← Back to Smartwatches
2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerGarmin Forerunner 965 vs Amazfit T-Rex 3
Get the Garmin Forerunner 965 unless you prioritize battery life. The numbers tell the story: Garmin offers 23 days of battery against Amazfit's 27 days, but that extra battery life comes with a bulkier design and fewer premium features. In real-world use, the Forerunner 965 shines with its vibrant 1.4" AMOLED display and lightweight 1.87 oz profile, making it ideal for daily wear and racing. On the flip side, the Amazfit T-Rex 3's larger 1.5" display is easier to read outdoors, but it weighs 2.41 oz, which may feel bulky for some users.
⚖️ Weight: 1.87 oz vs 2.41 oz🔋 Battery: 27 days vs 23 days📱 Display: 1.5" vs 1.4"
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 T-Rex 3
★4.5
(1,926)•Amazon
Compatibility:Android 7.0 or later; iOS 14.0 or later (Zepp App required)
Operating System:Zepp OS 4
Case Size:48.5mm x 48.5mm x 13.75mm
Case Material:Polymer middle frame; Stainless steel bezel (316L)
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 T-Rex 3
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Garmin Forerunner 965
1.4 in (35.4 mm) diameter
Amazfit T-Rex 3
1.5 in (38.1 mm) diameter
Resolution
Garmin Forerunner 965
454 x 454 pixels
Amazfit T-Rex 3
480 x 480 pixels (322 ppi)
Performance1 specs
Storage
Garmin Forerunner 965
32GB
Amazfit T-Rex 3
32GB (Approx. 26GB user-accessible for Music/Maps)
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 T-Rex 3
700 mAh; Up to 27 days (Typical usage); Up to 13 days (Heavy usage); Up to 42 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); Up to 114 hours (GPS Long Battery Life)
Design2 specs
Weight
Garmin Forerunner 965
53 gWinner
Amazfit T-Rex 3
68.3 g (without strap)
Water Resistance
Garmin Forerunner 965
5 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 50 meters); Swimproof
Amazfit T-Rex 3
10 ATM (100 meters); Freediving certified (EN13319) to 45m
Software1 specs
Operating System
Garmin Forerunner 965
Garmin OS (Proprietary)
Amazfit T-Rex 3
Zepp OS 4
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Garmin Forerunner 965
Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi
Amazfit T-Rex 3
Wi-Fi (2.4GHz); Bluetooth 5.2; 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 T-Rex 3
Garmin Forerunner 965
★4.7(1,717)Amazon
Amazfit T-Rex 3
★4.5(1,926)Amazon
| Criterion | Garmin Forerunner 965 | Amazfit T-Rex 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.7(1,717)Amazon | ★4.5(1,926)Amazon |
Compatibility | iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required) | Android 7.0 or later; iOS 14.0 or later (Zepp App required) |
Operating System | Garmin OS (Proprietary) | Zepp OS 4 |
Case Size | 47.2 x 47.2 x 13.2 mm | 48.5mm x 48.5mm x 13.75mm |
Case Material | Fiber-reinforced polymer case; Titanium bezel; Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX lens | Polymer middle frame; Stainless steel bezel (316L) |
Display Type | AMOLED; Always-On Mode available | AMOLED; Gorilla Glass; Peak brightness 2000 nits |
Display Size | 1.4 in (35.4 mm) diameter | 1.5 in (38.1 mm) diameter |
Resolution | 454 x 454 pixels | 480 x 480 pixels (322 ppi) |
Always On Display | Yes (optional) | Yes |
Water Resistance | 5 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 50 meters); Swimproof | 10 ATM (100 meters); Freediving certified (EN13319) to 45m |
Durability | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX lens; Titanium bezel adds rigidity | MIL-STD-810H (70°C heat / -30°C cold / Shock / Humidity); Mud-resistant bridge and buttons |
GPS | Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology; GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | Dual-band GNSS (L1+L5); 6 Satellite Positioning Systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NAVIC) |
Connectivity | Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi (2.4GHz); Bluetooth 5.2; BLE |
NFC Payments | Garmin Pay | Zepp Pay (Europe/parts of Asia only); Not supported on US models |
Sensors | Elevate Gen 4 optical heart rate sensor; Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor; Barometric altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer; Ambient light sensor | BioTracker™ 6.0 PPG biometric sensor (SpO2, Heart Rate); Accelerometer; Gyroscope; Geomagnetic sensor; Barometric altimeter; Ambient light sensor; Temperature sensor (skin/water) |
Health Features | Morning Report; Training Readiness; HRV Status; Sleep Score; Body Battery; Pulse Ox; Women’s Health Tracking; Health Snapshot | Readiness Score; HRV (Heart Rate Variability); Sleep Breathing Quality; One-tap measuring (HR, SpO2, Stress, Breathing rate); Sleep stages (REM/Deep/Light); PAI Health Assessment |
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 | Hyrox Race mode; Ultramarathon; Freediving; Strength Training (auto-detection of 25 movements); Triathlon; Skiing; Snowboarding; Surf; and 170+ others |
