Compare Garmin Enduro 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 165

The app ecosystem gets some credit for a large library of watch faces, but the broader smartwatch-app story is not the product’s main strength.

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

Band quality was mostly praised for comfort and lightness, but sweat retention and wet fabric were recurring drawbacks.

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

Battery life was the strongest consensus point, with reviewers repeatedly describing weeks of use and endurance-event confidence.

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.

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

Bluetooth headphone pairing was reported to work without problems.

Brightness was improved, especially versus older solar MIP designs, though AMOLED displays remained brighter in many conditions.

Brightness was strongly praised in sunlight and adaptive lighting conditions.

Build quality took a hit for one reviewer because replacing some metal with plastic made it feel less robust than the predecessor.

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

Physical button controls were praised as reliable and satisfying, with the touchscreen-button blend described as the best of both worlds.

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

Call handling is limited because the Enduro 3 lacks mic and speaker hardware; one reviewer did not miss it, while another missed wrist-call support.

Charging convenience was criticized because the proprietary four-pin cable remains a hassle despite the long intervals between charges.

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

Charging speed was only directly judged in one long-term review, where the slow full charge was a minor nitpick because charging was rare.

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

Coaching and training-plan features were praised for actionable strength plans, readiness guidance, and useful endurance-focused training support.

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

Comfort was better than expected for a 51mm watch thanks to low weight and nylon straps, though sleep comfort and bulk remained caveats.

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

The companion app and Garmin Share workflow were praised for saving time when distributing routes and workouts.

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

Contactless payments were strongly praised by reviewers who used Garmin Pay frequently and treated it as part of daily use.

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

Cross-platform compatibility is mixed because Android users can reply with presets, while iPhone users lose reply functionality.

Customization remains a Garmin strength, especially customizable data fields, stat widgets, and quick-access tools.

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

Display quality improved over prior solar Garmins and is clear outdoors, but several reviewers still preferred AMOLED sharpness and color.

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

Durability was strong in the reviewed evidence, with praise for the long-lasting body and a six-month report of no visible screen scratches.

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

Fit was secure and wearable for some reviewers, but the large case still looked or felt oversized on smaller wrists.

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

Fitness tracking was broadly viewed as accurate and dependable across real workouts, runs, hikes, and multisport use.

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

The flashlight was one of the most consistently loved extras, described as handy, underrated, and hard to live without.

GPS accuracy drew strong agreement, with reviewers reporting precise tracks, solid distance totals, and reliable performance even in challenging terrain.

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.

Reviewers found the Enduro 3’s health metrics credible and useful, with one noting it flagged underlying illness signs before the reviewer noticed them.

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

Heart-rate accuracy was usually strong, especially for steady running and baseline tests, but several reviewers saw misses during intervals, climbs, strength work, or fast intensity changes.

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

Mapping and navigation were a major strength, especially route following, off-course alerts, ClimbPro, and backcountry use, though some UI flow remains clunky.

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

Materials quality was mixed: reviewers liked the practical comfort and price effects of plastic, but one initially felt it seemed cheap.

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

Menu navigation improved overall, but added button presses and a learning curve kept it from feeling completely effortless.

Menu navigation was considered intuitive after a short adjustment period.

Music controls were a weak spot: reviewers found the control page hard to avoid and phone music control clunky.

Music controls were criticized as unintuitive during runs.

Onboard music storage is supported, but one reviewer had repeated Spotify download failures, hurting confidence in the feature.

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

The updated software experience makes the Enduro 3 feel closer to a smartwatch while keeping its sports-watch focus.

The operating experience was familiar and straightforward for Garmin users.

Outdoor visibility was mostly praised in sun and bright conditions, but one reviewer found the map hard to see in dim forest without backlight.

Outdoor visibility was excellent in direct sun and bright conditions.

Pairing reliability for headphones was described as generally solid.

Recovery and training-readiness insights were repeatedly praised as useful for pacing training, race preparation, and deciding when to push or rest.

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

Long-term reliability was praised in one six-month review, where the watch lived up to expectations through demanding use.

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

Safety features received positive evidence through off-course alerts that prevented extra race mileage.

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

Size options were the clearest weakness because the Enduro 3 only comes in one large 51mm case.

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

Sleep tracking was described as solid, though comfort and size may limit how many users want to wear it overnight.

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

Notifications work, and Android replies are useful, but the evidence also points to platform limits rather than a rich messaging experience.

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

Smartwatch features are adequate for essentials but limited versus Apple, Samsung, or Garmin’s own Fenix 8 voice-enabled models.

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

Software smoothness was mixed, with reviewers liking the direction but noting sluggishness, laggy post-run stats, and polish still needed.

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

Step counting was reported as close to other tested devices.

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

Design reactions were mixed: some liked the sleek rugged look, while another found the changes polarizing and subjective.

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

Third-party app support was judged weak compared with Apple’s ecosystem, with reviewers saying the Connect IQ offering does not rival fuller smartwatches.

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

Touchscreen responsiveness was viewed positively, with reviewers praising touch unlock, responsiveness, and the touchscreen/buttons mix.

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

The revised interface was generally seen as easier and more coherent, though not perfectly polished across all reviewers.

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

Value for money was repeatedly praised because the Enduro 3 costs less than several Fenix alternatives while keeping key sports features.

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

Watch face quality was criticized by one reviewer as visually weak compared with Apple or Samsung options.

Watch face quality was praised for full customization.

Water resistance is good for swimming and snorkeling, but reviewers noted it is not intended for diving.

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

Wellness metrics such as Body Battery, Training Readiness, sleep, and health trends were seen as genuinely helpful rather than just decorative data.

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

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

Reviewers consistently praised the wide sport coverage, describing the Enduro 3 as capable across nearly every activity and especially strong for endurance athletes.

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