Coros is a performance sports technology company that have designed some amazing watches that athletes, hikers and runners are using to delve deep into their statistics and find improvements with their gps wristwatches.
Coros is a new player in the field, with the new watches being released in 2018 however they’ve been producing some of the best gps watches available on the market today. From great battery life, to interesting metrics, Coros is likely here to stay.
Feature Packed
Coros Vertix GPS Watch
Ideal For Running
Coros Pace 2 GPS Watch
Best For Multisport
Coros Apex Pro GPS Watch
For Pro Running
Coros Apex 46MM GPS Watch
Best Value
Coros Apex 42MM GPS Watch
Best Coros GPS Running Watches – In-Depth Reviews
After following the reviews of several runners and taking a heightened interest in Coros as a brand, we’ve decided to go ahead and review some of their top models and just how suitable they are for runners.
We’ve reviewed the best Coros watches based on their specifications, key features and what we liked or didn’t like. Check out our reviews below.
1. Coros Vertix GPS Watch
Key Features
- Connects through Bluetooth and ANT
- Military-grade Titanium alloy bezel
- 1,080 hours of battery life with regular use
- 60 hours of battery life in full GPS mode
- 1.2 inches touchscreen
Reasons to buy
- Extreme durability
- Ultra-long battery life
- Strong navigation features
- Classic-meets-modern aesthetics
- Monitors all-important running statistics
Reasons to avoid
- Expensive
- Limited color options
Coros has built a reputation around incredibly functional watches, and it’s not difficult to see why with the Coros Vertix GPS Running Watch.
Specially designed for outdoor adventures, the Vertix exudes a rugged yet timeless charm. It has a classically shaped bezel that comes in modern color combinations such as black on black (Dark Rock), grey on orange (Red Dragon), and green on green (Mountain Hunter). It also has a touchscreen diameter of 1.2 inches, making it just the right size for different wrist sizes.
In addition to this, the Coros Vertix was made for durability, emphasized by the crack-resistant, scratch-proof, corrosion-free titanium alloy casing. It even has an extra coating on its sapphire glass face. Best of all, despite its rugged features and extreme durability, the Vertix is one of the lightest designs that Coros has ever created, weighing only .72 ounces or 77 grams.
More than its excellent design, the Vertix also shines for its functionality. Aside from its GPS, it can monitor elevation, heart rate, oxygen saturation, acceleration, and temperature. It even houses a compass and a gyroscope.
Using the Coros mobile app, you can access in-depth monitoring and analysis of all your running data. With Vertix, you can monitor performance metrics, chart your route on the GPS, and analyze your training performance. The app even offers structured training and workouts to improve your scores continuously.
One of its best features is the battery life. The Coros Vertix can last a whopping 1,080 hours (45 days) on a single charge. That is equivalent to 60 hours of full GPS use and 150 hours in UltraMax mode. All that on a 2-hour full charge.
Wherever on Earth you’re running, the Coros Vertix will make sure that you’re always right on track.
2. Coros Pace 2 GPS Watch
Key Features
- Weight: 29 grams
- Lightweight Nylon band
- 1.2 inches of touchable screen
- Bluetooth and ANT connectivity
- Battery life: 30 hours complete GPS, 480 hours regular use
Reasons to buy
- Accurate GPS
- Has a Night Mode
- Ultra-lightweight design
- Measures running power
- Very affordable price range
Reasons to avoid
- The screen isn’t as bright in full daylight
- Some features from Pace 1 were removed
Sleek, stylish, and lightweight, the Coros Pace 2 is designed for serious runners. It has a smooth, modern bezel with a specialized Nylon band. It also comes in 6 different color varieties to fit all styles.
With a 1.2 inch touchscreen and a digital crown, the Coros Pace 2 has enough space for most displays while still maintaining a subtle and neat appearance. The screen isn’t that bright in daylight, but it’s still readable enough. It also has a Night Mode.
While the Coros Vertix was made to cover all bases when running outdoors, this one was specifically made for speed. Weighing only 29 grams compared to the Vertix’s 77 grams, you won’t even feel like you’ve got something on your wrist.
