Garmin has built a reputation for producing some of the best GPS running watches on the market, catering to everyone from casual runners to elite athletes. The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music continues that legacy, packing impressive features into a less expensive device. Priced around INR 25,000, it sits below Garmin’s more premium options like the Fenix ​​series, but doesn’t skimp on the essentials. Here’s a detailed look at what this running companion has to offer and where it might fall short.

Design and display: comfortable and versatile

The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music manages to find a balance between functionality and wearability. Weighing quite lightly, it’s comfortable enough to wear all day without fatigue, whether you’re on a long run or just going about your daily routine. Its slim profile also makes it suitable for casual settings, so it doesn’t scream “fitness tracker” when worn to work or out with friends.

One of the highlights of the Forerunner 165 is its 1.2-inch AMOLED display, which is vibrant, clear and easy to read in various lighting conditions. The combination of touch functionality and five physical buttons ensures seamless navigation through menus and training data. Customizable watch faces and data screens allow users to prioritize the metrics that matter most, tailoring the experience to individual preferences.

GPS tracking and heart rate monitoring: performance without compromise

Despite being positioned at a more affordable price point, the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music doesn’t compromise on basic functionality. The multi-satellite system ensures accurate tracking even in challenging environments such as densely forested trails or urban areas with tall buildings. During my runs, the watch maintained strong GPS signal integrity, which is often a struggle for higher-end models. This reinforces the idea that you don’t have to spend a fortune for reliable location tracking.

The built-in optical heart rate monitor does a decent job of measuring effort during workouts. While wrist readings have a reputation for being less reliable than chest straps, the Forerunner 165 performs well in most conditions. However, like many wrist-based monitors, it can occasionally spike to improbable numbers, especially when dealing with rapid arm movement or sweat. For those who need constant and highly accurate heart rate tracking, pairing the watch with an external chest strap is a viable solution.

Battery life: More than meets the eye

One of the standout features of the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music is its impressive battery life. Garmin advertises up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and 19 hours with GPS. In practical terms, this means you can comfortably track multiple runs and daily activities without feeling tied to a charging cable. For runners who like to train with music, the watch offers up to six hours of battery life with GPS tracking and music playback enabled.

During testing, battery performance lived up to these claims, although playing music shortens the time between charges. For long distance events or long hikes, it is recommended to stop playing music or use power saving modes to maximize battery life.

Music playback: a game changer for phone-free running

For runners who prefer to leave their phones behind, the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music offers a standout feature: built-in music storage. The watch can hold up to 500 songs, and pairing it with Bluetooth headphones means you can enjoy your favorite playlists without pulling out a phone. While the initial Bluetooth pairing process was a bit fiddly and not entirely intuitive, once paired, the connection remained stable throughout the runs.

The ability to preload playlists or sync music from services like Spotify and Amazon Music adds an element of convenience, turning the watch from a simple fitness tool into a more comprehensive workout companion.

Additional training and recovery features

The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music doesn’t just stop at tracking runs and playing music. It comes equipped with a number of training tools, such as Garmin Coach, which offers adaptive training plans for those who want to prepare for races or improve their fitness. Suggested daily workouts are tailored to your current training load and recovery status, providing personalized guidance without the need for external coaching.

Recovery insights such as heart rate variability (HRV), sleep tracking and stress monitoring help runners optimize their training routines and prevent overtraining. The watch also estimates VO2 max and measures blood oxygen saturation, providing deeper insight into your fitness. While these features are extremely useful, it’s worth noting that the Garmin Connect app—which houses all of this data—can be overwhelming for first-time users due to its sheer volume of information and options.

Connectivity and safety: a holistic approach

The Forerunner 165 comes with the standard suite of Garmin connectivity features, including smart notifications, Garmin Pay for contactless payments, and LiveTrack, which lets friends or family track your location during runs in real time. Safety features like incident detection and manual location sharing add an extra layer of security for those who frequently run alone or in unfamiliar areas. However, these safety options require a paired smartphone to work properly.

Overall impressions: A solid all-rounder for runners

After weeks of testing, the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music proved to be more than just an entry-level GPS watch. Its comprehensive feature set, impressive GPS accuracy, and reliable battery life make it a strong contender for runners looking for a combination of affordability and capability. While it may not offer all the features of Garmin’s high-end models, it holds true to the essentials of running and music storage.

The occasional hiccup in heart rate accuracy and less-than-intuitive initial setup are minor drawbacks that can be handled with some patience or external accessories. For the price, the Forerunner 165 Music stands out as a reliable, feature-rich tool that can enhance your training regimen, whether you’re a seasoned runner or just starting out.