Compare Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Suunto Vertical

P1 Garmin Forerunner 165
P2 Suunto Vertical

Comparison Takeaways

Garmin Forerunner 165

Where It Has the Edge

  • contactless payments is 4.1 vs 1.0. Garmin Pay was consistently mentioned as available and useful for contactless payments across models.
  • onboard music storage is 3.7 vs 1.3. Onboard music storage is useful on the Music edition, but reviews were split because syncing can be tedious...
  • heart rate accuracy is 4.3 vs 2.3. Heart rate accuracy was broadly positive, often matching chest straps or higher-end watches well, with occasional optical-sensor lag...
  • touchscreen responsiveness is 4.3 vs 2.8. Touchscreen responsiveness was mostly praised as smooth and useful, though one reviewer noted accidental touches.

Suunto Vertical

Where It Has the Edge

  • materials quality is 4.9 vs 3.2. Materials quality was a strength thanks to sapphire glass plus titanium or steel construction.
  • calorie tracking usefulness is 4.2 vs 2.5. Calorie estimates were viewed as more realistic than another tested watch in one review.
  • music controls is 3.5 vs 2.3. Music controls are available for controlling phone audio, but the feature does not extend to onboard playback.
  • workout tracking variety is 4.8 vs 3.8. Workout variety is broad, with reviewers citing more than 90 modes, up to 95 sport modes, and many...
Average score
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 165
4.0
Product 2: Suunto Vertical
3.8
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: Suunto Vertical
4.2

Reviewers saw a useful SuuntoPlus and partner-app ecosystem, but one noted that only one SuuntoPlus app can run at a time.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.3

Band feedback was positive overall: reviewers liked the comfort, standard 22mm compatibility, ventilation, and secure strap design.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.9

Battery life was the clearest strength, with reviewers reporting week-plus daily use, strong GPS endurance, and class-leading longevity.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.0

Blood oxygen was confirmed as an available widget/tracking view, but reviewers did not deeply validate SpO2 accuracy.

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: Suunto Vertical
3.8

Bluetooth support covers common external sport sensors, including heart-rate straps, though sensor management is not especially advanced.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.3

Brightness improved versus older Suunto models, with reviewers praising the backlight and quick wrist illumination.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.7

Build quality was repeatedly described as premium, rugged, sturdy, and tank-like.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.2

Button feedback was mostly positive for gloves, solidity, and simplicity, though one reviewer wanted a five-button layout.

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: Suunto Vertical
No score yet
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: Suunto Vertical
4.2

Calorie estimates were viewed as more realistic than another tested watch in one review.

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: Suunto Vertical
2.9

Charging convenience was mixed: the magnetic charger attaches easily, but reviewers disliked proprietary/no-wireless charging and one reported charging trouble.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.2

Charging speed was presented positively in the review evidence, with a full charge cited at about 90 minutes.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.1

Coaching and training tools include VO2-related tests, Suunto Coach, and personalized training/recovery guidance.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.3

Comfort was good for a large outdoor watch, with reviewers saying it was not chunky and could be worn or slept in comfortably.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.6

The Suunto app was strongly praised for route planning, visual data, and a simpler organization than some competitors.

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: Suunto Vertical
1.0

Contactless payments are a clear miss, with reviewers explicitly noting no NFC or tap-to-pay functionality.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.0

The route-planning experience extends beyond the phone, with one reviewer noting tablet and macOS desktop use.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.3

Customization is strong across widgets, watch faces, activity profiles, buttons, and home-screen data.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.4

Display quality improved markedly, with a larger, readable MIP screen, though it is less flashy than AMOLED rivals.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.9

Durability evidence was strong, citing sapphire glass, MIL-level testing, and long-term rough-use confidence.

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: Suunto Vertical
1.0

ECG is not included, and one reviewer grouped it with other missing smartwatch-style features.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.5

Fit was praised by one reviewer who found the watch lighter and less noticeable than a larger previous GPS watch.

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: Suunto Vertical
3.1

General fitness tracking was strong on land, but open-water swim tracking was a serious weak spot in one in-depth review.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.7

GPS accuracy received broad agreement as a major strength, with reviewers repeatedly calling the tracks accurate or best-in-class.

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: Suunto Vertical
3.8

Health tracking evidence was limited but generally positive for training data realism, while other health metrics were mixed.

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: Suunto Vertical
2.3

Heart-rate accuracy was the most consistent weakness, especially for sports, with several reviewers recommending or implying a chest strap.

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: Suunto Vertical
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: Suunto Vertical
4.9

Materials quality was a strength thanks to sapphire glass plus titanium or steel construction.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.6

Menu navigation was described as intuitive and easy, with key settings and data not buried too deeply.

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: Suunto Vertical
3.5

Music controls are available for controlling phone audio, but the feature does not extend to onboard playback.

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: Suunto Vertical
1.3

Onboard music storage is absent, and multiple reviewers called that a downside or missed opportunity.

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: Suunto Vertical
3.5

The operating system was considered usable and intuitive enough, but not especially polished.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.3

Outdoor visibility was mostly strong in bright sun, though one long-term reviewer reported glare in some cloudy situations.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.2

Pairing and syncing evidence was positive for fast satellite acquisition and quick app syncing.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.4

Recovery insights were viewed positively through Suunto app metrics, training load, fitness change, and recovery guidance.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.7

Reliability was supported by long-term battery stability and a reviewer describing it as dependable.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.0

Safety-related tools include storm alerts, weather alerts, and sunset information, with storm accuracy described as useful but imperfect.

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: Suunto Vertical
2.0

Size options are limited, with one-size hardware and variation mainly by materials or straps.

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: Suunto Vertical
3.9

Sleep tracking was mixed: several reviewers liked sleep/wake timing, while another distrusted motion-based sleep data.

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: Suunto Vertical
3.4

Smartphone notifications work, but one reviewer noted weak emoji support.

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: Suunto Vertical
2.6

Smartwatch features are limited compared with broader smartwatches, especially for music, payments, and richer smart functions.

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: Suunto Vertical
2.8

Software smoothness was a recurring complaint, though later software was described as noticeably improved.

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: Suunto Vertical
No score yet
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: Suunto Vertical
4.0

Stress tracking appears through Suunto's resources metric, tying stress and recovery into energy-level feedback.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.5

Style and design were widely liked, with reviewers praising the clean, rugged, premium Suunto look.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.4

Third-party app support is useful through SuuntoPlus, partner apps, and an app store reviewers felt had caught up.

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: Suunto Vertical
2.8

Touchscreen behavior was mixed: usable in rain and sweat, but repeatedly criticized for lag.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.1

The interface was generally understandable and organized, though hardware/software lag held it back.

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: Suunto Vertical
3.4

Value was mixed: the watch is expensive, but some reviewers found it competitive versus Garmin and COROS alternatives.

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: Suunto Vertical
No score yet
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: Suunto Vertical
3.5

Watch-face options exist and can be customized, but one reviewer still wanted better watch faces.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.3

Water resistance was treated as suitable for swimming/snorkeling, with reviewers citing 100m specs and shallow-water use.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.2

Wellness insights include HRV and broader training/recovery context rather than deep medical-style health features.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.0

Wi-Fi enables map downloads, but reviewers noted constraints such as needing normal Wi-Fi, a charger, and time.

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: Suunto Vertical
4.8

Workout variety is broad, with reviewers citing more than 90 modes, up to 95 sport modes, and many sport profiles.