Apple Watch Series 11 vs Garmin Forerunner 165 — Which Should You Buy?
Apple Watch Series 11 ($299) and Garmin Forerunner 165 ($199) are the top smartwatches in their categories in 2026 — but they serve very different users. One is the best all-around health smartwatch, the other is the best running watch under $200. Here's who should buy which.
- ✔ Use iPhone — deep iOS integration
- ✔ Want ECG and hypertension detection
- ✔ Daily smartwatch — calls, apps, payments
- ✔ Casual runner or gym user
- ✔ Sleep tracking and health monitoring
- ✔ Serious runner — 5K to marathon training
- ✔ Need 11-day battery (vs 18 hours)
- ✔ Want Garmin Coach training plans
- ✔ Multi-sport athlete
- ✔ Budget — saves $100
⚔️ Apple Watch Series 11 vs Garmin Forerunner 165 — Full Comparison
| Feature | Apple Watch Series 11 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 | $199 |
| Display | Always-on Retina LTPO | AMOLED color always-on |
| Battery life | ~18 hours | 11 days (smartwatch mode) |
| GPS battery | ~6 hours | Up to 19 hours |
| ECG | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Hypertension detection | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Blood oxygen | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Heart rate | ✅ Continuous | ✅ Continuous |
| Sleep tracking | ✅ Sleep score | ✅ Sleep score + stages |
| Running metrics | Basic | Advanced — cadence, ground contact, VO2 max |
| Training plans | ❌ No | ✅ Garmin Coach adaptive plans |
| Multi-sport | Limited | ✅ 30+ sport profiles |
| Payments | ✅ Apple Pay | ✅ Garmin Pay |
| iPhone integration | ✅ Native | ⚠️ Via Garmin Connect app |
| Android support | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Rating | 4.8/5 (3,785 reviews) | 4.7/5 (4,852 reviews) |
🔑 The Differences That Actually Matter
Battery — Garmin Wins by a Large Margin
This is the biggest practical difference. Apple Watch Series 11 lasts about 18 hours — you charge it every night. Garmin Forerunner 165 lasts 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours with GPS active. For multi-day events, hiking trips, or users who dislike nightly charging, Garmin is the clear choice. For daily urban use where nightly charging is normal, Apple Watch's battery is sufficient.
Health Monitoring — Apple Watch Wins
Apple Watch Series 11 has FDA-cleared ECG and hypertension detection — features Garmin doesn't offer. These are genuinely useful health tools: ECG can detect irregular heart rhythm and hypertension monitoring tracks blood pressure trends over time. If health monitoring is your primary reason for buying a smartwatch, Apple Watch Series 11 is the more capable device.
Running Performance — Garmin Wins
For serious runners, Garmin Forerunner 165 provides deeper insights: running dynamics (cadence, ground contact time, stride length), VO2 max estimation, training load, recovery advisor, and Garmin Coach adaptive training plans that adjust weekly based on your progress. Apple Watch tracks runs well for casual users but lacks this depth of analysis.
Smartwatch Functionality — Apple Watch Wins
Apple Watch integrates natively with iPhone — calls, messages, Apple Pay, app ecosystem, Siri. The experience is seamless for iPhone users. Garmin connects via the Garmin Connect app and handles notifications well, but the smartwatch feature set is significantly more limited than Apple Watch.
Price — Garmin Wins
Garmin Forerunner 165 at $199 is $100 less than Apple Watch Series 11 at $299. For runners who primarily need GPS tracking and training features, the $100 savings with better running functionality makes Garmin the stronger value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Garmin Forerunner 165 — which is better?
Apple Watch Series 11 is better for iPhone integration, health monitoring (ECG, hypertension), and everyday smartwatch use. Garmin Forerunner 165 is better for serious running — superior GPS, 11-day battery, and Garmin Coach training plans. Choose based on your primary use case.
Is Garmin Forerunner 165 better than Apple Watch for running?
Yes for serious runners. Garmin offers detailed running dynamics, adaptive training plans, and 19-hour GPS battery. Apple Watch is excellent for casual runners but lacks Garmin's training depth. If you're training for a 5K to marathon, Garmin is the better tool.
Does Garmin Forerunner 165 work with iPhone?
Yes — via the Garmin Connect app on iPhone. You get notifications, weather, and music control. It doesn't integrate with Apple Health as deeply as Apple Watch, and Apple-specific features like ECG and hypertension detection are not available.
Which smartwatch has better sleep tracking — Apple Watch or Garmin?
Both track sleep stages and provide sleep scores. Garmin's sleep tracking is generally considered more detailed — it includes Body Battery energy tracking that combines sleep quality, stress, and activity data. Apple Watch's sleep tracking improved significantly with Series 11 and is excellent for most users. For dedicated sleep analysis, Garmin edges ahead.
Affiliate Disclosure: Top Choices Lab participates in the Amazon Associates program. When you click our links and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices accurate as of April 23, 2026.