Coros Pace 3 vs Apex 2: Two Challenger in The GPS Watch Ring!
By Elisabeth Christ
Published April 2024
Choosing between the Coros Pace 3 and the Coros Apex 2 isn’t just about picking a sports watch; it’s about finding the right tool that aligns with my athletic ambitions and daily needs. Priced at $229, the Coros Pace 3 is a compelling choice for its sleek design and comprehensive feature set. At $400, the Coros Apex 2 steps up with advanced functionalities like ECG tracking and topographical maps, which might justify the higher investment for serious athletes. With both watches boasting robust fitness tracking capabilities, I'll dive deep into their offerings to help you decide which model could be your next training partner.
Key Takeaways
The Coros Pace 3, a $250 device, boasts superior battery life (up to 40 hours in GPS mode) and impressive Dual-Frequency GNSS for pinpoint location tracking. It prioritizes core running metrics and boasts a lightweight design. However, the Apex 2 offers a more rugged build with a sapphire glass screen, extended multisport capabilities, including a triathlon mode, and built-in mapping for adventurous explorers. This comparison caters to runners who value affordability and core metrics versus those seeking a multisport powerhouse with enhanced durability and navigation features.
Coros Pace 3
Better Choice for Triathletes
✓ 41.9mm x 41.9mm x 11.7mm dimension with 32g weight
✓ 5ATM rating water resistance
✓ Built-in dual-frequency GPS & Gyroscope for cadence and stride
✓ Up to 24 days of battery life
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
#1 Price & Design
Coros Pace 3
The Coros Pace 3 is not only affordable but also designed with practicality in mind. It features a slim profile and a lightweight fiber-reinforced polymer case, making it almost unnoticeable during long training sessions. The 1.2-inch touchscreen is a nice touch for easy navigation, complemented by a digital crown and a dedicated button for accessing various menus and settings. This design is functional yet stylish, available in two band options—silicone and nylon—allowing for personalization according to comfort and aesthetic preferences.
In contrast, the Coros Apex 2, priced at $400, offers a slightly more premium feel with its titanium alloy bezel and larger 1.3-inch display, which provides clearer visuals with a 260 x 260 resolution. The design emphasizes durability and user-friendliness, featuring three side buttons for effortless menu navigation. While slightly heavier at 42 grams, it remains light enough for all-day wear. The inclusion of a Velcro strap enhances the comfort and fit, making it suitable for various outdoor and intense activities.
#2 Features & Performance
Coros Apex 2
Starting with the Coros Pace 3, it stands out for its versatile and high-precision tracking capabilities tailored for dedicated athletes. Its built-in dual-frequency GPS ensures superior signal accuracy and speed, significantly enhancing tracking during outdoor activities. This technology is especially effective in challenging environments where GPS signals might otherwise be compromised. Additionally, the watch supports an array of data fields on each display page, allowing athletes to customize their views to include comprehensive metrics such as pace, distance, heart rate, elevation gain, and more during their activities.
Furthermore, the Pace 3 includes a sophisticated sensor array that measures a wide range of physiological metrics. This includes continuous heart rate monitoring, heart rate variability (HRV) to assess recovery and stress, and on-wrist running power calculations which are invaluable for performance training. These sensors also enable the watch to provide insights into aerobic and anaerobic training effects, helping athletes understand the impact of their workouts on their fitness levels. Despite its focus on sports performance, the Coros Pace 3 lacks certain smartwatch features like music control and contactless payments, prioritizing sports functionality over general smartwatch utilities. It does, however, offer basic notification support for calls and texts, ensuring that users stay connected during their workouts.
Coros Pace 3
Moving on to its cousin, the Coros Apex 2 elevates the sports watch experience by integrating advanced health monitoring tools alongside robust GPS functionality. It features a GNSS chip that supports multiple satellite systems for reliable global navigation, crucial for trail runners and hikers exploring diverse terrains. This model also introduces ECG tracking, a significant addition for athletes interested in detailed heart health monitoring, and the ability to download topographical maps directly to the watch, which enhances navigation capabilities during outdoor adventures. In addition to these advanced features, the Apex 2 offers comprehensive training tools such as an "Active Energy" score, which evaluates your energy expenditure throughout the day, and Coros EvoLab, a suite of analytics that provides deep insights into training load, performance, and recovery needs. This is complemented by improved sleep tracking that not only monitors sleep patterns but also integrates them with recovery statistics to offer a holistic view of the user’s health.
Unlike the Pace 3, the Apex 2 includes camera controls, allowing users to take photographs remotely from their phone, adding convenience for adventurers who want to capture moments without interrupting their activities. While still lacking in built-in music controls, the Apex 2 compensates with enhanced connectivity features and customizable watch faces, providing a more personalized user experience.
#3 Battery Life
Coros Apex 2
Battery performance is a strong suit for both watches. The Coros Pace 3 offers an exceptional 24 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 38 hours with the GPS activated, making it ideal for endurance athletes and long competitions. It ensures that frequent charging doesn’t interrupt training schedules, providing convenience and reliability.
On the other hand, the Coros Apex 2 provides up to 17 days of battery life in standard watch mode and 28 hours with all features turned on, including GPS. While this is less than the Pace 3, it still surpasses many competitors in the market, supporting intense training periods without the need for daily charging. This makes it a dependable choice for athletes who value longevity but also require access to more sophisticated tracking technologies.
Coros Pace 3 vs Apex 2
Final Thoughts
Coros Pace 3 vs Apex 2
Both the Coros Pace 3 and Coros Apex 2 offer compelling features that cater to different types of athletes. If price and a lighter design with essential tracking functionalities top your list, the Pace 3 might be the perfect fit. Its extended battery life and focused sports features provide all the necessary tools for serious training without unnecessary distractions. However, if you’re an adventurer or someone who values advanced health tracking and navigational tools, the Apex 2 could be worth the extra investment. Its premium materials, ECG capabilities, and topographical maps offer a more rounded experience for outdoor enthusiasts and those engaged in varied terrains and conditions. In choosing between these two, consider what aspects of your fitness routine are most crucial and how each device's strengths align with your personal training goals.
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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