Garmin vívoactive 5 vs Forerunner 165: Which Fits Your Workout Routine?
Both watches support Garmin Connect custom workouts and touchscreen activity navigation. The vívoactive 5 uses its Action button to start/stop a timer and its Back/Menu button for laps or workout steps; the Forerunner 165 pairs touch with five buttons, including START/STOP, BACK and UP/DOWN data-screen controls. Choose by the control layout and running tools you expect to use; for music, the vívoactive 5 stores downloads on the watch, while this non-Music Forerunner controls playback from a connected phone.
Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-02
Source checked 2026-10-02 11:15 UTC
Products compared
Product A · ASIN B0CG6NBJ61
Garmin vívoactive 5 GPS smartwatch, Ivory (010-02862-11)
Last observed offer
$191.00 List Price: $299.99
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 09:43 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Product B · ASIN B0CT3SGHXL
Garmin Forerunner 165 GPS running smartwatch, Black, non-Music (010-02863-20)
Last observed offer
$197.94 List Price: $249.99
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 09:43 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Pickoryx may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the paid Amazon links on this page, at no added cost to you.
The buying question
Which activity-control flow suits you, and do you need music stored on the watch or phone-based playback control?
Both watches have a touchscreen and Garmin Connect custom-workout support. The vívoactive 5 combines two physical buttons with touch; the Forerunner 165 adds five physical buttons alongside touch, with START/STOP, BACK for laps and UP/DOWN for data screens. The Forerunner also documents daily suggested workouts after it has a VO₂ max estimate (Garmin notes at least one outdoor run with heart-rate data) and PacePro for outdoor running after a plan or course is loaded. For music, this exact non-Music Forerunner controls a connected phone, while the vívoactive 5 can store downloaded music for Bluetooth headphones.
Quick verdict
Choose Garmin vívoactive 5 GPS smartwatch, Ivory (010-02862-11) if
- You prefer the vívoactive 5’s two physical buttons plus touchscreen for activity start/stop, lap or workout-step actions, and data screens.
- You want to download supported playlists to the watch and listen with Bluetooth headphones without bringing a phone for music.
Choose Garmin Forerunner 165 GPS running smartwatch, Black, non-Music (010-02863-20) if
- You prefer the Forerunner 165’s five-button-plus-touch layout, with separate START/STOP, BACK and UP/DOWN controls during activities.
- You intend to use Forerunner running tools such as daily suggested workouts after the watch has a VO₂ max estimate (Garmin notes at least one outdoor run with heart-rate data), or PacePro during an outdoor run after loading a plan or course.
- You are comfortable starting music on a paired phone and controlling playback from the watch.
When the recommendation changes
- If phone-free listening matters, Garmin documents downloads to the vívoactive 5 and Bluetooth-headphone playback; Garmin limits Forerunner 165 watch music storage to the separate Music model.
- If you prefer more dedicated physical activity controls, compare the vívoactive 5 Action and Back/Menu buttons with the Forerunner 165 START/STOP, BACK and UP/DOWN controls; both also support touchscreen interaction.
- If you want Forerunner daily suggestions, Garmin says the watch needs a VO₂ max estimate and notes suggestions appear after at least one outdoor run with heart-rate data. PacePro is for outdoor running and requires a downloaded plan or a course loaded to the watch. These are conditional tools, not evidence of better training results; both watches support Garmin Coach or custom-workout workflows.
