Compare Apple Watch SE 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 165

P1 Apple Watch SE 3
P2 Garmin Forerunner 165

Comparison Takeaways

Apple Watch SE 3

Where It Has the Edge

  • voice assistant quality is 4.4 vs 1.0. Voice assistant quality improves with on-device Siri and the S10 chip, making requests faster and more useful than...
  • music controls is 4.8 vs 2.3. Music controls are a strength, including Apple Music pairing, media controls, and playback improvements.
  • calorie tracking usefulness is 4.0 vs 2.5. Calorie tracking is treated as part of the reliable core fitness feature set, with one reviewer noting workout...
  • size options is 4.0 vs 2.7. Size options are adequate and familiar at 40mm and 44mm, with the smaller size appealing to smaller wrists,...

Garmin Forerunner 165

Where It Has the Edge

  • blood oxygen tracking is 4.1 vs 1.0. The watch includes blood oxygen or Pulse Ox tracking, but reviewers treated it as a useful health sensor...
  • cross-platform compatibility is 3.8 vs 2.0. Cross-platform compatibility is functional, but one reviewer noted the phone experience differs between iPhone and Android, especially for...
  • brightness is 4.7 vs 3.5. Brightness was a clear strength, especially the bold AMOLED screen and usable bright-display behavior.
  • outdoor visibility is 4.6 vs 3.6. Outdoor visibility was a standout strength; reviewers repeatedly said the AMOLED screen was readable in sunlight and bright...
Average score
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.1
Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.0
activity auto-detection
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.2

Reviewers found automatic workout or walk detection useful and generally dependable, though one noted occasional slower workout-end recognition.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
No score yet
app ecosystem
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.8

The app ecosystem is a major strength, with reviewers praising the Apple Watch App Store and broad app availability compared with rival budget watches.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.1

Connect IQ gives the watch a modest app ecosystem for watch faces, widgets, data fields, and extras, though it is not framed as a full smartwatch app platform.

band quality
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.5

Band support is a strength because the SE 3 uses Apple’s familiar strap system and has many Apple and third-party options.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.3

Reviewers generally liked the soft, adjustable silicone strap and standard strap options, with no major comfort complaints about the band itself.

battery life
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
3.5

Battery life is the clearest mixed area: some reviewers saw all-day or better results, while others still treated it as a daily-charge watch.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.0

Battery life was praised as strong for an AMOLED Garmin in normal training use, but several reviewers said always-on display, music, or endurance use reduces its advantage.

blood oxygen tracking
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
1.0

Blood oxygen tracking is consistently described as missing from the SE 3, making it a clear limitation versus Series and Ultra models.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.1

The watch includes blood oxygen or Pulse Ox tracking, but reviewers treated it as a useful health sensor rather than a headline reason to buy.

Bluetooth connectivity
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.1

Bluetooth support is present and useful for headphones and audio, though reviewers mostly mention it as part of the connectivity package rather than a standout feature.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.2

Bluetooth and ANT+ sensor/headphone support were viewed positively, with reviewers noting external sensor support and solid headphone connectivity.

brightness
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
3.5

Brightness is adequate for many reviewers, but the 1,000-nit display is repeatedly framed as weaker than the Series 11 in direct sunlight.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.7

Brightness was a clear strength, especially the bold AMOLED screen and usable bright-display behavior.

build quality
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.3

Build quality is generally praised as light, well made, and attractive, with tougher glass helping the SE 3 feel less like a budget device.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
3.9

Build quality was viewed as dependable for the price, with Garmin durability praised even though the plastic construction feels less premium.

button controls
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.6

Button and gesture controls are strongly received, especially the Digital Crown, side button, Double Tap, and Wrist Flick gestures.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.4

The five-button layout was one of the most consistently praised usability strengths, especially for workouts, gloves, sweat, and wet conditions.

call handling
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.1

Call handling is solid for a wrist device, with useful speaker, microphone, cellular, and voice isolation notes, though it is not ideal as a primary phone substitute.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.2

Call handling was limited to reliable call-related smartphone alerts rather than full on-watch calling.

