Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Suunto Run
The Suunto Run is the better watch on paper: it lasts longer on GPS (30 hours), has offline maps and has a bigger 46 mm case. Pick the Garmin Forerunner 165 only if it matters to you that it has a smaller 43 mm case.
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Key differences
-
Battery life
Evenly matched
Similar battery life: up to 11 days and 12 days.
-
GPS
Suunto Run wins
The Suunto Run adds multi-band GPS for more accurate tracks.
-
Display
Evenly matched
Both have AMOLED screens of a similar size.
-
Health
Evenly matched
Much the same health sensors.
-
Weight
Evenly matched
Similar weight: 39 g and 36 g.
Other differences
- Maps Suunto Run wins
The Suunto Run shows downloadable maps on the wrist; the Garmin Forerunner 165 only shows a breadcrumb trail.
- Case size Depends on you
The Suunto Run has a bigger 46 mm case; the Garmin Forerunner 165 is 43 mm, a better fit for smaller wrists.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Garmin Forerunner 165 if…
- You have a smaller wrist: its case is the smaller one.
- 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 Suunto Run if…
- You do long runs, rides or hikes: it's rated for 30 hours with GPS.
- You hike or explore new routes: it has maps on the wrist, no signal needed.
- You want a bigger screen and larger buttons: its case is the larger one.
Full spec comparison
The Suunto Run leads on battery life and GPS and navigation; 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 | Suunto Run |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Garmin | Suunto |
| Series | Forerunner | — |
| Colours | — | Lime |
Platform & apps
Both work with the same phones and software.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Suunto Run |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Garmin | Suunto |
| Works with | iPhone and Android | — |
| Storage | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| App store | Yes | — |
Display
The screens are closely matched.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Suunto Run |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Screen size | 1.2 in | — |
| Resolution | 390 x 390 | 466 x 466 |
| Pixel density | 325 ppi | 353 ppi |
| Colour display | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touchscreen | touchscreen, crown |
Design & durability
On size and durability, it comes down to what you need.
The Suunto Run has a bigger 46 mm case; the Garmin Forerunner 165 is 43 mm, a better fit for smaller wrists. The Garmin Forerunner 165 has a smaller 43 mm case, while the Suunto Run has a bigger 46 mm case.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Suunto Run |
|---|---|---|
| Case sizes | 43 mm | 46 mm |
| Case shape | Round | — |
| Dimensions | 43 x 43 x 11.6 mm | 46 x 46 x 11.5 mm |
| Thickness | 11.6 mm | 11.5 mm |
| Weight (case) | 39 g | 36 g |
| Case material | — | Glass fibre reinforced polyamide |
| Bezel material | fiber-reinforced polymer | Stainless steel |
| Lens | chemically strengthened glass | Gorilla Glass |
| Band material | silicone | Nylon textile |
| Band width | 20 mm | 22 mm |
| Band fitting | 20 mm | — |
| Fits wrists | 126-203 mm | 125-175 mm |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Operating temperature | — | -20 to 55 °C |
Battery
The Suunto Run is ahead on battery life.
It lasts longer on GPS (30 hours), and the Garmin Forerunner 165 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Suunto Run |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (smartwatch mode) | 11 days | 12 days |
| Battery (GPS) | 19 hours | — |
| Battery (multi-band GPS) | — | 20 hours |
| All battery modes | Smartwatch: 11 days; Battery saver: 20 days; GPS: 19 hours; All satellite systems: 17 hours | Smartwatch: 12 days; Battery saver: 20 days; Multi-band GPS: 20 hours; All satellite systems: 30 hours; Battery saver: 40 hours |
| Battery type | Lithium ion | Li-ion |
| Charging | proprietary-plug | — |
GPS & navigation
The Suunto Run is ahead on GPS and navigation.
It has offline maps and uses more satellite systems, and the Garmin Forerunner 165 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Suunto Run |
|---|---|---|
| GPS | Built-in | Built-in |
| Multi-band GPS | — | Yes |
| Satellite systems | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS |
| Maps | Breadcrumb trail | Downloadable maps |
| Navigation features | point-to-point navigation, bread crumb trail, back-to-start, TracBack, course guidance | waypoints, course import |
Health & sensors
The Garmin Forerunner 165 is ahead on health tracking.
It tracks sleep in more depth, and the Suunto Run doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Suunto Run |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | optical HR, SpO2, accelerometer, barometer, compass, thermometer, ambient light | optical HR, SpO2, barometer, compass, thermometer |
| Heart-rate sensor | Garmin Elevate | — |
| Heart-rate tracking | 24/7 | 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 | Daily resource level |
| Readiness score | — | Recovery Index |
| Cycle tracking | Yes | — |
Safety
Both offer much the same safety features.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Suunto Run |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency SOS | Via phone | — |
| Incident detection | Yes | — |
| Live tracking | Yes | — |
Training
The Suunto Run is ahead on training features.
It has more training metrics, and the Garmin Forerunner 165 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Suunto Run |
|---|---|---|
| Sport profiles | — | 34 |
| Auto activity detection | Yes | — |
| Triathlon / multisport | — | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Pool and open water | Pool and open water |
| Underwater heart rate | Yes | — |
| Training metrics | VO2 max, training effect, recovery time, race predictor, HRV status | VO2 max, training load, training effect, recovery time, race predictor, lactate threshold, HRV status |
| 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 HR strap, foot pod, power meter |
Smart features
Both offer much the same smart features.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Suunto Run |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Message replies | Android | Android |
| Contactless payments | Yes | — |
| Payment service | Garmin Pay | — |
| Music storage | — | Yes |
| Find my phone | Yes | — |
| Find my watch | Yes | — |