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The best current Garmin-family alternative to the Forerunner 165 is the Forerunner 170. Choose it if you want newer beginner-focused guidance, run-walk plans and Garmin’s familiar ecosystem. Choose the COROS PACE 3 instead if longer battery life, dual-band GPS or multisport training matters more than AMOLED display and richer smartwatch features.
The Forerunner 165 remains a sensible first GPS running watch. An alternative is worthwhile only when it solves a specific problem, such as charging frequency, difficult GPS environments, phone-free music or a preference for Garmin’s newest training tools.
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At a glance: which alternative fits a beginner?
| Watch | Best fit | Main strengths | Important trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Forerunner 170 | Beginners who want to stay with Garmin | Adaptive beginner plans, run-walk workouts, daily suggestions, AMOLED touchscreen, Garmin Pay | It is newer, but not automatically better value than a discounted Forerunner 165 |
| COROS PACE 3 | Runners prioritising endurance, dual-band GPS or multisport | Long manufacturer-rated endurance, dual-band GPS, multisport mode, outdoor-readable transflective display | Less extensive smartwatch functionality and no streaming-service playlist sync in Tom’s Guide’s comparison |
| Garmin Forerunner 165 | Beginners who find a good current price | Garmin Coach plans, daily suggested workouts, Training Effect, recovery guidance and AMOLED display | No dual-band GPS; battery and features depend on the exact model and settings |
Prices and stock change by country. Garmin’s United States product page displayed a $299.99 list price for the Forerunner 170 when it was crawled in 2026; treat that as a dated reference, not a guaranteed price. Compare the current local price of both Garmin watches before buying.
What the Forerunner 165 already does for a new runner
The Forerunner 165 is a GPS running smartwatch rather than a stripped-down step counter. Garmin lists pace, distance, wrist-based heart rate and a 1.2-inch AMOLED display. Its software is designed to turn a goal into a manageable schedule instead of asking a beginner to build every workout manually.
#1 Best Overall
- Easy-to-use running smartwatch with built-in GPS for pace/distance and wrist-based heart rate; brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display with traditional button controls; lightweight design in 43 mm size
- Up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode
- Reach your goals with personalized daily suggested workouts that adapt based on performance and recovery; use Garmin Coach and race adaptive training plans to get workout suggestions for specific events
- 25+ built-in activity profiles include running, cycling, HIIT, strength and more
- As soon as you wake up, get your morning report with an overview of your sleep, recovery and training outlook alongside weather and HRV status (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
Training plans and daily suggestions
Garmin advertises adaptive Coach plans for 5K, 10K and half-marathon goals. It also offers daily suggested workouts that respond to recorded performance, recovery information and races entered in Garmin Connect. Training Effect explains how a session affected fitness, while recovery-time guidance helps you decide when another hard effort makes sense.
Those tools are enough to begin structured training. A more expensive or newer watch is not a prerequisite for running safely or consistently. The main reasons to look elsewhere are a different training philosophy, a different GPS mode, substantially longer endurance or specific smart features.
Display and everyday use
The 165 uses a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen. AMOLED panels provide high contrast, bright colors and a phone-like interface, but frequent screen use and an always-on setting can increase charging needs. If you prefer a screen that remains easy to read in strong outdoor light without relying on a bright backlight, the PACE 3’s transflective approach is a different kind of solution.
Garmin Forerunner 170: the closest current Garmin alternative
Garmin announced the Forerunner 170 on May 12, 2026, describing it as an easy-to-use running watch for people starting a running journey or refining their training. That positioning makes it the most direct alternative for an 165 owner who wants to remain in Garmin Connect rather than learn a new platform.
What is new or especially useful for beginners
- Adaptive beginner plans: Garmin describes plans that include run-walk workouts, useful when continuous running is not yet comfortable.
- Daily suggested workouts: The watch can propose a session instead of leaving every decision to the runner.
- Built-in GNSS: Outdoor runs can be recorded without carrying a separate GPS device.
- AMOLED touchscreen: The display is the same stated 1.2-inch size as the 165’s panel.
- Garmin Pay: Supported payments can reduce the need to carry a phone or wallet, subject to bank and regional support.
Battery and price context
Garmin’s 2026 specifications estimate up to 10 days in smartwatch mode or up to 20 hours in GPS-only mode for the 170. These are manufacturer estimates under defined test conditions, not a promise that every user will achieve them. Notifications, screen behavior, sensors, music and satellite settings all affect endurance.
