For those wondering... That big scratch on the 965 is a damaged screen protector! Not an actual scratch on the screen. Still wish this thing had Sapphire!
I think sapphire would be a huge selling point for the forerunner! That and a flashlight would probably outsell the Fenix or epix but then garmin would be foolish to cut sales from other watches I suppose.
Do you find you actually scratch screens without a protector, or is it like a phonescreen protector, or a UV filter on a camera lens. A myth that does next to nothing, except in situations where you have bigger issues than a scratched screen? Genuine question, as I had a fenix non sapphire, and while I scratched the bezel the lens was mint. And now I have a coros where the lens is sapphire anyway....
@@scriptosaurusrex I’ve scratched every non-sapphire watch I’ve owned. I’m either unlucky, clumbsy, or both? The 965 is also more susceptible than others since its screen is raised above the bezel.
Same for me. I’ve been wearing my 965 since April and I really love it. As you said, it strikes a really good balance : features, accuracy, screen, battery, all in a lightweight package that makes it ideal not only for trail running, but also to wear it 24h/day. Things I wish it had : sapphire lens, and maybe also the flashlight
Forerunner 965 is my first Garmin. Been using Apple Watch since 2015. Finally got so frustrated with the battery life, so I decided to go with Garmin, since I also had Garmin on my bike. Love this forerunner!
I was torn between epix and 965. But finally I decided to go epix pro standard because it was a same price because it was on discount. The flashlight was the deciding factor
I was in the same situation. Bought the Epix Gen2 Pro. Returned it after two weeks. It was too heavy, running and being daily driver. It would move frequently. Sleep and HRV measurement was way off. Sleep is always off and Nightly HRV would hover around 50-60ms. Got the Garmin Forerunner 965. Doesn’t move at all. It’s light and comfortable on my wrist. I get better sleep score around 85-96% and HRV around 80-99ms. When I don’t feel well it hover around 55-65ms. What I’m trying to say is the watch weight plays a huge role on those Garmin health metrics.
I went with the epix pro 47mm myself. I am still hung up if I should have went with the 51mm version, but I have no regrets, besides paying the full MSRP price.
@@dominicjrf Exactly the reason why I bought 965. I was considering Epix, it is great, but it's just the weight/functionality that gives 965 a big advantage. You bearly feel that thing on your hand! :D
Went from the Epix 2 to the Forerunner 965. The weight and the better - larger screen did it for me. If they added sapphire, flashlight, and a surf activity ... it would be perfect. Agree with you though. Happy Christmas time to you and yours good sir! 🤙🏻
965 was on top of my list because of the amoled screen and topo maps. I am a map guy. To me breadcrumb maps are like video games of the 70's. If I didn't care about the maps I'd get the Coros pace 3. However here in Canada $200 more will get you the Gen 2 Epix pro Sapphire. Better glass, more durable, flashlight (I live in the wild country), some few more features. For the lifetime of the watch it's only a 8-10 cents more a day.
I WANT to get another watch. But I also think the 965 does everything just well enough and in the right combination to be the best. I tried on my nephew’s 47mm Epix Pro Sapphire and was reminded how nicely the 965 fits me and the screen ratio is better, too. The flashlight and sapphire would make it just about perfect.
I have owned the 965 for about a year. Once I decided that I wanted to get this watch, it took maybe 8 months before I could get it due to the demand. I am very happy with it. The screen, feature set and battery life make it the perfect fitness watch for me. Prior to getting the 965, I owned a 245 for years which I also liked.
I have been lusting after the 965, but i cant afford it now, nor can i rationalize buying a new watch. I have had a Forerunner 695 music for years and i love it! Garmin has been supper supportive and has replaced two of my watches. (Actually once they gave me credit to upgrade from a cheaper watch to the Forerunner that i have now!) I like the plastic housing because I am allergic to most metals. I like the buttons, but this watch is not real accurate with recording my sleep, plus there is no oximeter or body battery function. Thank you, always for your great, comprihensive videos. They are filmed and edited beautifully, interesting and to the point! You and your friend are the ones that im always watching to learn about equipment and just to be entertained!
