Smartwatches · owner-verdict comparison

Bip 6 vs Garmin Forerunner 165: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 67% of 320 Bip 6 owners recommend it, vs 67% of 147 for the Garmin Forerunner 165.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Bip 6

67%of 320 owners recommend

67% recommend · 15% neutral · 18% don't

Owners praise

Exceptional value for the price, typically $60-80, with owners repeatedly calling it the best price-to-performance smartwatch on the market
Outperforms or replaces pricier rivals owners already own, including the Apple Watch (8, 10, Ultra), Galaxy Watch 7, Garmin, and Pixel Watch
Long battery life, with many owners reporting around 14 days per charge and far outlasting Apple and Galaxy watches

Owners complain about

Buttons and touchscreen stop working after swimming or pool/beach use, despite the watch being marketed as water resistant
Sleep and heart-rate tracking is inaccurate or unreliable, with several owners calling sleep tracking nearly useless
Very limited on-board storage (roughly 512MB, with much of that taken by the system) makes loading music for offline playback impractical

Full owner report →

Garmin Forerunner 165

67%of 147 owners recommend

67% recommend · 8% neutral · 25% don't

Owners praise

Excellent battery life for the price, often lasting close to a week (or ~12 days per some owners) and far outlasting Apple Watch/Samsung comparisons
Strong value for money, praised repeatedly as the 'budget'/entry-level Garmin that delivers most of the higher-tier features at a much lower price
Light and comfortable on the wrist, especially compared to bulkier models like the 255/265 or Apple Watch Ultra

Owners complain about

Firmware updates (notably the 27.09/27.10 releases) introduced real bugs, GPS drifting off track, heart rate stuck or inaccurate, steps not counting, freezing during activities, and unusual battery drain
Missing higher-end features owners wanted, especially power meter support, triathlon mode, and dual-band GPS/offline maps, pushing some to return it for the 265 or a Coros Pace
Menus, the on-screen keyboard, and overall navigation feel complicated or unresponsive for a 'basic' entry watch

Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Bip 6 if

✓Budget shoppers who want long battery life without smartwatch subscription costs
✓Casual runners and gym-goers who just need basic activity and HR tracking
✓Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch owners tired of daily charging
✓First-time smartwatch buyers wanting an easy, low-cost entry point

Skip it if

Swimmers or pool users, since buttons and touch repeatedly fail after water exposure
iPhone owners, since messaging, photos, and app features are limited on iOS

Get the Garmin Forerunner 165 if

✓Beginner or casual runners who just want accurate basics without complexity
✓Buyers upgrading from a Forerunner 55 or basic Apple Watch on a budget
✓Runners who value long battery life and a light, comfortable wrist feel
✓People who mainly run/hike in open areas and don't need multisport or power meters

Skip it if

Triathletes or cyclists needing power meter support, multisport mode, or dual-band GPS
Runners training under tree canopy or in dense urban areas needing stronger GPS accuracy

What Bip 6 owners say

“This is more in line of how much they should be.”
— @briancross4415 on YouTube

“I wouldn't change Amazfit to any Apple watch.”
— @menifo4334 on YouTube

“Si lo utilizas en la piscina se estropea los botones laterales. Un desastre.”
— @joseantonio9500 on YouTube

What Garmin Forerunner 165 owners say

“This video has made me realise the 165 is for me.”
— @CGCGCG91 on YouTube

“ordered a 165 hahah wish I knew sooner!”
— @Joseeppph on YouTube

“To remove a feature that was previously there as soon as you release the product, which contains the hardware for the feature is a really bad look.”
— @Fernweh_8 on YouTube

Bip 6 vs Garmin Forerunner 165: frequently asked questions

Is the Bip 6 or the Garmin Forerunner 165 better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 67% of 320 Bip 6 owners recommend it, vs 67% of 147 for the Garmin Forerunner 165.

Who should get the Bip 6?

Owners point the Bip 6 at budget shoppers who want long battery life without smartwatch subscription costs, and casual runners and gym-goers who just need basic activity and HR tracking.

Who should get the Garmin Forerunner 165?

Owners point the Garmin Forerunner 165 at beginner or casual runners who just want accurate basics without complexity, and buyers upgrading from a Forerunner 55 or basic Apple Watch on a budget.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Bip 6 is buttons and touchscreen stop working after swimming or pool/beach use, despite the watch being marketed as water resistant. For the Garmin Forerunner 165, it's firmware updates (notably the 27.09/27.10 releases) introduced real bugs, GPS drifting off track, heart rate stuck or inaccurate, steps not counting, freezing during activities, and unusual battery drain.