The U.S. list price shown on Garmin’s page was $299.99 when accessed in 2026. Check your country’s Garmin store and authorised retailers for tax, currency, stock and promotions. A sale on the older 165 can make it the better value even when the 170 has the newer feature set.
Who should choose the 170?
Choose the 170 when run-walk support, a newer Garmin training presentation and Garmin Pay matter more than obtaining the lowest possible price. It is also the least disruptive upgrade for someone already using Garmin Connect, Garmin Coach or compatible Garmin accessories.
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- Easy-to-use running smartwatch with built-in GPS for pace/distance and wrist-based heart rate; brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display with traditional button controls; lightweight design in 43 mm size
- Up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode
- Reach your goals with personalized daily suggested workouts that adapt based on performance and recovery; use Garmin Coach and race adaptive training plans to get workout suggestions for specific events
- 25+ built-in activity profiles include running, cycling, HIIT, strength and more
- As soon as you wake up, get your morning report with an overview of your sleep, recovery and training outlook alongside weather and HRV status (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
Do not buy it solely because it is newer. The 165 already supplies adaptive plans, daily suggestions and recovery-oriented guidance. Compare the actual local prices and decide whether the 170’s additional beginner emphasis changes your training enough to justify the difference.
COROS PACE 3: the endurance and GPS alternative
The COROS PACE 3 takes a different approach. Tom’s Guide’s comparison identifies dual-band GPS and multisport mode as major advantages, while describing the Forerunner 165 as stronger for daily suggested workouts and smartwatch functions. That makes the PACE 3 appealing to a beginner who expects to add cycling, swimming or other sports, or who often runs among tall buildings, dense trees or steep terrain.
Dual-band GPS is a capability, not an accuracy guarantee
The PACE 3 offers a dual-band GPS mode that the 165 lacks. Receiving two satellite frequencies can help a watch resolve reflected signals in difficult environments, but no mode guarantees a perfect route. Tom’s Guide tested both watches and found each performed well in its GPS work. During a verified 10K, the publication recorded 10.02 km on the Forerunner 165 and 10.03 km on the PACE 3.
Those distances come from one reviewer’s route and conditions. They demonstrate that the 165 can track a measured run closely in a test; they do not prove that either watch will be equally accurate on every course. Select the PACE 3 for access to dual-band mode, not on the assumption that it will always produce a superior track.
Battery observations versus manufacturer estimates
Wareable reports manufacturer estimates of up to 17 days of daily use and 38 hours of standard GPS for the PACE 3. Those figures are not directly comparable to every other brand’s test method. They also differ from Tom’s Guide’s long-use observation: with notifications enabled, the Garmin’s always-on display enabled, at least an hour of running each day and each watch using its most accurate GPS mode, the reviewer observed roughly six to seven days from the COROS and three to four days from the Garmin in that comparison.
Use the two kinds of evidence correctly. The Wareable figures describe published estimates; the Tom’s Guide figures describe one person’s settings and use. Either way, the PACE 3 is the stronger candidate when charging interruptions are your main frustration. Changing display, notification and satellite settings changes the result.
Display, sports and music
Wareable describes the PACE 3’s transflective display as favouring outdoor visibility and always-on operation. It does not look like an AMOLED phone screen, so the choice is between vivid contrast and an outdoor-oriented panel that can remain legible with less backlight use.
Rank #3
- Easy-to-use running watch monitors heart rate (this is not a medical device) at the wrist and uses GPS to track how far, how fast and where you’ve run.Special Feature:Bluetooth.
- Battery life: up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode; up to 20 hours in GPS mode
- Plan your race day strategy with the PacePro feature (not compatible with on-device courses), which offers GPS-based pace guidance for a selected course or distance
- Run your best with helpful training tools, including race time predictions and finish time estimates
- Track all the ways you move with built-in activity profiles for running, cycling, track run, virtual run, pool swim, Pilates, HIIT, breathwork and more
Multisport mode gives the PACE 3 a broader training role than a running-only purchase. For music, Tom’s Guide reports that the watch can store music but uses a computer-transfer MP3 workflow rather than streaming-service playlist synchronisation. Confirm the exact supported file and phone requirements before relying on it for phone-free listening.
