Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 170 - Budget Garmin Compared for Runners
The Garmin Forerunner 165 and Forerunner 170 are Garmin’s two budget running watches. The FR 165 launched first at $249, and the FR 170 followed as the updated version at $299. They look almost identical on the wrist. They have the same screen size, the same weight, and most of the same core features.
So why does the FR 170 cost $50 more, and is it actually worth the extra money?
The honest answer is that it depends on two things: whether you want music storage, and how much you care about having a newer heart rate sensor. The FR 165 has music. The FR 170 has a better sensor and wrist-based running power. That is the core trade-off, and everything else is secondary.
Let me break it all down.
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 170: Full Spec Comparison
| Feature | Forerunner 165 | Forerunner 170 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 | $299 |
| Weight | 39g | 39g |
| Display | 1.2” AMOLED, 390 x 390 | 1.2” AMOLED, 390 x 390 |
| GPS Battery Life | 17 hours | 17 hours |
| Smartwatch Battery | Up to 11 days | Up to 11 days |
| GPS Type | Multi-band (dual-frequency) | Multi-band (dual-frequency) |
| Heart Rate Sensor | Elevate v5 | Elevate v6 |
| Offline Maps | No | No |
| Music Storage | Yes (up to 4GB) | No |
| Running Power | External pod only | Wrist-based |
| Running Dynamics | With external pod only | With external pod only |
| Training Load | Basic (acute only) | Basic (acute only) |
| HRV Status | No | No |
| Training Readiness | No | No |
| Race Predictor | No | No |
| Morning Report | Basic | Basic |
| VO2 Max | Yes | Yes |
| Recovery Time | Yes | Yes |
| Body Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Physical Buttons | 5 | 5 |
| Water Rating | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Garmin Pay | Yes | Yes |
| Connect IQ Apps | Yes | Yes |
Looking at that table, the differences are genuinely small. Same screen, same weight, same battery life, same GPS chip, same button layout, same water resistance. If you picked them up blindfolded, you could not tell them apart.
Heart Rate Sensor: The Biggest Real Difference
The FR 170 uses Garmin’s Elevate v6 optical heart rate sensor. The FR 165 uses the older Elevate v5. This is the most meaningful upgrade between the two watches.
In practice, the v6 sensor is more accurate during high-intensity intervals and sprint work where the v5 tends to lag or produce spikes. For easy runs and steady-state efforts, both sensors perform well and the difference is small. But if you do a lot of interval training, tempo runs, or races where you need reliable heart rate data in real time, the v6 is noticeably better.
The v6 also handles wrist-based readings during weight training and cross-training activities more reliably. If your running includes gym work or circuit training, the newer sensor earns its keep there too.
That said, if you already use a chest strap for hard sessions (like the Garmin HRM-Pro Plus), the sensor upgrade matters much less. A chest strap will always outperform wrist-based optical HR, and if you are already wearing one, the v5 versus v6 distinction is mostly irrelevant during your most important workouts.
Running Power: Wrist vs External Pod
The FR 170 calculates running power directly from the wrist. The FR 165 requires an external running dynamics pod or compatible third-party sensor to get power data.
If you have never trained with power, this might not matter to you at all. Running power is a useful metric for pacing, especially in hilly terrain where pace alone is misleading, but it is not essential for most recreational runners. Many runners do perfectly well with pace and heart rate zones.
If you are interested in power-based training, the FR 170 saves you the cost and hassle of buying a separate pod. A Garmin Running Dynamics Pod costs around $70, which more than covers the $50 price difference between the two watches. So from a pure value calculation, if running power is something you want, the FR 170 is actually the cheaper path.
On the other hand, if you have zero interest in running power and never plan to use it, this feature adds nothing to your experience. It is there if you want it, but it does not get in the way if you do not.
Music Storage: The FR 165’s Secret Weapon
This is the big one. The Forerunner 165 has music storage. The Forerunner 170 does not.
You can store up to 4GB of music on the FR 165, sync Spotify, Deezer, or Amazon Music offline playlists, and pair Bluetooth headphones for phone-free running. The FR 170 has no music storage at all.
For runners who currently carry their phone on every run solely for music, the FR 165 eliminates that need. No more armband bouncing around, no more phone in your shorts pocket, no more worrying about sweat damage to your device. Just the watch and your headphones.
This is a genuinely strange situation where the older, cheaper watch has a feature the newer, more expensive one lacks. Garmin clearly made a deliberate decision to cut music from the FR 170, probably to differentiate it from the Forerunner 265. But for runners who value phone-free music runs, it means the FR 165 is actually the better choice despite being $50 cheaper.
If you always run with your phone for safety, navigation, or communication anyway, music storage on the watch is irrelevant. You already have your phone and your phone has better music apps. In that case, skip this feature entirely when making your decision.
What Is Identical Between Them
These watches share way more than they differ. Here is what you get with either one:
- GPS accuracy is the same multi-band chipset. Both track your runs with excellent precision in cities, forests, and open terrain. No difference here.
