Garmin Forerunner 55 vs Garmin Forerunner 165
Both are good picks with different strengths. The Forerunner 55 lasts longer (14 days) and has a sunlight-readable MIP screen, while the Forerunner 165 has an AMOLED screen and has a bigger screen.
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Key differences
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Battery life
Forerunner 55 wins
The Garmin Forerunner 55 lasts up to 14 days against 11 days.
-
GPS
Evenly matched
Both have built-in GPS with similar features.
-
Display
Forerunner 165 wins
The Garmin Forerunner 165 has an AMOLED screen against MIP.
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Health
Evenly matched
Much the same health sensors.
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Weight
Evenly matched
Similar weight: 37 g and 39 g.
Other differences
- Screen size Forerunner 165 wins
The Forerunner 165 has the bigger screen: 1.2 in against 1.04 in.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Forerunner 55 if…
- You hate charging: it's rated for up to 14 days in smartwatch mode.
- You train outdoors in bright sun: its MIP-style screen stays readable and saves battery.
Choose the Forerunner 165 if…
- You want a vivid, phone-like screen: it has AMOLED-class colour and contrast.
- You want maps and stats easy to read: it has the bigger screen.
- You load music or maps onto the watch: it has 4 GB.
Full spec comparison
The Forerunner 55 leads on battery life; 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 55 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Garmin | Garmin |
| Series | Forerunner | Forerunner |
Platform & apps
Both work with the same phones and software.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 55 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Garmin | Garmin |
| Works with | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| Storage | 0.032 GB | 4 GB |
| App store | Yes | Yes |
Display
The Forerunner 165 is ahead on the display.
The Forerunner 165 has a bright, colourful AMOLED screen; the Forerunner 55 uses MIP, easy to read in sunlight and light on the battery. The Forerunner 55 has a sunlight-readable MIP screen, while the Forerunner 165 has an AMOLED screen and has a bigger screen.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 55 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | MIP | AMOLED |
| Screen size | 1.04 in | 1.2 in |
| Resolution | 208 x 208 | 390 x 390 |
| Pixel density | 200 ppi | 325 ppi |
| Colour display | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | — | Yes |
| Touchscreen | — | Yes |
| Controls | buttons | touchscreen |
Design & durability
Both are similar in size, weight and water rating.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 55 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Case sizes | 42 mm | 43 mm |
| Case shape | Round | Round |
| Dimensions | 42 x 42 x 11.6 mm | 43 x 43 x 11.6 mm |
| Thickness | 11.6 mm | 11.6 mm |
| Weight (case) | 37 g | 39 g |
| Bezel material | — | fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Lens | chemically strengthened glass | chemically strengthened glass |
| Band material | silicone | silicone |
| Band width | 20 mm | 20 mm |
| Band fitting | yes (20 mm, Industry standard) | 20 mm |
| Fits wrists | 126-203 mm | 126-203 mm |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Battery
The Forerunner 55 is ahead on battery life.
It lasts longer (14 days), and the Forerunner 165 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 55 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (smartwatch mode) | 14 days | 11 days |
| Battery (GPS) | 20 hours | 19 hours |
| All battery modes | Smartwatch: 14 days; GPS: 20 hours | Smartwatch: 11 days; Battery saver: 20 days; GPS: 19 hours; All satellite systems: 17 hours |
| Battery type | — | Lithium ion |
| Charging | proprietary-plug | proprietary-plug |
GPS & navigation
Both have built-in GPS with similar capabilities.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 55 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| GPS | Built-in | Built-in |
| Satellite systems | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo |
| Maps | — | Breadcrumb trail |
| Navigation features | — | point-to-point navigation, bread crumb trail, back-to-start, TracBack, course guidance |
Health & sensors
Both track much the same health data.
Heart rate, sleep and the extra sensors line up closely.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 55 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | optical HR, accelerometer | optical HR, SpO2, accelerometer, barometer, compass, thermometer, ambient light |
| Heart-rate sensor | Garmin Elevate | Garmin Elevate |
| Heart-rate tracking | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| High/low heart-rate alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Heart-rate variability | — | Yes |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | — | Yes |
| Respiration rate | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Sleep score | Sleep score |
| Stress tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Energy score | Body Battery | Body Battery |
| Cycle tracking | Yes | Yes |
Safety
Both offer much the same safety features.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 55 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency SOS | Via phone | Via phone |
| Incident detection | Yes | Yes |
| Live tracking | Yes | Yes |
Training
The Forerunner 165 is ahead on training features.
It has more training metrics, and the Forerunner 55 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 55 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Auto activity detection | Yes | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Pool | Pool and open water |
| Underwater heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| Training metrics | VO2 max, recovery time, race predictor | VO2 max, training effect, recovery time, race predictor, HRV status |
| Adaptive coaching | Yes | Yes |
| Running dynamics | — | Yes |
| Wrist running power | — | Yes |
| Strength rep counting | — | Yes |
| Heart-rate broadcast | Yes | Yes |
| External sensors | ANT+, foot pod, speed/cadence | ANT+, foot pod, speed/cadence, bike radar/lights |
Smart features
The Forerunner 165 is ahead on smart features.
It has more storage (4 GB), and the Forerunner 55 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 55 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Message replies | — | Android |
| Contactless payments | — | Yes |
| Payment service | — | Garmin Pay |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes |
| Find my watch | Yes | Yes |