don't need the triathalon support, and the dual band GPS as you said, is overrated in most cases. This is the best all rounder watch garmin has made so far.

[hdmedia]

I like the « kind of » Portishead instrumental intro 🔊

[PatrickStar_]

I just bought mine. I had to go music option. If I'm doing a long easy run than it's no biggie for me to take a phone and put it in the side pocket of my compression shorts. But for intervals and track sessions this will be a game changer. I didn't mind paying the extra $50

[glowingeye]

So happy to have found this video! I always thought the watch is too big for my wrist (don‘t like big watches) but you seem to have the exact same wrist size as me (I have tried it on and compared images) and I think it looks good on you. Nice review, too :)

[MrSpecialized]

I just copied the run activity and renamed it triathlon and chose pink color. Set up my data screens ( Hr, pace, speed, timer) and as always just press the lap button for t1 and t2....but I do have a bike computer for data during the ride.

[stElement]

Dude, can you do a vid on your nutrition and workout routine to get such manly wrists please. Damn these vids are so good. Not in market for another watch at the moment but I watched it anyway because it’s so ace! Love your channel, brother!