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Approach S70 42mm vs Forerunner 965

Garmin Approach S70 42mm vs Garmin Forerunner 965

What Approach S70 42mm does better (2) and where Forerunner 965 wins (6) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2023Approach S70 42mm

4.4Score

2 advantages≈ $650

Garmin · 2023Forerunner 965

6.0Score

6 advantages≈ $600

Higher score

5.3Display6.5

2.7Battery life6.8

4.9Health tracking4.9

3.2Sports & outdoor6.0

6.5Smart features6.5

2.9Build & durability2.4

Dimensions

Size comparison

Approach S70 42mmForerunner 965

	Approach S70 42mm	Forerunner 965	Difference
Height	42 mm	47.2 mm	−5.2 mm
Width	42 mm	47.2 mm	−5.2 mm
Thickness	12.6 mm	13.2 mm	−0.6 mm
Weight	44 g	53 g	−9 g

Drawn to the same scale from the official dimensions (front and side).

Why is Approach S70 42mm better than Forerunner 965?

Weight44 g vs 53 g+20%
Thickness12.6 mm vs 13.2 mm+5%

Why is Forerunner 965 better than Approach S70 42mm?

Battery life (smartwatch mode)10 days vs 23 days2.3×
GPS battery life15 h vs 31 h2.1×
Sport profiles40 vs 802×
Storage16 GB vs 32 GB2×
Screen size1.2″ vs 1.4″+17%
Resolution (width)390 px vs 454 px+16%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Approach S70 42mm≈ $6504.4	Garmin Forerunner 965≈ $6006.0
Design & durability
Case size	42 mm	47 mm
Weight	44 g	53 g
Thickness	12.6 mm	13.2 mm
Height	42 mm	47.2 mm
Width	42 mm	47.2 mm
Case material	Ceramic	Titanium
Sapphire crystal	No	No
Lens / cover glass	Corning ® Gorilla ® Glass 3	Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 DX
Strap material	silicone	silicone
Water resistance	5 ATM	5 ATM
Water rating (maker)	5 ATM	5 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.2″	1.4″
Display technology	AMOLED	AMOLED
Panel	AMOLED	AMOLED
AMOLED / OLED display	Yes	Yes
Always-on display	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Resolution (width)	390 px	454 px
Resolution (height)	390 px	454 px
Pixel density	325 ppi	324 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	10 days	23 days
GPS battery life	15 h	31 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	—	19 h
Battery type	—	Lithium ion
Wireless charging	No	No
Charging	Garmin proprietary plug charger	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
Temperature sensor	—	Yes
HRV tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, SatIQ technology, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer, Ambient light sensor
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Dual-band GPS	—	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Offline maps	—	Yes
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	—	Yes
Sport profiles	40	80
Connectivity
NFC payments	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 4	Wi-Fi 4
ANT+ sensors	Yes	Yes
Smart features
Music on the watch	Yes	Yes
Storage	16 GB	32 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android