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Coros Pace 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 165

Quick verdict

Coros Pace 338 h GPS39 gMIP

Choose the Coros Pace 3 if…

  • You run trail and want multi-band GPS, maps and twice the battery for the same money
  • You prioritise the sunlight readability of a MIP screen
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Garmin Forerunner 16519 h GPS39 gAMOLED

Choose the Garmin Forerunner 165 if…

  • You already use Garmin Connect and want to stay in that ecosystem
  • You prefer the AMOLED display and want Garmin Pay on your wrist
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For maximum autonomy on long ultras, Coros Pace 3 lasts longer in GPS mode. Only Coros Pace 3 brings onboard topo maps for navigation. Both sit in the same price segment, so let battery, weight and the feature you value most decide.

Coros Pace 3 or Garmin Forerunner 165? GPS battery (38 h vs 19 h), weight (39 g vs 39 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 need maps and navigation on your wrist → Coros Pace 3
  • If you run ultras or very long outings (38 h of GPS) → Coros Pace 3

Radar: where each watch wins

Absolute 0–100 scale, no exaggerated gaps: a tie stays a tie. Coros Pace 3 leads on 4 of 6 axes.

Radar of Coros Pace 3 versus Garmin Forerunner 165Six axes: GPS battery, everyday battery, lightness, maps, multi-band GPS, and display with extras.GPS batteryEverydaybatteryLightnessMapsMulti-bandGPSDisplay& extras
Radar of Coros Pace 3 versus Garmin Forerunner 165
AxisCoros Pace 3Garmin Forerunner 165
GPS battery32/10016/100
Everyday battery80/10037/100
Lightness93/10093/100
Maps100/1000/100
Multi-band GPS25/1000/100
Display & extras0/10050/100

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

SpecCoros Pace 3Garmin Forerunner 165
GPS battery38 h19 h
Multi-band battery15 h–
Smartwatch24 days11 days
Weight39 g39 g
Maps✓–
Multi-band✓–
Music––
DisplayMIPAMOLED
PriceEntryEntry
Where to buyView 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.

Coros Pace 3CorosCoros Pace 3

Trail running GPS watch with track navigation, barometric altimeter and up to 38 h battery life in GPS mode. Lightweight (39 g), accurate and with offline maps. Best value for mountain navigation.

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Garmin Forerunner 165GarminGarmin Forerunner 165

Entry-level running watch with a 1.2" AMOLED display, 19 h GPS battery and just 39 g. Training metrics, adaptive plans and accurate multi-GNSS GPS for training and racing marathons. Garmin's gateway watch for runners who don't need maps or multi-band.

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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:

Coros Pace 3 lasts 276 of 300 races

Garmin Forerunner 165 lasts 224 of 300 races

RaceBattery neededCoros Pace 3Garmin Forerunner 165
Kangas Mountain58 km · 3500 m+19 hLastsLasts
Ultra Trail Torla-Ordesa50 km · 4100 m+19 hLastsLasts
Ultra Trail Gredos71 km · 2322 m+20 hLastsDies
Allgäu Panorama Marathon69 km · 3200 m+22 hLastsDies
Marbella Epic Trail65.89 km · 5068 m+26 hLastsDies
Marathon du Mont-Blanc88 km · 5500 m+28 hLastsDies
Costa Blanca Trails102 km · 6020 m+34 hLastsDies
SaintéLyon160 km · 4200 m+40 hDiesDies

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, Coros Pace 3 lasts longer in GPS mode. Only Coros Pace 3 brings onboard topo maps for navigation. Both sit in the same price segment, so let battery, weight and the feature you value most decide.

Analysis: where they really differ

The most fought-over entry-level head-to-head, and it isn't as close as it looks. For a very similar price, the Coros Pace 3 offers dual-frequency multi-band GPS, onboard navigation maps, 38 h of GPS battery and a 39 g weight, with a transflective MIP display that reads perfectly in sunlight. The Garmin FR165 stays on single-band GPS, with no maps and 19 h of battery, but answers with an AMOLED display, the far more mature Garmin Connect ecosystem, Garmin Pay and broader third-party platform integration. For trail and mountain, the Pace 3 is objectively more watch: twice the battery, multi-band GPS and navigation. The FR165 wins if you live inside the Garmin ecosystem and prefer the AMOLED screen and wrist payments.

Choose the Coros Pace 3 if…

  • You run trail and want multi-band GPS, maps and twice the battery for the same money
  • You prioritise the sunlight readability of a MIP screen
  • You don't rely on Garmin Pay or the Connect ecosystem

Choose the Garmin Forerunner 165 if…

  • You already use Garmin Connect and want to stay in that ecosystem
  • You prefer the AMOLED display and want Garmin Pay on your wrist
  • You run mostly on road, where single-band GPS is fine
View on Amazon: Coros Pace 3(opens in a new tab)View on Amazon: Garmin Forerunner 165(opens in a new tab)

Frequently asked questions

Which lasts longer, Coros Pace 3 or Garmin Forerunner 165?
Coros Pace 3 offers 38 h of GPS battery and Garmin Forerunner 165 offers 19 h, so Coros Pace 3 lasts longer for long efforts.
Which one is lighter?
Coros Pace 3 weighs 39 g and Garmin Forerunner 165 weighs 39 g; Coros Pace 3 is the lighter of the two.
Do both have onboard maps?
Only Coros Pace 3 includes onboard topo maps.
Which is better for trail running and ultras, Coros Pace 3 or Garmin Forerunner 165?
Coros Pace 3: 38 h of GPS and onboard maps to navigate routes without relying on your phone.
Can I listen to music without my phone?
Neither the Coros Pace 3 nor the Garmin Forerunner 165 stores music onboard; you'll need to carry your phone.

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Coros Pace 3(opens in a new tab)Garmin Forerunner 165(opens in a new tab)