Smartwatches · owner-verdict comparison

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Venu 3: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 67% of 147 Garmin Forerunner 165 owners recommend it, vs 69% of 256 for the Garmin Venu 3.

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

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 →

Garmin Venu 3

69%of 256 owners recommend
69% recommend · 13% neutral · 18% don't
Owners praise
  • Exceptional multi-day battery life
  • Accurate HR, SpO2 and GPS
  • Rich free tracking, no subscription
Owners complain about
  • Unreliable, inconsistent sleep tracking
  • Limited smart features versus Apple
  • Notification and connectivity glitches
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

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
Get the Garmin Venu 3 if
  • ✓Switchers from Apple, Samsung or Fitbit craving long battery life
  • ✓Casual athletes wanting fitness plus everyday smartwatch balance
  • ✓Health trackers who value subscription-free HRV, stress and body battery data
  • ✓Swimmers and multi-activity users wanting accurate metrics
Skip it if
  • Buyers who need best-in-class sleep tracking
  • People wanting full smartwatch features and app ecosystem

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

What Garmin Venu 3 owners say

“Battery time is enough for me to change from Samsung/ Apple.”
— @waynehighfield2094 on YouTube
“Great watch even if I'm 80 years old. I still love my gadgets, like my Venu 3. Very comfortable and easy to use.”
— @Billcarls1 on YouTube
“Garmin's pricing is insane to me. $450 for plastic watch.”
— @MaxCaud on YouTube

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Venu 3: frequently asked questions

Is the Garmin Forerunner 165 or the Garmin Venu 3 better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 67% of 147 Garmin Forerunner 165 owners recommend it, vs 69% of 256 for the Garmin Venu 3.

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.

Who should get the Garmin Venu 3?

Owners point the Garmin Venu 3 at switchers from Apple, Samsung or Fitbit craving long battery life, and casual athletes wanting fitness plus everyday smartwatch balance.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Garmin Forerunner 165 is 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. For the Garmin Venu 3, it's unreliable, inconsistent sleep tracking.