Garmin Forerunner 165 vs 55: Best for Beginners?

The Garmin Forerunner 165 is better for beginners than the Forerunner 55 if you want a brighter touchscreen, training readiness, and daily suggested workouts. The Forerunner 55 is better if you want a simpler, lighter watch with longer battery life and a lower price. Both are excellent entry-level running watches, but the 165 offers more modern features that can help you learn and improve faster.

Background: Where Each Watch Fits

Garmin’s Forerunner line has been the go-to for runners for over a decade. The 55 (released 2021) replaced the 45 as the entry-level model, while the 165 (released 2024) sits just above it, bridging the gap between the 55 and the more advanced 265. The 55 uses a traditional button-only interface and a memory-in-pixel (MIP) display that is always on and very power-efficient. The 165 introduces a color AMOLED touchscreen, similar to what you find on modern smartwatches, plus a few training metrics that were previously reserved for higher-end models.

Key Differences at a Glance

Display: 55 has a 1.04-inch MIP display (always on, great in sunlight). 165 has a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen (vivid, brighter indoors, but requires a gesture or button to wake).
Battery life: 55 lasts up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode and 20 hours with GPS. 165 lasts up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and 19 hours with GPS (both are plenty for most beginners).
Training features: 165 adds Training Readiness, daily suggested workouts based on your recovery, and a Race Predictor. 55 has basic daily suggested workouts and recovery time, but no readiness score.
Navigation: 165 has a built-in compass and the ability to follow a course from Garmin Connect. 55 does not have a compass or course navigation.
Music: Neither watch has music storage. If you want to run without your phone, you’ll need to look at the 165 Music version.
Price: The 55 is typically $199.99, while the 165 is $249.99 (non-music) or $299.99 (music).

How the Training Features Work

Both watches give you the basics: heart rate, pace, distance, and workout modes. The 165 goes further with two features that beginners often find motivating:

Training Readiness: This is a score from 0 to 100 that tells you how well you’ve recovered based on your sleep, heart rate variability (HRV), and recent workout load. A score of 80+ means you’re ready for a hard workout; below 30 suggests you should take it easy. This is a great way to learn to listen to your body.
Daily Suggested Workouts: Both watches offer these, but the 165’s suggestions adapt to your readiness score. If you’re tired, it will suggest a light run or rest day. The 55’s suggestions are based on your fitness level and history, but don’t factor in recovery as deeply.

The 165 also has a “Race Predictor” that estimates your finish times for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon based on your running history. It’s not exact, but it gives beginners a realistic goal to work toward.

Which One Should You Choose?

Deciding between the two comes down to your budget and how much you want from a watch.

Choose the Forerunner 55 if: You want a no-frills, reliable running watch that tracks your runs, heart rate, and basic sleep. You prefer a display that’s always on and readable in bright sunlight. You want the longest battery life possible. You’re on a tight budget.
Choose the Forerunner 165 if: You want a modern touchscreen that feels like a smartwatch. You’re interested in training metrics like Training Readiness and Race Predictor. You want to follow breadcrumb navigation on a course (e.g., a route you downloaded from Garmin Connect). You plan to wear the watch all day and want a more vibrant display.

For most beginners who are serious about improving and can afford the extra $50, the 165 is the better long-term investment. The training readiness feature alone can help you avoid overtraining and injuries, which is a common beginner mistake. However, if you just want to track your runs and see your pace, the 55 will do everything you need.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

“The 165’s battery life is too short.” It’s true that the 55 lasts longer, but 11 days of smartwatch use is still excellent compared to most smartwatches (Apple Watch, for example, lasts about a day). With GPS on, you’ll get about 19 hours, which covers even the slowest marathon (under 6 hours) with plenty of buffer.

“AMOLED screens are hard to see in the sun.” The 165’s screen is bright enough to be readable outdoors, though not as crisp as a MIP display. If you run in direct sunlight often, you might prefer the 55’s always-on MIP screen.

“I need music on my watch.” Neither base model has music. If you want to stream Spotify or download playlists, you’ll need the Forerunner 165 Music (a $50 upcharge). The 55 doesn’t offer a music version.

Cost and Value

At $199.99, the 55 is one of the most affordable Garmin running watches. It gives you accurate GPS, heart rate, and basic smart notifications. The 165 at $249.99 is still a bargain for the features it adds: a superior display, training readiness, and a compass. If you think you’ll stick with running for more than a year, the 165’s extra features are worth the price. If you’re just starting and aren’t sure you’ll keep it up, the 55 is a safer, cheaper bet.

Alternatives to Consider

If neither watch feels right, here are two other options in the same category:

Garmin Forerunner 265: The next step up ($449.99). Adds a bigger AMOLED screen, multi-band GPS for better accuracy in cities, and more advanced training metrics like HRV status. Overkill for most beginners.
Coros Pace 3: A direct competitor around $229. It has a MIP display, excellent battery life (up to 24 days), and a built-in barometer. It lacks a touchscreen and Training Readiness, but it’s a solid alternative if you want a lightweight watch with great battery.
Apple Watch SE (2nd gen): If you have an iPhone and want a true smartwatch, this is a good option. It has more apps, a better screen, and fall detection, but its battery life is about a day and it doesn’t have the same depth of running metrics as Garmin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Forerunner 55 track sleep? Yes, it tracks light, deep, and REM sleep, and gives you a sleep score in the Garmin Connect app. The 165 also tracks sleep and adds a “Sleep Coach” that suggests a sleep goal based on your readiness.

Is the 165’s touchscreen a problem during runs? No, because you can lock the screen during an activity. Garmin also keeps the physical buttons functional, so you can start, stop, and lap without touching the screen.

Which watch is more accurate for heart rate? Both use Garmin’s Elevate optical heart rate sensor. Accuracy is similar; for best results, wear the watch snugly on your wrist and avoid using it for intervals with rapid heart rate changes (a chest strap is more accurate for that).

Can I use these watches for swimming? Yes, both are water-resistant to 5 ATM (50 meters) and have swim tracking. The 165’s touchscreen is disabled in water, but buttons work fine.

Will the 55 get the 165’s features via software update? No. Features like Training Readiness require specific hardware (like the newer heart rate sensor) and are not added to older models. Garmin typically only adds minor features to existing watches.

Which watch has better GPS accuracy? Both use the same GPS chipset (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo). In open areas, accuracy is nearly identical. In dense cities or under tree cover, the 165’s multi-band GPS (on the Music version only) can be slightly better, but for most beginners, the difference is unnoticeable.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

More cards in this drawer

The whole Numbers and Powers drawer →