Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming
Best for: Anyone who wants serious health and fitness tracking without the bulk or cost of a full smartwatch. Works with both Android and iPhone, making it the most accessible Fitbit tracker in the lineup.
Full details →Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming
Best for: Beginner and intermediate runners who want real GPS accuracy and Garmin's analytics depth without the price of the 265 or 965. Also ideal as a first serious GPS watch for anyone moving up from a fitness tracker.
Full details →| Fitbit Charge | Garmin Forerunner 165 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Fitness Tracker | Sports GPS |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 7 days | 11 days |
| Always-on display | ❌ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | ecg, spo2, eda stress, hr | hr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery |
| Released | Sep 28, 2023 | Mar 5, 2024 |
| Cycle length | 731 days | 1006 days |
| Cycle advice | bad | bad |
| Deals advice | great | good |
| Next model | Fitbit Charge 7 (Expected 2026) | Garmin Forerunner 170 (Expected March 2026) |
Full ECG, electrodermal activity stress sensing, SpO2, and continuous heart rate in a tracker thinner than most smartwatches.
Google Maps navigation, Google Wallet NFC payments, and YouTube Music controls — more useful on-device apps than any previous Charge.
7 days of typical use, dropping to around 30 minutes per GPS workout session before needing a charge.
The FR165 is the first Garmin entry-level running watch with an AMOLED display — dramatically more readable than the LCD it replaces.
Training load, recovery time, Body Battery, HRV status, VO2 max estimation — the same analytics found on watches costing twice as much.
11 days typical use and roughly 19 hours GPS — enough for most training blocks without mid-week charging.