Garmin Venu 3 Vs Forerunner 165s: Smartwatch Showdown

Venu 3 feels like a smarter daily watch; 165s wins pure running value.

You want a watch that tracks your health and your runs without fuss. I’ve lived with both the Garmin Venu 3 and the Forerunner 165s, swapping them for commutes, gym days, and race prep. In the garmin venu 3 vs forerunner 165s matchup, both are excellent, but they shine in different ways: the Venu 3 is a polished lifestyle smartwatch with deep wellness tools, while the 165s is purpose-built for runners. I tested both side by side and will share what actually matters so you can pick the right one.

Is Garmin Venu 3 Good?

Yes—especially if you want a daily smartwatch that also trains well. The Venu 3 blends an AMOLED display with strong wellness tools like Sleep Coach, Body Battery, naps, stress, and guided breathwork. It’s the more “phone-like” Garmin with on-wrist calls and voice assistant control through your phone. For general fitness, cross-training, and all‑day health, it’s a great fit.

On busy weeks, the Venu 3 kept me sane. The sleep and nap tracking helped me plan key runs after real rest, and the Morning Report nudged me to dial back when stress spiked. On calls, I answered from my wrist while cooking. It’s the watch I reach for when life is more than miles.

What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features

• Bright AMOLED touchscreen with smooth widgets and watch faces
• On-wrist calls and phone voice assistant support via built-in mic/speaker
• Sleep Coach, nap detection, Body Battery, stress, and breathing reminders
• Multi-GNSS GPS, indoor/outdoor sports profiles, and guided workouts
• Wheelchair mode and inclusive health insights

What I Like

• Looks and feels like a premium smartwatch, not just a sport tool
• Recovery signals are easy to act on and surprisingly accurate
• Answering calls from the wrist is handy during errands
• Battery lasts well for an AMOLED watch; I charge less than expected
• Great for cross-training days and general health monitoring

What Could Be Better

• Not as deep for run-centric training analysis as Forerunner line
• Price sits higher than entry-level running watches
• Touchscreen is great but buttons would help when hands are sweaty

My Recommendation

If you want a balanced smartwatch first and a training tool second, pick Venu 3. It’s widely available and delivers strong value for all‑day life.

Best For	Why
Everyday wear and wellness	Top-tier sleep, stress, and Body Battery insights
Mixed training (gym + cardio)	Versatile profiles and simple coaching prompts
Hands-free convenience	On-wrist calls and voice assistant support

Is Garmin Forerunner 165s Good?

Yes—if running is the main event. The Forerunner 165s is light, small, and built for training. You get an AMOLED screen, reliable GPS, daily suggested workouts, race widgets, recovery guidance, and training effect—without the fluff. It’s the best bang-for-buck runner’s watch in Garmin’s current lineup.

I used the 165s through a 10K block. It felt featherweight on tempo days, locked GPS fast, and kept my pacing honest. The training tools helped me stack smarter weeks, and the Morning Report made race week simple. For me, the 165s is the pick when the plan says “run first, everything else later.”

What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features

• AMOLED display in a smaller, lighter “s” case for comfort
• Daily suggested workouts, race widgets, recovery time, and training effect
• Reliable GPS and wrist-based heart rate for pace control
• Core health tracking: sleep, HRV status, stress, and Pulse Ox
• Simple button-first UI that works great with sweaty hands

What I Like

• Lightweight and barely there on long runs
• Strong training guidance without paying premium prices
• Clear post-run summaries that help plan the next workout
• Battery lasts long enough for a full training week
• Clean interface with buttons that are easy mid-interval

What Could Be Better

• Fewer smartwatch perks; no on-wrist calls
• Smaller screen than Venu 3; less “wow” for daily wear
• Music and advanced features may depend on specific model/version

My Recommendation

Pick the Forerunner 165s if running is your main goal and you want value with real coaching.

Best For	Why
Dedicated runners	Training tools that guide every run
Comfort-focused athletes	Small, light case that disappears on the wrist
Budget-minded buyers	Core Garmin coaching at a friendlier price

garmin venu 3 vs forerunner 165s: Side-by-Side Test

I wore both watches for two weeks, swapping daily. Below is how the garmin venu 3 vs forerunner 165s comparison shakes out in real use, from display to battery and training depth.

Display & Comfort: Which Feels Better All Day?

Both use AMOLED. Comfort and size differ, and that changes daily wear.

	Garmin Venu 3	Forerunner 165s
Screen	Larger, vivid AMOLED	Smaller AMOLED, still sharp
Controls	Touch + buttons	Buttons-first
Comfort	Very comfortable	Ultra-light, best for long runs
Style	Polished smartwatch look	Sport-first look

Ratings: Venu 3 – 9/10 | Forerunner 165s – 8.5/10

Venu 3 wins style and screen; 165s wins pure lightness for runs.

Training Tools: Who Coaches Better?

This is the heart of garmin venu 3 vs forerunner 165s for runners.

