Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch vs Polar Vantage V3 GPS Sports 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

Polar Vantage V3 GPS Sports Watch

9.2/10 Excellent

4.5★ (2,400 owners)

AMOLED, ECG, optical HR, skin temperature, maps, 140hr GPS. Polar's multi-sport flagship.

Full Review

At a Glance

	Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch	Polar Vantage V3 GPS Sports Watch
247Verdict Score	9.1/10	9.2/10
Owner Rating	4.6★ (4,200)	4.5★ (2,400)
Verdict	Excellent	Excellent
Battery	11 days	140 hours 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. Polar Vantage V3 GPS Sports Watch: AMOLED, ECG, optical HR, skin temperature, maps, 140hr GPS. Polar's multi-sport flagship. 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

Polar Vantage V3 GPS Sports Watch

ECG sensor provides cardiac monitoring alongside sport tracking in a triathlon watch
140-hour GPS battery enables multi-day expedition tracking and ultra race coverage
Skin temperature sensor adds continuous temperature monitoring for illness and overtraining detection
Offline maps for trail navigation without phone — comprehensive outdoor navigation
Polar's 40-year heart rate monitoring heritage culminating in their most complete device

AMOLED battery life is less than Polar's MIP alternatives at equivalent GPS use
Polar ecosystem smaller than Garmin's community and training plan resources
Premium pricing at £450+ competes directly with Garmin Fenix and Suunto Vertical

FAQ

Which is better, Garmin Forerunner 165 Music or Polar Vantage V3 GPS?

Is the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music worth the extra cost?

The Polar Vantage V3 GPS Sports 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 Polar Vantage V3 GPS best suited to?

AMOLED, ECG, optical HR, skin temperature, maps, 140hr GPS. Polar's multi-sport flagship.

What are the main downsides of each?

Garmin Forerunner 165 Music GPS Watch: No race predictor; Single-band GPS. Polar Vantage V3 GPS Sports Watch: AMOLED battery life is less than Polar's MIP alternatives at equivalent GPS use; Polar ecosystem smaller than Garmin's community and training plan resources.

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 Polar Vantage V3 GPS Sports Watch at 4.5★ from 2,400.

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