Garmin Forerunner 165 was released on 20 February 2024. Garmin Forerunner 255 was released in June 2022. We compare Garmin Forerunner 165 and Garmin Forerunner 255 below.
Main differences
- Garmin Forerunner 165 uses an AMOLED display screen. Garmin Forerunner 255 has an MIP or Memory-in-pixel screen.
- Garmin Forerunner 165 has an in-built touchscreen functionality. Garmin Forerunner 255 lacks the touchscreen functionality.
- Garmin Forerunner 255 supports multi-band GPS or dual-frequency GPS. Garmin Forerunner 165 does not support multi-band GPS.
- Garmin Forerunner 255 has a better display glass. The display screen comprises Corning Gorilla Glass 3 in a Forerunner 255. Garmin Forerunner 165 uses chemically strengthened glass.
- Forerunner 255 is slightly broader than Forerunner 165.
- Forerunner 255 offers slightly longer battery backup than Forerunner 165.
- Forerunner 255 includes a sensor for the gyroscope.
- Forerunner 165 includes an Ambient light sensor.
We look at these differences in detail below.
Display Specifications
| Display specifications | Forerunner 165 | Forerunner 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 30 mm | 33 mm |
| Display resolution | 390 x 390 pixels | 260 x 260 pixels |
| Display lens | Chemically strengthened glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Display technology | AMOLED (optional always-on mode) | MIP (Memory-in-pixel) |
| Color display | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen | Yes | No |
| Ambient light sensor | Yes | No |
The important points to note are:
- Forerunner 255 uses 3rd generation Corning Gorilla Glass.
- Forerunner 165 uses better display technology of AMOLED.
- Forerunner 165 has a higher display resolution than Forerunner 255.
Physical specifications
The physical specifications of Forerunner 165 and Forerunner 255 are compared below.
| Physical specifications | Forerunner 165 | Forerunner 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Watch size | 43 x 43 x 11.6 mm | 45.6 x 45.6 x 12.9 mm |
| Thickness | 11.6 mm | 12.9 mm |
| Band size | 20 mm | 22 mm |
| Band material | Silicone | Silicone |
| Recommended wrist circumference | 126-203 mm | 130-205 mm |
| Weight | 39 g | 49 g |
| Bezel | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Water rating | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| NFC Payments | Garmin Pay | Garmin Pay |
- Garmin Pay app is used for making NFC or contactless payments.
- Both watches use a 5 ATM water resistance rating. This implies both watches are resistant to water pressure at 50 meters of depth under the water’s surface.
- Forerunner 255 is slightly bigger and thicker than Forerunner 165.
GPS
Garmin Forerunner 165 and Forerunner 255 support GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellite networks. Forerunner 255 supports multi-band GPS or dual-frequency GPS.
The multi-band GPS in Forerunner 255 has been made possible with the introduction of a multi-frequency positioning sensor.
The multi-band GPS allows the smartwatch to fetch GPS data from multiple satellites at any given point in time. This helps in improving GPS accuracy and reliability.
Garmin Forerunner 165 standard and music edition do not have a multi-frequency positioning sensor. Therefore, Forerunner 165 cannot support dual-frequency GPS.
Garmin Forerunner 255, additionally, uses SatIQ technology to manage multi-band GPS automatically. SatIQ allows Forerunner 255 to toggle on or off the multi-band GPS mode.
SatIQ sensor allows Forerunner 255 to conserver battery backup with optimum usage of the multi-band GPS mode.
Battery
Garmin Forerunner 255 offers longer battery backup than Forerunner 165. Both watches support fast charging through the Garmin proprietary charger.
| Watch mode | Forerunner 165 | Forerunner 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | Up to 11 days | Up to 14 days |
| GPS-Only GNSS mode | Up to 19 hours | Up to 30 hours |
| All-Systems GNSS mode | Up to 17 hours | Up to 25 hours |
| All-Systems GNSS mode in multi-band GPS | – | Up to 16 hours |
Cost
Garmin Forerunner 165 comes for $249.99. Garmin Forerunner 255 has a list price of $349.99. So, the Forerunner 255 is costlier than the Forerunner 165 by $100.
Final verdict
For the additional cost of $100, the Garmin Forerunner 255 affords the following benefits over the Forerunner 165:
- Multi-band GPS
- Corning Gorilla Glass 3
- Better battery backup
- Touchscreen functionality
Additionally, Garmin Forerunner 255 has a higher number of activity profiles than Forerunner 165.