I Upgraded My Watch From a Garmin Forerunner 165 to a 170, and Here’s How to Decide If You Should Too.
I love my Garmin Forerunner 165. So when Garmin announced its successor, the Forerunner 170, I wanted to know: how much has Garmin really improved this model? After testing both models and comparing them in detail , here are my thoughts on which watch is actually better value, depending on your type of running.
Is the Garmin Forerunner 170 worth the price?
The Forerunner 170 costs $299 , compared to $249 for the full-price 165. The situation is similar with the music versions: the 170 Music costs $349 versus $299 for the 165 Music.
On paper, that’s a $50 difference. However, in practice, the gap is larger. The Forerunner 165 is constantly on sale, and at the time of writing, the price difference between the two models regularly approaches $100. Even if the 170 is technically “better,” that doesn’t necessarily make it a better buy than the 165.
There’s also a newer, cheaper model worth mentioning: the Garmin Forerunner 70 , which was released at the same time as the 170 and costs $249 . It’s virtually identical to the 170, and I plan to write a detailed comparison of the two watches soon.
What do the Garmin Forerunner 165 and 170 have in common?
Place these two watches side by side and you’ll be hard-pressed to tell them apart. Both have small plastic cases with 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreens and five physical buttons. Both are lightweight and comfortable on the wrist. The main visual difference is cosmetic: the Forerunner 170 has a colored bezel, compared to the black one on the 165, and it’s available in four color options.
Internally, both watch models use the same GPS and optical heart rate sensors. If you were hoping for a significant hardware upgrade, you’ll need to upgrade to the more expensive model. The only new sensor is the gyroscope, added to the 170 model to improve motion tracking during workouts.
How is the Garmin Forerunner 170 better than the 165?
The benefits of upgrading to the 170 are all in the software updates. The 170 adds analytics like Training Readiness, Training Status, and Acute Load to this Forerunner segment—metrics previously only available on higher-end Garmin models like the Forerunner 570 and 970. I really like Training Readiness, which shows you daily how hard you should train, and Training Status, which shows you whether your current training load is actually improving your fitness or just draining you. There’s also Quick Workout, which lets you create a running workout based solely on your desired effort level (easy, moderate, intense, or very intense) and duration. This is a handy tool for new runners who want a structured workout without having to create one themselves.
There are also a few small improvements to widgets, such as the calculator app, and features like lifestyle logging, health tracking, evening report, and sleep assistance that aren’t on the 165.
In smartwatch mode, the Forerunner 170 lasts approximately 10 days, while the Forerunner 165 lasts 11 to 13 days, depending on usage. Garmin attributes this tradeoff to its broader feature set. However, if you’re a runner who travels frequently or is prone to forgetting to charge the device, the 165 has a slight advantage.
Who is better off buying the Garmin Forerunner 170 and who is better off buying the 165?
As a fitness journalist who loves to analyze my workouts daily, the Forerunner 170 is worth its (real) $100 price tag. If you also prioritize tracking recovery and fitness trends, the Forerunner 170 is the best watch. Furthermore, the 170 will continue to receive software updates and new features in the future, while the 165 has reached the end of its update cycle.
However, if you’re a casual runner who isn’t obsessed with recovery metrics, I think the 165 is a better buy, especially given the current discounts. The tracking of key metrics is accurate, the AMOLED display looks great, and you’ll save about $100.
Thinking of buying something new today? Get the 170. Already have a 165 and only train occasionally? Don’t waste your time on it. Already have a 165 and want to start striving for better results? Then you might want to take a closer look at the 170.