Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 170: Which Should Runners Buy?

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What is your situation?

Buying new I own the 165 I want phone-free music

Start with the Forerunner 170. If the 165 is substantially cheaper, use the price-gap calculator below before deciding.

Is the 165 discount big enough?

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Forerunner 165 price

Forerunner 170 price

I specifically want Training Readiness, Training Status or the larger activity list. Compare value

Enter both prices. Current prices change often, so compare the exact editions and colours you can actually buy.

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 170 comparison

The 170 is not a complete redesign. The screen, case size and basic running experience are close. Most of the upgrade is in training software and the number of supported activities.

Specifications are manufacturer claims. Features can change through software updates, and availability can vary by region.

What actually changed on the Forerunner 170?

1. The 170 explains your training more clearly

The largest difference is not pace, distance or heart rate. Both watches handle those basics. The 170 adds Training Readiness and Training Status, which help turn several days of workouts, sleep and recovery data into a quicker daily summary.

That can be useful when you train with structure and regularly adjust workouts. It is less valuable if you mainly open the watch to check pace, distance, heart rate and a suggested workout.

2. The sport list is much larger

Garmin lists more than 80 sports apps on the 170 compared with more than 25 on the 165. That sounds like a huge leap, but count the activities you will really use. A road runner who also strength trains may not notice much. Someone who cycles, swims and mixes in several gym activities has a stronger reason to choose the 170.

3. Size and display barely change

Both watches use a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen and five physical buttons. The 170 is fractionally smaller across the case but slightly thicker and 2 g heavier. On a wrist, those numbers are close enough that features and price should decide the choice.

4. The battery result depends on the mode

It is inaccurate to say one model simply has better battery life. The 165 lasts longer in smartwatch and All Systems modes. The 170 has one extra hour in GPS-only mode. Compare the same settings before treating any battery number as a win.

Justin’s experience with the Forerunner 165

Justin bought the 165 after using more expensive Garmin watches, including the 920XT and 955. He expected the simpler model to feel like a major downgrade. For normal road running and marathon training, it did not.

The smaller 43 mm case and 39 g weight have been easier to wear all day and overnight than the larger watches he used before it. The AMOLED screen is clear, but he still uses the physical buttons during workouts, especially with sweaty hands or gloves.

The features he returns to are practical: GPS pace and distance, Daily Suggested Workouts, Garmin Coach, PacePro, Race Widget, HRV Status and Recovery Time. The 165 also tracks sleep and Body Battery, though those numbers work best as context rather than commands.

On familiar road and neighbourhood routes, he has found the GPS good enough that he does not think about it during a normal run. For intervals or a workout where heart-rate precision matters, he still prefers a chest strap. That is how he treats wrist heart rate on most watches, not a complaint unique to the 165.

Battery life: compare the same GPS mode

These are Garmin’s maximum claims, not guarantees. Always-on display, screen brightness, phone notifications, music, connected sensors, cold weather and battery age can all reduce real life.

For a road marathon, both provide a large buffer in GPS-only or All Systems mode. For a 24-hour ultra or a multi-day event, neither is the obvious battery-first choice. Compare longer-lasting options in our ultra running watch guide.

Which is better for GPS, maps and triathlon?

This is where it is easy to spend more and still buy the wrong watch. The 170 does not add multi-band GPS, full maps or a dedicated triathlon profile. If one of those features is the reason you want to upgrade, the 170 will not solve it.

• Normal road running: both watches are designed for this job.
• Dense cities or heavy tree cover: consider a Garmin with multi-band GPS.
• Unfamiliar routes: both can follow a course, but choose a higher model if you want full maps.
• Triathlon racing: both can record swimming, cycling and running separately, but neither creates one complete multisport race file with transitions.

For the current range, see our best Garmin running watches comparison. It shows where multi-band GPS, multisport recording and full maps enter the lineup.

Forerunner 165 vs 170 Music

The standard 165 and standard 170 control music on a connected phone, but they do not store offline playlists. For phone-free audio, choose the separate Forerunner 165 Music or Forerunner 170 Music edition.

Do not pay extra for music just because the feature sounds useful. If you already carry your phone, the standard edition may be enough. If leaving your phone at home is part of the plan, the Music model can download supported playlists and connect to Bluetooth headphones. A streaming subscription may be required.

You can also compare watches with headphones and dedicated devices in our guide to the best MP3 players for running.

Should Forerunner 165 owners upgrade?

Most should not. The 170 keeps the same display size, a nearly identical case, the same water rating and the same limits around multi-band GPS, maps and triathlon recording. It will not make your current pace and distance data suddenly feel new.

An upgrade makes sense when all three points are true:

1. You regularly want Training Readiness, Training Status, Health Status or one of the extra activity profiles.
2. You do not want to move to a larger or more expensive Garmin.
3. The cost after selling or handing down your 165 feels reasonable.

