Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Coros PACE 3
The Coros PACE 3 is the better watch on paper: it lasts longer on GPS (38 hours), lasts longer (15 days) and has a sunlight-readable MIP screen. Pick the Garmin Forerunner 165 only if it matters to you that it has an AMOLED screen.
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Key differences
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Battery life
Coros PACE 3 wins
The Coros PACE 3 lasts up to 15 days against 11 days.
-
GPS
Coros PACE 3 wins
The Coros PACE 3 adds multi-band GPS for more accurate tracks.
-
Display
Garmin Forerunner 165 wins
The Garmin Forerunner 165 has an AMOLED screen against MIP.
-
Health
Evenly matched
Much the same health sensors.
-
Weight
Coros PACE 3 wins
The Coros PACE 3 is lighter: 30 g against 39 g.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Garmin Forerunner 165 if…
- You want a vivid, phone-like screen: it has AMOLED-class colour and contrast.
- You want to sleep better: it scores each night and tells you what to change.
- You want to pay from your wrist: it has contactless payments.
Choose the Coros PACE 3 if…
- You do long runs, rides or hikes: it's rated for 38 hours with GPS.
- You hate charging: it's rated for up to 15 days in smartwatch mode.
- You train outdoors in bright sun: its MIP-style screen stays readable and saves battery.
- You wear it to bed or have small wrists: it weighs 30 g.
Full spec comparison
The Coros PACE 3 leads on battery life and size and durability; elsewhere the two are closely matched.
Green cells with a ✓ mark the better spec in that row. Tick "Show differences only" to hide the rows where they match.
Overview
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Coros PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Garmin | Coros |
| Series | Forerunner | PACE |
| Versions | — | Silicone band, Nylon band |
Platform & apps
Both work with the same phones and software.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Coros PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Garmin | Coros |
| Works with | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| Storage | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| App store | Yes | — |
| Subscription | — | Not needed |
Display
On the display, it comes down to what you need.
The Garmin Forerunner 165 has a bright, colourful AMOLED screen; the Coros PACE 3 uses MIP, easy to read in sunlight and light on the battery. The Garmin Forerunner 165 has an AMOLED screen, while the Coros PACE 3 has a sunlight-readable MIP screen.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Coros PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | AMOLED | MIP |
| Display name | — | Always-On Memory LCD |
| Screen size | 1.2 in | 1.2 in |
| Resolution | 390 x 390 | 240 x 240 |
| Pixel density | 325 ppi | 283 ppi |
| Colour display | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touchscreen | touchscreen, buttons, crown |
Design & durability
The Coros PACE 3 is ahead on size and durability.
It is lighter, and the Garmin Forerunner 165 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Coros PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Case sizes | 43 mm | 41.9 mm |
| Case shape | Round | — |
| Dimensions | 43 x 43 x 11.6 mm | 41.9 x 41.9 x 11.7 mm |
| Thickness | 11.6 mm | 11.7 mm |
| Weight (case) | 39 g | 30 g |
| Weight with band | — | 39 g |
| Case material | — | Fiber Reinforced Polymer |
| Bezel material | fiber-reinforced polymer | Fiber Reinforced Polymer |
| Lens | chemically strengthened glass | Mineral Glass |
| Band material | silicone | Silicone / Nylon |
| Band width | 20 mm | 22 mm |
| Band fitting | 20 mm | Quick Release |
| Fits wrists | 126-203 mm | 130-215 mm |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Operating temperature | — | -20 to 50 °C |
Battery
The Coros PACE 3 is ahead on battery life.
It lasts longer on GPS (38 hours) and lasts longer (15 days), and the Garmin Forerunner 165 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Coros PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (smartwatch mode) | 11 days | 15 days |
| Battery (GPS) | 19 hours | 38 hours |
| Battery (multi-band GPS) | — | 15 hours |
| All battery modes | Smartwatch: 11 days; Battery saver: 20 days; GPS: 19 hours; All satellite systems: 17 hours | Smartwatch: 15 days; GPS: 38 hours; All satellite systems: 25 hours; Multi-band GPS: 15 hours; GPS: 10 hours; All satellite systems: 9 hours; Multi-band GPS + music: 7 hours |
| Battery type | Lithium ion | Lithium-ion |
| Charging | proprietary-plug | — |
| Full charge time | — | 120 min |
GPS & navigation
The Coros PACE 3 is ahead on GPS and navigation.
It uses more satellite systems, and the Garmin Forerunner 165 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Coros PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| GPS | Built-in | Built-in |
| Multi-band GPS | — | Yes |
| Satellite systems | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS |
| Maps | Breadcrumb trail | Breadcrumb trail |
| Navigation features | point-to-point navigation, bread crumb trail, back-to-start, TracBack, course guidance | Checkpoint, back-to-start, Deviation Alert, Touchscreen-Enabled Map Control, Safety Alerts |
Health & sensors
The Garmin Forerunner 165 is ahead on health tracking.
It tracks sleep in more depth, and the Coros PACE 3 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Coros PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | optical HR, SpO2, accelerometer, barometer, compass, thermometer, ambient light | optical HR, SpO2, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, compass, thermometer |
| Heart-rate sensor | Garmin Elevate | — |
| Heart-rate tracking | 24/7 | — |
| High/low heart-rate alerts | Yes | — |
| Heart-rate variability | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Respiration rate | Yes | — |
| Sleep tracking | Sleep score | Sleep stages |
| Stress tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Energy score | Body Battery | — |
| Cycle tracking | Yes | — |
Safety
Both offer much the same safety features.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Coros PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency SOS | Via phone | — |
| Incident detection | Yes | — |
| Live tracking | Yes | — |
Training
Training features are evenly matched.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Coros PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Auto activity detection | Yes | — |
| Triathlon / multisport | — | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Pool and open water | — |
| Underwater heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| Training metrics | VO2 max, training effect, recovery time, race predictor, HRV status | VO2 max, training load, race predictor, Recovery, threshold zones, Running Fitness, Resting Heart Rate, HRV |
| Adaptive coaching | Yes | — |
| Running dynamics | Yes | — |
| Wrist running power | Yes | — |
| Strength rep counting | Yes | — |
| Heart-rate broadcast | Yes | — |
| External sensors | ANT+, foot pod, speed/cadence, bike radar/lights | Bluetooth sensors, COROS POD/POD 2 |
Smart features
Both offer much the same smart features.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Coros PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Message replies | Android | — |
| Contactless payments | Yes | — |
| Payment service | Garmin Pay | — |
| Music storage | — | Yes |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes |
| Find my watch | Yes | Yes |
Diving, golf & more
Neither has a specialist edge here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Coros PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Diving | — | None |