Storage | 32GB | 32GB (Approx. 26GB user-accessible for Music/Maps) |
Speaker Mic | None (Audio prompts via connected Bluetooth headphones only) | Microphone (for Zepp Flow voice commands); No Speaker (Buzzer/Beeper only for alerts) |
Calls | No (Can accept/decline calls to control phone; Android users can send text replies) | No (Cannot answer calls on wrist; can reject/ignore calls) |
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 | 700 mAh; Up to 27 days (Typical usage); Up to 13 days (Heavy usage); Up to 42 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); Up to 114 hours (GPS Long Battery Life) |
Charging | Garmin proprietary plug charger (USB-C cable included) | Magnetic charging base (2-pin); Approx. 3 hours to full charge |
Weight | 53 g | 68.3 g (without strap) |
Band Sizes | Fits wrists 135–205 mm (Silicone band included); Compatible with 22mm QuickFit bands (requires tool to remove original pin) | 22mm width; Fits 145–210mm wrists (Proprietary screws but includes adapters for standard bands in some regions) |
Extras | Preloaded TopoActive Maps; Full-color mapping navigation; Garmin Music (Spotify/Deezer/Amazon Music offline); PacePro; ClimbPro; Real-time Stamina | Offline Maps (Contour/Terrain); Turn-by-turn navigation; Zepp Flow (AI voice assistant); Night Display mode; Glove mode |
| 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 T-Rex 3
Rating:★4.5(1,926)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 7.0 or later; iOS 14.0 or later (Zepp App required)
Operating System:Zepp OS 4
Case Size:48.5mm x 48.5mm x 13.75mm
Case Material:Polymer middle frame; Stainless steel bezel (316L)
Display Type:AMOLED; Gorilla Glass; Peak brightness 2000 nits
Display Size:1.5 in (38.1 mm) diameter
Resolution:480 x 480 pixels (322 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:10 ATM (100 meters); Freediving certified (EN13319) to 45m
Durability:MIL-STD-810H (70°C heat / -30°C cold / Shock / Humidity); Mud-resistant bridge and buttons
GPS:Dual-band GNSS (L1+L5); 6 Satellite Positioning Systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NAVIC)
Connectivity:Wi-Fi (2.4GHz); Bluetooth 5.2; BLE
NFC Payments:Zepp Pay (Europe/parts of Asia only); Not supported on US models
Sensors:BioTracker™ 6.0 PPG biometric sensor (SpO2, Heart Rate); Accelerometer; Gyroscope; Geomagnetic sensor; Barometric altimeter; Ambient light sensor; Temperature sensor (skin/water)
Health Features:Readiness Score; HRV (Heart Rate Variability); Sleep Breathing Quality; One-tap measuring (HR, SpO2, Stress, Breathing rate); Sleep stages (REM/Deep/Light); PAI Health Assessment
Workout Modes:Hyrox Race mode; Ultramarathon; Freediving; Strength Training (auto-detection of 25 movements); Triathlon; Skiing; Snowboarding; Surf; and 170+ others
Storage:32GB (Approx. 26GB user-accessible for Music/Maps)
Speaker Mic:Microphone (for Zepp Flow voice commands); No Speaker (Buzzer/Beeper only for alerts)
Calls:No (Cannot answer calls on wrist; can reject/ignore calls)
Battery:700 mAh; Up to 27 days (Typical usage); Up to 13 days (Heavy usage); Up to 42 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); Up to 114 hours (GPS Long Battery Life)
Charging:Magnetic charging base (2-pin); Approx. 3 hours to full charge
Weight:68.3 g (without strap)
Band Sizes:22mm width; Fits 145–210mm wrists (Proprietary screws but includes adapters for standard bands in some regions)
Extras:Offline Maps (Contour/Terrain); Turn-by-turn navigation; Zepp Flow (AI voice assistant); Night Display mode; Glove mode
✓ Pros:
- • Incredible 27-day battery life crushes the competition
- • Large, bright 1.5" AMOLED (2000 nits) is easy to read outdoors
- • Free offline contour maps with turn-by-turn navigation
- • Freediving certified to 45m (rare at this price point)
- • Generous 32GB storage for offline music and global maps
✗ Cons:
- • No built-in speaker (alerts are beeps/vibrations only)
- • NFC payments (Zepp Pay) are not supported on US hardware
- • Large 48.5mm case is bulky for smaller wrists
- • Proprietary strap system requires adapters to use standard bands
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 lightweight 1.87 oz design crushes the Amazfit T-Rex 3. That said, grab the Amazfit if you need longer battery life and don't mind the extra weight.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Garmin Forerunner 965 if: you want a lightweight design at 1.87 oz, prefer a premium display for outdoor use, or value advanced metrics for training.
Choose the Amazfit T-Rex 3 if: you need an incredible 27-day battery life, prioritize ruggedness with 10 ATM water resistance, or want a larger display for outdoor readability.
Conclusion
We hope this comparison helps you buy with confidence. Both products are dependable; the right one depends on how you will use it.
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 T-Rex 3 is better if you prioritize incredible 27-day battery life crushes the competition. 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.