Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Venu Sq 2: Same Price Different Purposes
By Naila Syifa
Updated February 2024
Garmin has been a reputable brand in the fitness industry for years. They have released a variety of smartwatches at various price points to suit fitness enthusiasts of different levels. The new Garmin Forerunner 165 and the older Venu Sq 2 are two smartwatches that are priced similarly but have different features and purposes.
In this article, we will compare the features of both watches and help you decide which one is the best for you.
Key Takeaways
Forerunner 165 has more advanced running and training-specific features, while the Venu Sq 2 supports more lifestyle and recreational sports. Ultimately, the decision between the two watches will depend on your specific fitness goals and needs.
Garmin Forerunner 165
Entry-Level Running and Training
GPS smartwatch with health monitoring and fitness tracking for first-time runners and racers.
Garmin Venu Sq 2
All the Basic
GPS smartwatch with basic health monitoring, fitness tracking, and smart features for various lifestyle and daily sports.
#1 Price
Garmin Forerunner 165
Garmin Forerunner 165 and Venu Sq 2 have the same price point, retailing at US$249.99. At such a price, both watches are quite affordable compared to other higher-end Garmin smartwatches.
However, if you have a higher budget and are looking for a more premium version of both smartwatches, you may want to consider Garmin Forerunner 965 (US$600) or Garmin Venu 3 (U$450).
Read also: Garmin Venu 3 vs Forerunner 965: Five Key Aspects
#2 Design & Display
Garmin Venu Sq 2
The "Sq" in Venu Sq 2 stands for "square" and it refers to the watch's display, which is square-shaped, unlike the round-shaped display of the Forerunner 165. This difference is mostly a matter of personal preference, but a square display at 1.41" size may offer a larger viewing area for some users compared to the 1.2" circular display of the Forerunner 165.
In addition, the Venu Sq 2 features a higher-quality Corning Gorilla Glass 3 lens, which provides better protection against scratches and impacts than the chemically strengthened glass of the Forerunner 165. The Venu Sq 2 is also in more varying colors, allowing users to choose from gray, white, and mint color options. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 165 is only available in black-gray and white-gray color combinations.
#3 Health & Fitness Features
Garmin Forerunner 165
Both watches share a lot of health and fitness features in common, including wrist-based heart rate, respiration rate, Body Battery energy monitoring, stress tracker, relaxation reminders, breathwork, hydration tracker, advanced sleep monitoring, intensity minutes, VO2 Max, built-in sports apps, and some other features useful in tracking fitness progress.
However, the Forerunner 165 offers some additional training and running-focused features unavailable in the Venu Sq 2, such as Daily Suggested Workouts, Recovery Time, Interval Training, Running Dynamics, Running Power, and more. It even comes with Nap Detection for more comprehensive sleep monitoring and if you like to join running races, the Forerunner 165 also offers Race Predictor and PacePro Pacing Strategies features to help you prepare better.
Garmin Venu Sq 2
When it comes to supported Activity Profiles, both watches offer profiles for general sports like running, treadmill running, biking, pool swimming, pilates yoga, and more, but the Forerunner 165 offers more running-specific profiles like Trail Running, Outdoor Track Running, Ultra Running, Virtual Running, Hiking, and some others. The Venu Sq 2, on the other hand, provides a wider range of casual and recreational sports like rowing, skiing, snowboarding, and some others.
The Venu Sq 2 even has golfing features, so you can have the watch measure shot distance, track your stats, or even automatically record detected shots with the Garmin Autoshot. If you're an enthusiastic gamer, the Venu Sq 2 also has a Gaming Activity feature that monitors your health stats while playing games, so you can see how your body reacts to gaming sessions, know when to take a break, and more.
#4 Smartwatch Features
Garmin Forerunner 165
Just like any other typical Garmin smartwatch, both the Forerunner 165 and Venu Sq 2 offer smart notifications, a calendar, weather forecasts, and the ability to control your smartphone music with the watch. With an Android phone, you can even respond to a text or reject phone calls with a text.
The Forerunner 165 further allows you to view images from notifications directly on the watch face (Android only), and it comes with an extra Morning Report feature that provides a summary of your daily activities, health stats, and other customizable information as soon as you wake up in the morning.
Both watches are also equipped with Safety and Tracking features, including incident detection, assistance, and livetrack, providing extra security and peace of mind during outdoor activities. The Forerunner 165 also adds a Live Event Sharing feature, allowing you to share information about your activity event with friends and family.
#5 Battery Life
Garmin Venu Sq 2
When it comes to battery, the Forerunner 165 and Venu Sq 2 are quite on par with each other, with both watches offering up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. When under all-systems GNSS mode, the Venu Sq 2 has a longer-lasting battery life of 20 hours compared to the Forerunner 165 with 17 hours of battery life.
However, when the battery saving mode is enabled, the Forerunner 165 can last much longer for up to 20 days, while the Venu Sq 2 can only last up to 12 days max.
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Venu Sq 2
Final Thoughts
Garmin Forerunner 165
In conclusion, when deciding between the Garmin Forerunner 165 and the Venu Sq 2, it ultimately comes down to personal preferences and which features are most important to you.
If you're a dedicated runner looking for a watch with more running-focused features, the Forerunner 165 may be the better choice. On the other hand, if you're looking for a more versatile watch that can track a wider range of activities, including golf and gaming, the Venu Sq 2 may be the way to go. Regardless of which watch you choose, both offer great health and fitness tracking features, great design and display, and long battery life.
If you like to read more on Garmin smartwatches, check out our other relevant guides here:
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Forerunner 265
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Forerunner 55
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Vivoactive 5
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Venu 3
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Forerunner 265
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