Between the Forerunner 965 and Pacer Pro, the Forerunner 965 comes out ahead in smartwatch mode and multi-band gps, while the Pacer Pro wins on gps mode. Overall, the Forerunner 965 scores 49.7 and the Pacer Pro scores 39.7 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Forerunner 965 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 10.0 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the Forerunner 965 if you care most about smartwatch mode and multi-band gps. The biggest gaps in its favor are smartwatch mode, multi-band gps.
Pick the Pacer Pro if you care most about gps mode. Its strongest claims are gps mode.
Both ship with comparable solar charging, ecg, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Forerunner 965 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Garmin - Forerunner 965 wins
- ▲Smartwatch mode — 228.57% more. 23 days vs 7 days.
- ▲Has Multi-band GPS.
Why Polar - Pacer Pro wins
- ▲GPS mode — 12.90% more. 35 h vs 31 h.
Spec comparison
GPS & Sensors
| Spec | Garmin - Forerunner 965 | Polar - Pacer Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-band GPS | truelead | false |
| Barometric altimeter | true | true |
| Heart rate | true | true |
| ECG | false | false |
| Pulse Ox | truelead | false |
Battery
| Spec | Garmin - Forerunner 965 | Polar - Pacer Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | 23 dayslead | 7 days |
| GPS mode | 31 h | 35 hlead |
| Solar charging | false | false |
Design
| Spec | Garmin - Forerunner 965 | Polar - Pacer Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 47 mmlead | 45 mm |
| Weight | 53 g | 41 glead |
| Water resistanceⓘ | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
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