Amazfit Cheetah Pro vs Garmin Forerunner 965
Quick verdict
Choose the Amazfit Cheetah Pro if…
- You want flagship features for half the price
- You need more battery for long ultras (44 h)
Choose the Garmin Forerunner 965 if…
- You want the most polished navigation and maps on the market
- You train with advanced metrics (power, load, training readiness)
For maximum autonomy on long ultras, Amazfit Cheetah Pro lasts longer in GPS mode. If you want the lightest watch on your wrist, go for Amazfit Cheetah Pro. On budget, Amazfit Cheetah Pro is the more affordable option.
Amazfit Cheetah Pro or Garmin Forerunner 965? GPS battery (44 h vs 31 h), weight (43 g vs 53 g), maps and multi-band, with a clear verdict and a check of whether each lasts your whole race.
Pick by what you need
- If you run ultras or very long outings (44 h of GPS) → Amazfit Cheetah Pro
- If you want the lightest (43 g) → Amazfit Cheetah Pro
- If you want to save without giving up the essentials → Amazfit Cheetah Pro
Radar: where each watch wins
Absolute 0–100 scale, no exaggerated gaps: a tie stays a tie. Amazfit Cheetah Pro leads on 3 of 6 axes.
| Axis | Amazfit Cheetah Pro | Garmin Forerunner 965 |
|---|---|---|
| GPS battery | 37/100 | 26/100 |
| Everyday battery | 47/100 | 77/100 |
| Lightness | 87/100 | 70/100 |
| Maps | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Multi-band GPS | 43/100 | 32/100 |
| Display & extras | 100/100 | 100/100 |
GPS: 120 h = 100 · Weight: 35 g = 100, 95 g = 0 · Multi-band: by its battery (60 h = 100) · Display: AMOLED + music.
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Spec | Amazfit Cheetah Pro | Garmin Forerunner 965 |
|---|---|---|
| GPS battery | 44 h | 31 h |
| Multi-band battery | 26 h | 19 h |
| Smartwatch | 14 days | 23 days |
| Weight | 43 g | 53 g |
| Maps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-band | ✓ | ✓ |
| Music | ✓ | ✓ |
| Display | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Price | Mid-range | High-end |
| Where to buy | View on Amazon(opens in a new tab) | View on Amazon(opens in a new tab) |
GPS battery = each manufacturer's standard GPS mode; multi-band = dual-frequency (maximum accuracy). On Suunto, Polar Grit and Amazfit T-Rex the GPS figure already corresponds to dual-band mode. Figures verified against the manufacturer.
AmazfitAmazfit Cheetah ProRunning watch with dual-band GPS, offline maps and a 1.45" AMOLED display, at a fraction of a Garmin's price. 44 h in GPS mode (26 h dual-band), onboard music and just 43 g. Titanium bezel and AI coach. The value pick for runners who want navigation without overspending.
View on Amazon(opens in a new tab)GarminGarmin Forerunner 965Premium running watch with a 1.4" AMOLED display, onboard topo maps, multi-band GPS and music. Up to 31 h in GPS mode (19 h multi-band) and 23 days in smartwatch mode, at just 53 g. Garmin's top running watch without the bulk of a Fenix: ideal for marathons and single-day ultras with accurate navigation.
View on Amazon(opens in a new tab)Will it last your race? Real battery across 300 races
We estimated a mid-pack runner's finish time for every race in our calendar (distance, elevation and terrain) and added a 25% safety margin. Here's the result:
Amazfit Cheetah Pro lasts 285 of 300 races
Garmin Forerunner 965 lasts 261 of 300 races
We couldn't find that race in our calendar. Try another name or the town.
| Race | Battery needed | Amazfit Cheetah Pro | Garmin Forerunner 965 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Festival Cavalls del Vent84 km · 5600 m+ | 31 h | Lasts | Lasts |
| OTSO Travessa d'Encamp84 km · 5760 m+ | 31 h | Lasts | Lasts |
| Hochwald Ultratrail (HoWUT)166 km · 0 m+ | 32 h | Lasts | Dies |
| Costa Blanca Trails102 km · 6020 m+ | 34 h | Lasts | Dies |
| Ultra Pirineu100 km · 6400 m+ | 36 h | Lasts | Dies |
| Grand Raid Ventoux by UTMB125 km · 5700 m+ | 37 h | Lasts | Dies |
| Restonica Trail by UTMB110 km · 7200 m+ | 42 h | Lasts | Dies |
| Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls185 km · 3500 m+ | 45 h | Dies | Dies |
Estimate for a mid-pack runner on the longest distance, standard GPS on ultras and multi-band on races under 12 h. Tap a race to see the watches we recommend for it.
Verdict
For maximum autonomy on long ultras, Amazfit Cheetah Pro lasts longer in GPS mode. If you want the lightest watch on your wrist, go for Amazfit Cheetah Pro. On budget, Amazfit Cheetah Pro is the more affordable option.
Analysis: where they really differ
The Forerunner 965 is Garmin's top running watch: AMOLED, topo maps, multi-band and music in 53 g. The Cheetah Pro offers the same key feature list with more battery (44 h vs 31 h), 10 g lighter and at a fraction of the price. What you pay for with Garmin is software: more polished routed navigation, richer performance metrics and the Connect ecosystem. If budget rules, the Amazfit; if you want the most complete experience, the Garmin.
Choose the Amazfit Cheetah Pro if…
- You want flagship features for half the price
- You need more battery for long ultras (44 h)
- You prefer the lighter watch
Choose the Garmin Forerunner 965 if…
- You want the most polished navigation and maps on the market
- You train with advanced metrics (power, load, training readiness)
- You already use Garmin and value ecosystem integration