The differences that matter
Sport Control Navigation Workflow
Garmin vívoactive 5 GPS smartwatch, Ivory (010-02862-11)
On the vívoactive 5, press the Action button to open activities and start or stop the activity timer; press Back/Menu during an activity to mark a lap, set or next workout stage. Swipe up or down to view the next data screen. Garmin also documents custom workouts sent from Garmin Connect, a capability the Forerunner 165 manual documents as well.[3, 2]
Garmin Forerunner 165 GPS running smartwatch, Black, non-Music (010-02863-20)
The Forerunner 165 has a touchscreen and five physical buttons. Its manual uses START/STOP to start or stop an activity, BACK to record a lap or advance a workout stage, and UP/DOWN to move through data screens; touchscreen use is also supported. Garmin documents custom Garmin Connect workouts on this watch too. Daily suggested workouts require a VO₂ max estimate, and Garmin notes they appear after at least one outdoor run with heart-rate data; PacePro requires a downloaded plan or a loaded course and an outdoor running activity.[6, 5]
What this changes: Both watches support Garmin Connect custom workouts and touch interaction, so neither has an exclusive custom-workout advantage. The practical distinction is the physical-control layout and documented button sequence: the vívoactive 5 uses two buttons plus touch, while the Forerunner 165 offers five buttons plus touch. If you want the Forerunner’s daily suggestions, Garmin requires a VO₂ max estimate and notes at least one outdoor run with heart-rate data; PacePro is an outdoor-run workflow that requires a plan or loaded course. Choose according to which operation and running-plan steps you expect to use, not a claim about better training or activity results.[3, 2, 6, 5]
Onboard Music Workflow
Garmin vívoactive 5 GPS smartwatch, Ivory (010-02862-11)
Garmin documents downloading music or playlists to the vívoactive 5 and pairing Bluetooth headphones for listening; its manual says Wi-Fi is required before downloading audio from a third-party provider. Garmin's release names Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer and notes provider subscriptions may be required.[2, 3]
Garmin Forerunner 165 GPS running smartwatch, Black, non-Music (010-02863-20)
This is the non-Music Forerunner 165 part number 010-02863-20. Garmin's 165-series release says watch music storage and phone-free listening are available only on Forerunner 165 Music. The series manual separately documents phone-music control on a non-music watch, so the supported routine for this configuration is to start audio on a paired phone and control it from the watch.[4, 5, 6]
What this changes: If you want audio on a workout without carrying a phone for music, the vívoactive 5 is the documented fit. If you already carry a phone and are happy to start playback there, the Forerunner 165 manual documents watch controls for the connected phone; it is not equivalent to storing playlists on the watch.[2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Best for your routine
Prefer a two-button-plus-touch activity flow, with Action for timer start/stop and Back/Menu for laps or workout steps
Best fit: Garmin vívoactive 5 GPS smartwatch, Ivory (010-02862-11)
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
The vívoactive 5 manual documents this button sequence and touchscreen data-screen swipes. This is a control-layout preference; the Forerunner 165 also supports touch but has five physical buttons.
Prefer separate START/STOP, BACK and UP/DOWN physical controls while also having touchscreen options
Best fit: Garmin Forerunner 165 GPS running smartwatch, Black, non-Music (010-02863-20)
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
The Forerunner 165 manual documents five physical buttons alongside touch, with START/STOP for the timer, BACK for laps or workout stages, and UP/DOWN for data screens. This is a feature-fit preference, not a usability test.
Create or follow custom workouts sent from Garmin Connect
The better fit depends on your priorities
Garmin documents custom Garmin Connect workouts for both watches. The choice depends on the activity-control layout you prefer, not a VA5-exclusive workout capability.
Use Forerunner daily suggested workouts or PacePro for outdoor running
Best fit: Garmin Forerunner 165 GPS running smartwatch, Black, non-Music (010-02863-20)
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
Daily suggestions require a VO₂ max estimate; Garmin notes they appear after at least one outdoor run with heart-rate data. PacePro requires a downloaded plan or loaded course and an outdoor running activity. These documented tools do not establish better training outcomes, and both watches support Garmin Coach/custom workouts.
Listen to downloaded playlists without taking a phone for music
Best fit: Garmin vívoactive 5 GPS smartwatch, Ivory (010-02862-11)
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
Garmin documents on-watch downloads and Bluetooth headphone listening for vívoactive 5; watch music storage is available on Forerunner 165 Music, not this non-Music part.
Control music already playing on a paired phone
The better fit depends on your priorities
The Forerunner 165 non-Music manual documents phone-playback controls, and the vívoactive 5 manual also documents a phone playback source. The sources do not establish comparative control quality.
Value and trade-offs
One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.
No comparable checkout-price evidence is included here. If prices differ, judge whether the preferred physical-control layout, phone-free on-watch music, or the Forerunner’s conditional running-plan tools are useful in your own routine; custom Garmin Connect workouts are documented for both.
No purchase-timing call is supported; compare current checkout prices and availability when you are ready to buy.
Limitations
- No head-to-head GPS, heart-rate, training-result, music-battery or durability testing is included, so this is a feature-workflow comparison rather than a performance ranking.
- When ordering, match the Forerunner 165 part number 010-02863-20 so you do not select the separate Music model.
- Garmin names third-party music providers for vívoactive 5 and notes subscriptions may be required; provider availability and plan requirements can change.
Questions shoppers ask
How do the activity buttons and screens differ?
The vívoactive 5 manual assigns activity start/stop to Action and lap or workout-step actions to Back/Menu; swipe up or down for another activity data screen. The Forerunner 165 manual assigns start/stop to START/STOP, laps or workout-step advancement to BACK, and data-screen scrolling to UP/DOWN. Both also have a touchscreen; the Forerunner manual documents five physical buttons.
Are custom Garmin Connect workouts exclusive to the vívoactive 5?
