Garmin Forerunner 965: The Ultimate Smartwatch for Advanced Fitness Tracking and Performance Metrics

Are you ready to elevate your fitness journey? The Garmin Forerunner 965 is the latest Forerunner in the line, for runners and fitness enthusiasts. It’s got all the bells and whistles and the latest tech. With its advanced tracking capabilities, stunning AMOLED display, and robust health monitoring features, this smartwatch is designed to help you push your limits and achieve your personal best. In this post we’ll answer your questions and give you a full review to help you decide if this is the watch for you. For a broader comparison, check out our other blog post: Garmin Smartwatches: Which one is right for you?

A close-up of a person tying the laces of bright orange athletic shoes with white soles. The person is wearing a Garmin Forerunner 965 smartwatch and is on a dark gym floor

What’s special about the Garmin Forerunner 965?

The Garmin Forerunner 965 has features for both casual runners and serious athletes. Here’s what’s special:

  • AMOLED Display: The Forerunner 965 introduces a vibrant 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen, a significant upgrade from its predecessor’s LCD display. This enhancement offers better visibility and a more intuitive user interface
  • GPS and Mapping: Multi-band GPS and preloaded topographical maps.
  • Performance Metrics: VO2 max, training status, recovery time.
  • Health Monitoring: Continuous heart rate tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep analysis, and stress tracking provide a holistic view of the user’s health
  • Battery Life: Despite the power-hungry AMOLED display, the 965 offers up to 23 days in smartwatch mode and 31 hours in GPS mode
  • Custom Workouts: Personalised workout suggestions and training plans.

Garmin Forerunner 965 FAQs

1. How accurate is the GPS on the Garmin Forerunner 965?

Multi-band GPS on the Forerunner 965 is way more accurate than single-band systems. So it’s better in tricky environments like forests or urban areas with tall buildings. The Forerunner 965 scored an “excellent 83%” on a standard 10-mile GPS accuracy test. It features Garmin’s SatIQ mode, which automatically switches to the most accurate GPS mode when needed, optimizing both accuracy and battery life

2. Can I use the Garmin Forerunner 965 for swimming?

Yes, you can use the Garmin Forerunner 965 for swimming. It is designed for both pool and open water swimming, offering features such as tracking distance, stroke count, and SWOLF score to help improve your swimming performance. The watch is water-resistant up to 50 meters, making it suitable for surface swimming but not for scuba diving, as that could damage the device and void the warranty.

3. How does the Forerunner 965 monitor my health?

  • Heart Rate Monitoring: 24/7 heart rate tracking and alerts for abnormal heart rate.
  • SpO2 Sensor: Measures blood oxygen saturation levels, respiratory health.
  • Sleep Tracking: Sleep patterns, deep sleep, light sleep, REM sleep.
  • Stress Tracking: Stress levels and breathing exercises to relax.
  • Body battery: This feature combines data from heart rate, stress, and sleep metrics to estimate your energy levels throughout the day. It helps you understand when to be active and when to rest, optimizing your daily activities
  • Health snapshot: The Health Snapshot feature allows you to record a two-minute session of key health metrics, including average heart rate, stress level, respiration rate, and SpO2 levels. This provides a quick overview of your cardiovascular status and overall health
  • Respiratory Rate: The watch tracks your breathing rate, providing insights into your respiratory health. This can be particularly useful for athletes and individuals with respiratory conditions

4. What’s smart about the Garmin Forerunner 965?

The Forerunner 965 has smart features to keep you connected and entertained:

  • Smart Notifications: Get notifications for calls, texts, emails and app alerts on your wrist.
  • Music Storage and Streaming: Store up to 500 songs or stream from Spotify and Deezer.
  • Garmin Pay: Make contactless payments with Garmin Pay when you’re on the go.

5. Is the Garmin Forerunner 965 for cyclists and triathletes?

Yes, he Garmin Forerunner 965 has multiple sports modes including cycling and triathlon. It tracks specific metrics for each sport, like cadence, power and swim stroke efficiency so it’s a great tool for multi-sport athletes. The Garmin Forerunner 965 is ideal for:

  • Those who prefer a lightweight, comfortable design for all-day wear
  • Serious runners and triathletes seeking advanced performance metrics
  • Fitness enthusiasts who value comprehensive health tracking
  • Users who appreciate a balance of smartwatch features and sports functionality

6. What is making Foreunner 965 different from Forerunner 955?

The main differences between the Garmin Forerunner 965 and 955 are primarily in the display and battery life. The Forerunner 965 features a 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, offering vibrant colors and better visibility, especially indoors. In contrast, the Forerunner 955 has a 1.3-inch MIP (Memory-In-Pixel) display, which is easier to read in direct sunlight and consumes less power. As a result, the 955 generally has better battery life, offering up to 15 days in smartwatch mode and 42 hours in GPS mode, compared to the 965’s 23 days in smartwatch mode and 31 hours in GPS mode. The 955 is also available in a Solar edition for even longer battery life, while the 965 does not have a solar option. Both watches share the same internal sensors and core fitness tracking features, with the main trade-off being between display quality and battery performance.

How to get the most out of your Garmin Forerunner 965

Customise Your Workouts: Use Garmin Coach to get adaptive training plans that match your fitness level and goals. The watch also has personalised workout suggestions based on your recent activity and recovery status.

Analyse Your Performance: Use Garmin Connect to dig into your workout data. The platform gives you detailed reports and allows you to compare your performance over time.

Explore New Routes: With preloaded maps and turn-by-turn navigation the Forerunner 965 helps you find new running or cycling routes. You can also create custom courses on Garmin Connect and sync them to your watch.

Stay motivated: Join challenges on Garmin Connect and compete with friends or other users worldwide. Earning badges and seeing your progress will keep you engaged.

Summary

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is a powerhouse smartwatch for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who want the best in performance tracking and health monitoring. With its multi-band GPS, health monitoring and smart features it’s one of the best in the wearable tech market.

If you want a reliable and feature packed wearable the Forerunner 965 should be at the top of your list. It’s a combination of functionality, durability and user friendly interface makes it a great investment for anyone serious about their fitness journey.

Source: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/886725#additional

Sources:

https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/smartwatches/garmin-forerunner-965-review-that-amoled-screen-brings-it-all-together-watch-out-apple

https://www.androidauthority.com/garmin-forerunner-955-vs-965-3336994

https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-0221611A-992D-495E-8DED-1DD448F7A066/EN-US/GUID-AC68D94C-821E-4567-8705-F433CDEA5525.html


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