Compare Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Suunto Race S

Blood oxygen tracking was treated as a useful extra by reviewers who valued the reassurance, though broader accuracy was not deeply tested.

Blood oxygen tracking was only clearly evaluated in one review, and that reviewer called the nighttime SpO2 results poor.

Garmin Pay was viewed as a straightforward, effective contactless payment feature.

Contactless payments were clearly treated as missing in one review, making this a low-scoring feature for users who expect payments on-wrist.

Bluetooth headphone pairing was reported to work without problems.

Bluetooth connectivity is mostly discussed through sensor support, where reviewers criticized Suunto’s one-sensor limitations and weak pairing model.

Reviewers described the Forerunner 165 as having reliable sensors and detailed data collection for general health and fitness tracking.

A scientific review treated the broader health measurements as weak, especially because heart-rate and sleep-related results were not strong.

Button controls were a major strength, especially for workouts, gloves, sweat, rain, and avoiding touchscreen reliance.

Button controls are mixed, with several reviewers finding the digital crown fiddly, delayed, awkward, or unpredictable despite useful physical input.

Materials quality was mixed: plastic kept it light and affordable but felt less premium.

Materials quality is highly regarded, especially the premium wrist feel, titanium option, and quality materials.

Music controls were criticized as unintuitive during runs.

Music controls worked adequately for phone playback, but reviewers consistently treated them as basic controls rather than a full music solution.

Step counting was reported as close to other tested devices.

Step counting was mixed: one review found totals similar to comparison devices, while another found counts far enough off to be noticeable.

Sleep tracking was mostly viewed as useful and directionally accurate, though one reviewer reported a poor night that the watch missed.

Sleep tracking drew mostly negative or cautious evidence, with reviewers reporting underreported sleep, inaccurate stages, or a lack of confidence in the data.

Onboard music storage drew split views: handy or smooth for some, but tedious and poor value for others.

Onboard music storage is a notable weakness, with multiple reviewers calling out the absence of music downloads or internal playback.

Menu navigation was considered intuitive after a short adjustment period.

Menu navigation takes practice; reviewers liked short paths after learning the logic but criticized confusing menus and less-smooth swiping.

Fitness tracking accuracy was praised for broad data quality and even strength-training rep counting in testing.

General fitness tracking was praised for workout capture in one review, but another scientific test found the accuracy only middling versus better devices.

Workout variety covers most mainstream running, gym, cycling, swimming, and fitness needs, but reviewers consistently noted missing triathlon or backcountry profiles.

Workout variety is a clear strength, with reviewers praising the broad sport-mode support for running, cycling, swimming, triathlon, MTB, and many other activities.

Smartphone notifications were described as reliable and easier to read on the AMOLED display.

Smartphone notifications generally worked, though reviewers framed them as basic and often noted limited interaction beyond reading alerts.

Wellness insights such as Morning Report and Body Battery were considered fun, useful, and sometimes addictive.

Wellness insights were polarizing; one reviewer liked the quieter data approach, while another thought Suunto’s resource-style metric lagged Garmin-like alternatives.

Reliability was praised in workout use, with one reviewer reporting no issues with stability.

Reliability is mostly positive for workout operation and GPS logging, but one scientific review and one software-focused review noted broader metric concerns.

Watch face quality was praised for full customization.

Watch faces are improved and customizable, but one reviewer found accidental customization in the shower slightly annoying.

Heart-rate accuracy was generally praised across runs, rides, and intervals, with only occasional optical-sensor lag or spikes.

Heart-rate accuracy is the most divided attribute: several reviewers found the updated sensor solid or precise, while others reported poor readings and recommended an external strap.

Coaching and structured workouts were praised as approachable, flexible, and valuable for beginner and intermediate runners.

Coaching features are capable but uneven, with praise for structured workouts and training planning but criticism for missing Garmin-style suggested workouts and weaker presentation.

Wi-Fi/music setup drew criticism when troubleshooting made the watch appear connected even though playlist syncing failed.

Wi-Fi connectivity was evaluated mainly through map downloads, which work but were criticized for slow transfer behavior.

The interface was repeatedly described as simple, approachable, and easy to use.

The user interface ranged from confusing at first to quick and easy once learned, with touch and app-driven navigation often helping.

Durability was reassuring, with reviewers reporting no concerns and even real-world abuse without damage.

Durability is mostly positive, with strong scratch/impact evidence in one test, although Gorilla Glass and reduced water rating were noted as downgrades from larger models.

Water resistance was considered more than enough for rain, sweat, showering, and swimming use.

Water resistance received limited opinionated evidence; one reviewer judged 50 meters acceptable for most but a downgrade for deeper use.

Smartwatch features were considered respectable for a training watch, especially notifications, Garmin Pay, music features, and basic phone-linked tools.

Smartwatch features are intentionally limited: some reviewers liked the cleaner sports-watch focus, while others wanted a fuller smartwatch experience.

The app ecosystem was useful through Connect IQ and Garmin features, but Garmin's broader platform could still feel intimidating.

The app ecosystem was praised for useful SuuntoPlus tools, though one review said Suunto still lags Garmin on ecosystem depth.

Touchscreen responsiveness was widely praised, including smooth swiping, reliable taps, and usability with gloves or wet screens.