With Pace 2, you can monitor heart rate, acceleration, and temperature. It also has an onboard compass, gyroscope, and one of the most accurate built-in GPS systems in the market for this price range.
It can even track running power – a new, increasingly popular measure in the running space that is rarely if ever, included in watches at this price point. The Pace 2 also features 11 workout modes, with four specially created for runners (run, track run, indoor run, and triathlon). However, it doesn’t have some of the monitoring modes that the previous Pace did, like trail running and hiking.
The Coros Pace 2 has a battery life of 480 hours (20 days) with regular use and 30 hours in GPS mode, which means you won’t ever have to worry about running out of battery during a run.
With its ultra-lightweight design, speed-focused features, and enduring battery life, the Coros Pace 2 is certainly a must-have for those who are looking for an affordable but powerful running watch.
3. Coros Apex Pro GPS Watch
Key Features
- Weight: 29 grams
- Lightweight Nylon band
- 1.2 inches of touchable screen
- Bluetooth and ANT connectivity
- Battery life: 30 hours complete GPS, 480 hours regular use
Reasons to buy
- Accurate GPS
- Has a Night Mode
- Ultra-lightweight design
- Measures running power
- Very affordable price range
Reasons to avoid
- The screen isn’t as bright in full daylight
- Some features from Pace 1 were removed
A definite improvement to the first-in-line Coros Apex model, the Coros Apex Pro is the most versatile piece in the Coros family just yet.
When it comes to aesthetics, it maintains much of its older sibling’s design, specifically the clean, sleek bezel and the subdued color schemes.
However, the Apex Pro features a slightly thicker bezel than the first Apex, albeit with a 4-gram increase in weight. Also, instead of having one dial and one button like the first Apex, the Apex Pro now sports two buttons and one dial with a larger knob for control. The sensitivity issues that some users reported about the original Apex are also no longer present here.
Overall, the design makes the Apex Pro a watch that you can wear beyond the running tracks.
As for features, the Coros Apex Pro offers a ton of improvements from the original Apex. It measures all critical data such as heart rate, sleep metrics, steps, calories, and even your cadence. It also features Coros’ signature GPS, which remains one of the best in the market compared to other top brands. It also offers a training AI, a blindingly fast sync speed to running apps, and several workout/run modes.
However, just like other Coros watches, you can’t customize your display screens during an activity. You can only do it before your running sessions using the Coros app, which is one aspect of the device that can be considered inconvenient, especially since other brands allow easy customization.
For all its features, it does have a pretty great battery life: 720 hours (30 days) of regular use and 40 hours in full GPS mode.
With its sleek aesthetics, reliable features, and long battery life, the Coros Apex Pro is a solid choice for any serious runner.
4. Coros Apex 46MM GPS Watch
Key Features
- Connects through Bluetooth and ANT
- 720 hours of battery life with regular use
- 35 hours of battery life in full GPS mode
Reasons to buy
- Long battery life
- Affordable price range
- Understated but sleek design
- Strong running-oriented features
- Fits well on runners with thick wrists
Reasons to avoid
- No touchscreen
- Oversensitive knob
First unveiled in 2018, the Coros Apex was the second product line from this tech startup. It’s also what cemented Coros’s reputation in the smartwatch scene, rubbing elbows with big industry names such as Garmin and Polar.
The Apex set the tone for the rest of Coros’s aesthetic choices. For one, it was the first to abandon the plasticky look of the Pace 1 and instead came with sleek titanium alloy bezels, which eventually became the standard for the later generations. It’s offered in two sizes: 46MM and 42MM.
Fit-wise, the Apex 46MM is better-suited for people with thicker wrists. There are five color schemes available, including pure white and black on gray.
Unlike the previous watches on this list, it doesn’t have a touchscreen–instead, there’s only a single button and knob to cycle through the various screens and functions. However, despite the Apex’s full reliance on the knob, it suffers from annoying and even inconvenient sensitivity issues. It’s very easy to miss the screen that you want to see, especially if you’re in the middle of your run.
Just like other Coros models, it can be controlled by the app, as well. With the app, you can monitor daily metrics, such as heart rate, calories, and running power, as well as export your scores to third-party fitness apps.
