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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerSamsung Galaxy Watch 7 vs Garmin Forerunner 965
Get the Garmin Forerunner 965 unless you need a smartwatch with premium features. The numbers: 23-day battery life vs 1-day usage on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. In real-world use, the Forerunner 965's lightweight design at 1.87 oz is ideal for racing and daily wear, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7's advanced health metrics shine with its 3nm Exynos W1000 chip. But with the Garmin’s battery lasting up to 31 hours in GPS mode, you won't be charging it daily like the Samsung.
⚖️ Weight: 1.19 oz vs 1.87 oz🔋 Battery: 1 day vs 23 days📱 Display: 1.4" AMOLED vs Super AMOLED with 2000 nits peak brightness
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Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
★4.5
(6,385)•Amazon
Compatibility:Android 11.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM; Samsung Galaxy phone required for Energy Score, ECG, Sleep Apnea, and IHRN features
Operating System:Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch)
Case Size:44mm (44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7 mm) or 40mm (40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7 mm)
Case Material:Armor Aluminum 2 case; Sapphire Crystal glass
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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
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Garmin Forerunner 965
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
1.5 in (44mm) / 1.3 in (40mm)
Garmin Forerunner 965
1.4 in (35.4 mm) diameter
Resolution
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
480 x 480 pixels (44mm); 432 x 432 pixels (40mm)
Garmin Forerunner 965
454 x 454 pixels
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
425 mAh (44mm) / 300 mAh (40mm); Up to 40 hours (AOD off); Up to 30 hours (AOD on)
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
Design2 specs
Weight
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
33.8 g (44mm) / 28.8 g (40mm) (Body only)Winner
Garmin Forerunner 965
53 g
Water Resistance
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
5 ATM + IP68 (water resistant up to 50 meters for 10 min)
Garmin Forerunner 965
5 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 50 meters); Swimproof
Software1 specs
Operating System
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch)
Garmin Forerunner 965
Garmin OS (Proprietary)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
LTE (optional); Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz; Bluetooth 5.3; NFC
Garmin Forerunner 965
Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 vs Garmin Forerunner 965
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
★4.5(6,385)Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 965
★4.7(1,717)Amazon
| Criterion | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | Garmin Forerunner 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.5(6,385)Amazon | ★4.7(1,717)Amazon |
Compatibility | Android 11.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM; Samsung Galaxy phone required for Energy Score, ECG, Sleep Apnea, and IHRN features | iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required) |
Operating System | Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch) | Garmin OS (Proprietary) |
Case Size | 44mm (44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7 mm) or 40mm (40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7 mm) | 47.2 x 47.2 x 13.2 mm |
Case Material | Armor Aluminum 2 case; Sapphire Crystal glass | Fiber-reinforced polymer case; Titanium bezel; Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX lens |
Display Type | Super AMOLED; Always-On Display; Peak brightness 2000 nits | AMOLED; Always-On Mode available |
Display Size | 1.5 in (44mm) / 1.3 in (40mm) | 1.4 in (35.4 mm) diameter |
Resolution | 480 x 480 pixels (44mm); 432 x 432 pixels (40mm) | 454 x 454 pixels |
Always On Display | Yes | Yes (optional) |
Water Resistance | 5 ATM + IP68 (water resistant up to 50 meters for 10 min) | 5 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 50 meters); Swimproof |
Durability | MIL-STD-810H certified; Dust tight (IP68) | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX lens; Titanium bezel adds rigidity |
GPS | Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5); Glonass; Beidou; Galileo | Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology; GPS, GLONASS, Galileo |
Connectivity | LTE (optional); Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz; Bluetooth 5.3; NFC | Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi |
NFC Payments | Samsung Wallet / Google Wallet | Garmin Pay |
Sensors | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal + Electrical Heart + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis); Temperature sensor; Accelerometer; Barometer; Gyro sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Light sensor | Elevate Gen 4 optical heart rate sensor; Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor; Barometric altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer; Ambient light sensor |
Health Features | Energy Score; Sleep Apnea detection (FDA authorized); AGEs Index; Body Composition (BIA); ECG; Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification; Cycle Tracking with skin temperature; Sleep coaching | Morning Report; Training Readiness; HRV Status; Sleep Score; Body Battery; Pulse Ox; Women’s Health Tracking; Health Snapshot |