I've owned my 965 for almost 6 months now, purchased because of YOUR review. I like it, it does everything & more than I need it to. I also used my Running Club Discount code which means I only paid £540 not the £599 Retail
I was in two minds between the 955 and 965, I'm a ultra runner with small wrists, needed nav and a battery life for 100 miles (at cut off pace) in the end I went for the 955 as it was a chunk cheaper and did everything (or what I needed) as the 965, but with better battery life. as I'm more concerned about outdoor in use battery life the transflective screen makes it much more energy efficient, as it never needs the back light to turn on to use it (at night it just reflects my head torch).
Great video as usual Dave. After watching your reviews I changed from the Fenix 6 sapphire to the 965. The screen is amazing making the Fenix look very old. I prefer the understated look and the lighter feel, so happy days........until the 975 😂
Upgraded to 965 from fenix 3, perfect for my use (running, kayaking, cross-country skiing, hiking... ) more comfortable to wear compared to epix and fenix
I have the 965, Fenix 7 Pro and Venu 3. So hard to decide which I like using more. I seem to always come back to the 965, but the Venu 3 is really nice. My Fenix is just too bulky/heavy for running in my opinion.
I bought the 955 Solar last year only to have the 965 come out about a month and a half later (coming from Apple I didn’t know what Garmin’s product lifecycle was) - 965 seems like a great device, but not worth an upgrade from the 955 to me as they get the same updates, the AMOLED display really seems to be the main difference.. I’ll keep the extra battery life!
Not correct. I had the 955 solar and now have the 965 and the 965 has a FAR better battery life than the 955 solar had. I would say double the life. It's a significant improvement on the 955 solar with battery life and screen
Thank you for the great video, cheers from Japan. Those few days I had been on the edge between FR965 and epix pro gen2 47mm. I had watched a lot of videos including your other ones, now I am probably on to the FR965. Best wishes for the year end and a Happy New Year! Sapphire glass... that is really a missing point...
Epix Pro Gen2 has Elevate Gen 5 HR sensor which shown to have up to 97% accuracy. Whereas FR965 has a Elevate Gen 4 HR sensor which shown to have 92% accuracy. Saw this in a scientific review video.
I have been looking al the 965 for months now. I was gifted With an Apple Watch series 8 last christmas which has kept me from buying a new watch. It is an amazing watch and the more i watch your video the more i’d like to purchase one.
I have a 965. Bought primarily to track sleep, I have sleep apnoea and Graves’ disease but I also use it for cycling and resistance training. It’s fantastic. I used a Huwawi smart watch before this and the difference is night and day. Just make sure you don’t allow it to sinc with too many apps on your phone and the battery life, for me is typically more than 10 days. That includes three hours gym, typically six hours on the bike and constant SPo2 monitoring per week
Just to let you know,I wear the Garmin Forerunner 965 also,I have small wrists,so this 965 is perfect,I jog with it every day,and the only reason I'd upgrade like you,is if Garmin came out with a 975, Thanks brother
Hello, I train for triathlons, and I had the 965 and the Apple Watch 8 for 7 days, one on each wrist. I absolutely love the 965. The 965 was extremely light and was as accurate as the Apple Watch with heart rate , minus a delay in heart rate response with fitness, and the 965 screen has a very good color screen. I really think Apple and Garmin should work together. I did stick with Apple because of the ability to compare, compete, and see my Apple challenges. I would have picked the Garmin over the other apple if not for those three active things.
Yes I own a 965! Tried the 265, but the maps were the dealmaker. With the updates it is a killer smartwatch with very complete features. It is a scratch sensitive screen though. Just have to be careful with it.
Yep, form factor for the win with the 965. The big screen, smaller case, thinner and lighter weight than Epix, and still with great mapping and other features. Way more comfortable to wear when sleeping imo (I've had Fenix and Epix models before). Wish it had the newer heart rate sensor.
I had the 965 for three weeks before sending it back. It is an amazing watch and I would say it is my favourite sport/smartwatch. I only wear my Apple Watch bc of the motorcycle fall detection. Garmin has found their stride anew since their new beta software program and somewhat shared development cycles.
My 965 done exactly the same during bike rides,returned it for a refund. Now using the 265 and it works perfectly, strangely using the same sensor between the two.
