Garmin Forerunner 165 Music Review: Worth It? (November 2026)
The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music suits phone-free runs with built-in GPS, downloadable music and wireless headphone support. Choose it for an AMOLED touchscreen and longer stated battery life, or consider the Forerunner 245 Music for advanced running dynamics with a separate monitor.
On this page (8 sections)
- What does the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music offer runners?
- How does phone-free music work on the watch?
- How long can you run before charging?
- Is the AMOLED screen and button control a good combination?
- How does it compare with the Forerunner 245 Music?
- What should you know about heart rate and training data?
- Can it help with treadmill runs?
- Who should choose the Forerunner 165 Music?
The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music is a strong fit for phone-free running because it combines built-in GPS, downloadable music and wireless headphone support. It also has an AMOLED touchscreen with button controls, wrist-based heart rate and up to 19 hours of GPS mode.
Its core appeal is carrying music and run tracking on your wrist without taking your phone. The main choice is whether you want its newer display and stated battery figures, or prefer the Forerunner 245 Music's advanced running dynamics when paired with a separate monitor.
What does the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music offer runners?
The Forerunner 165 Music brings music storage, GPS and training tools together in a lightweight 43 mm running watch. For more on Garmin fitness tracker options, see our guide.
Garmin lists 25+ activity profiles, including running, cycling, HIIT and strength.
Garmin Forerunner® 165 Music: Best for phone-free daily runs
- Built-in GPS
- Downloadable music storage
- AMOLED touchscreen with button controls
- Up to 19 hours in GPS mode
A running watch with built-in GPS and downloadable songs for runs without a phone. Its AMOLED touchscreen, physical buttons and up to 19 hours of GPS mode suit runners who want music and workout tracking together.
Pros
- Music storage for phone-free listening
- Built-in GPS and wrist-based heart rate
- Touchscreen and traditional button controls
- 25+ activity profiles
Cons
- Music services require a subscription where applicable
- Safety and assistance features require a compatible paired smartphone
Its downloadable songs work with wireless headphones, and Garmin names Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer among compatible services, with subscriptions required where applicable. That setup is useful if you want to leave your phone behind and still have a familiar playlist.
The watch also includes daily suggested workouts that adapt based on performance and recovery, plus Garmin Coach and race adaptive plans. Its morning report combines sleep, recovery, training outlook, weather and HRV status; Garmin describes the health metrics as close estimates of tracked data.
How does the Forerunner 165 Music review score fit?
The 9.7 score reflects its close match for phone-free running, based on built-in GPS, stored music, headphone support and stated battery life. Our score weighs specs and features against what you're shopping for.
The watch's safety features need extra setup and phone connectivity. Incident detection works during select outdoor activities, while Assistance can send live location to emergency contacts when a compatible smartphone has network coverage.
How does phone-free music work on the watch?
Download songs or supported playlists to the watch and connect compatible wireless headphones before heading out. Once the music is stored, you can listen without carrying a phone.
Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer support depends on a subscription. Check that your service account and headphones are ready before your run, and allow time for the music transfer.
Smart notifications are a separate feature. They appear when the watch is paired with a compatible Android or Apple smartphone, so leaving your phone at home means leaving those notifications behind too.
If you want help with setup and navigation, see our guide on how to use Garmin Forerunner 165.
How long can you run before charging?
Garmin gives the Forerunner 165 Music up to 19 hours in GPS mode and up to 11 days in smartwatch mode. Those are separate maximum figures, so plan around your GPS use and how often you listen to music.
For a short daily run, the stated GPS maximum leaves room for multiple outings between charges. For longer events or frequent GPS workouts, make charging part of your routine rather than treating the maximum as a guarantee for every configuration.
The Forerunner 245 Music has a different trade-off: Garmin states up to 6 hours in GPS mode with music and up to 7 days in smartwatch mode. If music is a regular part of longer runs, that stated GPS-with-music figure is worth comparing closely.
Is the AMOLED screen and button control a good combination?
The Forerunner 165 Music uses an AMOLED touchscreen plus traditional buttons, giving you two ways to navigate. Touch can suit quick taps through menus, while buttons offer a physical control option during a run.
The watch is 43 mm and described as lightweight. Its turquoise silicone band is 20 mm wide, a practical detail to consider if you want to swap the band or buy a screen protector.