calorie tracking usefulness
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.0

Calorie tracking is treated as part of the reliable core fitness feature set, with one reviewer noting workout calorie metrics matched comparison data.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
2.5

Calorie tracking received weak support; one reviewer saw calorie burn data in strength mode but did not find that feature very useful.

charging convenience
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
3.9

Charging convenience improves with USB-C magnetic charging and fast top-ups, but sleep tracking still requires a daily charging routine for many users.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.2

Charging convenience was mostly fine thanks to secure contacts and Garmin’s familiar proprietary cable, though it is not universal wireless charging.

charging speed
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.3

Charging speed is a repeated upgrade, with reviewers citing useful fast-charge top-ups and roughly 80 percent in around 45 minutes to an hour.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.1

Charging speed was generally acceptable to good, with reviewers reporting around one hour to just under two hours depending on the source.

coaching features
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.0

Coaching features are useful but not deeply advanced; Workout Buddy is described as beginner-friendly, motivational, or basic depending on the reviewer.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.3

Coaching features were well supported through Garmin Coach, adaptive plans, structured workouts, daily suggestions, and race-related guidance.

comfort
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.6

Comfort is a strength, with reviewers calling the watch lightweight, unobtrusive, and well suited to sleep or smaller wrists.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.6

Comfort was a major point of agreement: reviewers repeatedly described the watch as light, compact, unobtrusive, and easy to wear day and night.

companion app quality
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
3.5

Companion app quality is functional but split across Watch, Health, and Fitness apps, which can be useful yet occasionally tedious.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.1

Garmin Connect was mostly praised for depth, workout analysis, and improving organization, though one reviewer found the redesign not dramatically easier.

contactless payments
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.8

Contactless payments are a strong Apple Watch staple, with Apple Pay repeatedly included among the SE 3’s core smartwatch strengths.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.1

Garmin Pay was consistently mentioned as available and useful for contactless payments across models.

cross-platform compatibility
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
2.0

Cross-platform compatibility is weak because reviewers frame the SE 3 as an iPhone smartwatch and note it only works with iPhone.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
3.8

Cross-platform compatibility is functional, but one reviewer noted the phone experience differs between iPhone and Android, especially for replies.

customization options
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.4

Customization is strong across watch faces, metrics, widgets, bands, and gesture-driven controls.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.5

Customization was strong, with configurable widgets, data fields, watch faces, and training screens noted across reviews.

display quality
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.3

Display quality is much improved by the always-on OLED screen, though thicker bezels and lower brightness keep it below Series and Ultra displays.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.6

Display quality was one of the strongest attributes, with reviewers repeatedly praising the vibrant, crisp AMOLED screen.

durability
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
3.9

Durability is improved through tougher Ion-X glass and water resistance, but some reviewers still point to weaker scratch or dust protection than pricier models.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.3

Durability evidence was positive overall, including resistance to daily abuse, though not all reviewers considered it a rugged outdoor watch.

ECG functionality
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
1.0

ECG functionality is absent, and reviewers repeatedly call this one of the main health-feature tradeoffs.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
1.0

ECG functionality was consistently absent; reviewers repeatedly stated users need a different or higher-end Garmin for ECG/EKG.

fit
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.3

Fit is favorable for smaller wrists and sleep tracking, though one reviewer found the older chassis less flush than newer models.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.3

Fit was generally positive, with the small case sitting neatly on wrists and under layers without feeling oversized.

fitness tracking accuracy
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.7

Fitness tracking accuracy is a strong point, with reviewers reporting accurate workouts and close agreement with comparison devices.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.6

Fitness tracking accuracy was praised across multiple reviews, especially for daily activity data, run metrics, and overall sensor reliability.

