ConsFirst / Smartwatches & fitness trackers / Compare
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Amazfit Active 3 Premium
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Garmin Forerunner 165 ranks higher (#2 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on fitness tracking. Amazfit Active 3 Premium wins on durability.
The biggest complaint about the Garmin Forerunner 165 is key training features held back; for the Amazfit Active 3 Premium it's limited smartwatch features. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Garmin Forerunner 165 | Amazfit Active 3 Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in smartwatches & fitness trackers | #2 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$ | $ |
| Type | Sports watch | Smartwatch |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 5% | 5% |
| Overall score | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Battery life | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Fitness tracking | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Smart features | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Comfort | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Durability | 3.0 | 3.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $150 · $$ $150–350 · $$$ over $350. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Garmin Forerunner 165
- Key training features held back
Android Central lists the missing Training Load and Training Status as a con, saying Garmin reserves them, along with Training Readiness and multisport profiles, for the pricier Forerunner 265.
Source: Android Central review - Confusing at first and fiddly pairing
Amazon's summary calls the interface mixed, with some owners saying it isn't intuitive. Low-star Walmart reviews say it has too many buttons to figure out, Bluetooth pairing isn't user-friendly, and it came without instructions. Android Central says the button layout has a learning curve.
- Plain plastic build, limited smarts, extra costs
Android Central dislikes the plastic, button-heavy look and the glass, which isn't Gorilla Glass. It says the watch feels substandard next to full smartwatches, and music storage and Wi-Fi cost extra. A Walmart reviewer complains about needing an adapter to charge.
Amazfit Active 3 Premium
- Limited smartwatch features
Tom's Guide says you don't get the emergency alerts, on-watch calls or third-party apps of Apple and Google watches. Runtesters calls the ecosystem weaker, with a smaller app store, payments not available everywhere, and less polished watch faces and music support.
- Heart rate struggles on hard efforts
Runtesters says heart rate is good overall but falls behind during high-intensity runs. Amazon's summary says customers note accuracy issues, especially with high-intensity heart-rate monitoring. Runtesters also notes it has only single-band GPS.
- Battery short of the 12-day claim
Tom's Guide got just over a week, about eight days, against Amazfit's 12-day claim. Runtesters says GPS battery life seems shorter than advertised and that it needs a proprietary charger.
- Few style options and phone hiccups
Tom's Guide's only listed con is the lack of 'feminine' style options despite being aimed at women; it comes in black, navy and white. Amazon owners report mixed experiences with compatibility.
Who should pick which
Pick the Garmin Forerunner 165 if
Runners who want Garmin coaching on a budget
Accurate GPS distance and pace
Over a week between charges
Skip it if: You want apps, voice assistants or a full smartwatch; You track Training Load or train for triathlons; You want music without paying for the Music edition
Pick the Amazfit Active 3 Premium if
Budget buyers who want serious fitness tracking
Week-long battery life
People who switch between iPhone and Android
Skip it if: You want fall detection, health alerts or third-party apps; You do high-intensity interval training and need precise heart rate; You want dual-band GPS
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