No. Garmin documents custom workouts sent from Garmin Connect for both watches. The practical difference in this comparison is the activity-control layout, not exclusive workout access.
When do Forerunner 165 daily suggested workouts and PacePro apply?
Garmin says daily suggestions require a VO₂ max estimate and notes that they appear after at least one outdoor run with heart-rate data. PacePro is used with an outdoor running activity after you download a plan or load a course. These requirements describe setup, not a promise of better results.
Can the non-Music Forerunner 165 control music?
Yes. Garmin’s series manual says a Forerunner non-music watch can open a glance for controlling music playing on a connected phone. That differs from storing playlists on the watch for phone-free listening, which Garmin lists for Forerunner 165 Music only.
Does the vívoactive 5 need a phone for downloaded music?
Garmin documents music downloads to the watch and listening with paired Bluetooth headphones. The manual says you need Wi-Fi to download audio from a third-party provider; provider subscriptions may also apply.
Methodology and sources
The comparison follows two buyer workflows: the documented physical-button and touchscreen sequences for starting, stopping, marking laps and navigating activity data; and whether music is downloaded to the watch or controlled from a paired phone. Garmin documents custom Garmin Connect workouts for both watches, so custom-workout access is not treated as an exclusive difference. Forerunner daily suggestions and PacePro are described with Garmin’s stated setup conditions. The sources do not measure GPS, heart-rate, training outcomes or audio battery life.
Automation assisted source organization and draft preparation; the cited product details come from Garmin's published pages and manuals.
View 6 sources
- 1.Garmin vívoactive 5 | Fitness Smartwatch with GPSGarmin · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-02 10:58 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Product page for exact part number 010-02862-11.: Garmin U.S. product route identifies the vívoactive 5 part number 010-02862-11 and Ivory colorway.
- 2.Introducing the vívoactive 5 GPS smartwatch from GarminGarmin U.S. Newsroom · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-02 10:58 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Lines 43-45 (30+ sports apps and custom Garmin Connect workouts); lines 51-53 (downloaded provider playlists and Ivory colorway).: Garmin describes vívoactive 5 multi-activity apps, custom step-by-step workouts sent from Garmin Connect, phone-free music downloads and multiple colorways including ivory.
- 3.vívoactive 5 Health and Fitness GPS Smartwatch Owner’s ManualGarmin · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-02 11:15 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Overview, printed p. 1 / PDF p. 6 (Action and Back/Menu controls); Touchscreen Tips, printed p. 2 / PDF p. 7 (data-screen swipes); Starting an Activity, Tips for Recording Activities, and Stopping an Activity, printed p. 3 / PDF p. 8 (timer and lap sequence); music procedures, printed pp. 56-57 / PDF pp. 61-62.: Manual documents the Action button for activity selection and timer start/stop; Back/Menu during activities for laps, sets or next workout stages; touchscreen swipes for activity data screens; and the existing watch-music/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth-headphone workflows.
- 4.Garmin Forerunner 165 | Running WatchGarmin U.S. Store · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-02 10:58 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Product page for exact part number 010-02863-20.: Garmin U.S. product route identifies the Forerunner 165 part number 010-02863-20, a black non-Music configuration.
- 5.Light up your run with the Garmin Forerunner 165 Series, easy-to-use GPS running smartwatches with vibrant AMOLED displaysGarmin U.S. Newsroom · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-02 10:58 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Lines 25-27 (two model types and touchscreen/five-button design); lines 32-37 and 49-52 (running plans, workouts, courses and PacePro); lines 42-43 (watch music storage only on Forerunner 165 Music).: Garmin identifies standard Forerunner 165 and 165 Music as separate models, lists running-focused adaptive plans, daily workouts, synced courses and PacePro, and states watch music storage is available only on the Music version.
- 6.Forerunner 165 Series Watch Owner’s ManualGarmin · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-02 11:15 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Overview, printed p. 2 / PDF p. 9 (five buttons and touchscreen, including timer, lap and data-screen roles); Starting an Activity and Tips for Recording Activities, printed pp. 4-5 / PDF pp. 11-12; custom workouts and daily suggestions, printed pp. 36-37 / PDF pp. 43-44; race-event prerequisite, printed p. 32 / PDF p. 39; PacePro setup, printed pp. 39-41 / PDF pp. 46-49; phone music control, printed p. 63 / PDF p. 70.: Manual documents the five-button-plus-touch activity workflow, Garmin Connect custom workouts, daily suggestions requiring a VO₂ max estimate (and notes at least one outdoor run with heart-rate data), PacePro plan/course setup for outdoor running, and non-Music phone playback controls.