Garmin Forerunner 165 Music: Worth the Extra Cost

Few things beat the feeling of heading out for a run with nothing but a watch on your wrist. The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music promises exactly that: phone-free listening with music stored directly on the watch. But with a €50 premium over the standard model, the question is whether the music feature is worth the extra cash and the battery trade-off.

Battery life (smartwatch): 11 days ·
GPS with music: 7 hours ·
Weight: 39 g ·
Display: 1.2-inch AMOLED ·
Price premium: €50

The pattern is clear: core specs are identical, but the music feature changes battery math significantly.

Is the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music worth it?

Pros and Cons of the Music Version

Price Comparison: Music vs Non-Music

One number, one pattern: the Music version costs $50 more than the standard Forerunner 165, which retails at $249.99 (TechRadar). That extra money buys you offline music storage and playback – but no other hardware change.

User Feedback and Ratings

Runners who value phone-free runs consistently say the upgrade is worth it. According to Runners World UK, typical general training usage lasts 5 to 8 days, with around 5 to 6 hours of GPS run time, which aligns with the music version’s battery for most users. The OutdoorGearLab review noted roughly 11 days of smartwatch mode and about 19 hours of GPS recording time for the non-music model – a clear trade-off for music lovers.

The implication: your typical run length determines whether the premium pays off.

What’s the difference between Garmin 165 and 165 Music?

Key Specifications Comparison

Six specs, one pattern: the only difference is music storage and the resulting battery trade-off.

Which One to Choose

If you never listen to music while running, buy the standard Forerunner 165 and save $50. If you want the freedom of leaving your phone behind, the Music version is the one. The hardware is identical otherwise – same case, same display, same sensors.

What this means: the choice hinges on whether offline music is worth halving your GPS runtime.

Can you listen to music with Garmin Forerunner 165?

Only the Music version. The standard Forerunner 165 has no speaker, no headphone jack, and no Bluetooth audio profile (TechRadar).

How to Download Music to the Watch

1. Connect the watch to your computer and use Garmin Express to transfer MP3 files (TechRadar).
2. Alternatively, use the Garmin Connect app on your phone to sync music from streaming services.

Supported Music Services

The Forerunner 165 Music works with Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music (TechRadar). You can also sideload your own MP3 files.

Pairing Bluetooth Headphones

Go to the music controls on the watch, put your headphones in pairing mode, and select them from the list. The watch pairs with any standard Bluetooth headphones.

The catch: initial sync still requires a phone or computer, but daily use is truly phone-free.

Do I need my phone to play music on my Garmin 165?

No, once the music is downloaded. The watch stores songs locally, and you can play them through Bluetooth headphones without any phone connection (TechRadar). Initial sync does require a phone or computer.

Storage Capacity for Music

The watch has 4 GB of internal storage dedicated to music, which holds roughly 500 songs – enough for most runners’ playlists.

Is the Garmin Forerunner 165 outdated?

No – it was released in February 2024 and remains current in 2025 (The Guardian). It’s Garmin’s entry-level AMOLED running watch, and no successor has been announced.

Competitor Alternatives

• Forerunner 265: adds multiband GPS, training readiness, and a larger AMOLED display – but costs $150 more.
• Forerunner 255: MIP display, no music on base model, but slightly cheaper.

Garmin continues to provide software updates for the 165 series, including bug fixes and feature improvements (Runners World UK).

The pattern: the 165 Music remains a current entry point, not a legacy product.

The Forerunner 165 Music lets you download songs and playlists from Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music, so you can leave your phone behind.

– TechRadar

It’s a capable entry-level watch that packs in most of the features you’d want from a modern running watch, with a bright AMOLED screen.

– The Guardian

Typical general training usage is about 5 to 8 days, with around 5 to 6 hours of GPS run time.

– Runners World UK

The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music is a smart buy for runners who hate carrying a phone. The €50 premium buys genuine offline music freedom, but it cuts GPS battery life from 19 hours to 7. For the average runner doing 30–60 minute runs, that trade-off is easy to accept. For the marathoner or ultrarunner, the standard Forerunner 165 plus a phone in a pocket is the more practical choice. Runners who rarely exceed 5K to half-marathon distances will find the music feature a decisive upgrade.

Frequently asked questions