Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Google Pixel Watch 3
99 facts in comparison
Based on 193 Reddit opinions. Forerunner 165Garmin Forerunner 165 leads by 8 points.
193 opinions
Forerunner 165 leads by 8pts
VS
Reddit's Pick
90%
A
Based on
296 Redditors
Winner
Garmin Forerunner 165
~$199.99
110 opinions
tldr; Entry AMOLED runner. Good value, training features. New entry.
Check pricesVS
82%
B+
Based on
235 Redditors
Google Pixel Watch 3
~$246.42
83 opinions
tldr; Latest Pixel Watch. Larger options, better battery. Most refined.
Check pricesβFIT
πBAT
π₯οΈDIS
π±SMA
π§BUI
87
Points
73
Points
Score by Category
Fitness Tracking
92%91%
Battery Life
83%27%
Display
100%80%
Smart Features
75%84%
Build & Comfort
80%0%
Why is Pixel Watch 3 better than Garmin Forerunner 165?
- Better smart features (84% vs 75%)
- π Latest Pixel
- Size options
Based on 531 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge
Reddit prefers the Forerunner 165Garmin Forerunner 165
Winning by 8 points (90% vs 82%)
Better value
Better display
Better battery
High confidence (531 mentions)
π¬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 531 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Forerunner 165
9.0/10
296 mentions
Watch 3
8.2/10
235 mentions
VALUE
Forerunner 1659.0/10
Watch 38.3/10
FITNESS TRACKING
Forerunner 1659.2/10
Watch 39.1/10
BUILD QUALITY
Forerunner 1658.0/10
Watch 30.0/10
SMART FEATURES
Forerunner 1657.5/10
Watch 38.4/10
DISPLAY
Forerunner 16510.0/10
Watch 38.0/10
BATTERY LIFE
Forerunner 1658.3/10
Watch 32.7/10
βοΈ
Head to Head
| Topic | Forerunner 165 | Watch 3 |
|---|---|---|
Value | 90% | 83% |
Fitness Tracking | 92% | 91% |
Build Quality | 80% | 0% |
Smart Features | 75% | 84% |
Display | 100% | 80% |
Battery Life | 83% | 27% |
Category Wins
Forerunner 165: 4|Watch 3: 1
Head to Head
Forerunner 165: 4|Watch 3: 1
ValueForerunner 165
Forerunner 16590%
Watch 383%
Fitness Tracking
Forerunner 16592%
Watch 391%
Build QualityForerunner 165
Forerunner 16580%
Watch 30%
Smart FeaturesWatch 3
Forerunner 16575%
Watch 384%
DisplayForerunner 165
Forerunner 165100%
Watch 380%
Battery LifeForerunner 165
Forerunner 16583%
Watch 327%
Forerunner 165
90%
82%
Watch 3
Forerunner 16590%
Watch 382%
Forerunner 165 wins by 8 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Google Pixel Watch 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Display Type | AMOLED touchscreen | β |
| Display Size | 1.2 inch diameter | 1.42 inch (45mm) |
| Display Resolution | 390 x 390 pixels | 320ppi AMOLED |
| Battery Life Smartwatch | Up to 11 days | β |
| Water Rating | 5 ATM | β |
Key Highlights
Garmin Forerunner 165Winner
π New entry
π₯οΈ AMOLED
π Running
π° Good value
Google Pixel Watch 3
π Latest Pixel
π Size options
π Better battery
πΈ Premium
Topic Battles
Forerunner 165: 3|Tied: 1|Watch 3: 1
βFitness Tracking
Forerunner 165
92%
Watch 3
91%
πBattery Life
Forerunner 165 winsForerunner 165
83%
Watch 3
27%
π₯οΈDisplay
Forerunner 165 winsForerunner 165
100%
Watch 3
80%
π±Smart Features
Watch 3 winsForerunner 165
75%
Watch 3
84%
π§Build & Comfort
Forerunner 165 winsForerunner 165
80%
Watch 3
0%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
πWhere They Rank
π¬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Garmin Forerunner 165
Best Praise
+3 ptsβFor Garmin, I canβt 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.)β
r/Smartwatch
ViewTop Criticism
+1 ptsβpersonally 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).β
r/Smartwatch
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Google Pixel Watch 3
Best Praise
+5 ptsβI had the original Pixel Watch and upgraded to the Pixel Watch 3 45mm last year. The 3 45mm is working flawlessly. I haven't powered up the original since the upgrade, but I recommend both. I haven't used anything else since the Fossil smartwatch. I use the 3 45mm with a metal case/bracelet I found on Amazon for like $10 and it looks great. If you're interested in a hybrid I would look into Withings, that might be my next purchase.β
r/Smartwatch
ViewTop Criticism
+1 ptsβIn fitness and health tracking like sleep ecg makes it more precise usually - but in second it really depend on manufacturer, as i found pixel watch 3 with ecg less precise than apple watch se2. And yea i did this testing multiple times (sleeping, sport tracking..) and weared them in same time (usually one on one wrist, switched it between left and right too, foe be sure about results.β
r/Smartwatch
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Forerunner 165
Google Pixel Watch 3
πHistorical Price Data
Garmin Forerunner 165
Google Pixel Watch 3
Garmin Forerunner 165
All-time low: $189.99(2025-06)
$17 below 90-day avg
Google Pixel Watch 3
All-time low: $170.67(2026-02)
Which is Better?
Garmin Forerunner 165 Wins
90%
165
vs
82%
3
Garmin Forerunner 165 leads by 8 points based on 531 Reddit opinions.
Why Forerunner 165Winner
- Better Value for Money (90% vs 83%)
Why Watch 3
- π Latest Pixel
- π Size options
β€οΈThe Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
35%Positive
Positive
35%Neutral
63%Negative
2%Based on 296 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
30%Positive
Positive
30%Neutral
64%Negative
6%Based on 235 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Garmin Forerunner 165 or Google Pixel Watch 3?
Based on 531 Reddit comments, Garmin Forerunner 165 is the preferred choice with 90% positive sentiment vs Google Pixel Watch 3's 82%. Garmin Forerunner 165 leads by 8 percentage points.
Should I buy Garmin Forerunner 165 or Google Pixel Watch 3?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Garmin Forerunner 165 has stronger approval ratings (90% vs 82%). However, Google Pixel Watch 3 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 3?
Reddit users highlight: Latest Pixel. Size options. Better battery. With 235 mentions and 82% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 531 Reddit comments: 296 about Garmin Forerunner 165 and 235 about Google Pixel Watch 3. 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.
193 Reddit opinions analyzed Β· Last updated 6/24/2026