Garmin Forerunner 955 vs 965: Which one should you buy?

When Garmin launched the Forerunner 955, we happily dubbed it the king of the road. Less than a year later, Garmin launched the Forerunner 965, a fitness tracker with even more on board, including a new modern face. Shoppers finally got the chance to strap on a fantastic running watch with a vibrant AMOLED display. However, that’s not to say the 955 isn’t still a great pick. Both Garmin devices have a lot of core features in common. If you find yourself debating which is right for you, read our Garmin Forerunner 955 vs 965 to find out what each one brings to the table.

Launched in June 2022, the Forerunner 955 elevated the lineup with an upgraded heart rate sensor, a bevy of new activity modes and smartwatch features, and a second model for solar-enhanced battery life. In fact, in our Forerunner 955 review, we called it the best GPS watch on the market. Despite our satisfaction, less than a year later, Garmin dropped the Forerunner 965, giving the already great lineup a colorful facelift.

The brand-new AMOLED display of the Forerunner 965 is the device’s most striking upgrade. Bumped up from 1.3 to 1.4 inches, the touchscreen is crisp and vibrant and brings a premium feel to the entire user experience. It’s also coupled with a titanium bezel for a second, subtler note of luxury. While the MIP display on the 955 is plenty readable, the AMOLED version aligns the 965 with the market’s most popular wearables, such as the Apple Watch. During our Forerunner 965 review, we found map features in particular abundantly more convenient to use on the upgraded screen.

Meanwhile, the first sacrifice made to accommodate the line’s new look is, of course, battery life. For starters, the Forerunner 965 does not offer a solar model which we loved in the previous generation. In terms of battery life during GPS workouts, the 965  can’t match the specs offered by the 955’s solar model.

That said, the 965’s specs are still quite good. Sure, with always-on enabled, the device will only last about a week. Garmin also lists it at 31 hours in GPS mode, compared to the 955 and 955 Solar at 42 and 49 hours respectively. However, in smartwatch mode without always-on enabled, our reviewer was able to make multiple weeks on a single charge, including tracking GPS workouts daily. In other words, it’s still offering stellar battery life compared to many other AMOLED display-packing devices.

Beyond the screen, a Forerunner 955 vs 965 comparison shows a lot of similarities. Both devices offer 32GB of onboard storage to download music, and maps — including golf courses. Both also feature an NFC chip for wireless payments through Garmin Pay. Even the sensors are largely identical, including multi-band GNSS, SatIQ technology, and Garmin’s Elevate heart rate sensor. As is often the case on Garmin’s devices, we found heart rate data and GPS tracking to be highly accurate on both generations.

Garmin also consistently rolls new software features back to older devices, so the fitness tracking and training features available on both watches are also the same. These include the company’s advanced metrics such as Training Readiness and Body Battery, as well as fantastic onboard mapping and navigation tools. Again, we’d just have to admit the UI  and display are much easier on the eyes in the newest device.

Pricing for the Garmin Forerunner 955 vs 965 does little to level the playing field. The Garmin Forerunner 955 originally launched at $499. When a new generation lands, older devices tend to go on sale, so it’s possible you can find the device for less if you are patient. That said, even without a sale, that’s $100 less than the newest model.

We wouldn’t expect an AMOLED display to arrive without a price hike, and $100 dollars doesn’t seem terrible compared to other price bumps we’ve seen in the current market. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 955 Solar launched at $599, or the same price as the Forerunner 965. That tightens the race as we’d recommend the Solar model to shoppers considering the 955 series.

If you already own a Forerunner 955 and are thinking about upgrading, your decision may be a little harder. Replacing a ~$500 device after just one year feels like an aggressive play, especially when the new model offers most of the same tools you already have on your wrist. If style is important to you though, and you prefer the look and feel of an AMOLED display, the Forerunner 965 is certainly not a bad buy.

Garmin Forerunner 265 vs 965: Which should you buy?

The good news is it’s hard to go wrong when comparing the Forerunner 955 vs 965. Both generations offer a reliable, feature-packed device that’s likely to last you many training sessions. Overall, the core experience users will get with either one is largely identical, as are the device’s sensor packages. If the Forerunner 965 had upgraded to the heart rate sensor found on the Epix Pro, for example, we might be more apt to suggest the newer model. More than likely that sensor will lead to ECG monitoring capabilities on the devices it lands on.

One differentiator is how often you’ll need to take your watch off to charge up. The best battery life will be found on the Forerunner 955 Solar edition, so if that’s your top priority, the answer is simple. If you are happy with anything that lets you charge on a weekly basis rather than a daily one, battery life shouldn’t be a problem with any of these watches.

With that, we’d say the choice boils down to which display you prefer. As our reviewer remarked, the Garmin Forerunner 965 is eye-catching but not necessarily groundbreaking. Most of its gusto comes from the ease it brings to using maps and reading your on-screen data. We love a good AMOLED display, especially when, in our opinion, it doesn’t take too heavy a toll on battery life. On the other hand, we also didn’t mind the 955’s older display which we always found plenty easy to see. If you can find a 955 Solar on sale, it might well be worth saving your cash.