Garmin Venu and Forerunner are two popular series from Garmin that feature various affordable and costly smartwatches for both athletes and casual users. Two popular devices from the series are the Venu Sq 2 and the Forerunner 165, which come with an AMOLED display, longer battery life, and excellent health features.
But which one should I choose? In this article, we’ll compare both of these watches on pricing, design, display, health and fitness tracking, smartwatch features, and battery life to help you choose the one that fits your needs and budget.
Key Takeaways
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 resembles a stylish, recreational watch appealing to casual users, while the Garmin Forerunner 165 resembles a sporty design appealing to runners and athletes. In the end, each device caters to different audiences budgets and needs.
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Venu Sq 2: Comparison
| Device name | Garmin Venu Sq 2 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Device type | Smartwatch | Smartwatch |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Release date | October, 2022 | February, 2024 |
| Versions | Standard edition | Standard edition |
| Body | ||
| Dimension | 40.6 x 37.0 x 11.1 mm | 43 x 43 x 11.6 mm |
| Weight | 38 grams | 39 grams |
| Shape | Square | Circular |
| Case material | Fiber-Reinforced Polymer | Fiber-Reinforced Polymer |
| Strap material | Silicone | Silicone |
| Bezel material | Anodized Aluminium | Fiber-Reinforced Polymer |
| Strap size | 20mm | 20mm |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Chemically Strengthened Glass |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Swim-proof | Yes, recommended | Yes, recommended |
| Display | ||
| Display size | 1.41 inch | 1.2 inch |
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Display resolution | 320 x 360-pixel | 390 x 390-pixel |
| Pixel density | 341 ppi | 460 PPI |
| Always on | Yes | Yes |
| Custom watch face | Yes | Yes |
| Input type | Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
| Connectivity | ||
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth calling | No | No |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Garmin Pay | Garmin Pay |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | No |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | — | — |
| Internal Storage | 4GB | 4GB |
| Memory card slot | No | No |
| Cellular Connectivity | ||
| Technology | None | None |
| SIM type | None | None |
| Band | — | — |
| Sensors | ||
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Altimeter | No | No |
| Ambient light | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | No | No |
| Compass | Yes | Yes |
| ECG | No | No |
| Gyroscope | No | No |
| HRM | No | No |
| Pulse oximeter (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Thermometer | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery type | non-removable Lithium-polymer | non-removable Lithium-polymer |
| Battery capacity | — | — |
| Battery life | 11 days | 11 days |
| Charging type | Plug Charger | Plug Charger |
| Charging time | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours |
| Solar charging | No | No |
Price
Both the Garmin Venu Sq 2 and Forerunner 165 come with the same price tag of $249. Both smartwatches fall into the budget bracket suitable for both health-conscious and budget-conscious shoppers.
In terms of colours, the Venu Sq 2 comes in Shadow Gray, White, Cool Mint, and French Gray, while the Forerunner 165 comes in Turquoise, Berry, Powder Gray, and Black.
Individuals with a higher budget or who want a better and more powerful version of these smartwatches can go for their upgraded version — the Garmin Venu 3 and Garmin Forerunner 965.
Design and Display
The Venu Sq 2 boasts a square design designed for individuals who love a square watch, while the Forerunner 165 resembles a typical wristwatch-style circular display catering to both athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
Measuring at 40.6 x 37.0 x 11.1 mm and weighing 38 grams, the Venu Sq 2 comes with two buttons on the right, while at 43 x 43 x 11.6 mm and weighing 39 grams, the Forerunner 165 comes with five buttons setup, with two on the right and three on the left. Both offer quick-release silicone bands as standard. The straps are 20 mm in length.
The Venu Sq 2 features a 1.4-inch, 341 PPI, 320 x 360-pixel AMOLED display surrounded by an anodized aluminium bezel and fiber-reinforced polymer with Corning Gorilla Glass on top. In contrast, the Forerunner 165 features a 1.2 inch, 460 PPI, 390 x 390-pixel AMOLED display surrounded by fiber-reinforced polymer and chemically strengthened glass on top.
Both have a rating of 5 ATM for water resistance, meaning you can use them for swimming and showering.