I bought the 965. It was my first ever sports or smart watch and I love it for the same reasons you do. I have small wrists so watches, like the Epix, look and feel big. I’m also just a road runner so I don’t need anything that rugged. Price-wise, I thought it was quite expensive. Like you said, Coros is a much better value. Plus, an Apple or Android watch would be cheaper. At the end, the decision came down to battery life and the fact the company I work offered a great employee discount for Garmin products.
I have a 955, however I really love the 965, I would like to buy it, but because I have 955, I'm going to wait for a new version. Thanks Dave, great video!
What are the usecases of using each/both in your case? Why I'm asking - because I'm already waiting on my 965 while using fenix 7 😅 went all in for newer interface and the screen. Think that I might be stressed by lack of torch which I really would want to have and gentleness of the 965 (F7 is a tank). Originally I was thinking of selling the F7 but your comment made me wonder should I 😅
@AndriySaychuk well, the main reason I've bought f965 is screen and new user experience ). Actually, I didn't think how I would use both watches. However, I use them). F965 I wear 24/7, except my training time. Fenix7 I use as training watch
@@KPN79 thanks for the reply. My 965 should arrive upcoming days, will see if that makes sense selling F7 in deed as I wouldn't like to scratch 965 during a gym training. But a 965 for running 100% and if goes good - all-day wearing :)
@@KPN79 BTW, what activities do you use F7 for? Just out of curiosity. In my case there are quite a few Stretching, Yoga and other type of trainings low to the ground where you can easily scratch the watch by sliding the wrist/watch low to the floor while laying on the floor/training carpet. Other activities are indoor biking, treadmill+outdoor running, full body workout and les mills Bodypump where 965 would survive easily.
@AndriySaychuk my activities are running, a little gym plus stretching after a run session. Just try both of them in every scenario, and you'll discover your own best option :)
I totally agree with you. Weight is the most important spec for me as I wear it 24/7. I have a 955 and love it 🙂 nearly identical to a Fenix 7 (non Pro) feature wise but 2/3 of the weight!
Same for me -> bought 965 right after release & very happy (still don’t sold fenix 7, ‘cause thinking, they could be useful…but can’t stop using 965 😂).
After some time with the Fenix 7 base model, I tried out the Instinct 2X Solar, and you could not be more right about the importance of personal preference with form factor!
I love de 965! Had the Fenix6s because of my smaller wrist and my demand was the mapping feature! Still it was rather thick, I got stuck many times. Though the thickness is not very different and the bezel is much bigger, the form factor of the 965 makes it sit ‘smoother’ (is that even a term?) around my wrist and I tend to get stuck much less. Furthermore, the bright display makes it easier to see on the trails for my aging eyes 👀 Love your videos and can’t wait for the next rambling podcast 😂
I bought the 955 over the 965. As much as I like the 965 display, I couldn’t get over wearing an amoled display Watch. Too much of a phone on your wrist. Love the MIP display in the sun and it’s not overkill indoors.
I'm about to get one after constantly watching reviews and comparing features on the Garmin website for the past week. The F7 Pro Sapphire solar might be better in almost every way, but it is too expensive, a bit bigger and heavier, and then there is the MIP. The big bright screen on the FR 965 is excellent, battery life is surprisingly good, and it does nearly everything else almost as well, costs less, and is smaller and lighter. It's still a huge improvement over my Instinct.
I bought Garmin for the MIP display, not the processors or sensors. I agree with many long-time Garmin users that Garmin's analysis is for reference only and the data can be far from reality. Now that they have switched to AMOLED displays, I might consider a different brand when I replace my current 935.
I've been loving my Epix, but the one minor gripe I have is the height of it when wearing shirts and tighter jackets. Do you find the difference in height to be noticable?
Very noticeable for me. The 965 feels much lower profile even though it measures similarly. I think it's due to the rounded edges rather than Epix/Fenix sharp edges.
Thanks, I went to the 965. The weight was the most important thing for me and yet it has all the features. Temperature measurement would be nice, like in an Oura ring. Of course, there is more than just the temp measurement in Oura, but Garmin does the analyzes better and more accurately, because all the training goes to Garmin anyways.