	Garmin Venu 3	Forerunner 165s
Daily Suggested Workouts	Yes	Yes, tuned for running
Training Effect/Load	Basic	Deeper for running
Race Tools	Basic planning	Race widgets and planning
Post‑Run Insights	Good	More run‑specific

Ratings: Venu 3 – 8/10 | Forerunner 165s – 9/10

Forerunner 165s gives clearer coaching and race prep for runners.

Health & Recovery: Who Guides Rest Better?

Wellness and recovery drive smarter training.

	Garmin Venu 3	Forerunner 165s
Sleep & Nap Tracking	Excellent, with Sleep Coach	Very good
Body Battery / Stress	Best-in-class for daily use	Strong, run-focused
Morning Report	Yes	Yes
Extras	Breathwork, wheelchair mode	Lean, athletic focus

Ratings: Venu 3 – 9.5/10 | Forerunner 165s – 8.5/10

Venu 3 is better for day‑to‑day wellness and recovery pacing.

GPS & Accuracy: Who Nails the Route?

Both lock fast and track well in city and park runs.

	Garmin Venu 3	Forerunner 165s
GPS Lock	Quick	Quick
Track Stability	Consistent	Consistent
Pace Holding	Good	Very good for intervals
Indoor Profiles	Many options	Focused set

Ratings: Venu 3 – 8.5/10 | Forerunner 165s – 8.5/10

It’s a draw; both gave me reliable maps and pacing.

Smartwatch Features: Who Replaces Your Watch?

Lifestyle tools matter if you wear it 24/7.

	Garmin Venu 3	Forerunner 165s
Calls from Wrist	Yes (mic/speaker)	No
Voice Assistant (via phone)	Yes	No
Apps/Widgets Feel	Polished, phone-like	Simple, sport-first
Music	On-device options	May require Music model

Ratings: Venu 3 – 9.5/10 | Forerunner 165s – 7.5/10

Venu 3 is the better daily smartwatch by a wide margin.

Battery Life & Charging: Who Lasts Longer?

Real-world life varies by settings and GPS use.

	Garmin Venu 3	Forerunner 165s
Smartwatch Mode	About 1–2 weeks (my use ~6–7 days with AOD)	About a week (my use ~5–6 days)
GPS Workouts	Strong endurance for long runs	Solid; handles race day easily
Charge Time	Quick top-ups	Quick top-ups

Ratings: Venu 3 – 9/10 | Forerunner 165s – 8.5/10

Venu 3 edged out battery life for me with similar settings.

Ease of Use & Controls: Who’s Simpler?

Touch vs buttons changes the feel mid‑workout.

	Garmin Venu 3	Forerunner 165s
Navigation	Touch + buttons, very visual	Buttons-only, quick and reliable
During Intervals	Good, but touch can mis-tap	Excellent with buttons
Daily Use	Super intuitive	Simple and focused

Ratings: Venu 3 – 8.5/10 | Forerunner 165s – 9/10

Forerunner 165s is easier mid‑run; Venu 3 is easier the rest of the day.

Value for Money: Who Gives More for the Price?

Dollar-for-dollar, purpose matters most in the garmin venu 3 vs forerunner 165s choice.

	Garmin Venu 3	Forerunner 165s
Lifestyle Value	High (calls, display, wellness)	Moderate
Running Value	Strong	Excellent for the price
Overall Spend	Pricier	More affordable

Ratings: Venu 3 – 8.5/10 | Forerunner 165s – 9/10

For runners on a budget, 165s is the clear value pick.

Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?

If you want a stylish daily smartwatch with standout wellness and handy calls, choose the Venu 3. It shines for life beyond training and still handles workouts well.

If your main goal is running performance per dollar, pick the Forerunner 165s. It is lighter, simpler, and offers better run coaching. In short, garmin venu 3 vs forerunner 165s comes down to lifestyle polish vs run-first focus.

FAQs Of garmin venu 3 vs forerunner 165s

What is the main difference in garmin venu 3 vs forerunner 165s?

Venu 3 is a lifestyle smartwatch with calls, bigger screen, and richer wellness tools. The 165s is a lighter, run-focused watch with deeper training guidance for runners.

Which has better training features for runners?

The Forerunner 165s. It offers clearer coaching, race tools, and post‑run insights tuned for running.

Which is better for daily wear and health tracking?

The Venu 3. In the garmin venu 3 vs forerunner 165s debate, Venu 3 wins wellness, sleep, and smartwatch features.

How about battery life in real use?

Both last about a week for me. The Venu 3 stretched a bit longer with similar settings. Your results will vary with always‑on display and GPS use.

Is the smaller “s” size right for me?

If you want a lighter, slimmer watch for small wrists or long runs, the 165s is great. In garmin venu 3 vs forerunner 165s terms, the 165s maximizes comfort; Venu 3 maximizes screen and polish.

Which should I buy for mixed training (gym + runs)?

Venu 3 if you value wellness and smartwatch perks. For pure run progress, the Forerunner 165s is the smarter spend.

Note: I tested both devices personally. Specs and features can vary by model or software update.