Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch vs Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch

9.1/10 Excellent

4.5★ (4,800 owners)

AMOLED, 17-day battery, dual-frequency GPS, offline maps, 38g ultralight. Best mid-range running watch.

Full Review

Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch

9.1/10 Excellent

4.6★ (4,200 owners)

AMOLED, 11-day, offline music, Training Readiness. Best entry Garmin AMOLED with music.

Full Review

At a Glance

	Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch	Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch
247Verdict Score	9.1/10	9.1/10
Owner Rating	4.5★ (4,800)	4.6★ (4,200)
Verdict	Excellent	Excellent
Battery	17 days AMOLED	11 days
Display	AMOLED	AMOLED

Quick Verdict

This is a genuine draw — both score within 0.15 points of each other. Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch: AMOLED, 17-day battery, dual-frequency GPS, offline maps, 38g ultralight. Best mid-range running watch. Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch: AMOLED, 11-day, offline music, Training Readiness. Best entry Garmin AMOLED with music. Choose based on your specific needs. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch

17-day battery with AMOLED display — comparable to Garmin Fenix's battery in a sub-£200 watch
Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5) provides satellite accuracy that rivals Garmin Fenix in most conditions
38g weight — the lightest GPS running watch with AMOLED display
Offline maps allow route navigation without phone in mountain and trail environments
Coros EvoLab training analytics rivals Garmin's Coach algorithm for structured run training

Newer brand with smaller community vs Garmin's established training ecosystem
App less polished than Garmin Connect for non-running sports
Support for third-party training apps (Strava, TrainingPeaks) less deep than Garmin

Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch

AMOLED at under £180
11-day battery life
Offline music storage for phone-free runs
Training Readiness score
Daily Suggested Workouts

No race predictor
Single-band GPS
No maps

FAQ

Which is better, Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport or Garmin Forerunner 165 Music?

Is the Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport worth the extra cost?

The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch matches or exceeds it at a potentially lower price point.

Who is the Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport best suited to?

AMOLED, 17-day battery, dual-frequency GPS, offline maps, 38g ultralight. Best mid-range running watch.

Who is the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music best suited to?

AMOLED, 11-day, offline music, Training Readiness. Best entry Garmin AMOLED with music.

What are the main downsides of each?

Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch: Newer brand with smaller community vs Garmin's established training ecosystem; App less polished than Garmin Connect for non-running sports. Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch: No race predictor; Single-band GPS.

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — Coros Pace 3 GPS Sport Watch sits at 4.5★ from 4,800 verified Amazon owners, and Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch at 4.6★ from 4,200.

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