GPS accuracy
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.3

GPS accuracy is generally strong for a single-band Apple Watch, with caveats in tall-building or canyon-like conditions.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.3

GPS accuracy was a major strength; most reviewers found it accurate or solid despite the lack of dual-band GPS, with only occasional challenging-environment issues.

health tracking accuracy
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.2

Health tracking accuracy is solid for the essentials, especially heart rate, sleep, and workouts, while advanced sensors are omitted.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.4

Health tracking accuracy was supported by the reliable sensor package and detailed data collection, but evidence was less extensive than for GPS and heart rate.

heart rate accuracy
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.6

Heart-rate accuracy is repeatedly praised, with reviewers finding close agreement against straps or other watches.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.3

Heart rate accuracy was broadly positive, often matching chest straps or higher-end watches well, with occasional optical-sensor lag or spikes.

LTE connectivity
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.3

LTE and cellular connectivity are improved by 5G, with reviewers noting better coverage, calls, texts, messages, and downloads away from the phone.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
No score yet
mapping and navigation
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.3

Mapping and navigation are useful thanks to Apple Maps, offline maps, Find My basics, and Compass Backtrack, though precision finding is limited.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.0

Navigation is useful but limited: reviewers liked breadcrumb routing, courses, back-to-start, and GPX support, while noting the absence of full maps.

materials quality
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.0

Materials quality is good for the price, with aluminum and Ion-X glass, but premium titanium, sapphire, and some rugged ratings remain reserved for higher models.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
3.2

Materials quality was a tradeoff: the polymer/plastic body helps weight and price but feels less premium than metal.

menu navigation
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.5

Menu navigation is easy and fast, helped by watchOS, the Digital Crown, touch controls, and one-handed gestures.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.2

Menu navigation is flexible because Garmin allows almost everything to be controlled by buttons, reducing reliance on touch.

music controls
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.8

Music controls are a strength, including Apple Music pairing, media controls, and playback improvements.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
2.3

Music controls were a weak spot, with reviewers finding on-run controls unintuitive or limited without the Music model.

onboard music storage
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.3

Onboard storage and offline playback are improved, with 64GB storage and support for music or media without the phone nearby.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
3.7

Onboard music storage is useful on the Music edition, but reviews were split because syncing can be tedious and costs extra.

operating system experience
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.6

The operating system experience is a major strength; reviewers praise watchOS 26 as polished, cohesive, and rich in Apple Watch features.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
3.7

The operating system experience felt Garmin-like and sport-focused, with solid hybrid smartwatch behavior but limitations versus true smartwatches.

outdoor visibility
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
3.6

Outdoor visibility is usable but not class-leading, with the 1,000-nit screen and direct sunlight repeatedly cited as limits.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.6

Outdoor visibility was a standout strength; reviewers repeatedly said the AMOLED screen was readable in sunlight and bright conditions.

pairing reliability
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.7

Pairing and iPhone integration are strong, with reviewers praising how well the watch syncs, routes notifications, and pairs with Apple services.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.5

Pairing reliability was specifically praised for Bluetooth headphones in one review, with no broad pairing complaints across the review set.

recovery insights
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.1

Recovery insights are present through training load, Vitals, sleep score, and workout feedback, but they are not as deep or prescriptive as some rivals.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
3.5

Recovery insights are useful through Recovery Time, Training Effect, HRV, Body Battery, and related tools, but the missing Training Readiness and Training Load limited depth.

reliability
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.4

Reliability appears strong in everyday use, with reviewers emphasizing smooth performance and lack of issues in ordinary tasks.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.4

Reliability was praised in long-term and general-use terms, with reviewers describing the watch as dependable and accessible.

safety features
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.8

Safety features are a major strength, including fall detection, crash detection, emergency SOS, heart-rate alerts, and Compass Backtrack.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.5

Safety features were positively noted through LiveTrack and incident detection, though the evidence came from one detailed review.

size options
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.0

Size options are adequate and familiar at 40mm and 44mm, with the smaller size appealing to smaller wrists, though color choices are limited.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
2.7

Size options were a weakness because reviewers repeatedly noted there is only one case size, despite the size working for many wrists.

sleep tracking accuracy
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.1

Sleep tracking is useful and generally accurate for time and stages, but sleep score is sometimes described as simple or limited.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
3.9

Sleep tracking was mostly useful for sleep duration and scores, but opinions were mixed because at least one reviewer found missed restless sleep.

