Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Vivoactive 6
Same training-tier analytics and only $50 apart, but different personalities: the 165 is a dedicated running watch that rates higher, while the Vivoactive 6 leans into lifestyle features like PacePro pacing, running power, and a fuller 80+ sport-profile lineup.
GarminGarmin Forerunner 165
GarminGarmin Vivoactive 6
- •You want a dedicated, higher-rated running watch for $50 less
- •You don't need PacePro pacing or the Vivoactive's lifestyle-first design
- •You want Garmin's newest lifestyle hardware with guided pacing and running power
- •A broader sport-profile lineup matters more to you than a running-first focus
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 Vivoactive 6 keeps the 5's AMOLED display, 11-day battery, and Body Battery energy tracking, then adds a magnetic compass, gyroscope, PacePro guided pacing, and running power at the same $299 price point. It still skips Training Readiness and a speaker for calls, so serious runners will outgrow it, but it's a clear upgrade over the 5 for anyone shopping new.
*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.
This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Not sure either of these is right?
Answer four quick questions and get matched from every current watch we track.
Try the Watch Finder →