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Head to Head

Garmin Forerunner 955 vs Garmin Forerunner 965

Same rating, but the 965 is a full generation newer with max-tier training analytics, an AMOLED touchscreen, and a titanium bezel — for $100 more than the 955.

Garmin Forerunner 955Garmin

Garmin Forerunner 955

4.6
Garmin Forerunner 965Garmin

Garmin Forerunner 965

4.6
$499
Lower price
MSRP
$599
Semi-Smart
Watch Type
Full Smartwatch
Solid Training Data
Training Data
Maximum Depth
More data
iOS & Android
Phone
iOS & Android
4.6
Rating
4.6
42 hrs
Longer battery
GPS Battery Life
31 hrs
Dual-Band
GPS
Dual-Band
52g
Weight
52g
46mm
Case Size
47mm
No
Wrist Calls
No
Yes
Offline Maps
Yes
Spotify/Amazon Music
Offline Music
Spotify/Amazon Music
5 ATM
Water Resistance
5 ATM
—
Notable For
—
Best For
  • •You can find the 955 discounted as an older-generation flagship
  • •Training-tier analytics already cover what you need
  • •You want Garmin's newer AMOLED hardware and max-tier training analytics
  • •$100 more is worth the upgrade in screen quality and titanium build
The Full Story

The 955 was Garmin's flagship running and triathlon watch before the 965 took over, and it still holds up: touchscreen, full-color maps, Training Readiness, and 32GB of music storage. Superseded by newer hardware, but a genuinely capable watch wherever you can find one discounted.

The 965 established the template for Garmin's flagship running watches with a vivid 1.4-inch AMOLED display, titanium bezel, and full-color offline maps. While superseded by the 970, it remains a top-tier choice if you want maximum analytics and routing without paying top-shelf price.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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