I Reviewed Coros Apex 2 and Coros Apex 2 Pro to identify Which One is Better
By Elisabeth Christ
Published April 2024
As an avid runner who keeps up with the latest in wearable technology, comparing the Coros Apex 2 and its more advanced sibling, the Apex 2 Pro, presents an exciting opportunity. Priced at $400, the Apex 2 offers robust features in a compact design, ideal for athletes who need reliability without overwhelming complexity. On the other hand, at $500, the Apex 2 Pro packs additional functionalities tailored for ultra-athletes and adventurers who demand a little more from their gear. Both watches boast impressive specs, but understanding their distinctions will help identify which one truly aligns with my—and potentially your—outdoor and athletic pursuits.
Key Takeaways
The Apex 2 offers a solid core feature set with Multi-GNSS for reliable location tracking and impressive battery life (40 hours in Standard GPS mode). However, the Apex 2 Pro ups the ante with multi-band GNSS for enhanced accuracy, pre-loaded offline maps, and a larger touchscreen for easier navigation. The built-in music storage (missing in Apex 2) lets you take your tunes on the trail. This showdown helps you pick between a capable outdoor watch and a feature-packed navigation powerhouse.
Coros Apex 2
Better Choice for Everyday Tracking
✓ 5 ATM water resistant
✓ Built-in GPS and ECG tracking
✓ Active energy score support and 8GB of storage available
✓ Up to 17 days of battery life
Coros Apex 2 Pro
Better Choice for Advanced Features
✓ 32GB music storage storage
✓ Sapphire glass equipped and 5ATM water resistance
✓ Multiband Built-in GPS with GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS connect
✓ Up to 30 days of battery life
#1 Price & Design
Coros Apex 2
The Coros Apex 2, priced at $400, is crafted for efficiency and comfort, featuring a lightweight 42-gram body and a user-friendly interface with a 1.3-inch screen that offers a 260 x 260 resolution. The titanium alloy bezel and Velcro strap enhance durability while maintaining the watch’s sleek aesthetic, making it suitable for both intense workouts and casual wear. Its design is simple yet functional, with three accessible buttons for easy navigation through its various menus.
Stepping up the design, the Apex 2 Pro retails at $500 and introduces a slightly larger and thicker body to accommodate more advanced features. It includes a more robust 1.3-inch always-on display housed under sapphire glass, ensuring better durability and scratch resistance. The Pro version also adapts its button configuration to improve user interaction, which, along with the upgraded strap system using 22mm bands, provides a more comfortable and customized fit. Both models maintain a 5 ATM water resistance, ensuring they can withstand conditions typical of outdoor sports and swimming.
#2 Features & Performance
Coros Apex 2 Pro
The Coros Apex 2 is designed with the everyday athlete in mind, offering a balanced mix of sports tracking and navigational tools that suit most training environments. This model's built-in GNSS GPS system ensures accurate and reliable location tracking across a broad range of activities, from running on city streets to exploring remote trails. The GPS system is complemented by additional sensors including an improved heart rate monitor and an ECG tracker, which provide vital health metrics necessary for optimizing training and recovery.
Moreover, the Apex 2’s capability to download topographical maps is a standout feature for outdoor enthusiasts who require detailed geographical information during their explorations. This function is enhanced by the watch's camera control feature, allowing athletes to take photographs remotely—ideal for capturing scenic views without disrupting the momentum of an activity. The altitude, night modes, and storm alerts further enrich the user’s experience by providing essential environmental data that can help in making informed decisions about weather conditions and terrain challenges.
Coros Apex 2
Elevating the standard set by the Apex 2, the Apex 2 Pro incorporates advanced technological enhancements that cater to more demanding athletes and adventurers. This model boasts a multiband GPS system that connects to a wider array of satellites, including GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS, offering superior accuracy and speed in location tracking, which is critical for activities involving rapid changes in geography and conditions. This multiband support ensures uninterrupted connectivity even in the most challenging environments.
The Apex 2 Pro also features a full suite of advanced sensors, including an EKG sensor for detailed heart rate readings and an SpO2 sensor for blood oxygen levels, providing deeper insights into the user's physiological state. These capabilities are complemented by a robust array of additional tools such as a 3D compass, barometric altimeter, and thermometer, making the Pro version an indispensable tool for serious outdoor and high-altitude activities. The support for third-party apps like Strava enhances its utility, allowing for seamless integration into the digital ecosystem of training and health management. Furthermore, its expanded sport profiles, including a unique multi-pitch climbing mode, cater to niche athletic pursuits, broadening its appeal to specialized sports enthusiasts.
#3 Battery Life
Coros Apex 2 Pro
The Coros Apex 2 offers a solid battery life with up to 17 days of usage in standard watch mode and 28 hours with GPS activated, catering well to long-duration events and extensive training sessions without frequent recharges.
The Apex 2 Pro boasts even more impressive endurance, with up to 30 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and 75 hours in GPS mode. This extended capacity is crucial for ultramarathons, expeditions, and prolonged outdoor activities where charging opportunities are limited. Its efficient power management and quick charging capability (approximately 93 minutes for a full charge) ensure that athletes spend more time active, and less time tethered to a power source.
Coros Apex 2 vs Apex 2 Pro
Final Thoughts
Coros Apex 2 vs Apex 2 Pro
Deciding between the Coros Apex 2 and Apex 2 Pro depends largely on your specific needs and how much value you place on advanced navigation features, superior battery life, and third-party app integration. For athletes looking for a dependable and straightforward sports watch, the Apex 2 offers all the necessary functions at a more affordable price point. However, for those who venture into more demanding environments or who appreciate deeper data insights and expanded functionality, the Apex 2 Pro is undoubtedly the better choice. Both watches promise to enhance your training experience, but the Apex 2 Pro goes a step further, providing the tools and durability needed for extreme adventures and high-level athletic performance.
If you like to read more about Smartwatches, check out our other relevant guides here:
The Best Smartwatches in 2024
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 vs Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Coros Pace 3
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