Hi thanks for great content👌I change from Epix gen 2 to an 965 because of the screen size and brightnes and the weight,. I love my 965 but as I have tattoo on my left arm mye sleep tracks me just one of 4 nights🤔That is a little bad. Have a nice and sporty Christmas🏃🏻♂️🧑🎄🎄🎅
I previously had an Epix. But like the forerunner form factor. Much lighter on the wrist. I had the 955 solar and kept missing that amoled screen. Super stoked when the 965 came out. Like you said in your review, I was concerned about the convex screen. I struck the balance by purchasing a TPU screen protector and TPU case that make the bezel protrude farther out than the screen.
switched my Tactix D for a 965 with nylon band and live it. Would prefer the new Tactix Amoled perhaps but the size and weight of the FR 965 is just so nice..
Can't wait for my 965 to arrive! So frustrated with Samsung Galaxy horrible battery life, getting a little over a day after fully charging it. I don't use it for much besides tracking sleep, getting notifications, listening to music without my phone, and setting reminders and tracking my running times. so the 965 should be a really decent upgrade
I owned the 965 but sold it and bought the titanium Epix with sapphire glass. I have to agree with you because, even though it's not as premium, it felt better somehow. When I first picked up the 965, I didn't like the curved screen, the fact that it was not sapphire, and the plastic back felt cheap for the price. I really liked the UI and everything else, and I thought I wanted a more premium watch. But now, I kinda regret it. Don't get me wrong, the Epix is an amazing watch, but somehow the 965 feels good, light, and the user experience is better.
I love this watch! The screen size and vivid screen itself. My question is I’m a hunter and hiker. Would this watch work for me? I definitely need it for the maps and navigation side. And of course gps accuracy is everything for what I do in the woods. I don’t travel paths in the woods I travel the unknown. So what’s your thoughts?
Great video as always, what strap have you got on there, I love the look? I don't mean the Garmin one, it looks like a more fibrous one in the same colour but I might be wrong.
I have to decide tomorrow between Forerunner 265 - 450 euro, Fenix 7 (basic 47mm) - 550 euro, or Forerunner 965 - 650 euro, which one would you recommend?
I bought FR965 and used it for a couple of months. The HR sensor accuracy, compared to Venu2 I wore before was bad. Many times, the HR would go up to 120s or 140s with no reason and stay there, then come back down to reasonable values. I thought it could be an interference with outside light. I tried two or three bands, different tightness, etc. No dice. Because so many metrics derive from HR, it was a bummer. Now I wear Venu3, which fares better and has the vast majority of the features I care about. I miss the buttons the most, by far.
Depends if you want MIP display or AMOLED. The Garmin objectively has more useful day to day wellness tools while the COROS is more utilitarian and has less options which could be a good or bad thing. Both have great battery life but the COROS will last longer in daily smartwatch situations.
Ok I’m back. My ultra is on the night table and I have a 965 on my wrist. It doesn’t set off an alarm during HSWs or gymnastics stuff. I can see it all times without having to hit the screen mid workout. I love it. Except it keeps telling me to go to bed…
I am struggling between Garmin forerunner 965 vs. Coros Apex 2 Pro. I have used my Garmin Fenix5s for 6 years and don't want to downgrade to a plastic watch w/o sapphire glass. I did make a purchase of the coros apex 3 pro, will see if I like it or not (sapphire glass, titanium body).
I thought about buying the 965s sister, the 955 (I don't really like AMOLED displays, so I wanted to get the better battery life and save some money). In the end I bought the Fenix 7 sapphire solar because I love the look of the watch. Some features being slightly better than on the 955 is also nice to have. I absolutely love the Fenix 7 so far, and coming from the Vivoactive 4s, there coundn't really have been a bigger upgrade.
Coros apex 2 (non pro), suunto race s or any other alternative? I have really small wrists 135mm and sensitive to heavy watches. I have a galaxy watch 7 BUT the gps and health data is trash. I want something similar to looks but is rugged as I work outside bumping my hands, great gps + heart rate with great health metrics. Reliability is important i don't want to second guess it. I mainly hike, run and lift weights. Need help. Thank you (:
