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Apple Apple Watch Series 12 (42 mm, GPS) vs Garmin Forerunner 165
The specs that matter for triathlon, side by side, from each maker’s own published figures.
| Spec | Apple Apple Watch Series 12 (42 mm, GPS) | Garmin Forerunner 165 |
|---|---|---|
| GPS battery | 10 h | 19 h |
| Smartwatch battery | 1 days | 11 days |
| Triathlon / multisport mode | Yes | No |
| Onboard maps | Yes | No |
| Open-water GPS (our rating) | 3 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| Weight | 32.2 g | 39 g |
| Screen | OLED LTPO3 (374x446) | AMOLED |
| Price | ~$399.00 | See retailer |
Open-water GPS is our 1–5 rating from the satellite systems each maker lists: multi-band receivers score 5. Everything else is the maker’s own figure.
Which should you pick?
Apple
Pick the Apple Watch Series 12 (42 mm, GPS) if…
- you want a triathlon (multisport) mode
- you want onboard maps
- you want the lighter one: 32.2 g vs 39 g
Garmin
Pick the Forerunner 165 if…
- you want the longer GPS battery: 19 h vs 10 h
- you want the longer smartwatch battery: 11 days vs 1 days
Specs from the makers’ own pages: Apple, Garmin.
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Triathlon Watch Comparison
Battery life, open-water GPS and maps across the watches triathletes buy.
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Triathlon watches, compared
Every product in this category in one spec table, plus 820 head-to-heads.
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