Garmin offers an ultra-polished interface and AI-suggested workouts.
Strong points:
Weak points:
Suunto Run: dual band (L1+L5). Garmin Forerunner 165: single-band (L1 only).
What does that mean? Suunto's dual band is more precise in the city (between buildings) and under cover (forest). Garmin is good too, but less precise in these conditions.
For the road in open space, the difference is negligible.
Garmin Coach: the watch offers you workouts based on your history and goals. You don't have to do anything. It's comfort.
Suunto: you have to create your workouts yourself (or import them). More work, but more control.
If you like being told what to do, Garmin wins. If you like to build up your sessions, Suunto wins.
Garmin Forerunner 165: smooth, fast, responsive. You navigate without friction.
Suunto Run: good, but less fluid. Some occasional slowdowns.
It's a difference in feel, not functionality.
Suunto Run: 4 GB of MP3 included (€249).
Garmin Forerunner 165 Music: 4 GB of MP3 included (€299).
Suunto wins on price. Garmin wins on integration (better playlist management).
Suunto Run: 20 hours. Garmin Forerunner 165: 17 hours.
3 hours difference. For a marathon, this is negligible. For an ultra, it's better to have 20 hours.
Garmin Forerunner 165. Garmin Coach offers you sessions. You don't have to do anything.
Suunto Run. You have total control. More accurate GPS. Altimeter included.
Suunto Run. 249€ with music. Garmin Music costs €299.
Garmin Forerunner 165. The Garmin interface is more polished.
Suunto Run. The barometric altimeter is useful. Garmin doesn't have one.
Suunto Run. Dual band vs. single band. Suunto wins.
Suunto Run if you want: precise GPS, music at the same price, altimeter, more autonomy.
Garmin Forerunner 165 if you want: smooth interface, suggested workouts, mature Garmin ecosystem.
Both are excellent. It's a question of priorities.
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