In the world of fitness technology, two brands have been making waves in the sports watch market: Garmin and Coros. These two brands cater to individuals serious about their health, fitness, and performance.
The Garmin Forerunner 165 and Coros Pace 3 offer two excellent sports watches packed with features designed for people who want to stay on top of their fitness and health.
This article will closely examine what sets these two trackers apart, from the technology under the hood to the design and price tag.
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Coros Pace 3 Spec
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Feature | Garmin Forerunner 165 | COROS PACE 3 Sport Watch |
| Screen Size | 1.2 Inches | 1.5 Inches |
| Display Type | AMOLED touchscreen | Transflective touchscreen |
| Design | Lightweight, 43 mm size | Super-light, 11.7mm thick, 30g with band |
| Battery Life | Up to 11 days (smartwatch mode),up to 19 hours (GPS) | 38 hours (continuous GPS use),17 days (daily use) |
| Water Resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| GPS | Built-in GPS | Accurate GPS with optional dual-frequency |
| Navigation | North America map type | Breadcrumb navigation |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB | Bluetooth |
| Activity Modes | 25+ built-in profiles | Extensive range of activity modes |
| Special Features | Personalized workouts, training analysis | Always-on display, route planner, app sync |
| Additional Features | Safety features, Garmin Pay | Control GoPro and Insta360 cameras |
Price & Availability
The Garmin Forerunner 165 is the newer of the two options, launching just last month. Garmin is selling two versions of the Forerunner 165: a standard model and a “Music” edition.
The regular Forerunner 165 costs £245, while the Music version costs £290. The Music version allows you to store up to 1,000 songs, making it an excellent option for people who want to listen to music while working out without bringing their phone.
The Coros Pace 3, on the other hand, has been around a bit longer, launching in late August 2023.
Coros offers the Pace 3 in 5 styles, including white and black options with nylon or silicone bands. The Pace 3 will set you back $229/£219 on Amazon, no matter your choice.
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Coros Pace 3 Pros and Cons
✔ Integrates with Garmin’s robust ecosystem
✔ personal safety features like incident detection and assistance
✔ Garmin Coach training plans
❌ Lacks dedicated triathlon mode
✔ Breadcrumb route navigation
✔ Transflective LCD
✔ Lighter weight design
✔ Supports offline music playback while using GPS
❌ Plastic construction
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Coros Pace 3: In-depth Comparison
The Garmin Forerunner 165 and Coros Pace 3 are the best mid-range multisport watches. Both watches offer great designs, performance, and training features, making deciding which one to buy challenging. Here, we will compare the two watches, starting with their price and availability.
Forerunner 165 vs Coros Pace 3 Specs Comparison
When it comes to design, both the Garmin Forerunner 165 and the Coros Pace 3 are crafted from fiber-reinforced polymer, a durable and lightweight material.
The Forerunner 165 boasts a chemically strengthened glass lens, while the Pace 3 features Corning Gorilla Glass 3, also known for its scratch resistance.
In terms of size, the Forerunner 165 measures 43 x 43 x 11.6 mm, slightly smaller than the Pace 3’s 46.1 x 46.1 x 12.9 mm.
Both watches have touchscreen displays, but the technology behind those screens differs.
The Garmin Forerunner 165 has a bright, vibrant 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a crisp 390 x 390 pixel resolution. The AMOLED panel makes for deep blacks and punchy colors.
The screen is covered in scratch-resistant chemically strengthened glass, so you don’t have to worry about it getting banged up.
The Coros Pace 3, on the other hand, uses a memory LCD touchscreen, which is the same 1.2-inch size but with a lower resolution of 240 x 240 pixels.
Memory LCDs can’t quite match the visual pop of AMOLED, but they do use less battery power.
One area where the Garmin Forerunner 165 truly shines is its weight. At just 24 grams (without the strap), it’s incredibly light and elegant on your wrist.
This feather-light design ensures maximum comfort during your workouts. The Pace 3, while still light at 30 grams, is 20% heavier than the Garmin.
Both watches have physical buttons for navigating the menus and controlling various functions.
The Garmin Forerunner 165 has Garmin’s standard 5-button layout, while the Pace 3 has two buttons plus a rotating crown.
The touch controls work well on both, but the Garmin buttons make them easier to use on the go.
Forerunner 165 vs Coros Pace 3 Health, Sports & Activity Tracking
The Garmin Forerunner 165 and Coros Pace 3 are designed primarily for runners. Still, they can handle all kinds of workouts, from swimming and cycling to gym sessions.
One thing that sets the Pace 3 apart is its dedicated triathlon mode, which allows you to track your swim, bike, and run in one workout. The Forerunner 165 doesn’t have that specific triathlon tracking, but it’s still great for multisport training.
Both watches use optical heart rate sensors to monitor your ticker during exercise. They can also connect to external HR straps if you want even more precise data.
In our testing, the Pace 3’s heart rate tracking was reliable, especially for high-intensity activities.
Regarding GPS tracking, the Coros Pace 3 has a distinct advantage. It utilizes dual-frequency GPS, a cutting-edge technology that provides highly accurate location data, even in challenging environments like dense forests or urban areas with tall buildings.
