Compare Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Huawei Watch Fit 4

P1 Garmin Forerunner 165
P2 Huawei Watch Fit 4

Comparison Takeaways

Garmin Forerunner 165

Where It Has the Edge

  • contactless payments is 4.1 vs 2.5. Garmin Pay was consistently mentioned as available and useful for contactless payments across models.
  • app ecosystem is 4.1 vs 3.0. Connect IQ gives the watch a modest app ecosystem for watch faces, widgets, data fields, and extras, though...
  • pairing reliability is 4.5 vs 3.4. Pairing reliability was specifically praised for Bluetooth headphones in one review, with no broad pairing complaints across the...
  • Wi-Fi connectivity is 3.1 vs 2.0. Wi-Fi connectivity exists mainly for the Music edition and music syncing, but one review reported Wi-Fi troubleshooting friction.

Huawei Watch Fit 4

Where It Has the Edge

  • music controls is 4.0 vs 2.3. Music controls are useful for phone playback and on-watch playback, though platform support can vary.
  • size options is 4.4 vs 2.7. Style and design are widely praised, with reviewers describing the watch as elegant, premium, stylish, and Apple Watch-like.
  • voice assistant quality is 2.4 vs 1.0. Voice assistant quality is weakly supported and negative, because one review says the assistant needs a Huawei phone.
  • calorie tracking usefulness is 3.8 vs 2.5. Calorie tracking is only lightly supported, but one review values seeing calories alongside steps and heart rate on...
Average score
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.0
Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.1
activity auto-detection
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
No score yet
Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.0

Workout auto-detection is directly mentioned as handy, though only one review discusses it and notes battery tradeoffs around keeping it enabled.

app ecosystem
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
3.0

Reviewers describe the core Huawei feature set as useful, but the app ecosystem is limited compared with fuller smartwatch platforms.

band quality
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.2

Bands and strap hardware draw mostly positive comments, with easy removal, secure fit, and good strap quality across several reviews.

battery life
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.5

Battery life is one of the strongest recurring positives, with reviewers reporting roughly a week or more depending on always-on display and usage.

blood oxygen tracking
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.1

SpO2 tracking is present and repeatedly included among the watch's health metrics, with reviewers treating it as part of a solid wellness set.

Bluetooth connectivity
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.2

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.2

Bluetooth support is generally positive for calls, external sensors, and earbuds, with Bluetooth 5.2 and pairing use cases called out.

brightness
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.7

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.7

Brightness is a clear strength, with multiple reviewers highlighting the 2,000-nit peak and comfortable visibility.

build quality
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.5

Build quality is praised as premium for the price, with aluminum construction and lightweight feel repeatedly mentioned.

button controls
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.3

The crown and button setup is positively described, with reviewers finding the controls more integrated and handy for scrolling.

call handling
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.2

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.3

Call handling is good for a budget smartwatch, especially speaker loudness and Bluetooth calling, though one review notes clarity is not the crispest.

calorie tracking usefulness
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
3.8

Calorie tracking is only lightly supported, but one review values seeing calories alongside steps and heart rate on the watch face.

charging convenience
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.2

Charging convenience is mostly positive thanks to fast top-ups, secure magnetic charging, and wireless charging mentions, but proprietary charging is a caveat.

charging speed
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.4

Charging speed is consistently strong, with several reviews citing a full charge around 75 minutes or a meaningful 30-minute top-up.

coaching features
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.3

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.2

Coaching features are useful, from movement prompts to warmups, cooldowns, training plans, and non-generic feedback.

comfort
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.5

Comfort is a major positive, with reviewers repeatedly describing the watch as light, slim, and wearable all day.

companion app quality
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
3.6

The Huawei Health app is feature-rich and can be easy to use, but several reviewers criticize clutter or bloat.

contactless payments
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.1

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
2.5

Contactless payment support is weak because NFC or payment support is limited by region and availability.

cross-platform compatibility
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
3.9

Cross-platform compatibility is acceptable across Android and iOS, but reviewers flag missing iOS features such as Petal Maps or music support.

customization options
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.5

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.3

Customization is a strength, including watch-face changes, widgets, button mapping, and quick band swaps.

display quality
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.6

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.6

Display quality is strongly praised, with reviewers repeatedly calling out the AMOLED screen, clarity, resolution, and visual punch.

durability
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.2

Durability appears good for everyday use, with Gorilla Glass, water exposure, and daily wear references supporting a positive score.

