Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Google Pixel Watch

103 facts in comparison

Based on 264 Reddit opinions. Forerunner 165 leads by 21 points.

264 opinions
Forerunner 165 leads by 21pts
Reddit's Pick
Garmin Forerunner 165
90%
A
Based on
296 Redditors
Winner

Garmin Forerunner 165

~$199.99
110 opinions

tldr; Entry AMOLED runner. Good value, training features. New entry.

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VS
Google Pixel Watch
69%
C+
Based on
364 Redditors

Google Pixel Watch

~$399.99
154 opinions

tldr; Google's first watch. Fitbit integration strong, WearOS smooth. Battery disappointing at 24hrs. Best for Pixel owners.

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Fitness TrackingBattery LifeDisplaySmart FeaturesBuild & Comfort
FIT
🔋BAT
🖥️DIS
📱SMA
🔧BUI
87
Points
58
Points

Score by Category

Fitness Tracking
92%92%
Battery Life
83%0%
Display
100%33%
Smart Features
75%77%
Build & Comfort
80%27%

Why is Google Pixel Watch better than Garmin Forerunner 165?

  • Fitbit sleep tracking
  • Best WearOS experience
  • 24-hour battery max
Based on 660 Reddit opinions
Clear Winner

Reddit prefers the Forerunner 165

Winning by 21 points (90% vs 69%)

Better value
Better build quality
Better display
High confidence (660 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 660 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Forerunner 165
9.0/10
296 mentions
Pixel Watch
6.9/10
364 mentions
VALUE
Forerunner 1659.0/10
Pixel Watch6.0/10
FITNESS TRACKING
Forerunner 1659.2/10
Pixel Watch9.2/10
BUILD QUALITY
Forerunner 1658.0/10
Pixel Watch2.7/10
SMART FEATURES
Forerunner 1657.5/10
Pixel Watch7.7/10
DISPLAY
Forerunner 16510.0/10
Pixel Watch3.3/10
BATTERY LIFE
Forerunner 1658.3/10
Pixel Watch0.0/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Forerunner 165: 4|Pixel Watch: 0
ValueForerunner 165
Forerunner 16590%
Pixel Watch60%
Fitness Tracking
Forerunner 16592%
Pixel Watch92%
Build QualityForerunner 165
Forerunner 16580%
Pixel Watch27%
Smart Features
Forerunner 16575%
Pixel Watch77%
DisplayForerunner 165
Forerunner 165100%
Pixel Watch33%
Battery LifeForerunner 165
Forerunner 16583%
Pixel Watch0%
Forerunner 16590%
Pixel Watch69%
Clear winner - Forerunner 165 leads by 21 points

Key Specs

SpecGarmin Forerunner 165Google Pixel Watch
Display Type
AMOLED touchscreen
1.2 inch AMOLED
Display Size
1.2 inch diameter
Display Resolution
390 x 390 pixels
450x450 pixels
Battery Life Smartwatch
Up to 11 days
Water Rating
5 ATM

Key Highlights

Garmin Forerunner 165Winner
🆕 New entry
🖥️ AMOLED
🏃 Running
💰 Good value
Google Pixel Watch
😴 Fitbit sleep tracking
🤖 Best WearOS experience
⚠️ 24-hour battery max
📱 Pixel integration tight

Topic Battles

Forerunner 165: 3|Tied: 2|Pixel Watch: 0
Fitness Tracking
Forerunner 165
92%
Pixel Watch
92%
🔋Battery Life
Forerunner 165 wins
Forerunner 165
83%
Pixel Watch
0%
🖥️Display
Forerunner 165 wins
Forerunner 165
100%
Pixel Watch
33%
📱Smart Features
Forerunner 165
75%
Pixel Watch
77%
🔧Build & Comfort
Forerunner 165 wins
Forerunner 165
80%
Pixel Watch
27%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Garmin Forerunner 165