If those points do not fit, keep the 165 and wait for a watch that changes a feature you can feel, such as multi-band GPS, full maps, multisport recording or much longer battery life.

Which watch fits your running?

5K, 10K and everyday road running

Both are more than capable. Buy the 165 for value. Buy the 170 if the price gap is small or you like having a clearer daily training summary.

Half marathon and marathon training

Both have enough battery and useful tools for a normal road marathon plan. The 170’s training summaries can help when you are balancing workouts across a busy week. The 165 still covers pace, workouts, race planning and recovery basics. See our marathon watch guide for more options.

Running plus cycling or gym work

The 170 is the stronger fit. Its 80-plus activity profiles and Garmin Cycling Coach support give it more range when running is not your only sport.

Triathlon, technical trails or navigation

Look beyond both models if you need one-file triathlon recording, multi-band GPS or full maps. Paying for the 170 does not add those features.

Price rule: when is the 165 the better value?

Use the live prices, not the original list prices. The 165 is an older model and its value depends on the discount.

• Same price or less than 15% apart: buy the 170 unless you strongly prefer the lighter 165.
• About 15% to 30% apart: decide whether the extra training summaries and sport profiles are worth the gap.
• More than 30% apart: the 165 is usually the better value for road running, unless you know you want the missing 170 features.

Compare the same edition. A standard 165 and a 170 Music are not an even matchup. Also check the seller, return policy, colour and regional warranty before ordering.

How we compared the Forerunner 165 and 170

Runner-reviewed and carefully researched. Justin’s 165 experience comes from a watch he bought himself. We checked the 170 and side-by-side differences against Garmin’s official product information and owner manuals. Battery figures are separated by mode so a 20-hour GPS-only claim is not incorrectly compared with a 14-hour All Systems claim.

We also checked claims that can easily be repeated incorrectly. The 165 does have an open-water swimming profile. Neither watch has multi-band GPS, full maps or a dedicated triathlon activity. Product specifications and software can change, so this page was last checked on October 15, 2026.

Final verdict

Buy the Forerunner 170 if you are starting fresh and the price gap is modest. It keeps the comfortable size and clear AMOLED screen while adding the training summaries and activity range that make it easier to grow into.

Buy the Forerunner 165 when the discount is large enough to matter. It is not obsolete. It remains a light, capable road-running watch with the core tools many runners use every week.

If you already own the 165, keep it. The 170 is a better new purchase, but it is not a big enough hardware change to justify replacing a watch that already works for you.

Still unsure? Try the free Running Watch Finder, compare the best watches for runners, or see the best cheaper running watches. If daily apps and phone features matter more than training depth, read Garmin vs Apple Watch for running.

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 170 FAQ

Is the Garmin Forerunner 170 worth it over the 165?

Yes for most new buyers when the price gap is modest. The 170 adds Training Readiness, Training Status, Health Status, Garmin Cycling Coach and a much larger activity list. A heavily discounted 165 can still be the better value for road running.

Should I upgrade from the Forerunner 165 to the 170?

Probably not. Keep the 165 unless you regularly miss the 170’s added training summaries or sport profiles. The display, size and core running experience are very similar, and the 170 still does not add multi-band GPS, full maps or a triathlon profile.

Does the Forerunner 165 have Training Readiness?

No. It has useful tools such as Recovery Time, HRV Status, Training Effect and Daily Suggested Workouts, but Training Readiness and Training Status are key additions on the Forerunner 170.

Which has better battery life, the Forerunner 165 or 170?

It depends on the mode. The 165 is rated for 11 smartwatch days and 17 hours in All Systems mode. The 170 is rated for 10 smartwatch days and 14 hours in All Systems mode, but it leads GPS-only mode by one hour at 20 hours.

Do the Forerunner 165 and 170 play music without a phone?

Only the separate Music editions store offline audio. The standard 165 and standard 170 can control music on a connected phone but do not download playlists for phone-free listening.

Does the Forerunner 165 have open-water swimming?

Yes. Garmin lists open-water swimming among the Forerunner 165’s activity profiles. It can record swimming, cycling and running separately, but it does not have a dedicated triathlon mode that combines the legs and transitions.

Which is better for marathon training?

Both can handle a normal marathon plan. Choose the 170 for deeper training summaries and the 165 for value. Both have enough published GPS battery for a road marathon with a sensible buffer.

Do either the Forerunner 165 or 170 have multi-band GPS or full maps?

No. Both support multiple satellite systems and course guidance, but neither has multi-band GPS or full routable maps. Choose a higher Garmin model if those features matter.

Sources

• Garmin: Forerunner 170 announcement and Canadian launch details
• Garmin: official Forerunner 170 and 165 comparison
• Garmin Forerunner 170 owner manual: battery information
• Garmin Forerunner 165 owner manual: battery information
• Garmin: Forerunner 165 launch and activity profiles

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