Apple Watch Series 9 vs Garmin Forerunner 165
Sqwod verdict
Our pick: Garmin Forerunner 165 takes it — 86 vs 85.
Both are strong — the call comes down to what you prioritise:
- Apple Watch Series 9 — You want one device for training, daily life, and health basics.
- Garmin Forerunner 165 — You coach runners or endurance clients and want Garmin's training data without the €500 tier.
Apple Watch Series 9
85Score · High
from €419
The best all-rounder — workouts, notifications, sleep, ECG — no subscription. Battery and depth-of-recovery data are the compromises.
Our pick 
Garmin Forerunner 165
86Score · High
from €175
The best-value entry into Garmin's training ecosystem — bright AMOLED, ~11-day battery, and the metrics that matter, without the €500 price.
Compare side-by-side
| Apple Watch Series 985Scorefrom€419Review → | Garmin Forerunner 16586Scorefrom€175Review → | |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Watch | Watch (running) |
| Battery life | ~18 h (36 h low-power) | ~11 days |
| Screen | Always-on OLED | AMOLED |
| Sleep tracking | Basic | Yes |
| Recovery / HRV | HRV metrics | Body Battery |
| Subscription | None (Fitness+ optional) | None |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m (5 ATM) |
Prices are our researched reference points.
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