Many details about Garmin’s next entry-level smartwatch, the Forerunner 165, have emerged. Details include device specifications, hardware, and a variety of functions.
Everything listed was uncovered on the official Garmin website by industry insider Fitness Tracker Test, who subsequently published their findings on their personal website. The leak includes almost every feature of the wearable, with the exception of what it looks like, as there are no photographs. However, there are enough clues to paint a picture.
Display upgrade
The Forerunner 165 will purportedly feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 390 x 390 pixels. This is noticeably larger than Garmin’s current entry-level model, the Forerunner 55, which has a 1.04-inch screen. Despite the size difference between the displays, the Forerunner 165’s case will be only slightly larger, measuring 43 x 43 x 11.6mm. The Fitness Tracker Test even states that the “increased weight is hardly noticeable.”
There is a disadvantage. Using an AMOLED has resulted in drastically reduced battery life.
According to the leak, the Forerunner 165 has a runtime of only 11 days while in smartwatch mode, as opposed to the Forerunner 55’s two weeks. Certain features drain the battery much more quickly. Having the GPS turned on reduces the battery life to 19 hours. When the wearable’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is active, the battery life drops to 17 hours. When you combine music listening with GNSS, the runtime drops to just 6.5 hours. Again, none of these details have been confirmed by Garmin.
Features
Moving down the list, Fitness Tracker Test reports that there will be two models at launch: the basic model and the Forerunner 165 Music. The latter, as the name implies, will have storage space for your favorite music that can be played via Bluetooth headphones. Take notice that the smartphone will only have 4GB of storage. In addition, the Forerunner 165 Music will enable Wi-Fi connectivity, which the normal model will not.
The next smartwatch will also include unique hardware capabilities. It will have the Elevate V4 PPG Sensor for detecting heart rate variability, as well as a barometric altimeter. This enables the device to calculate altitude and record air elevation during sporting activities. It can also keep track of the number of floors you’ve climbed.
Fitness Tracker Test indicates that the rest of the features are similar to those found on other Garmin products. You have an internal compass, Nap Detection, and SpO2 capabilities for monitoring blood oxygen levels. It’s worth noting that certain features may be stripped-down versions of those found in higher-end devices. According to the article, Garmin has previously done this with the Forerunner 55. Whether or not this happens “remains to be seen”.
impending launch
The Forerunner 165’s price and release date have yet to be announced. Given the latest revelations, an official release could be just around the corner. Fitness Tracker Test predicts that the regular smartwatch will cost ₹25002.60 (around $225), while the Music variant will cost ₹29467.35 (about $355).
As usual, take this leak with a grain of salt. Even the name can change at the last minute. Tracker Tests claims to have found evidence that the wearable could be called the Forerunner 65, but owing to all of the changes, they believe the official name will be the Forerunner 165.