ECG functionality
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
1.0

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
1.8

ECG functionality is a clear omission from the regular Fit 4, appearing as a Pro-model advantage rather than a base-model feature.

fit
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.3

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.2

Fit is positive, with strap security, wrist-size accommodation, and a balanced dial size appearing across reviews.

fitness tracking accuracy
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.6

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.3

Fitness tracking accuracy is generally strong, especially treadmill, GPS, route, and workout-map evidence, with only minor caveats in some contexts.

GPS accuracy
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.5

GPS accuracy is one of the best-supported strengths, with dual-band GPS, fast lock, offline maps, and accurate outdoor tracking discussed repeatedly.

health tracking accuracy
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.2

Health tracking accuracy is broadly positive for everyday use, especially heart rate and health insights, while reviewers still avoid medical-grade claims.

heart rate accuracy
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.4

Heart rate accuracy receives strong support, including comparisons to other watches and a Polar H10 chest strap, with one review noting slower mid-exercise updates.

mapping and navigation
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
No score yet
materials quality
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
3.2

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.5

Materials quality is consistently praised, especially the aluminum or metal body and premium construction for the price.

menu navigation
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.2

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.3

Menu navigation is well supported by list/grid views, crown scrolling, quick workout access, and smooth app layout options.

music controls
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
2.3

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.0

Music controls are useful for phone playback and on-watch playback, though platform support can vary.

onboard music storage
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.7

Onboard music storage is a positive where supported, with reviewers noting MP3 copying and internal music storage.

operating system experience
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.2

The operating system experience feels polished and Apple-Watch-like in several reviews, though permissions and platform gaps remain tradeoffs.

outdoor visibility
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.6

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.6

Outdoor visibility is a major strength, with multiple reviewers saying the screen remains visible or clear in sunlight.

pairing reliability
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
3.4

Pairing reliability is only lightly supported and somewhat mixed, with one review mentioning rare disconnects over three weeks.

recovery insights
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.3

Recovery insights are present through recovery time, training load, and training index metrics.

reliability
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.4

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
3.9

Reliability is mixed but more positive overall, with one review flagging occasional disconnects and another recommending it as reliable.

safety features
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.5

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.0

Safety-adjacent navigation features are supported through route-back and back-to-start functions rather than emergency features.

size options
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.4

Style and design are widely praised, with reviewers describing the watch as elegant, premium, stylish, and Apple Watch-like.

sleep tracking accuracy
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.2

Sleep tracking accuracy is positive overall, with reviews comparing sleep duration, scores, stages, and detection to other wearables.

smartphone notifications
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.2

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.0

Notifications are useful, including app selection, quick replies, and message replies, but iOS reply limitations reduce the score.

smartwatch features
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.3

Smartwatch features are broad for the price, but the watch is still strongest as a fitness tracker rather than a complete smartwatch.

software smoothness
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.4

Software smoothness is a strong point in several reviews, with fluid interfaces, 60 Hz refresh, and smooth animations repeatedly praised.

step counting accuracy
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.6

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.7

Step counting accuracy is directly praised in one review as matching the prior Fit line's strong performance.

stress tracking
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.0

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.1

Stress tracking is well represented through HRV, all-day stress analysis, emotional well-being, and mood-pattern tracking.

style and design
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.6

Design is one of the clearest strengths, with repeated praise for premium looks, slimness, and everyday wearability.

third-party app support
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
2.8

Third-party app support is limited, with AppGallery described as scaled back and one of the main disappointments.

touchscreen responsiveness
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.3

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.1

Touchscreen responsiveness is generally good, especially on the AMOLED touchscreen, though one swimming test found touch use impractical under water.

user interface
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.5

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.3

The user interface is mostly praised as fluid, intuitive, and smooth, with some permission and organization caveats elsewhere.

value for money
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.6

Value for money is one of the strongest consensus points, with reviewers repeatedly calling the watch affordable, good value, or hard to beat.

voice assistant quality
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
1.0

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
2.4

Voice assistant quality is weakly supported and negative, because one review says the assistant needs a Huawei phone.

watch face quality
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.4

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.1

Watch face quality is good, with many attractive faces, but paid faces and regional app-store differences create some caveats.

water resistance
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.1

Water resistance is generally positive for swimming and daily wet use, though hot water and Pro diving differences remain caveats.

wellness insights
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.4

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

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.2

Wellness insights are a strength, especially health insights, emotional well-being, breathing prompts, and mental-wellness trends.

Wi-Fi connectivity
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
2.0

Wi-Fi connectivity is a limitation because one review says Wi-Fi is added by the Pro model, not the regular Fit 4.

workout tracking variety
Product 1: 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.

Product 2: Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.4

Workout variety is very broad, with 100-plus workout modes and many sport profiles, though one review still wanted a fuller list.