Garmin Forerunner 165: smooth interface, workouts
Garmin offers an ultra-polished interface and AI-suggested workouts.
Strong points:
- Very fluid and intuitive interface
- Suggested workouts (Garmin Coach) — the watch suggests workouts
- Mature Garmin ecosystem (Connect, Strava, TrainingPeaks)
- Slightly more reliable cardio sensor
- AMOLED screen
Weak points:
- Single-band GPS (less precise in urban areas)
- No altimeter
- Battery life 17 hours (less than Suunto 20 hours)
- Optional MP3 player (Music version costs €50 more)
Key Differences: Where It Really Plays
GPS
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.
Workouts
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.
Interface
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.
Music
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).
Autonomy
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.
Who should buy what?
Beginner runner who wants ready-made workouts
Garmin Forerunner 165. Garmin Coach offers you sessions. You don’t have to do anything.
Advanced runner who builds his own workouts
Suunto Run. You have total control. More accurate GPS. Altimeter included.
Runner who loves music and wants to pay less
Suunto Run. 249€ with music. Garmin Music costs €299.
Runner who wants the smoothest interface
Garmin Forerunner 165. The Garmin interface is more polished.
Mountain or light trail runner
Suunto Run. The barometric altimeter is useful. Garmin doesn’t have one.
Runner who wants the best GPS
Suunto Run. Dual band vs. single band. Suunto wins.
Final verdict
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.