The Forerunner 165, on the other hand, relies on single-frequency GPS, which still delivers reliable tracking.
Both watches offer lots of good training features. They can help you follow structured workout plans, do interval training, see predicted race times, and track your overall training load and recovery.
The Garmin has a slight edge regarding the user-friendliness of that data, but the core functionality is comparable. Oh, and they’ll also track your steps, sleep, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels.
Forerunner 165 vs Coros Pace 3 Smartwatch Features
The Garmin Forerunner 165 stands out with its extensive range of extra features and intelligent capabilities, making it a more versatile smartwatch. With the Forerunner 165, you can do more than track your workouts and health.
You can respond to notifications, view images from your phone, and even make contactless payments. It’s all seamlessly integrated with both iOS and Android devices.
The Pace 3, in comparison, offers a more basic notification system and lacks any mobile payment support.
Another neat perk of the Forerunner 165 is getting the “Music” version. That lets you store up to 1,000 songs on the watch, so you can leave your phone at home and still jam out to tunes on your run or ride.
With the Pace 3, you’re limited to just syncing your MP3 files – no music streaming options.
Garmin also has some handy convenience features, like the Morning Report, which gives you a quick daily rundown when you wake up. You can access tons of extra apps and watch faces through Garmin’s Connect IQ store.
Connectivity is another area where the Garmin wins. Both watches have Bluetooth and WiFi, but the Forerunner 165 also adds ANT+ support. That makes it easier to pair with all kinds of fitness gear, like heart rate monitors and bike sensors.
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Coros Pace 3 Battery Life
Battery life is a critical factor in smartwatches, and it can make or break the overall experience. If you’re looking for a watch that can last for days on a single charge, the Coros Pace 3 might be the one for you.
Compared to the Garmin Forerunner 165, the Coros Pace 3 is built to last significantly longer on a single charge. If you’re using the Forerunner 165 in regular smartwatch mode, you can expect up to 11 days of use, which is impressive.
However, suppose you’re using the GPS for outdoor workouts. In that case, you’ll get around 19 hours of battery life, which pales compared to the Pace 3.
With the Coros Pace 3, you can use it for up to 24 days in smartwatch mode, almost double that of the Forerunner 165. And when you switch to GPS mode for tracking your runs and rides, it can keep going for an impressive 38 hours!
The trade-off is that the Pace 3’s screen might not be as bright and vibrant as the Forerunner 165’s AMOLED display. However, the Pace 3’s power-sipping memory LCD screens stretch the battery further, making it a great choice for people who need a watch that can last a long time.
| Battery Life | COROS PACE 3 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch Mode | Up to 17 days | Up to 11 days |
| GPS Mode | Up to 38 hours | Up to 19 hours |
| All Satellite Systems On | Up to 25 hours | Up to 17 hours |
| Charging Time | Less than 2 hours | Approx 1 hour |
So, if you often forget to charge your watch or you’re heading out on a multi-day hiking or cycling adventure, the Coros Pace 3 is the way to go. The Garmin Forerunner 165 is no slouch either, but the Pace 3 takes battery life to the next level.
Conclusion: Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Coros Pace 3: Which is Best?
The Garmin Forerunner 165 and Coros Pace 3 are two great options when choosing a sports watch. Both offer a range of features to help you monitor your health, track your workouts, and stay connected.
If you prioritize a brighter, more visually appealing, color AMOLED display and advanced smartwatch capabilities, then the Garmin Forerunner 165 is the better choice. It also offers extensive performance metrics and training features, making it a well-rounded sports watch.
On the other hand, if you’re a dedicated athlete who prioritizes training and performance tracking and needs the best possible battery life for multi-day activities, then the Coros Pace 3 is the ideal option. It offers outstanding battery life and the necessary features for hardcore athletes.
Ultimately, the choice between the two comes down to your priorities. If you want a sports watch that functions as a capable smartwatch with a visually appealing display, then the Garmin Forerunner 165 is the way to go.
However, if you’re a dedicated athlete focused on training and performance tracking, the Coros Pace 3 is your watch.
Both watches have excellent designs, performance, and training features, making them worth considering if you’re in the market for a new fitness tracker.
Coros Pace 3
Forerunner 165
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Garmin Vs. Coros: Which Sports Smartwatch Is Right for You?
Q1. Which one is better, Garmin or Coros?
The Garmin Forerunner 165 lacks some of Garmin’s advanced training metrics and insights, such as training status, training load, and training readiness. Despite this, it still features Garmin’s Elevate V4 optical heart rate sensor and all-systems GPS for accurate run tracking. If detailed training analytics are a priority, users may find the Coros Pace 3 or higher-end Garmin models more suitable for their needs.
Q2. Does Forerunner 165 have maps?
No, the Garmin Forerunner 165 does not have built-in maps. It can only provide breadcrumb navigation, which shows a line on the screen to follow for a course you’ve previously created or downloaded. However, it’s important to note that most watches in this price range don’t have built-in maps.
