Garmin launched a lot of new devices in 2025, refreshing almost its entire line-up and releasing some of the best sports watches available, like the Garmin Forerunner 970.
It did not, however, update the Garmin Forerunner 165, its entry-level watch for runners. Rather than upgrades to the brand’s high-end devices like a Fenix 9, a new version of the Forerunner 165 is the Garmin watch I most want to see in 2026.
While I love testing and using top-of-the-line watches like the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro, more affordable watches offer better value to most people and they’re more popular in general. I also think this is an area of the market where Garmin’s rivals have pushed ahead with recent launches.
Suunto and Coros have better value options
The Forerunner 165 launched back in February 2024, and while Garmin opted not to update the watch last year, Coros and Suunto did put out excellent watches in the same price range — the Coros Pace 4 and Suunto Run.
Both are lightweight AMOLED watches that have some key features not available on the Forerunner 165, such as multi-band GPS tracking and more extensive training analysis and both have longer battery life as well.
While the Forerunner 165 still stands up as an excellent entry-level running watch, I’d say the Coros Pace 4 and Suunto Run both offer more training features to runners and triathletes, and they are cheaper than the music version of the Forerunner 165 based on MSRP.
What features should the new watch have?
The most important thing I want to see from a new Garmin watch in this area is that the price doesn’t rise above $300, and ideally stays below $250 to compete with Coros and Suunto, but there are some features I do want to see on an updated entry-level Forerunner.
Multi-band GPS is top of my list. This is the most accurate GPS mode Garmin has, and while this does use more battery life, it has become standard on other brands’ devices, as well as Garmin’s more expensive models.
I always want to see Garmin add more training analysis to its cheaper watches. Other brands have the same features in this area across their entire range, whereas Garmin reserves some features for more expensive watches. While an entry-level watch doesn’t need everything, more training load analysis to help you judge your workouts would definitely be welcome.
This might be a long shot, but I’d love for Garmin to add a built-in flashlight to its Forerunner 165 successor. Many Garmin watches have this now, and I find it really useful; this would be a key feature that sets it apart from rival brands.
Another upgrade I’d like is a brighter AMOLED display. Garmin did upgrade the brightness of most watches launched in 2025, so I’d expect this to happen with any new AMOLED device that comes.
If Garmin can add these features, plus one or two surprises, into a lightweight, good-looking watch, then it will be a great way to make its line-up better for a wide range of runners and other athletes in 2026.
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