Garmin Forerunnerยฎ 965 Running Smartwatch, Colorful AMOLED Display, Training Metrics and Recovery Insights, Black and Powder Gray, 010-02809-00

TLDR Review: Garmin Forerunner 965

Published: September 4th, 2024

Score

The Garmin Forerunner 965 receives a high score due to its outstanding AMOLED display, extensive fitness tracking features, and solid battery performance, making it an excellent choice for serious athletes. However, concerns regarding heart rate tracking accuracy and a premium price point deter some users, revealing discrepancies in customer experiences. Overall, it's a robust fitness smartwatchly designed for dedicated runners, but it may not fully meet expectations for those seeking superior heart rate monitoring and ruggedness.

8.86/10
Expert
6.79/10
Consumer

Pros

  • โ€ขThe watch is from a reliable brand, Garmin, and has been used by the reviewer for over a decade with all previous models still functioning.
  • โ€ขThis newest model offers all the desired features for a running watch.
  • โ€ขIt helps improve running performance through pacing during activities.
  • โ€ขThe watch is easy to use.
  • โ€ขThe Garmin Connect app is highly rated.
  • โ€ขThe battery life is very long.
  • โ€ขIt is an improvement over other smart watches.
  • โ€ขThe reviewer finds the screen to be very nice.
  • โ€ขUtilizes heart rate monitoring to stay in zone 2 during runs.
  • โ€ขIncludes step count feature to encourage movement.

Cons

  • โ€ขNot suitable for use outside of Europe.
  • โ€ขMaps do not allow for North America download.
  • โ€ขLimited functionality for nouropean users.
  • โ€ขDuring the 3rd week, the watch would turn off randomly while running or at the gym, even with 45% battery life.
  • โ€ขInaccurate run dynamics and run power readings (50 watts too high).
  • โ€ขSensor calculations are incorrect, not just incompatibility with Stryd.
  • โ€ขHit or miss for collecting sleep data.
  • โ€ขDisappointing performance for run metrics, particularly for those who train using power.
  • โ€ขRun power feature becomes useless due to inaccuracies.

Bottom Line

If you're a Garmin devotee and run your heart out, this watch offers some sweet features and a sleek interface. Just be warned, if you donโ€™t live in Europe or train using power metrics, proceed with caution. You might want to consider a different model or brand that better suits your geographical and training needs.

Lowest at any Popular Retailer
$499.99 at Amazon

Where to Buy

Prices last updated: July 12th 2025 8:05 am
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