Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Forerunner 70
Same price, but the 165 rates meaningfully higher and carries Garmin's fuller 'hybrid' feature set, while the 70 is the newer but more stripped-down entry-level model.
GarminGarmin Forerunner 165
GarminGarmin Forerunner 70
- •You want Garmin's higher-rated entry-level watch
- •A fuller feature set matters more than having the newest release
- •You want Garmin's newest entry-level hardware for 2026
- •AMOLED and touch on a brand-new chassis appeals more than the older 165
The 165 brings Garmin's core running metrics, an AMOLED display, and music storage down to a price that doesn't feel like a compromise. It's the watch we'd point most casual-to-intermediate runners toward before recommending anything more expensive.
The Forerunner 70 swaps the old MIP screen and button-only design of the 55 for AMOLED and touch, while finally bringing Training Readiness, Training Status, and wrist-based Running Power down to Garmin's cheapest running watch. It skips the altimeter, compass, and Garmin Pay found on the 170, but for straightforward road running, it's the new baseline to beat at this price.
*Estimated — this model's exact GPS battery life isn't published by the manufacturer. All figures are standard GPS mode, midsize case, no solar boost.
†Estimated — this model launched too recently to have an established customer rating yet.
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