Workout Modes | Advanced Run Coaching; Race (compete against past results); Track Back; Custom Interval Training; Swimming (Pool & Open Water); Cycling; Hiking; Circuit Training; and 100+ others via Samsung Health | 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 | 32GB |
Speaker Mic | Speaker; Microphone | None (Audio prompts via connected Bluetooth headphones only) |
Calls | Yes (LTE standalone or via paired phone) | No (Can accept/decline calls to control phone; Android users can send text replies) |
Battery | 425 mAh (44mm) / 300 mAh (40mm); Up to 40 hours (AOD off); Up to 30 hours (AOD on) | 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 | Fast Wireless Charging (WPC Inductive); 0-45% in approx. 30 mins | Garmin proprietary plug charger (USB-C cable included) |
Weight | 33.8 g (44mm) / 28.8 g (40mm) (Body only) | 53 g |
Band Sizes | Fits 20mm standard bands (One Click system) | Fits wrists 135–205 mm (Silicone band included); Compatible with 22mm QuickFit bands (requires tool to remove original pin) |
Extras | Exynos W1000 (3nm) Processor; Galaxy AI features (Smart Reply, Voice-to-Text summaries); Double Pinch gesture | Preloaded TopoActive Maps; Full-color mapping navigation; Garmin Music (Spotify/Deezer/Amazon Music offline); PacePro; ClimbPro; Real-time Stamina |
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Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Rating:★4.5(6,385)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 11.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM; Samsung Galaxy phone required for Energy Score, ECG, Sleep Apnea, and IHRN features
Operating System:Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch)
Case Size:44mm (44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7 mm) or 40mm (40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7 mm)
Case Material:Armor Aluminum 2 case; Sapphire Crystal glass
Display Type:Super AMOLED; Always-On Display; Peak brightness 2000 nits
Display Size:1.5 in (44mm) / 1.3 in (40mm)
Resolution:480 x 480 pixels (44mm); 432 x 432 pixels (40mm)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:5 ATM + IP68 (water resistant up to 50 meters for 10 min)
Durability:MIL-STD-810H certified; Dust tight (IP68)
GPS:Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5); Glonass; Beidou; Galileo
Connectivity:LTE (optional); Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz; Bluetooth 5.3; NFC
NFC Payments:Samsung Wallet / Google Wallet
Sensors:Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal + Electrical Heart + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis); Temperature sensor; Accelerometer; Barometer; Gyro sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Light sensor
Health Features:Energy Score; Sleep Apnea detection (FDA authorized); AGEs Index; Body Composition (BIA); ECG; Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification; Cycle Tracking with skin temperature; Sleep coaching
Workout Modes:Advanced Run Coaching; Race (compete against past results); Track Back; Custom Interval Training; Swimming (Pool & Open Water); Cycling; Hiking; Circuit Training; and 100+ others via Samsung Health
Storage:32GB
Speaker Mic:Speaker; Microphone
Calls:Yes (LTE standalone or via paired phone)
Battery:425 mAh (44mm) / 300 mAh (40mm); Up to 40 hours (AOD off); Up to 30 hours (AOD on)
Charging:Fast Wireless Charging (WPC Inductive); 0-45% in approx. 30 mins
Weight:33.8 g (44mm) / 28.8 g (40mm) (Body only)
Band Sizes:Fits 20mm standard bands (One Click system)
Extras:Exynos W1000 (3nm) Processor; Galaxy AI features (Smart Reply, Voice-to-Text summaries); Double Pinch gesture
✓ Pros:
- • Significantly faster performance with new 3nm Exynos W1000 chip
- • Dual-frequency GPS improves tracking accuracy in cities
- • New health metrics: Sleep Apnea, AGEs Index, and Energy Score
- • Double the storage (32GB) compared to Watch 6
- • Lightweight and comfortable Armor Aluminum design
✗ Cons:
- • Battery life remains roughly 1 day with heavy use (requires daily charging)
- • Advanced health features (ECG, Apnea) strictly require Samsung phones
- • Charging speed is decent but slower than some competitors
- • Design is virtually identical to the previous generation
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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→
Which one is better?
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is the better buy for most people - its 23-day battery life crushes the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7's daily charging needs. That said, grab the Samsung if you want advanced health features like ECG and sleep apnea detection - but you'll need a Samsung phone for those perks.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 if: you want advanced health monitoring features, appreciate a vibrant display with 2000 nits peak brightness, or prefer a smartwatch that integrates seamlessly with your Samsung phone.
Choose the Garmin Forerunner 965 if: you need long battery life for multi-day adventures, prefer a similar-weight design for running, or want a high-resolution display for easier map reading. (1.87 oz weight)
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?
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 excels if you value significantly faster performance with new 3nm exynos w1000 chip. Garmin Forerunner 965 is better if you prioritize bright, high-resolution 1.4" amoled makes maps easy to read. 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.
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