Garmin’s Forerunner series is designed to meet the needs of runners at every level, but finding the perfect fit can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re eyeing the budget-friendly Forerunner 55 or the newly unveiled Forerunner 165, our detailed comparison aims to simplify your decision.

These models vary in both features and cost, making it crucial to consider your options. The Forerunner 165, including a variant with music capabilities, offers essential tracking features at a price point that’s easy on the wallet.

Meanwhile, the Forerunner 55 emerges as an even more economical choice, albeit with fewer advanced features than the slightly more sophisticated Forerunner 165.

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 55: Price & Availability

The Forerunner 165 has hit the shelves with a price tag of $249.99 or £249.99, ready for runners to snap up. For those who can’t run without their favorite tunes, the Forerunner 165 Music edition might be the perfect companion, allowing you to download and play tracks from Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music directly on your wrist for $299.99 or £289.99.

On the other hand, the Forerunner 55 is more wallet-friendly, typically available for around $200 or £179.99, making it an appealing option for budget-conscious athletes.

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 55: Specs Comparison

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 55: Design & Display

Exploring the design and display of the Garmin Forerunner 165 and Forerunner 55 reveals their dedication to both form and function. These watches embrace Garmin’s signature circular shape, prioritizing a functional design within a sturdy framework. Made from fiber-reinforced polymer for the case and bezel, and topped with chemically strengthened glass, they’re built to last without weighing you down.

Size-wise, the Forerunner 165 is slightly more prominent, measuring 43 x 43 x 11.6 mm, offering just a bit more screen real estate than the slightly more compact Forerunner 55, which sits at 42 x 42 x 11.6 mm. Both models feature five physical buttons, ensuring that you always have easy and reliable control, even when you’re on the move or bundled up in gloves. This design choice is a clear win for those who prefer the solid feel of pressing a button over swiping on a screen.

The display is where you’ll find the most significant difference between the two. The Forerunner 55 uses a 1.04-inch display that’s designed to be easy to read in sunlight, utilizing a technology that’s both energy-efficient and clear in all lighting conditions. In contrast, the Forerunner 165 steps it up with a 1.2-inch bright, colorful AMOLED screen, providing a visually richer experience that’s just slightly larger than the 55’s.

Color options for both models are varied, allowing you to choose a look that fits your style. The Forerunner 165 offers a selection of colors, including special hues for both the music and standard versions, like Mist Grey/Whitestone and Black/Slate Grey. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 55 is available in Black, White, Monterra Gray, and Aqua, giving you a range from sleek and sophisticated to fun and vibrant.

Both watches come equipped with 5 ATM water resistance, adding a layer of durability for those who love to dive into their workouts literally. Whether you’re swimming laps or caught in the rain, these watches are designed to handle the elements, ensuring that your fitness tracking goes uninterrupted.

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 55: Health & Fitness Tracking

The Garmin Forerunner series stands as a testament to Garmin’s commitment to health and fitness. It’s no shock that the Forerunner 165 and Forerunner 55, along with their siblings in the series, boast a robust array of health and activity tracking features. Opting for either the Forerunner 165 or 55 means you’ll be equipped with tools to monitor your daily steps, keep an eye on your heart rate patterns, assess your sleep quality, and understand your stress levels.

Garmin enhances this suite of health metrics with its innovative Body Battery feature. This clever tool analyzes your collected data to present you with a straightforward number that reflects your current energy reserves, making it easier to gauge when it’s time to push your limits or take a well-deserved break. Additionally, you’ll find helpful recovery tools such as HRV Status and Recovery Time, offering deeper insights into your physical readiness and how long you should rest before the next workout.

Both watches are also equipped with GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO satellite systems, ensuring that wherever your workouts take you, your location data will be pinpoint accurate. This trio of tracking capabilities means you can rely on your Forerunner to keep you on the right path, whether you’re exploring a new trail or hitting the streets for your daily run. Garmin’s focus on health and fitness tracking with these watches ensures that you have all the necessary data at your fingertips to make informed decisions about your training and recovery, all while keeping an eye on your overall well-being.

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 55: Other Features

Beyond their core fitness and health tracking capabilities, the Garmin Forerunner 165 and Forerunner 55 also pack a punch with several smartwatch features that enhance their overall utility. Both models keep you connected on the go, offering notifications for calls, texts, and apps when synced with your smartphone. This ensures you’re always in the loop, even during your workouts.

The Forerunner 165, however, takes connectivity and convenience a notch higher. It introduces NFC for contactless payments, making it a breeze to grab a post-run snack or coffee without needing your wallet or phone. For those who love to move to the beat, the Forerunner 165 also boasts music storage capabilities, allowing you to store and play your favorite tracks directly from the watch. This feature is further expanded in the optional “Music” version of the Forerunner 165, which offers internal storage for offline music playback, ensuring your tunes are always on hand, even when you’re offline.

Connectivity-wise, the Forerunner 165 is equipped with Bluetooth, ANT+, and Wi-Fi support, providing a wide range of options for syncing and sharing your data. The Forerunner 55, while still offering Bluetooth and ANT+ support, does not include Wi-Fi connectivity. This difference highlights the Forerunner 165’s aim to offer a more connected and convenient experience, reflecting its position as a slightly more premium option within the Garmin Forerunner lineup.

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 55: Battery Life

When it comes to battery life, the Garmin Forerunner 165 and Forerunner 55 showcase a tug-of-war between advanced features and endurance.

The Forerunner 165, despite sporting a more power-hungry AMOLED display, manages to strike a fine balance between its rich functionality and battery longevity. It offers up to 11 days of juice in smartwatch mode and can go for 19 hours on GPS mode. When all its GNSS systems are firing, expect around 17 hours of battery life. Although it doesn’t quite match the Forerunner 55’s stamina, the 165 brings to the table a sharper display and, for the music lovers, a Music variant that can store tunes directly on the watch. However, turning on the music feature does see a dip in battery life, bringing it down to about 7 or 6.5 hours of continuous playback.

On the other hand, the Forerunner 55 shines in the battery department, capable of lasting up to two weeks in smartwatch mode, marking a significant leap from its predecessor, the Forerunner 45, which offered one week. GPS usage sees the 55 lasting up to 20 hours, making it an ideal pick for those who spend long days on the trail or pounding the pavement. This superior battery performance ensures the Forerunner 55 remains a steadfast companion for extensive workouts or outdoor adventures, without the frequent need for recharging.

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 55: Which is Right for You?

As for the price and features, the Garmin Forerunner 165 clearly stands out as the superior choice, offering a plethora of extras like a better screen, NFC for contactless payments, Wi-Fi support, and more.

However, for those on a budget or new to Garmin’s ecosystem, the Forerunner 55 shouldn’t be overlooked. With potential deals and sales, the Forerunner 55 emerges as an excellent starter watch. It’s ideal for those primarily interested in tracking the basics and entering the Garmin universe without breaking the bank.

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