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Pixel Watch 3 Pro vs. Garmin Forerunner 965: Compare 2025’s top smartwatches for fitness tracking, battery life, and smart features.
The 2025 smartwatch market is abuzz with options, all promising to marry fitness tracking, smarts, and style into one wrist-based package. Two of the market leaders, the Google Pixel Watch 3 Pro and Garmin Forerunner 965, are geared toward athletic users but differently. The Pixel Watch 3 Pro, Google's premium Wear OS watch, is all about style and smart integration for those who need a do-it-all buddy.
Meanwhile, the Garmin Forerunner 965, a favorite among athletes, is all about detailed fitness tracking and marathon battery life. Both are great in their own right, but which one tops the pack for fitness enthusiasts, tech enthusiasts, or those occupying both spaces?
This article compares the two, exploring their fitness tracking, battery life, and smart features to find the better option, broken down into plain language with easy-to-read headings.
Both watches are designed for comfort but vary in aesthetics. The Pixel Watch 3 Pro has a sleek, round design with a 45mm case, bright AMOLED screen, and thin bezels, making it a contemporary, day-to-day look.
Its fluoroelastomer band accommodates wrists of 150-215mm, and the digital crown provides effortless navigation. The Garmin Forerunner 965 47.2mm case is sportier in appearance, featuring a titanium bezel and interchangeable silicone straps.
Both devices have fitness tracking at their core, but they go about it differently. Pixel Watch 3 Pro utilizes Fitbit's ecosystem, providing heart rate monitoring, GPS, sleep tracking, and new features such as Daily Readiness, Cardio Load, and AI-powered run suggestions.
These evaluate stride length, ground contact time, and recovery, perfect for occasional runners or novices. It does not support external sensors such as chest straps, and some of the more advanced metrics need a US$9.99/month Fitbit Premium subscription.
The Garmin Forerunner 965, designed for serious athletes, provides multi-band GPS, PacePro, Body Battery, and training load analysis, monitoring more than 80 activities, including triathlons. Its accuracy at elevation and heart rate data excels, and it connects with apps such as Strava at no additional charges. For hardcore fitness, Garmin leads the way.
Battery life usually determines the usefulness of a smartwatch. The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 Pro has up to 46.5 hours of battery life under regular use, a jump from the Pixel Watch 2's 33 hours. Fast charging reaches 80% in 30 minutes, but heavy users still need daily charging.
The Garmin Forerunner 965, meanwhile, boasts 23 days in smartwatch mode or 9-10 days with average activity tracking, from 8% to 100% battery charging in around 75 minutes. For longer treks or multi-day adventures, Garmin's endurance is unrivaled, but the Pixel is fine for someone not fussed about a daily plug-in.
Smart features are the Pixel Watch 3 Pro's selling point. Running Wear OS, it includes Google Maps, Spotify, Google Assistant, and apps like Komoot. Loss of Pulse Detection, FDA-cleared in February 2025, ensures safety during emergencies. It also manages smart home appliances and unlocks phones or cars, with LTE capabilities for independent use.
The Garmin Forerunner 965, while less “smart,” provides notifications, Garmin Pay, and music storage, but lacks a full app ecosystem or LTE. Its interface, though functional, feels clunky compared to the Pixel’s slick Wear OS. For tech-savvy users, the Pixel pulls ahead. Price and Value
Cost determines the choice. The Pixel Watch 3 Pro is priced at US$399.99 for Wi-Fi (45mm) or US$499.99 with LTE, with Fitbit Premium adding recurring expenses. The Garmin Forerunner 965 costs US$449-US$499, usually discounted to US$399, with no subscriptions. The Pixel is more valuable for smartwatch enthusiasts who want fitness as an added feature, while the Garmin is worth its price for athletes who value data and battery life over apps.
The decision depends on lifestyle. Pixel Watch 3 Pro is ideal for fitness enthusiasts who want smart features, a fashionable design, and Google's apps. Battery life and price are drawbacks. Garmin Forerunner 965 is heartbeats for runners, triathletes, and outdoor lovers who need precise metrics and an extended battery. Both are excellent, but Garmin dominates for fitness enthusiasts, and Pixel is for people who blend technology and exercise.
