Our verdict
A focused, comfortable running watch that delivers Garmin’s best beginner coaching and a vivid AMOLED display without burying new runners in flagship complexity.
What we like
- Bright 1.2-inch AMOLED display
- Light and comfortable 43 mm case
- Race-adaptive workouts and PacePro
- Strong 11-day smartwatch battery claim
- Music version available
What to consider
- No multi-band GPS
- No training readiness
- No full maps or multisport triathlon mode
- Music costs extra
Image credit: Garmin (official product imagery, used for editorial review purposes).
Charles Summer’s review note: This is an independent editorial assessment based on Garmin’s published specifications, independent field reviews and attributed owner reports. Running Watches has not claimed a laboratory or long-term hands-on test.
Charles Summer’s take
The best first running watch is not the one with the most graphs. It is the one that makes training clearer and gets out of the way once the run begins. The Forerunner 165 succeeds because Garmin kept the essentials—adaptive plans, recovery guidance, running power and a bright display—while cutting specialist features most beginners do not yet need.
Design and usability
A compact 43 mm case and 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen suit a broad range of wrists. Five physical buttons remain, which is exactly right for wet mornings and interval sessions. The colour screen is a major usability upgrade over older entry-level models, making workout prompts and morning information easier to scan.
Running features
The 165 tracks pace, distance, heart rate, VO2 max, cadence, stride length, ground contact time and wrist-based running power. Race-adaptive training plans and daily suggested workouts adjust to performance and recovery, while PacePro helps distribute effort over a course. Garmin Coach supports 5K, 10K and half-marathon goals. That is enough structure to take a runner from inconsistent jogging to a disciplined first race block.
Health, music and battery
Morning Report, HRV status, sleep score, nap detection, stress and Body Battery encourage all-day wear. The standard model controls phone music; the 165 Music stores playlists for phone-free listening. Garmin quotes up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and 19 hours in GPS mode, ample for normal weekly training and a marathon.
The sensible omissions
There is no multi-band GPS, training readiness score, full mapping or triathlon profile. Those omissions separate it from the 265 and 570, but none stops it being a strong road-running companion. Runners in dense city centres or under heavy forest may value the 265’s multi-band positioning; data-hungry athletes may value training readiness.
Verdict
The Forerunner 165 is the sweet starting point for runners who want AMOLED clarity and genuine training guidance without paying for elite features. Buy the Music version only if leaving the phone behind is part of the plan.
Sources
- Garmin Forerunner 165 overview
- Garmin 165 launch, features, battery and Australian pricing
- Garmin Forerunner 165 battery information
Read our Editorial Policy and Affiliate Disclosure. Compare this model with the current best running watches in Australia guide.