It also features a training AI, a customizable display, a recovery advisor, and more. For all those features, this Apex variant boasts a battery life of 720 hours (30 days) with regular use and 35 hours in full GPS mode.
Although not as great as Coros’s other, more advanced models, the Apex 46MM still holds its own as a reliable GPS running watch.
5. Coros Apex 42MM GPS Watch
Key Features
- Connects through Bluetooth and ANT
- 576 hours of battery life with regular use
- 25 hours of battery life in full GPS mode
Reasons to buy
- Decent battery life
- Affordable price range
- Understated but sleek design
- Strong running-oriented features
- Fits well on runners with thinner wrists
Reasons to avoid
- No touchscreen
- Oversensitive knob
The Coros Apex 42MM is the smaller-sized version of the Coros Apex. This GPS smartwatch offers everything its big brother has to offer, with slight differences in fit, battery life, and aesthetics.
While they do look alike, the Apex 42MM comes in more color varieties than the 46MM. This includes black and gray, pure gold, and pure white.
Fit-wise, the 42MM has a slightly smaller face and can fit more snugly on thinner-wristed people. After all, it’s only natural to want your watch to have a more comfortable fit when you’re running. Having a wrong-sized watch can also mess up your stats, as it needs to be in constant contact with your skin for it to work properly. If you feel like a smaller Apex would fit your wrist better, then the 42MM variant is for you.
The only other main difference between the two is the battery life. The Apex 42MM has a shorter battery life than the bigger Apex, lasting only 576 hours (25 days) with regular use and 25 hours on full GPS mode. That said, 576 hours is still plenty for any running sessions you might have.
Other than that, the Apex 42MM offers the same features as the Apex 46MM: the build quality, control buttons, and general aesthetics, running functionalities, training AI, and measurements all perform with the same high-end Coros trademark.
How to Choose the Best Coros GPS Watch for Running
Founded in 2014, Coros launched its first product in September 2016 and its first gps watch in 2018. Today, it’s a force to be reckoned with in the intelligent sports tech industry.
One of Coros’s most distinguished products is its sports watches. But while they’re all incredibly functional and high-performing, it’s also true that they have different features and functions. So, how do you pick the right Coros watch for you?
It all comes down to three factors: purpose, design and fit, and battery life.
What kind of running would you like to do with your Coros watch? This determines your purpose – the prime consideration for your pick.
Want to have a watch that won’t hinder your speed? Pick the lightweight Pace 2. Do you need durability for your rugged trail runs? Vertix will survive more than its fair share of hard knocks. If you prefer something more versatile, then the Apex Pro is your friend.
Design and fit are lumped into one category because the design is very much affected by the fit. A textbook case is the Apex 46MM and Apex 42MM. If you want a versatile watch that can fit most wrists and go beyond the race track though, choose the Apex Pro.
Lastly, although Coros products all have astoundingly long battery lives, the Vertix is still king for those long runs in deep forest trails. On the other hand, if you want something strictly for the treadmill or the track, Coros Pace 2 offers still-amazing battery life without being overbearing.
Although they are all equally acceptable, Coros watches offer varying features and specialties that you can significantly benefit from if you choose wisely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Coros is a start-up company that makes high-performance sports watches. They have a reputation for having fantastic GPS tracking, extremely functional yet good-looking designs, and a robust set of features for a reasonable price range.
While Coros is a performance technology company based in the US, they have offices in various countries worldwide – from Canada all the way to SouthEast Asia and the Middle East.
While both brands are capable sports watchmakers, your preference will depend on your needs and situation. For instance, Coros is new to the smartwatch industry, and it seems to be focusing on creating a line-up of sports-tracking watches, including running. Meanwhile, Garmin has a more established reputation, with a generalist smartwatch approach to its products.
Conclusion
As you can see, Coros is definitely a prominent player in the field of GPS sports watches and with their impressive battery life to boast its no surprise that many athletes and runners alike are flocking over to try one of these new wristwatches.
Sources
Marko Rakic is a trail runner and fitness enthusiast from Sydney, Australia. He is the lead writer for The Ultimate Primate and believes the best way to live a happy life is through constantly challenging yourself.
