Garmin Fenix 8 vs Garmin Forerunner 965
Garmin Fenix 8
Garmin Forerunner 965
Fenix 8 wins on health, battery, design, and features. The 965 saves serious money for serious runners.
How They Compare
The things that actually matter 💅
Pick Your Side 💜
Which one stole your heart?
Which One Is For You?
Two amazing products, two different vibes ✨
- You hike, ski, dive, and run and want one watch for all of it
- You need the toughest Garmin build for extreme environments
- You want the absolute most features Garmin offers
- You primarily run and do not need expedition features
- You prefer a lighter, more comfortable watch for daily training
- You want to keep hundreds in your pocket and still run with Garmin
The Full Story
LoveBar's deep-dive, written for humans 💕
The Garmin family feud that nobody can settle once and for all. The Fenix 8 is the flagship that does literally everything: solar charging, built-in flashlight, expedition mode for multi-week GPS tracking, dive capability, and the toughest build in the lineup. It is the watch you buy if you refuse to compromise and your adventures span multiple sports and terrains. The Forerunner 965 is what happens when you take the Fenix's running DNA and strip away the adventure extras. Same great maps and music, similar training tools, lighter on the wrist, and noticeably lighter on the wallet. For pure running, the 965 gives up almost nothing. The Fenix earns its premium only if you genuinely use features the 965 does not have. Be honest with yourself about what you actually do, and the answer becomes clear.