Health and Fitness Tracking
When it comes to health tracking, both devices share many similarities and can track various activities, including heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, respiration rate, sleep, hydration, and women’s health. Plus, they also feature a body battery (monitors energy level) and a health snapshot (tracks vital metrics in two-minute sessions). One feature that only FR 165 has is nap detection, which provides personalised insights to get the most out of your naps.
Both can track basic features like steps, floor climbed, distance travelled, calories burned, and intensity minutes.
This is all the health features you get on these smartwatches; however, Garmin devices are designed for athletes and fitness lovers, so let’s take a look at what these devices have to offer.
Both can track multiple sports modes, including swimming, running, walking, and biking, but the Forerunner 165 can also track ultra-running, pickleball, tennis, pedal, and much more. Some additional features that only the FR 165 has include course guidance, recovery time, HRV status, interval training, training effect, and more. Plus, if you are preparing for half marathons or marathons, it also has race predator and racepro pacing strategies, which can help you in your training to perform better.
One area where Garmin Venu Sq 2 takes the lead is golfing, which features a digital scorecard, pinpointer, Garmin autoshot, tracking strokes, and much more. Neither of these features is available in the Forerunner 165, so if you are a golf enthusiast, you might find the Venu Sq 2 more appealing to you. It also offers features for PC gamers such as stress zones (to measure your stress levels), break time reminders, body battery energy monitoring, and personalised coaching to know when you are match-ready, plus you can see health metrics as well.
Smartwatch Features
In terms of smartwatch features, both have typical features that you get on all Garmin devices, including text, apps, and email notifications; a calendar; weather forecasts; the on-device Connect IQ store (download watch faces, widgets, and apps); a battery saver; smartphone music control; and finding my phone and watch.
The Garmin Forerunner 165 has some additional features, such as the ability to view images from notifications (Android only) and the morning report, which shows various metrics including calendar, step goal, date, sleep, menstrual cycle (if enabled), and more right before your actual wake-up time.
Both can connect to a wide range of iOS and Android devices, plus the Venu Sq 2 offers Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and ANT+ connectivity, while the Forerunner 165 only offers Bluetooth and ANT+. For Wi-Fi connectivity, you will need the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music, which costs an extra $50.
Additionally, if you want an in-built speaker and a microphone for Bluetooth calling, you can go for the Garmin Venu 2 Plus ($449).
Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, both offer 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, but if we talk about GPS mode, the Venu Sq 2 can last for up to 26 hours, while the Forerunner 165 can only last for up to 19 hours. See the chart below for a full comparison:
| Device name | Garmin Venu Sq 2 | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch Mode | Up to 11 days | Up to 11 days |
| Battery Saver Smartwatch Mode | Up to 12 days | Up to 20 days |
| GPS-Only GNSS mode | Up to 26 hours | Up to 19 hours |
| All-Systems GNSS mode | Up to 20 hours | Up to 17 hours |
Verdict
Which should you choose between the Garmin Venu Sq 2 and the Garmin Forerunner 165? It depends on your personal choice and the features you want in your smartwatch. If you are an athlete or adventure seeker who wants a watch with advanced health and fitness tracking, then the Forerunner 165 might be a better choice for you.
But if you want a casual, recreational watch with a more stylish element and longer battery life in GPS mode, then the Venu Sq 2 might be the way to go.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will the Garmin Venu Sq 2 have an ECG?
No, the Venu Sq 2 does not feature an ECG app. But if you really want ECG capability, you can go for the Venu 2 Plus ($449), which also offers various advancements, including Bluetooth calling and a stainless steel body.
Does the Garmin Forerunner 165 have an ECG?
No, even after being the newest model in the Forerunner series, the Forerunner 165 does not offer an ECG app, but it can track abnormal heart rate and alert users for that, but it is not as accurate as the ECG itself.
Does the Venu Sq 2 and Forerunner 165 are good for swimming?
Yes, both devices offer a water rating of 5 ATM, meaning you can use them for swimming. Both can withstand being submerged underwater up to 50 metres, but they are not good for deep divers who go beyond 50 metres.