Wear Radar

Garmin Forerunner 965vsGoogle Pixel Watch

Garmin Forerunner 965
Buy/Wait:superseded

This model is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Garmin Forerunner 970.

Best for: Competitive runners, triathletes, and ultramarathon runners who want full maps, running dynamics, and premium build.

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Google Pixel Watch
Buy/Wait:good

Early in release cycle

Best for: Pixel phone owners and Android users who want clean Wear OS integration, Fitbit health tracking, and safety-focused features. Ideal for fitness-focused users who prefer Google's approach over Samsung's more feature-packed ecosystem.

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Garmin Forerunner 965Google Pixel Watch
TierSports GPSSmartwatch
PlatformiOS & AndroidAndroid only
Battery23 days1.5 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
Health sensorshr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, training readiness, running dynamicsecg, spo2, skin temp, hrv, loss of pulse
ReleasedMar 1, 2023Oct 9, 2025
Cycle length806 days394 days
Cycle advicesupersededgood
Deals adviceclearanceneutral
Next modelPixel Watch 5 (Expected fall 2026)

Why buy each?

Garmin Forerunner 965

Full color topographic maps

Turn-by-turn navigation on full TopoActive maps — essential for trail running and mountain racing.

Running dynamics metrics

Cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, ground contact time, and running power.

23-day battery and 31h GPS

Enough for week-long trail ultras without a charge.

Google Pixel Watch

Loss of Pulse Detection

Pixel Watch 4 can detect when your heart stops and automatically call emergency services — a unique safety feature not found on Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch.

Fitbit Premium included

Six months of Fitbit Premium comes in the box, with daily readiness score, HRV analysis, and advanced sleep stages.

Pure Wear OS experience

Google's cleanest Wear OS implementation with fast updates, Gemini AI on wrist, Google Maps, and Google Wallet built in.