Choosing running watches & heart-rate gear comes down to one fork: do you want a GPS running watch built around structured training, or a wrist tracker that covers heart rate and everyday activity? Garmin Forerunner 165 and Fitbit Versa 2 overlap on wrist-based tracking, but their listed functions and prices point to different shoppers. Here is the practical split: Garmin is the training-focused choice, while Fitbit is the simpler smartwatch choice at the lower listed price.
Quick verdict
Pick the Garmin Forerunner 165 if built-in GPS, run-planning tools, and training metrics matter most. Its named features include PacePro grade-adjusted pacing, Garmin Coach adaptive plans, HRV Status, and wrist-based running power. Choose the Fitbit Versa 2 if you want a running heart rate monitor with a tracker, stopwatch, timer, and broader everyday smartwatch functions. The listed price spread between the two watches is $131.00.
At-a-glance comparison
| Category | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Fitbit Versa 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | $199.99 | $68.99 |
| Stated battery | More than 7 days | Up to 7 days |
| Key listed functions | GPS, heart rate monitor, AMOLED | Running heart rate monitor, tracker, stopwatch, timer |
| Wear format | Wrist, black | Wrist, black |
Where each product wins
- Garmin Forerunner 165: The clearer fit for runners who want run-specific guidance, with GPS, PacePro, daily suggested workouts, Garmin Coach, HRV Status, and running power named among its functions.
- Fitbit Versa 2: The better match for everyday smartwatch coverage, including Android and iOS compatibility, reminders, weather, sleep monitoring, voice assistant support, and activity options such as swimming, walking, and yoga.
Product notes
Garmin Forerunner 165
Garmin Forerunner 165 is the more training-oriented choice in this pairing. Beyond GPS, its description names multi-GNSS, PacePro grade-adjusted pacing, daily suggested workouts, Garmin Coach adaptive training plans, HRV Status, a barometric altimeter, Garmin Pay, and 25-plus sport profiles. Those tools give a marathon-training shopper several clearly identified ways to organize and review runs. The black wrist format and AMOLED touchscreen keep it recognizable as a smartwatch as well as a running watch. The concrete limitation is price: at $199.99, it is the higher-priced watch here. That makes its added training focus most relevant to shoppers who will actually use GPS and the run-specific features rather than only needing a heart-rate monitor and timer.
Fitbit Versa 2
Fitbit Versa 2 suits shoppers who want heart-rate tracking alongside a wider set of daily smartwatch functions. Its description highlights real-time heart-rate tracking during intensive workouts, a water-resistant design, lightweight construction, reminders, weather, sleep monitoring, voice assistant support, Alexa, and compatibility with both Android and iOS. The package also lists S and L wristbands, which gives the listed configuration a straightforward fit-planning detail. The tradeoff is functional focus: a runner specifically seeking the Garmin Forerunner 165's GPS, PacePro, HRV Status, or running-power tools will find Garmin the more direct match. Fitbit makes more sense when everyday activity tracking and smartwatch features matter as much as running sessions.
Final choice by use case
- For GPS running and structured marathon training: Choose Garmin Forerunner 165 for GPS, PacePro, Garmin Coach, HRV Status, and running power.
- For heart-rate tracking with everyday smartwatch tools: Choose Fitbit Versa 2 for its tracker, stopwatch, timer, reminders, and Android/iOS compatibility.
- For the lower listed price: Choose Fitbit Versa 2; the listed prices are separated by $131.00.
- For the broader run-training feature set: Choose Garmin Forerunner 165, whose description specifically names adaptive plans and run-focused pacing tools.