smartphone notifications
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.6

Notifications are a core strength, especially with always-on viewing, wrist vibration routing, and gestures for dismissal or management.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.2

Smartphone notifications were considered reliable and readable, with texts, calls, and app alerts working well when paired.

smartwatch features
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.8

Smartwatch features are excellent for the price, with reviewers emphasizing that it feels like a full Apple Watch rather than a stripped-down tracker.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.2

Smartwatch features were solid for a sport watch, including notifications, wallet/payments, Find My Phone, music, and safety tools, but not full smartwatch depth.

software smoothness
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.8

Software smoothness is one of the clearest strengths because the S10 chip keeps watchOS, apps, and gestures fast and responsive.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
3.8

Software smoothness was acceptable but not premium-watch smooth, with one review noting the refresh rate was not Apple Watch-like.

step counting accuracy
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.0

Step counting appears as part of the core activity toolkit, though reviewers discuss the feature more than rigorous step-count accuracy.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.6

Step counting accuracy was positively supported by one review that found it closely matched other tested devices.

stress tracking
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
No score yet
Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.0

Stress tracking was present as part of the broader Garmin health and sleep feature set.

style and design
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
3.3

Style and design are mixed: reviewers like the familiar Apple Watch look but often criticize the older body, thicker bezels, and limited colors.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.1

Style and design were viewed positively for a sporty, compact watch with a bright display that could be worn daily.

third-party app support
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.6

Third-party app support is strong because the SE 3 retains Apple’s large app store and broad developer support.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
3.7

Third-party app support exists through Connect IQ widgets, watch faces, data fields, and apps, but reviewers did not portray it as a rich smartwatch store.

touchscreen responsiveness
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.7

Touchscreen responsiveness is strong, with reviewers saying touch, buttons, gestures, and everyday controls work promptly and fluidly.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.3

Touchscreen responsiveness was mostly praised as smooth and useful, though one reviewer noted accidental touches.

user interface
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.3

The user interface is easy, clean, and cohesive, especially with watchOS 26 and the familiar watch face/home structure.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.5

The user interface was considered approachable and easy to use, especially with the combined touchscreen and button approach.

value for money
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.8

Value for money is the strongest consensus attribute, with reviewers repeatedly saying the SE 3 offers near-Series functionality at a much lower price.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.4

Value for money was one of the strongest consensus points, with many reviewers calling the 165 a strong budget or sweet-spot Garmin.

voice assistant quality
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.4

Voice assistant quality improves with on-device Siri and the S10 chip, making requests faster and more useful than earlier SE models.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
1.0

Voice assistant quality is effectively absent because one reviewer explicitly noted there is no voice assistant.

watch face quality
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.6

Watch face quality is praised through attractive, high-quality options and watchOS 26 face support.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.4

Watch face quality was strong thanks to customizable stock faces and Connect IQ options.

water resistance
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.3

Water resistance is solid for typical use, with reviewers noting 50-meter or 164-foot resistance and swim tracking, but not advanced dive sensors.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.4

Water resistance was well supported for swimming, rain, sweat, and shallow water, with reviewers noting 5ATM or 50-meter resistance.

wellness insights
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.1

Wellness insights are useful for mainstream users through sleep score, sleep apnea alerts, wrist temperature, Vitals, and heart-rate notifications.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.4

Wellness insights were strong through Morning Report, Body Battery, HRV, sleep, stress, recovery, and daily health glances.

Wi-Fi connectivity
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
3.5

Wi-Fi is adequate but not premium, with reviewers noting 2.4GHz-only or Wi-Fi 4 support rather than dual-band.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
3.1

Wi-Fi connectivity exists mainly for the Music edition and music syncing, but one review reported Wi-Fi troubleshooting friction.

workout tracking variety
Product 1: Apple Watch SE 3
4.6

Workout tracking variety is strong, covering many sports, workouts, running metrics, swimming, and common gym activities.

Product 2: Garmin Forerunner 165
3.8

Workout tracking variety covers most common running, cycling, swimming, gym, yoga, and fitness modes, but reviewers repeatedly noted missing triathlon, skiing, and other niche profiles.