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| Category | Forerunner 165 | Forerunner 170 | COROS PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positioning | GPS running smartwatch and beginner benchmark | Newer easy-to-use Garmin running watch announced May 12, 2026 | Multisport GPS sport watch |
| Training guidance | Adaptive 5K, 10K and half-marathon Garmin Coach plans; daily suggestions; Training Effect; recovery-time guidance | Adaptive beginner plans including run-walk workouts; daily suggested workouts | Structured workouts and plans; Tom’s Guide highlights the 165’s daily suggestions in this comparison |
| Satellite capability | Garmin all-systems-on GPS was capable in Tom’s Guide’s test; no dual-band mode | Built-in GNSS; the cited specifications do not establish a dual-band mode | Dual-band GPS mode |
| Manufacturer battery estimate | Up to 11 days smartwatch; up to 19 hours GPS, Garmin 2026 | Up to 10 days smartwatch; up to 20 hours GPS-only, Garmin 2026 | Up to 17 days daily use; up to 38 hours standard GPS, manufacturer figures reported by Wareable in 2024 |
| Display | 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen | 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen | Transflective display described by Wareable as suited to outdoor visibility and always-on use |
| Payments and smart functions | Garmin Pay, Connect IQ and broader smartwatch functions in Tom’s Guide’s comparison | Garmin Pay listed by Garmin | More limited smartwatch emphasis in the cited comparison |
| Music | The 165 Music variant supports streaming-service playlist synchronisation, according to Tom’s Guide; verify the exact variant | Music support was not established by the cited specifications | Music can be transferred as MP3 files from a computer; streaming-service sync was not reported by Tom’s Guide |
| Price reference | A temporary retailer deal was reported October 6, 2026; no permanent price should be inferred | $299.99 U.S. list price displayed on Garmin’s page when crawled in 2026 | Current local price was not established in the cited material |
Choose by the priority that will affect your running
If you want guided progress from run-walk to continuous running
The Forerunner 170 is the clearest fit because Garmin specifically describes beginner adaptive plans with run-walk workouts. The 165 remains suitable if its Garmin Coach plans and daily suggestions already match your goal. The PACE 3 supports structured training, but the cited comparison does not describe an equivalent daily-suggestion system.
If you run in difficult satellite environments
Pick the PACE 3 if dual-band capability is important to you. It can be useful around reflective glass, dense tree cover and mountainous terrain, although route quality still depends on surroundings, satellite visibility and how the watch is worn. The 165’s strong result in Tom’s Guide’s test means you should not dismiss it as inaccurate merely because it lacks dual-band GPS.
If you dislike charging
The PACE 3 has the most generous published endurance estimates in this comparison. Forerunner figures are lower on paper, and real-world endurance depends heavily on display, notifications, sensors and GPS mode. Compare your own charging habits rather than treating any headline number as universal.
If screen appearance matters
Select either Garmin if you want a bright 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen. Select the PACE 3 if an always-on, outdoor-oriented transflective display is more useful than AMOLED contrast. Neither display technology is objectively best; the decision is about sunlight readability, visual preference and charging tolerance.
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If you want payments, apps or streaming music
The 165 has the strongest documented smartwatch feature set here, including Garmin Pay, Connect IQ and, on the Music variant, streaming-service playlist synchronisation. The 170 includes Garmin Pay, while the available specifications do not establish the same music and app details. The PACE 3 can hold transferred MP3 files, but Tom’s Guide did not report streaming-service sync.
If you plan to add other sports
The PACE 3’s multisport mode makes it the more natural choice for a beginner who expects regular cycling, swimming or combined-sport sessions. If running is your only planned sport, Garmin’s coaching and recovery presentation may be more relevant than multisport breadth.
Rank #4
- Exclusive Enhanced Bundle Package: This all-inclusive bundle comes with practical accessories that upgrade your daily use experience compared to standard-only sets, including a Deco Essentials Charging Dock that enables stable, hands-free charging and tidy desktop storage, 3 durable silicone dust covers that fully shield watch ports from dust, lint and sweat damage to extend device service life, and a premium USB Type-C Charging and Sync Cable that supports fast charging and high-speed data synchronization with the Garmin Connect app. The package also includes the original Garmin Forerunner 165 GPS Running Smartwatch with all core official fitness and smart features.
- Premium 1.2" AMOLED Display & Dual Operation Design & Ultra-Long Battery Life: Equipped with a vibrant 1.2-inch colorful AMOLED display, the watch delivers bright and clear data visibility even under direct sunlight for effortless checking of real-time workout progress. Adopting a flexible dual control design with touchscreen and physical buttons, it supports smooth operation for daily use and precise control during intense workouts. Boasting industry-leading battery endurance, it offers up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode, supporting long-distance running and continuous outdoor training without frequent charging.