Review best Garmin Forerunner 165 accessories for add-ons that fit the watch, and compare best Garmin Forerunner 165 screen protector options if display protection matters to you.
How does it compare with the Forerunner 245 Music?
The Forerunner 165 Music is the more appealing choice for stored music and longer stated GPS battery life. The Forerunner 245 Music remains worth considering if you want its advanced running dynamics and will use a compatible separate monitor.
Garmin 010-02120-20 Forerunner 245 Music: Best for running dynamics
- GPS running smartwatch with music
- Up to 6 hours GPS mode with music
- Advanced running dynamics require a separate monitor
An older music-equipped running watch with adaptive Garmin Coach plans and training status features. Its advanced running dynamics require a separately sold Running Dynamics Pod or compatible HRM monitor.
Pros
- Stores and plays music from the watch
- Garmin Coach adaptive plans
- Advanced running dynamics with a compatible monitor
Cons
- Up to 6 hours GPS mode with music
- Advanced dynamics need a separate accessory
The Forerunner 245 Music tracks training status and offers Garmin Coach plans. Its advanced dynamics include ground contact time balance, stride length and vertical ratio, but those metrics require a Running Dynamics Pod, HRM Run or HRM Tri monitor sold separately.
For phone-free listening, both watches support music stored on the watch and wireless playback. The 165 Music has a stated up-to-19-hour GPS mode, while the 245 Music lists up to 6 hours in GPS mode with music.
For more options across Garmin's range, compare our guide to best Garmin running watches for men. The right fit depends on the features you plan to use, not just the model name.
What should you know about heart rate and training data?
The Forerunner 165 Music tracks wrist-based heart rate and presents training, sleep and recovery metrics as estimates. For treadmill pairing, compare NordicTrack heart rate monitors that match your equipment.
Use those tools to follow patterns over time, rather than treating a single reading as a medical measurement.
Training effect labels describe a workout's primary benefit, and recovery time estimates how long to wait before another high-effort workout. These features give context to a run, but they don't determine whether a training plan is right for your health or fitness level.
If heart-rate tracking is central to your buying decision, our heart rate monitor buying guide explains the differences among monitoring options.
Can it help with treadmill runs?
The Forerunner 165 Music includes a running profile and built-in GPS, but GPS is designed to track outdoor pace and distance. For indoor treadmill workouts, check the watch's available activity settings and follow Garmin's calibration guidance for your specific activity.
If you need to edit a saved session, see how to adjust a treadmill run on Garmin. See how to calibrate Garmin stride length for related guidance.
A watch's treadmill distance may need calibration after a run, depending on how the activity was recorded. Our guides explain how to reset treadmill calibration on Garmin and how to reset treadmill calibration on Garmin Fenix 7.
Who should choose the Forerunner 165 Music?
Choose the Forerunner 165 Music if you want GPS run tracking and stored music in one watch, with a touchscreen, physical controls and up to 19 hours of stated GPS battery life. It suits runners who want to listen without bringing a phone.
Choose the Forerunner 245 Music if its running dynamics matter to you and you're prepared to use a compatible separate monitor. Its stated GPS battery life with music is shorter, so weigh that against the features you expect to use.
For charging and fit details, see our guides to the best Garmin Forerunner 165 charging cable and best Garmin Forerunner 165 bands. If you want music-free smartwatch features, compare other running watches before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music play music without a phone?
Yes. You can download songs to the watch and pair it with wireless headphones for phone-free listening.
Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer playlists are supported with a subscription where required.
Download music and pair the headphones before your run, since streaming from a phone isn't needed for this setup.
How long does the Forerunner 165 Music battery last?
Garmin states up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode. Actual time depends on how you use the watch, including GPS and music.
If your runs are long or frequent, compare your expected GPS time with the stated maximum and charge between outings as needed.
Does the Forerunner 165 Music need a phone?
A phone isn't required for stored music playback or built-in GPS tracking. A compatible paired smartphone is required for smart notifications, incident detection and Assistance features, and the safety features also need network coverage and setup.
Pair the watch before relying on phone-linked features.
Is the Forerunner 165 Music good for training?
It includes daily suggested workouts, Garmin Coach and race adaptive training plans, plus training effect and recovery time features. These tools can help structure workouts around performance and recovery estimates, but they aren't a substitute for a plan matched to your health, experience and race goals.
