Garmin Forerunner 165 Running Watch vs Garmin Forerunner 55 Running Watch
What owners say · Updated October 2026
Owners of the Garmin Forerunner 165 experience a bright AMOLED display and strong battery life, but report software glitches and Bluetooth audio flaws. Owners of the Garmin Forerunner 55 highlight accurate GPS tracking and guided training plans, though they face severe long term button and battery durability issues.
Garmin
Garmin Forerunner 165 Running Watch
“The Garmin Forerunner 165 pairs a bright AMOLED display with impressive battery life for entry-level runners, but software glitches and Bluetooth flaws spoil the experience over time.”
Choose it if you want an easy to read AMOLED display and strong battery life for basic exercise tracking.
Garmin
Garmin Forerunner 55 Running Watch
“An accurate budget running watch held back by long-term button and battery durability issues.”
Choose it if you need an affordable GPS watch focused on structured training and core running metrics.
At a glance
| Garmin Forerunner 165 Running Watch | Garmin Forerunner 55 Running Watch | |
|---|---|---|
| Durability and reliability complaints | 6% of reports | 20% of reports |
Share of each model's owner reports raising durability and reliability; the category average is 16%.
Where owners report a difference
| Garmin Forerunner 165 Running Watch | Garmin Forerunner 55 Running Watch | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Owners report strong battery life lasting up to 10 days without daily GPS use. | Owners report excellent initial battery life lasting over a week in smartwatch mode, but severe battery degradation after 18 to 30 months. |
| Sleep tracking | Owners note that sleep tracking bugs can be triggered by periodic firmware updates. | Owners report that sleep tracking data is highly inaccurate. |
| Bluetooth connectivity | Owners experience unreliable Bluetooth audio connectivity with frequent dropouts on the Music edition, alongside slow app syncing. | Owners experience persistent Bluetooth disconnections with short range. |