Smartwatches · owner-verdict comparison

Versa 4 vs Garmin Forerunner 165: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Garmin Forerunner 165: 67% of 147 owners recommend it, vs 13% of 23 for the Versa 4.

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

Versa 4

13%of 23 owners recommend

13% recommend · 4% neutral · 83% don't

Owners praise

Battery life typically lasts 3-6 days per charge, with several owners saying it beats rivals like the Galaxy Watch 5 and Google Watch
Owners report strong overall satisfaction and good value, especially when bought on sale in the $129-150 range
Effective sleep and daily activity tracking that helps owners understand and improve their habits

Owners complain about

Widespread hardware failures, screens going dark or stuck on a red X, crashing/freezing, watches dying within months to two years, often right after the one-year warranty expires
Inaccurate GPS, step counts, and heart-rate readings (e.g. step counts wildly off during walks, heart rate detected off inanimate surfaces)
Owners feel the price is too high for what's offered, especially having to pay extra for advanced health metrics

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 Versa 4 if

✓Casual users wanting basic activity, sleep, and workout tracking without daily charging
✓Budget buyers who found it worth it on sale ($120-150) vs pricier smartwatches
✓Long-time Fitbit users comfortable with the ecosystem who just need core fitness metrics
✓People who value a physical side button over the touch-only Versa 3 interface

Skip it if

Anyone needing reliable GPS, heart-rate accuracy, or auto exercise detection
Buyers wanting durability past the 1-2 year mark, given frequent dead-screen/red-X failures

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 Versa 4 owners say

“Fitbit gets a least 3-4 days before having to charge it”
— @Wayneyboi7 on YouTube

“I just bought the 4 when it was on sale at Costco. At the price of $129 it was worth it.”
— @cozygrovegaming on YouTube

“what about the horrible lag while scrolling?”
— @LLawliet182 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

Versa 4 vs Garmin Forerunner 165: frequently asked questions

Is the Versa 4 or the Garmin Forerunner 165 better?

Real owners lean toward the Garmin Forerunner 165: 67% of 147 owners recommend it, vs 13% of 23 for the Versa 4.

Who should get the Versa 4?

Owners point the Versa 4 at casual users wanting basic activity, sleep, and workout tracking without daily charging, and budget buyers who found it worth it on sale ($120-150) vs pricier smartwatches.

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 Versa 4 is widespread hardware failures, screens going dark or stuck on a red X, crashing/freezing, watches dying within months to two years, often right after the one-year warranty expires. 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.