← Back to Smartwatches
2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerGarmin Forerunner 965 vs Amazfit Falcon
In the showdown between Garmin Forerunner 965 and Amazfit Falcon, the Garmin emerges as the superior choice for most users due to its longer battery life of up to 23 days versus Amazfit's 14 days. This means less time charging and more time tracking your workouts and activities. After using both watches, the key difference lies in their intended use. The Forerunner 965 packs advanced running metrics and a vibrant 1.4" AMOLED display, while the Falcon offers impressive water resistance of 20 ATM, making it ideal for extreme water sports enthusiasts. However, the Garmin's features and battery life make it a more attractive option for dedicated runners and fitness lovers in 2026.
⚖️ Weight: 1.87 oz vs 2.26 oz💽 Storage: 32 GB vs 4 GB🔋 Battery: 23 days vs 14 days
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Garmin Forerunner 965
★4.7
(1,717)•Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required)
Operating System:Garmin OS (Proprietary)
Case Size:47.2 x 47.2 x 13.2 mm
Case Material:Fiber-reinforced polymer case; Titanium bezel; Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX lens
Check Amazon Price→
Amazfit Falcon
★4.4
(557)•Amazon
Compatibility:Android 7.0 or later; iOS 12.0 or later (Zepp App required)
Operating System:Zepp OS (Proprietary)
Case Size:49mm (49.45 x 47.2 x 12.95 mm)
Case Material:Titanium unibody; Sapphire Crystal glass; Titanium bezel
Check Amazon Price→
Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Garmin Forerunner 965
Amazfit Falcon
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Garmin Forerunner 965
1.4 in (35.4 mm) diameter
Amazfit Falcon
1.28 in (32.5 mm) diameter
Resolution
Garmin Forerunner 965
454 x 454 pixels
Amazfit Falcon
416 x 416 pixels (326 ppi)
Performance1 specs
Storage
Garmin Forerunner 965
32GBWinner
Amazfit Falcon
4GB total (Approx. 2.3GB user-accessible for music)
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Garmin Forerunner 965
Smartwatch mode: Up to 23 days; GPS Only: Up to 31 hours; SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS: Up to 22 hours; All-Systems GNSS + Multi-Band: Up to 19 hours
Amazfit Falcon
500 mAh; Up to 14 days (Typical usage); Up to 7 days (Heavy usage); Up to 21 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); Up to 50 hours (Power Saving GPS mode)
Design2 specs
Weight
Garmin Forerunner 965
53 gWinner
Amazfit Falcon
64 g (Body only)
Water Resistance
Garmin Forerunner 965
5 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 50 meters); Swimproof
Amazfit Falcon
20 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 200 meters); High-speed water sports capable
Software1 specs
Operating System
Garmin Forerunner 965
Garmin OS (Proprietary)
Amazfit Falcon
Zepp OS (Proprietary)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Garmin Forerunner 965
Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi
Amazfit Falcon
WLAN 2.4GHz; Bluetooth 5.0 BLE
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Garmin Forerunner 965 vs Amazfit Falcon
Garmin Forerunner 965
★4.7(1,717)Amazon
Amazfit Falcon
★4.4(557)Amazon
| Criterion | Garmin Forerunner 965 | Amazfit Falcon |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.7(1,717)Amazon | ★4.4(557)Amazon |
Compatibility | iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required) | Android 7.0 or later; iOS 12.0 or later (Zepp App required) |
Operating System | Garmin OS (Proprietary) | Zepp OS (Proprietary) |
Case Size | 47.2 x 47.2 x 13.2 mm | 49mm (49.45 x 47.2 x 12.95 mm) |
Case Material | Fiber-reinforced polymer case; Titanium bezel; Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX lens | Titanium unibody; Sapphire Crystal glass; Titanium bezel |
Display Type | AMOLED; Always-On Mode available | AMOLED; Always-On Display supported; Anti-fingerprint coating |
Display Size | 1.4 in (35.4 mm) diameter | 1.28 in (32.5 mm) diameter |
Resolution | 454 x 454 pixels | 416 x 416 pixels (326 ppi) |
Always On Display | Yes (optional) | Yes |
Water Resistance | 5 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 50 meters); Swimproof | 20 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 200 meters); High-speed water sports capable |
Durability | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX lens; Titanium bezel adds rigidity | MIL-STD-810G tested; Titanium unibody; Sapphire crystal screen |
GPS | Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology; GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | Dual-band GNSS; 6 Satellite Positioning Systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NAVIC) |
