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Forerunner 165 vs Race S

Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Suunto Race S

What Forerunner 165 does better (3) and where Race S wins (8) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2024Forerunner 165

4.3Score

3 advantages≈ $250

Suunto · 2024Race S

6.1Score

8 advantages≈ $300

Higher score

5.3Display4.8

3.1Battery life4.6

4.9Health tracking4.9

2.7Sports & outdoor6.4

3.5Build & durability9.5

Dimensions

Size comparison

Forerunner 165Race S

	Forerunner 165	Race S	Difference
Height	43 mm	45 mm	−2 mm
Width	43 mm	45 mm	−2 mm
Thickness	11.6 mm	11.4 mm	+0.2 mm
Weight	39 g	53 g	−14 g

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

Why is Forerunner 165 better than Race S?

Battery life (smartwatch mode)11 days vs 9 days+22%
AMOLED / OLED displayYes · Race S: No
Weight39 g vs 53 g+36%

Why is Race S better than Forerunner 165?

GPS battery life19 h vs 40 h2.1×
Water resistance5 ATM vs 10 ATM2×
Sport profiles25 vs 953.8×
Storage4 GB vs 32 GB8×
Sapphire crystalNo · Forerunner 165: Yes
Screen size1.2″ vs 1.32″+10%
Resolution (width)390 px vs 466 px+19%
Pixel density325 ppi vs 353 ppi+9%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Forerunner 165≈ $2504.3	Suunto Race S≈ $3006.1
Design & durability
Case size	43 mm	45 mm
Weight	39 g	53 g
Thickness	11.6 mm	11.4 mm
Height	43 mm	45 mm
Width	43 mm	45 mm
Case material	Plastic / polymer	Titanium
Sapphire crystal	No	Yes
Lens / cover glass	chemically strengthened glass	Saphirglas Saphirglas
Strap material	silicone	Silicone
Water resistance	5 ATM	10 ATM
Water rating (maker)	5 ATM	100 m / 10 bar / 10 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.2″	1.32″
Display technology	AMOLED	AMOLED
Panel	AMOLED	Farbdisplay
AMOLED / OLED display	Yes	No
Always-on display	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Resolution (width)	390 px	466 px
Resolution (height)	390 px	466 px
Pixel density	325 ppi	353 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	11 days	9 days
Battery saver mode	20 days	—
GPS battery life	19 h	40 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	—	30 h
Battery type	Lithium ion	Li-Ion
Wireless charging	No	—
Charging	Garmin proprietary plug charger	—
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
Temperature sensor	Yes	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, Accelerometer, Thermometer, Ambient light sensor	heart rate, barometer
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Dual-band GPS	—	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Offline maps	—	Yes
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	—	Yes
Sport profiles	25	95
Dive mode	—	Yes
Connectivity
NFC payments	Yes	—
ANT+ sensors	Yes	—
Smart features
Storage	4 GB	32 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	—
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Suunto OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android