Best Praise
+3 pts
For Garmin, I can’t imagine needing more than the Garmin Forerunner 165. Or, maybe the Instinct 3. I think the feature set tops out at around $500. Gotta have that flashlight! (Do you, though?) Above that is looks, mostly. (They always unlock some feature to make it more tempting.)
r/Smartwatch
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Top Criticism
+1 pts
personally I think the FR165 would be a bad choice as its a much more running, swimming & cycling focussed watch with very little on the outdoor recreational side. It does have hiking, but its got no water sport options. While you could always use other to track paddling activities you would miss out on paddling specific metrics like stroke rate etc. Despite not having elevation data (post activity in the app the app will populate this data based on your gps fixes) and a hiking activity (can just use walking) the vivoactive 5 (VA5) would probably be a much better fit overall for you at the same price level. Note the standard FR165 doesn't have offline music - so would need the FR165 music version, which is generally more expensive than the VA5. [https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/compare/?compareProduct=1057989&compareProduct=1285545&compareProduct=1055469&compareProduct=886785&compareProduct=886725](https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/compare/?compareProduct=1057989&compareProduct=1285545&compareProduct=1055469&compareProduct=886785&compareProduct=886725) Comparison of suggested options - you can see how from an activity point of view the FR165 really is much more focussed on people serious about running, swimming & cycling - has very few leisure recreational activity types that it will track. Personally would suggest looking to see the original Epix gen 2 (non pro non sapphire version - will have 16GB storage) is going for - as its old now and is often at a serious discount, making it super attactive and will easily cover all your needs. if price wise it the Epix isn't there there, and VA5 isn't a go, then would suggest looking at the fR265 as I think it will give you next best fit (or the venu 3 as they are normally similarly priced in most countries) - [https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/compare/?compareProduct=1057989&compareProduct=1285545&compareProduct=1055469&compareProduct=886785&compareProduct=873008](https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/compare/?compareProduct=1057989&compareProduct=1285545&compareProduct=1055469&compareProduct=886785&compareProduct=873008) (Venu 3 instead of FR965).
r/Smartwatch
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3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Google Pixel Watch

Best Praise
+5 pts
For Android the pixel watches seem to be the most accurate I have been looking over the past week which watch to go for. Accuracy is the most important to me otherwise I don't see the point in having one. Have a watch of this guy's videos. He tests the watches against higher end equipment to see which ones are worth their use https://m.youtube.com/c/TheQuantifiedScientist
r/Smartwatch
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Top Criticism
+2 pts
Was gonna say that the Pixel is pretty much on the feminine side, no matter where you look at it from. Which is a shame, I'd really try it if it would provide the same battery life as the OPW3, but the design is just... not something you would imagine on a man's wrist.
r/Smartwatch
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3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Garmin Forerunner 165
Google Pixel Watch
$210$280$350$420Jun '25Aug '25Sep '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Low: $198.88Low: $399.99Current: $199.99
Garmin Forerunner 165
All-time low: $189.99(2025-06)
$17 below 90-day avg
Google Pixel Watch
All-time low: $339.99(2026-03)

Which is Better?

Garmin Forerunner 165 Wins
90%
165
vs
69%
Watch

Garmin Forerunner 165 leads by 21 points based on 660 Reddit opinions.

Why Forerunner 165Winner
  • Better Value for Money (90% vs 60%)
Why Pixel Watch
  • 😴 Fitbit sleep tracking
  • 🤖 Best WearOS experience

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

35%Positive
Positive
35%
Neutral
63%
Negative
2%
Based on 296 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

29%Positive
Positive
29%
Neutral
57%
Negative
14%
Based on 364 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Garmin Forerunner 165 or Google Pixel Watch?
Based on 660 Reddit comments, Garmin Forerunner 165 is the preferred choice with 90% positive sentiment vs Google Pixel Watch's 69%. Garmin Forerunner 165 leads by 21 percentage points.
Should I buy Garmin Forerunner 165 or Google Pixel Watch?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Garmin Forerunner 165 has stronger approval ratings (90% vs 69%). However, Google Pixel Watch may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Garmin Forerunner 165?
Reddit users highlight: New entry. AMOLED. Running. With 296 mentions and 90% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Google Pixel Watch?
Reddit users highlight: Fitbit sleep tracking. Best WearOS experience. 24-hour battery max. With 364 mentions and 69% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 660 Reddit comments: 296 about Garmin Forerunner 165 and 364 about Google Pixel Watch. Data was sourced from Smartwatches community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

264 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/6/2026