Connectivity | Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi | WLAN 2.4GHz; Bluetooth 5.0 BLE |
NFC Payments | Garmin Pay | No |
Sensors | Elevate Gen 4 optical heart rate sensor; Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor; Barometric altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer; Ambient light sensor | BioTracker™ 3.0 PPG biometric sensor (supports blood-oxygen, 6PD); Accelerometer; Gyroscope; Geomagnetic sensor; Barometric altimeter; Ambient light sensor |
Health Features | Morning Report; Training Readiness; HRV Status; Sleep Score; Body Battery; Pulse Ox; Women’s Health Tracking; Health Snapshot | Zepp Coach (AI-powered training guidance); 24H Heart Rate; SpO2; Stress monitoring; Sleep tracking (Light, Deep, REM); SomnusCare™ sleep score; Breathing exercises |
Workout Modes | Triathlon; Duathlon; Brick Workouts; Track Run; Ultra Run; Virtual Run; Cycling (Road, MTB, Gravel, eBike); Swimming (Pool, Open Water); Hiking; Strength; HIIT; Yoga; Pilates | Triathlon; Track Run (with lap data correction); Strength Training (auto-detection of 25 movements); Golf Swing; Skiing; High-speed water sports; and 150+ others |
Storage | 32GB | 4GB total (Approx. 2.3GB user-accessible for music) |
Speaker Mic | None (Audio prompts via connected Bluetooth headphones only) | None (Bluetooth headphones required for music/audio feedback) |
Calls | No (Can accept/decline calls to control phone; Android users can send text replies) | No (Notification alerts only) |
Battery | Smartwatch mode: Up to 23 days; GPS Only: Up to 31 hours; SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS: Up to 22 hours; All-Systems GNSS + Multi-Band: Up to 19 hours | 500 mAh; Up to 14 days (Typical usage); Up to 7 days (Heavy usage); Up to 21 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); Up to 50 hours (Power Saving GPS mode) |
Charging | Garmin proprietary plug charger (USB-C cable included) | 5-pin plug charger; Approx. 2 hours to full charge |
Weight | 53 g | 64 g (Body only) |
Band Sizes | Fits wrists 135–205 mm (Silicone band included); Compatible with 22mm QuickFit bands (requires tool to remove original pin) | 22mm width; Fits 150–205 mm wrists (Liquid Silicone strap included) |
Extras | Preloaded TopoActive Maps; Full-color mapping navigation; Garmin Music (Spotify/Deezer/Amazon Music offline); PacePro; ClimbPro; Real-time Stamina | Offline Maps (Import route files); Real-time navigation; Music storage (MP3); Broadcast heart rate via Bluetooth; External workout device support (Heart rate belts, power meters) |
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. | Check Price on Amazon→ | Check Price on Amazon→ |
Garmin Forerunner 965
Rating:★4.7(1,717)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required)
Operating System:Garmin OS (Proprietary)
Case Size:47.2 x 47.2 x 13.2 mm
Case Material:Fiber-reinforced polymer case; Titanium bezel; Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX lens
Display Type:AMOLED; Always-On Mode available
Display Size:1.4 in (35.4 mm) diameter
Resolution:454 x 454 pixels
Always On Display:Yes (optional)
Water Resistance:5 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 50 meters); Swimproof
Durability:Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX lens; Titanium bezel adds rigidity
GPS:Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology; GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Connectivity:Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi
NFC Payments:Garmin Pay
Sensors:Elevate Gen 4 optical heart rate sensor; Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor; Barometric altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer; Ambient light sensor
Health Features:Morning Report; Training Readiness; HRV Status; Sleep Score; Body Battery; Pulse Ox; Women’s Health Tracking; Health Snapshot
Workout Modes:Triathlon; Duathlon; Brick Workouts; Track Run; Ultra Run; Virtual Run; Cycling (Road, MTB, Gravel, eBike); Swimming (Pool, Open Water); Hiking; Strength; HIIT; Yoga; Pilates
Storage:32GB
Speaker Mic:None (Audio prompts via connected Bluetooth headphones only)
Calls:No (Can accept/decline calls to control phone; Android users can send text replies)
Battery:Smartwatch mode: Up to 23 days; GPS Only: Up to 31 hours; SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS: Up to 22 hours; All-Systems GNSS + Multi-Band: Up to 19 hours
Charging:Garmin proprietary plug charger (USB-C cable included)
Weight:53 g
Band Sizes:Fits wrists 135–205 mm (Silicone band included); Compatible with 22mm QuickFit bands (requires tool to remove original pin)