Touchscreen responsiveness is mostly positive after improvements, though moisture sensitivity and a less-slick feel kept scores from being perfect.

Comfort was consistently excellent, with reviewers praising the lightweight feel for all-day wear and sleep.

Comfort is generally strong, with reviewers praising all-day wear, unobtrusive feel, and smaller case comfort, though some disliked bulk at night.

Charging convenience was mixed: secure contacts helped, but the proprietary/short cable was a drawback.

Charging convenience is more mixed because reviewers liked quick charging but disliked the proprietary pad, alignment, or travel requirement.

Pairing reliability for headphones was described as generally solid.

Pairing reliability had one clearly positive review, with setup and app pairing described as simple and straightforward.

Safety features such as LiveTrack were valued for sharing location during activities.

Safety features received limited but positive evidence, especially Find Back/navigation support that added peace of mind.

Mapping and navigation were useful for breadcrumb routes and GPX/course following, but the lack of full maps was a repeated limitation.

Mapping and navigation are standout strengths, with repeated praise for offline maps, route planning, responsiveness, and trail usefulness, despite setup and routability limits.

Software smoothness was praised as simple, fast, and accurate in use.

Software smoothness improved across reviews, with several reviewers calling the UI faster or fluid, though a few still saw polish issues or minor lag.

Outdoor visibility was excellent in direct sun and bright conditions.

Outdoor visibility is strong; reviewers reported readability in midday sun, normal sunlight, forest shade, and other outdoor conditions.

Garmin Connect was seen as powerful and useful, with cleaner or comprehensive analysis, though one reviewer found the redesign not much easier.

The companion app was broadly praised for route planning, maps, layout, reliability, and modern design.

Recovery insights were useful but clearly limited versus higher Forerunners, with some reviewers calling out missing readiness/load tools or odd recovery estimates.

Recovery insights are useful when presented clearly, especially HRV and Progress-style metrics, but some reviewers found the packaging weak or the conclusions discouraging.

Customization was a strength, from watch faces and widgets to activity screens and data pages.

Customization is useful for routes, sport modes, complications, and modes, though it is not presented as a deep smartwatch-level customization system.

Size options were limited because the watch comes in only one size, though one reviewer liked the in-between fit.

Size options are useful but not universally ideal; some reviewers liked the midsize case, while one found it still suited to thicker wrists.

Fit was strong for many wrists, with secure wear and little slipping, though the single case size remained a caveat.

Fit is praised for smaller wrists and secure sport use, especially where reviewers noted stable wear during activities.

Build quality was viewed as solid and well-made for a lightweight running watch.

Build quality is a strength, with reviewers praising the watch and strap construction, premium feel, and high-quality form factor.

Display quality was a standout strength thanks to a crisp, vibrant AMOLED screen, though one reviewer still preferred MIP for always-visible use.

Display quality is a consistent strength, with repeated praise for the sharp AMOLED panel, color, clarity, and readability.

Style and design were viewed as slim, low-profile, sleek, and suitable for daily wear, though still sporty.

Style and design are among the strongest attributes, with reviewers repeatedly calling the Race S sleek, attractive, premium, or one of the best-looking sports watches.

The operating experience was familiar and straightforward for Garmin users.

The operating system experience is mixed-positive: reviewers saw a basic, sports-first platform that improved in responsiveness but is not a rich smartwatch OS.

GPS accuracy was one of the strongest themes, with most reviewers finding reliable tracks even without dual-band GPS; a few dense-terrain issues remained.

GPS accuracy received the strongest overall praise, with many reviewers calling tracks precise, strong, pristine, or among the best they had tested.

Value for money was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers repeatedly calling it a high-value or sweet-spot Garmin.

Value for money is the clearest consensus strength, with nearly every reviewer framing the Race S as aggressively priced for its mapping, GPS, AMOLED, and training feature set.

Band quality was mostly comfortable and flexible, but one reviewer warned the stock strap needs frequent washing to avoid irritation.

Band quality is mixed-positive, with comfort and secure designs praised but some straps criticized for tacky branding, stickiness, or glow-at-night drawbacks.

Battery life was generally good for an AMOLED Garmin and daily training, but reviewers flagged limits for long adventures, always-on use, or heavy GPS/music.

Battery life is strong overall for an AMOLED sports watch, but reviews vary from excellent to shorter-than-claimed depending on always-on display and navigation use.

Brightness was strongly praised in sunlight and adaptive lighting conditions.

Brightness is consistently praised, with reviewers describing the screen as bright, vibrant, and easy to view in demanding conditions.

Charging speed was praised in the reviews that discussed it, ranging from under two hours to very fast top-ups.

Charging speed is consistently praised, with several reviewers reporting fast full charges or quick top-ups.

Third-party app/widget support was available and sometimes useful for tailoring data, though one reviewer did not find it especially useful.

Third-party app support is useful but not fully baked in, with praise for the app store offset by criticism that some tools should be native.

Call handling is limited to alerts and message/call visibility, with one reviewer wishing reply functionality were available.

Flashlight usefulness is limited because it is screen-based, though one reviewer still found it functional for basic low-light tasks.

Stress tracking was mentioned as part of the watch's helpful health-glance system for knowing when to ease off.