- AMOLED display is the same 1.2” screen at the same resolution. Bright, colorful, easy to read in direct sunlight.
- Battery life is the same. 17 hours of GPS, 11 days as a smartwatch. You will charge both on the same schedule.
- Garmin Coach works identically on both. Free adaptive training plans for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon.
- Structured workouts sync from Garmin Connect, TrainingPeaks, or other platforms and execute the same way.
- Body Battery, sleep tracking, stress tracking are all the same software with the same algorithms.
- Garmin Pay for contactless payments on both.
- 5 physical buttons plus touchscreen on both. Same interaction model.
- 5 ATM water resistance for swimming and rain on both.
- Connect IQ app store access on both.
For the core running watch experience, these two watches are interchangeable. You get the same training ecosystem, the same GPS performance, and the same daily wear experience.
Who Should Buy the Forerunner 165?
The FR 165 is the right pick if:
- You want music on your runs without your phone. This is the only budget Garmin with music storage. If phone-free music runs matter to you, buy the 165 and save $50.
- You are on a tight budget. At $249, the FR 165 is one of the best values in GPS running watches. It does everything a recreational runner needs.
- You use a chest strap for hard workouts. If you already own an HRM-Pro Plus or similar strap, the v6 sensor upgrade in the FR 170 does not benefit you much.
- You do not care about running power. If power-based training is not on your radar, you lose nothing by choosing the 165.
For more on Garmin’s budget options, see our best Garmin watch for beginners guide.
Who Should Buy the Forerunner 170?
The FR 170 makes sense if:
- You want the best wrist-based heart rate accuracy at this price point. The Elevate v6 sensor is a meaningful upgrade for interval training and high-intensity work.
- You want running power without buying a pod. The FR 170 calculates power from the wrist, saving you $70 on a separate sensor.
- You always run with your phone. If your phone comes along anyway, the FR 165’s music storage offers you nothing, so you might as well get the better sensor.
- You plan to keep the watch for 3-4 years. The newer sensor means the FR 170 will stay current longer as Garmin continues developing features around the v6 platform.
If you are considering stepping up further, our Forerunner 170 vs 265 comparison breaks down whether the jump to the mid-range is worth it.
The $50 Decision Framework
Here is how I think about this:
Choose the FR 165 ($249) if: Music storage matters to you, or you want to spend as little as possible on a capable running watch. You get 95% of the FR 170 experience and a feature the 170 does not have.
Choose the FR 170 ($299) if: You always run with your phone (making music storage irrelevant), and you want the newer sensor and wrist-based running power. The sensor upgrade alone justifies $50 if you do a lot of hard training.
The honest take: For most recreational runners, the FR 165 is the better buy. Music storage is a tangible daily benefit. A slightly better heart rate sensor during intervals is a marginal improvement. If Garmin had included music on the FR 170, it would be the obvious recommendation at $299. Without it, the value equation tilts toward the cheaper watch.
For the full picture on Garmin pricing across the lineup, check our Forerunner series pricing guide. And if you are also considering other brands, our Garmin vs COROS vs Apple Watch comparison covers the broader landscape.
Related reading: Garmin Forerunner 170 vs 265 - Entry vs Mid-Range Compared
See how we compare products for our full research methodology.
FAQ
Is the GPS accuracy different between the Forerunner 165 and 170?
No. Both watches use the same multi-band (dual-frequency) GNSS chipset with identical satellite support. Track accuracy, signal lock speed, and performance in urban canyons or tree cover are the same. You are not getting better GPS by choosing the newer model.
Can the Forerunner 170 play music during runs?
No. The Forerunner 170 has no music storage and no ability to play audio through Bluetooth headphones. If you want music on your runs without carrying a phone, the Forerunner 165 is the better choice at this price point. Alternatively, stepping up to the Forerunner 265 ($450) gets you both music and maps.
Does the FR 170’s wrist-based running power work with all activities?
The wrist-based running power on the FR 170 works during outdoor running activities. It does not work during treadmill runs (which rely on accelerometer data) or walking/hiking. For most runners who use power for pacing during outdoor training and races, this covers the primary use case.
Which watch is better for marathon training?
Both are equally capable for marathon training. They execute structured workouts, track VO2 max, estimate recovery time, and sync with Garmin Coach marathon plans. The FR 170’s better heart rate sensor gives you slightly more accurate data during speed work and tempo runs, but the FR 165 handles the fundamentals just as well. If you use a chest strap for key sessions, the difference disappears.
Can I upgrade from the Forerunner 165 to the 170 and sell the old one?
Yes, but it is not worth doing. The Forerunner 165 holds reasonable resale value (typically 50-65% of retail on secondary markets), but the FR 170 is not a big enough upgrade to justify the switch cost. If you already own the FR 165, keep it until you are ready for a meaningful jump to something like the Forerunner 265, which adds maps, music, and significantly more training features.