- Professional GPS Running Tracking & Adaptive Race Training System: Built-in GPS and multi-satellite GNSS deliver accurate tracking of time, distance, pace, and speed. Wrist-based running dynamics capture cadence, stride length, ground contact time, and running power to refine your form. Access free Garmin Coach adaptive plans and daily suggested workouts that auto-adjust based on your performance, recovery, and upcoming races. PacePro provides course pacing guidance, Track Running mode enables precise lap-by-lap distance measurement in meters, and race predictor estimates finish times for 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon—helping you strategize and prepare with confidence.
- Full-Suite Biometric Health Monitoring & Scientific Recovery Insights: Gain data-driven insights into health, training load, and recovery with Firstbeat Analytics. Monitor wrist-based heart rate around the clock to gauge intensity, paired with VO2 Max tracking for long-term fitness assessment. Track sleep score, sleep stages, nap detection, and breathing variations to improve sleep quality. Key wellness features include HRV status, Body Battery energy, stress tracking, and Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation. Also provides post-workout recovery time, Fitness Age evaluation, and women's health tracking for menstrual cycle and pregnancy with targeted fitness and nutrition guidance.
- Multi-Sport Cross Training & Intelligent Workout Analytics: With 25+ built-in GPS and indoor sports apps, the watch covers cycling, open‑water swimming, strength training, HIIT, cardio, yoga, Pilates, and more for full‑scale training. Training Effect quantifies each workout's fitness benefits, while intensity minutes tracking helps you achieve daily activity goals and maintain consistent exercise volume. Record key metrics via 2-minute Health Snapshot to generate reports for personal or medical reference. Customize workout plans or browse free courses via Garmin Connect, sync to the watch, and get real-time audio prompts when paired with a smartphone.
A practical buying process
- Define the first six-month goal. Decide whether you are preparing for a first 5K, running by time, following a run-walk progression or training across several sports.
- Map your routes. If most runs are open roads and parks, standard GPS performance may be sufficient. If you run beside tall buildings, under heavy canopy or in mountains, dual-band capability becomes a more meaningful differentiator.
- Set a charging limit. Decide how often you are willing to charge. Then compare the manufacturer estimates with your likely screen, notification and GPS settings instead of relying on smartwatch-mode figures alone.
- Check the exact model variant. Confirm whether a listing is the Forerunner 165 or 165 Music, what payment services work in your country and whether the advertised music method meets your needs.
- Verify local price and support. Check tax-inclusive pricing, warranty coverage, stock and return terms. A discounted 165 can be a better purchase than a full-price 170 if the older watch already covers your training plan.
- Buy accessories only for a specific need. Garmin’s 165 manual documents compatibility with HRM 600, HRM-Fit and HRM-Pro series sensors for pace and distance support when GPS is unavailable, such as treadmill running. A heart-rate strap is optional and is not required to begin outdoor running.
Common beginner mistakes and fixes
Mistaking a specification for a guarantee
Battery and GPS figures are conditional. Treat Garmin’s endurance numbers and the PACE 3 estimates as reference points, then expect shorter life when you use bright or always-on displays, frequent notifications, multiple sensors or the most demanding GPS mode.
Assuming dual-band automatically wins every route
Dual-band is a useful option for difficult environments, not proof that a watch without it will produce poor tracks. The measured 10K results from Tom’s Guide show both devices can perform closely in a tested route.
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A multisport watch adds little value if you only need a simple run-walk plan. Conversely, Garmin’s richer smart functions may not justify their price if you care mainly about long battery life and outdoor tracking.
Buying the wrong music model
Confirm whether the 165 listing is the Music variant. For the PACE 3, plan on transferring compatible files from a computer rather than assuming that a streaming subscription will work directly on the watch.
Adding a heart-rate strap too early
Wrist-based heart rate on the 165 is part of its core specification, and the watches can record ordinary outdoor runs without an external sensor. Consider an HRM accessory later if treadmill pace and distance, interval precision or a particular training setup makes it worthwhile.
Bottom line
For most beginners choosing an alternative to the Forerunner 165, start with the reason you want to switch. Buy the Forerunner 170 for Garmin’s newest beginner-oriented run-walk guidance and a familiar ecosystem. Buy the COROS PACE 3 for dual-band GPS, multisport capability and the strongest published battery estimates. Keep the Forerunner 165 on your shortlist when its current local price is lower, because its coaching, daily suggestions, recovery guidance and AMOLED display already cover the fundamentals of a first GPS running watch.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
