Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Venu 3

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Venu 3: Breaking down the specs

February 20, 2024 Ivan Jovin Device matchup, Smartwatch 12 min read

Garmin has cemented its place as a leader in the world of GPS running watches and smartwatches. When choosing between the Forerunner 165 and Venu 3 series, it’s essential to have a side-by-side comparison. The Forerunner 165, launched in February 2024, offers a focused experience for fitness enthusiasts. Conversely, the Venu 3 series (introduced in August 2023) delivers a broader range of features for overall wellness tracking.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

This in-depth comparison explores the differences and similarities between these Garmin offerings. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

Key takeaways

If you’re a dedicated runner focused on performance tracking and battery life, the Garmin Forerunner 165 offers fantastic value. It delivers core running features in a budget-friendly package. On the other hand, if you want advanced health insights like ECG and skin temperature monitoring, a wider selection of sport profiles, and smartwatch features like on-wrist calling, the Garmin Venu 3 series is the more comprehensive choice.

View on Garmin; View on Amazon (Venu 3).

Jump to

Hardware
Technical specs
Features
Bottom line

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Venu 3: Hardware

Look & feel

Both the Forerunner 165 and Venu 3 series boast a round shape. This is a design choice that mirrors traditional watches.

However, the Forerunner 165 leans towards sporty practicality with its lightweight fiber-reinforced polymer case and chemically strengthened glass lens. The Venu 3 offers a more premium aesthetic with a stainless steel build. Furthermore, the Venu 3 comes in two size options. There’s the larger Venu 3 and the slightly smaller Venu 3S, catering to different wrist sizes and preferences. The 165 is only available in a single size.

Physical buttons are another area of differentiation. The Forerunner 165 features five physical buttons, a design choice that emphasizes ease of use and quick navigation. This is particularly useful during intense physical activities where touch screen functionality might be hindered by sweat or movement. The Venu 3 series, however, opts for a sleeker design with three physical buttons, balancing functionality with a minimalist aesthetic.

Garmin Venu 3 — Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Venu 3

Display, colour options, water resistance

Both devices jump into the world of vibrant AMOLED displays, a significant upgrade from the MIP display of Forerunner 165’s predecessor. The Venu 3 boasts a larger 1.4-inch display, while the Venu 3s features a 1.2-inch display – the same size as the Forerunner 165. All three options offer high resolutions, ensuring a potentially more immersive visual experience regardless of your size choice.

When it comes to durability, both the Forerunner 165 and Venu 3 series share a 5 ATM water resistance rating. This means they can handle swimming, showering, and even withstand pressure from deeper water immersion.

Colour options offer another layer of personalization. The Forerunner 165 provides a mix of neutral and bright colorways. The Venu 3 series offers some understated choices alongside more eye-catching options.

Sensor technology

The Forerunner 165 and Venu 3 series share a similar range of core sensors. This includes an accelerometer, barometric altimeter, compass, ambient light sensor, and a Pulse Ox sensor for blood oxygen monitoring. Additionally, they both include Garmin’s Elevate optical heart rate sensors. However, the Venu 3 series boasts the newer Elevate V5 version for potentially improved accuracy.

Beyond this, the Venu 3 series takes sensor integration a further by incorporating a gyroscope, ECG (electrocardiogram) capabilities, and a skin temperature sensor to the mix. The inclusion of a gyroscope enhances motion tracking accuracy. The ECG and skin temperature sensors offer deeper insights into cardiovascular health and body temperature variations, respectively, providing users with more detailed wellness tracking. These additions make the Venu 3 a more comprehensive health-tracking device.

When it comes to GPS and other connectivity options, the Forerunner 165 and the Venu 3 series support multi-GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) capabilities. This includes GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO, ensuring precise location tracking across various environments. The feature is crucial for accurately tracking outdoor activities, from running routes to hiking trails.

NFC (Near Field Communication) is also present in both models. It facilitates contactless payments through Garmin Pay, adding a layer of convenience for users on the go.

Music storage is, however, an area where the devices differ. The Forerunner 165 offers music storage as an optional feature, catering to users who prefer to have their playlists handy during workouts without needing to carry their smartphones. On the other hand, the Venu 3 series includes music storage as a standard feature. This emphasizes its role as a versatile smartwatch that not only tracks fitness and health metrics but also provides entertainment and connectivity on the wrist.

Battery life

As far as batter ylife, the Forerunner 165 offers up to 11 days in smartwatch mode. This ensures users can track their daily activities, monitor health metrics, and receive smart notifications without the constant need for recharging. When utilizing GPS mode, the battery life falls up to 19 hours, allowing for extensive use during outdoor activities and workouts. This makes the Forerunner 165 a reliable option for runners and athletes who require endurance from their devices to match their training schedules.

The Venu 3 series further emphasizes Garmin’s commitment to battery efficiency, with the Venu 3 providing up to 14 days of battery life in smartwatch mode when the display is always on. This represents a significant improvement over previous models, catering to users who demand longevity and minimal downtime from their wearable tech. The Venu 3s, while slightly smaller, does not lag far behind in terms of battery performance, offering up to 10 days of battery life in smartwatch mode with the display always on. As shown in the table below, in GPS mode these figures sharply decline.

