The Forerunner 165 Music from Garmin Ltd. - AMOLED display and onboard playlists under 300 euros
22.06.2026 - 13:28:55 | ad-hoc-news.de
Reviewed: ad hoc news Bestseller & Flagship desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-22, 13:25. Details in the imprint.
Garmin Forerunner 165 Music glows on your wrist with a sharp AMOLED face as you lace up in the cool morning, swipe to start a run, and feel the light silicone band sit barely there against your skin.
What sets this watch apart
The Forerunner 165 Music is Garmin's newer mid-range running watch that swaps the old transflective screen for a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen while keeping the body slim and 39 g light without the strap. Garmin's official product page confirms features like wrist-based running dynamics, training effect and race-predictor metrics.
Product director Dan Bartel has framed the 165 series as bringing "high-visibility screens and music" down to runners who previously looked at the 255 line, and it shows in the everyday feel of the always-on display at a glance.
AMOLED, music and battery
The watch stores up to roughly 4 GB of music, enough for several Spotify or Deezer playlists downloaded over Wi-Fi so you can leave the phone at home on tempo days. Garmin specifies up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and around 19 hours in standard GPS mode, depending on settings. A detailed review by DC Rainmaker notes that even with frequent GPS use, most runners only reach for the charger once a week.
Background on Garmin Ltd. shares
GPS watches like the Forerunner series are a core pillar of Garmin's business model and help investors judge how the sports segment contributes to revenue and margins.
Training tools on the wrist
The Forerunner 165 Music supports multi-band GPS in the 165 Music Dual Band variant, while the standard Music model sticks to single-band GPS that still tracks city runs with convincing accuracy for most users. Structured workouts, suggested daily runs and Garmin Coach plans are integrated, so interval sets pop up with vibration alerts instead of living on a crumpled paper note.
There is full support for heart rate broadcasting to gym equipment, basic running power from the wrist and compatibility with external sensors, so more data-hungry runners do not outgrow the watch immediately.
Price, positioning and rivals
Garmin lists the Forerunner 165 Music at an RRP of 329.99 euros in Europe and 299.99 dollars in the US, placing it comfortably under the Forerunner 265 but above the non-music 165. A recent buying guide from Tom's Guide highlights the 165 line as one of several Garmin models seeing strong discounting versus launch price during big sales events. The guide mentions the Forerunner range among watches frequently reduced ahead of Amazon's Prime Day.
Compared with smartwatches from Apple or Samsung, the Forerunner 165 Music feels more focused on running than on apps, but that focus also keeps the interface tidy and the battery life longer than many fully fledged smartwatch rivals.
Where it falls short
The watch lacks some premium touches from higher lines, such as full-color maps and more advanced performance metrics like training readiness scores, which Garmin reserves for the 265 and 965 families. Runners who live by on-watch navigation for trails will notice the missing detailed maps quickly on longer weekend routes.
There is also no speaker for taking calls on the wrist, and payment support depends on Garmin Pay acceptance, which still lags behind Apple Pay in many European shops.
Context and share reference
Garmin builds the Forerunner 165 Music as part of its Fitness segment, alongside cycling computers and smart scales, and this segment remains a key contributor to group revenue and operating income. Garmin Ltd. shares (ISIN CH0114405324) trade on the NYSE under the ticker GRMN, giving investors global access to the sports-technology story.
Key facts on the Forerunner 165 Music
- Product: Garmin Forerunner 165 Music
- Manufacturer: Garmin Ltd.
- Category: Flagship/Bestseller GPS running watch
- Launch: First quarter 2024
- RRP / Price: Approx. 329.99 euros in Europe / 299.99 US dollars
- Availability: Online via Garmin and electronics retailers, including selected EU markets
- Target group: Recreational and ambitious runners who want AMOLED visuals and offline music without entering high-end price tiers
- Highlight / USP: Bright AMOLED touchscreen with integrated music storage and strong battery life in a light, runner-focused design
Garmin Forerunner 165 Music on Amazon
The Forerunner 165 Music is listed on amazon.de, often with changing offers depending on color and strap option.
Garmin Forerunner 165 Music on AmazonAffiliate link: ad-hoc-news.de earns a commission when you buy via this link. The price for you does not change.
This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.
