Garmin Forerunner 955 vs 965: Which one should you buy?

When Garmin launched the Forerunner 955, we happily dubbed it the king of the road. Less than a year later, Garmin launched the Forerunner 965, a fitness tracker with even more on board, including a new modern face. Shoppers finally got the chance to strap on a fantastic running watch with a vibrant AMOLED display. However, that’s not to say the 955 isn’t still a great pick. Both Garmin devices have a lot of core features in common. If you find yourself debating which is right for you, read our Garmin Forerunner 955 vs 965 to find out what each one brings to the table.

Garmin Forerunner 955 vs 965: At a glance

Both devices offer fantastic fitness tracking with reliable sensors and the top Garmin training tools available.
The Garmin Forerunner 955 features a 64-color MIP display which the 955 updates to a full-color AMOLED display.
The Forerunner 955 is available in both a standard and a solar model. The Forerunner 965 is only available in a single, nonsolar model.
The older lineup boasts more impressive battery specs, especially compared to the 965 with its always-on display enabled.
The devices share the same accurate heart rate sensors and core fitness tracking experience.

Garmin Forerunner 955 vs 965: Specs

	Garmin Forerunner 955	Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar	Garmin Forerunner 965
Display	1.3-inch MIP 260 x 260 resolution	1.3-inch MIP 260 x 260 resolution	1.4-inch AMOLED, optional always-on 454 x 454 resolution
Dimensions and weight	46.5 x 46.5 x 14.4mm 52g w/o strap	46.5 x 46.5 x 14.4mm 53g w/o strap	46.5 x 46.5 x 14.4mm 53g w/o strap
Colors and materials	Corning Gorilla Glass DX display Fiber-reinforced polymer bezel Silicone strap Black or Whitestone	Corning Gorilla Glass DX display Fiber-reinforced polymer bezel Silicone strap Black or Whitestone	Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX display Titanium bezel Silicone strap Black or Whitestone
Battery	Up to 15 days in smartwatch mode Up to 42 hours in GPS mode without music Up to 8.5 hours in all-systems GNSS mode with music	Up to 20 days with solar Up to 49 hours with solar Up to 8.5 hours in all-systems GNSS mode with music	Up to 23 days in smartwatch mode Up to 31 hours in GPS mode without music Up to 10.5 hours in GPS-only GNSS mode with music
Sensors	GPS GLONASS GALILEO Multi-Frequency Positioning SatIQ Technology Garmin Elevate Barometric Altimeter Compass Gyroscope Accelerometer Thermometer Pulse Ox Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor	GPS GLONASS GALILEO Multi-Frequency Positioning SatIQ Technology Garmin Elevate Barometric Altimeter Compass Gyroscope Accelerometer Thermometer Pulse Ox Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor	GPS GLONASS GALILEO Multi-Frequency Positioning SatIQ Technology Garmin Elevate Barometric Altimeter Compass Gyroscope Accelerometer Thermometer Ambient Light Sensor Pulse Ox Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor
Durability	5ATM	5ATM	5ATM
Connectivity	NFC Bluetooth ANT+ Wi-Fi	NFC Bluetooth ANT+ Wi-Fi	NFC Bluetooth ANT+ Wi-Fi
Compatibility	Android and iOS	Android and iOS	Android and iOS
Memory	32GB Up to 2,000 songs	32GB Up to 2,000 songs	32GB Up to 2,000 songs

Launched in June 2022, the Forerunner 955 elevated the lineup with an upgraded heart rate sensor, a bevy of new activity modes and smartwatch features, and a second model for solar-enhanced battery life. In fact, in our Forerunner 955 review, we called it the best GPS watch on the market. Despite our satisfaction, less than a year later, Garmin dropped the Forerunner 965, giving the already great lineup a colorful facelift.