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Venu 3: Technical specs

Here’s a detailed tech specs comparison table for the Garmin Forerunner 165, Garmin Venu 3, and Garmin Venu 3s:

Feature	Garmin Forerunner 165	Garmin Venu 3	Garmin Venu 3s
Release Date	Feb-24	Aug-23	Aug-23
Case Material	Lens: Chemically strengthened glass. Bezel and case: Fiber-reinforced polymer	Stainless steel	Stainless steel
Number of Physical Buttons	5	3	3
Shape	Round	Round	Round
Size	43 x 43 x 11.6 mm	45 x 45 x 12 mm	41 x 41 x 12 mm
Display Type	AMOLED	AMOLED	AMOLED
Resolution	390 x 390 pixels	454 x 454 pixels	390 x 390 pixels
Screen Size	1.2 inch	1.4 inch	1.2 inch
Weight (without strap)	39 grams	47 grams	40 grams
Sensors	Accelerometer, optical heart rate (Elevate V4), barometric altimeter, compass, Pulse Ox, thermometer, ambient light sensor	Accelerometer, optical heart rate (Elevate V5), barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, Pulse Ox, thermometer, ECG, skin temperature, ambient light sensor	Accelerometer, optical heart rate (Elevate V5), barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, Pulse Ox, thermometer, ECG, skin temperature, ambient light sensor
Water-Resistance	5 ATM	5 ATM	5 ATM
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
Built-in Speaker	No	Yes	Yes
Microphone	No	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes	Yes
Music Storage	Optional	Yes	Yes
Connection	Bluetooth, ANT+, WiFi for Music version	WLAN 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.3 & BLE, ANT+	WLAN 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.3 & BLE, ANT+
Cellular Connectivity	No	No	No
Battery Type	Li-po	Li-po	Li-po
Battery Life	Up to 11 days (smartwatch mode), 19 hours (GPS), 17 hours (GNSS), 7 or 6.5 hours (music playback)	Up to 14 days (Smartwatch mode, display always-on), 26 days (Battery Saver mode), 26 hours (GPS-Only GNSS mode), 20 hours (All-Systems GNSS mode), 11 hours (All-Systems GNSS mode with music)	Up to 10 days (Smartwatch mode, display always-on), 20 days (Battery Saver mode), 21 hours (GPS-Only GNSS mode), 15 hours (All-Systems GNSS mode), 8 hours (All-Systems GNSS mode with music)
Operating System	Proprietary	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Colors	Non Music: Mist Grey/Whitestone, Black/Slate Grey. Music: Black/Slate Grey, Mist Grey/Whitestone, Berry/Lilac, Turquoise/Aqua	Whitestone, Black	French Grey, Pebble Grey, Sage Grey, Dust Rose, Ivory
Typical RRP	$250 and up	$450	$450

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Venu 3: Features

The Forerunner 165 and Venu 3 series provide foundational health tracking with all-day heart rate monitoring, sleep analysis, stress scores, and women’s health tracking. They also support various other health metrics within the Garmin Connect ecosystem.

The Venu 3 sets itself apart in two key areas. Firstly, it includes an ECG sensor. This can be crucial for detecting signs of atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm irregularity. Secondly, boasts skin temperature tracking. This adds another layer of health tracking. It offers insights into the body’s responses to various stressors, workouts, and environments, which can be particularly useful for tracking wellness and recovery.

Both devices cater to active individuals with dedicated running and cycling profiles delivering essential metrics like distance, pace, and heart rate. They also support various workouts, including strength training, HIIT, and cardio sessions. The Forerunner 165 slightly prioritizes serious runners. The Venu 3, on the other hand, delivers a greater variety of sport profiles, accommodating activities like hiking, climbing, disc golf, and numerous racket sports. It’s a better fit for those who enjoy a diversity of activities.

Moreover, the Venu 3 series enhances the fitness experience with on-screen workout animations and muscle maps. This offers a visual guide that can help users perform exercises correctly and effectively.

Smartwatch-type features

In terms of smartwatch capabilities, the Forerunner 165 covers the essentials. It displays notifications, calendar reminders, allows for controlling music playback on your phone, and offers a music variant for offline listening. Plus, there’s NFC for contactless payments.

The Venu 3 series expands on this. Thanks to a built-in microphone and speaker, it allows you to make and receive calls directly from your wrist (with a connected smartphone) and access voice assistants. If you want a more comprehensive smartwatch experience, the Venu 3 edges ahead. It is Garmin’s answer to the likes of the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Venu 3: Price

The Garmin Forerunner 165 enters the market at a more budget-friendly price point, starting around $250. The Music version will set you back an extra 50 bucks. This makes the range a strong value proposition for those focused on core running and fitness features. The Venu 3 and 3s, with their more extensive sensor arrays, health-tracking capabilities, and premium build, naturally come at a higher cost of around $450. If a greater breadth of features and a more luxurious design are priorities, then the investment in the Venu 3 series might be justified.

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Venu 3: Final thoughts

If you’re a dedicated runner seeking a robust and long-lasting fitness tracker packed with running-specific features, the Forerunner 165 offers excellent value for its price. Its impressive battery life and focused functionality make it an ideal companion for athletes who prioritize performance tracking above all else.

On the other hand, if you desire a broader range of health insights, a more extensive selection of sports profiles, and a wider array of smartwatch features, the Venu 3 series delivers in spades. Its ECG sensor, skin temperature tracking, and on-wrist calling capabilities provide a more holistic approach to health and wellness monitoring. While pricier, the Venu 3 series justifies the cost for those seeking a well-rounded and premium smartwatch experience with powerful fitness tracking capabilities.