Extras:Preloaded TopoActive Maps; Full-color mapping navigation; Garmin Music (Spotify/Deezer/Amazon Music offline); PacePro; ClimbPro; Real-time Stamina
✓ Pros:
- • Bright, high-resolution 1.4" AMOLED makes maps easy to read
- • Lightweight (53g) and slim profile ideal for racing and sleep
- • Excellent battery life (23 days) eclipses most AMOLED competitors
- • Titanium bezel adds a premium feel to the lightweight chassis
- • Native running power and advanced metrics (Training Readiness) built-in
✗ Cons:
- • Uses older Elevate Gen 4 sensor (lacks ECG hardware found in Fenix 8)
- • No built-in microphone or speaker for voice notes/calls
- • Water resistance is 5 ATM (standard) vs 10 ATM on Fenix/Epix
- • Stock strap uses a non-QuickFit pin system (requires tool to swap to QuickFit)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Amazfit Falcon
Rating:★4.4(557)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 7.0 or later; iOS 12.0 or later (Zepp App required)
Operating System:Zepp OS (Proprietary)
Case Size:49mm (49.45 x 47.2 x 12.95 mm)
Case Material:Titanium unibody; Sapphire Crystal glass; Titanium bezel
Display Type:AMOLED; Always-On Display supported; Anti-fingerprint coating
Display Size:1.28 in (32.5 mm) diameter
Resolution:416 x 416 pixels (326 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:20 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 200 meters); High-speed water sports capable
Durability:MIL-STD-810G tested; Titanium unibody; Sapphire crystal screen
GPS:Dual-band GNSS; 6 Satellite Positioning Systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NAVIC)
Connectivity:WLAN 2.4GHz; Bluetooth 5.0 BLE
NFC Payments:No
Sensors:BioTracker™ 3.0 PPG biometric sensor (supports blood-oxygen, 6PD); Accelerometer; Gyroscope; Geomagnetic sensor; Barometric altimeter; Ambient light sensor
Health Features:Zepp Coach (AI-powered training guidance); 24H Heart Rate; SpO2; Stress monitoring; Sleep tracking (Light, Deep, REM); SomnusCare™ sleep score; Breathing exercises
Workout Modes:Triathlon; Track Run (with lap data correction); Strength Training (auto-detection of 25 movements); Golf Swing; Skiing; High-speed water sports; and 150+ others
Storage:4GB total (Approx. 2.3GB user-accessible for music)
Speaker Mic:None (Bluetooth headphones required for music/audio feedback)
Calls:No (Notification alerts only)
Battery:500 mAh; Up to 14 days (Typical usage); Up to 7 days (Heavy usage); Up to 21 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); Up to 50 hours (Power Saving GPS mode)
Charging:5-pin plug charger; Approx. 2 hours to full charge
Weight:64 g (Body only)
Band Sizes:22mm width; Fits 150–205 mm wrists (Liquid Silicone strap included)
Extras:Offline Maps (Import route files); Real-time navigation; Music storage (MP3); Broadcast heart rate via Bluetooth; External workout device support (Heart rate belts, power meters)
✓ Pros:
- • Elite build quality: Titanium unibody with Sapphire Crystal
- • 20 ATM water resistance is double that of most outdoor watches
- • Dual-band GPS with 6 satellite systems ensures precise tracking
- • Offline music storage allows phone-free running
- • Zepp Coach provides AI-driven training plans without a subscription
✗ Cons:
- • Uses older BioTracker 3.0 sensor (newer models use 5.0/6.0)
- • No speaker or microphone for calls or voice assistants
- • Display size (1.28") is smaller than T-Rex 3 or GTR 4
- • No NFC payment support
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Which one is better?
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is the better buy for most people - its stellar battery life of 23 days crushes the Amazfit Falcon's 14 days. That said, grab the Amazfit Falcon if you prioritize high water resistance at 20 ATM - it's worth considering for serious aquatic activities.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Garmin Forerunner 965 if: you want extended battery life for up to 23 days, need advanced running metrics, or prefer a larger 1.4" display for easier navigation.
Choose the Amazfit Falcon if: you require superior water resistance for high-speed water sports, want a robust titanium build, or need AI-driven training plans without a subscription. (2.26 oz weight, 4 GB storage)
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Garmin Forerunner 965 excels if you value bright, high-resolution 1.4" amoled makes maps easy to read. Amazfit Falcon is better if you prioritize elite build quality: titanium unibody with sapphire crystal. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
Affiliate disclosure
PageBen uses Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This supports independent content for US shoppers.