Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch vs Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch (2026)

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

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

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

Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch

9.2/10 Excellent

4.5★ (8,400 owners)

AMOLED display, dual-band GPS, 13-day battery, HRV status. The serious runner's smart watch.

Full Review

At a Glance

	Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch	Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch
247Verdict Score	9.1/10	9.2/10
Owner Rating	4.6★ (4,200)	4.5★ (8,400)
Verdict	Excellent	Excellent
Display	AMOLED	AMOLED 1.3"
Battery	11 days	13 days / 20hr GPS

Quick Verdict

This is a genuine draw — both score within 0.15 points of each other. Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch: AMOLED, 11-day, offline music, Training Readiness. Best entry Garmin AMOLED with music. Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch: AMOLED display, dual-band GPS, 13-day battery, HRV status. The serious runner's smart watch. Choose based on your specific needs. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

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

Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch

AMOLED display is the clearest running watch screen available at this price
Dual-band GPS (L1+L5) delivers within 1% distance accuracy on technical routes
13-day battery in smartwatch mode, 20 hours GPS — enough for ultra-marathon training
Morning Report with HRV status and Body Battery guides daily training intensity
Training Readiness score prevents overtraining by analysing load vs recovery

13-day battery drops to 20 hours in GPS mode — fine for most, limiting for ultramarathon racing
No maps (topo maps are in the Fenix range)
AMOLED reduces battery vs transflective displays in previous Forerunner models

FAQ

Which is better, Garmin Forerunner 165 Music or Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS?

Is the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music worth the extra cost?

The Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch matches or exceeds it at a potentially lower price point.

Who is the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music best suited to?

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

Who is the Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS best suited to?

AMOLED display, dual-band GPS, 13-day battery, HRV status. The serious runner's smart watch.

What are the main downsides of each?

Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch: No race predictor; Single-band GPS. Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch: 13-day battery drops to 20 hours in GPS mode — fine for most, limiting for ultramarathon racing; No maps (topo maps are in the Fenix range).

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch sits at 4.6★ from 4,200 verified Amazon owners, and Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS Running Watch at 4.5★ from 8,400.

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