Garmin - Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) vs Garmin - Forerunner 965

The Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 8.7 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 Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) if you care most about gps mode and smartwatch mode. The biggest gaps in its favor are gps mode, smartwatch mode, solar charging, among others.

The Forerunner 965 similarly doesn't carry a headline advantage on the popular specs — look at the full table for category-specific deltas.

Both ship with comparable multi-band gps, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.

Bottom line: the Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.