After a few years of testing GPS watches, I used to be intrigued by the flood of runners falling in love with Coros. So in fact I needed to put it to the take a look at in opposition to one of many lengthy standing giants: Coros vs Garmin!
Whereas each manufacturers need to go well with the wants of learners to lengthy distance path runners, I discover the watches to have fairly a number of variations.
A number of of the foremost variations with Coros vs Garmin sport watches:
- Garmin desires to be a part of your ENTIRE life, with cycle monitoring, every day occasions, and so forth
- Coros is concentrated in your coaching and streamlining issues
With so many GPS watches out there at various value factors, it may be overwhelming to undergo all the critiques to determine which one is best for you. Step one is to slender all the way down to a model that matches you.
I’ve in contrast Suunto vs Garmin and Polar vs Suunto earlier articles, and this time I’m pitting Coros vs Garmin.
Are Coros watches any good?
After testing a number of watches, I can see why many customers have fallen head over heels for them. The GPS seems to be very correct, it has some superb app options and streamlined watch navigation.
The principle downside I ran in to was with HR readings, which I’ll element under.
Not inquisitive about all of the analysis and simply wish to know what I’d decide?✅That is the watch I’d select as a newbie.
It has greater than sufficient options to final you thru that first 5K all over many marathons and is more economical than different choices.
Coros Vs Garmin Watch Characteristic Comparability
Practically each watch now consists of some customary options like coronary heart fee monitor, tempo, distance, calorie monitoring, restoration time and lap perform.
The place the 2 manufacturers differ is within the watch navigation, screens and app. Each of those manufacturers have STELLAR apps, which add to the attraction of the watch.
Watch Utilization – Tie
The largest distinction between the 2 manufacturers is the way you truly use the watch.
- Coros has a dial on the aspect to navigate.
- Garmin has not less than 4 buttons with two on either side.
Some customers LOVE the dial and discover it far less complicated. I’m so used to the buttons, that I used to be not as enamored.
I absolutely detailed how the dial works in my Coros Apex Evaluation. It was simple sufficient for locating a coaching mode, however as soon as within the mode felt tougher to get what I wished.
Display Show and Monitoring – Tie
Each Garmin and Coros watches show customizable real-time knowledge, comparable to tempo, time, distance run, energy burned, and coronary heart fee, plus extra for those who need. Abstract info like common tempo, stride rely, and elevation achieve are all additionally out there real-time by the push of a button.
Moreover, you possibly can arrange structured exercises and customise your display show.
The largest distinction between the 2 manufacturers on this area comes within the updates.
When Coros makes a useful replace they push it out to all watches, quite than it being just for new fashions. That is one thing that many Coros customers rave about.
What’s that imply? When Coros added a brand new characteristic for structured exercises or working energy, that turned out there on all fashions. Typically with Garmin new massive options turn out to be solely out there in new watches.
AND NOW that most of the Garmin watches have the brand new AMOLED screens they’re a lot brighter and extra good than something I’ve examined beforehand, it’s very engaging.

GPS Watch Battery Life – Coros
Most Coros watches have a median GPS battery lifetime of 30 hours and common use about 30 days. They’ve GPS save modes which might double the GPS life. In testing the Apex and Tempo, I didn’t discover they to final 30 days, however actually lengthy batteries.
Whereas the funds and mid-range Garmin fashions are nearer to 14 hours of GPS battery life and seven days utilization.
Nonetheless, the Garmin Fenix 7 and Forerunner 955 can swap to UltraTrac mode, which sacrifices GPS accuracy in trade for an extended battery life, as much as 60 hours. UltraTrac mode is a battery saving characteristic that periodically shuts off GPS and makes use of the accelerometer to find out velocity and distance.
**Click on right here for those who’re searching for which GPS watch lasts the longest.
Mapping and Navigation – Tie
For these working new routes or who generally tend to get circled throughout a run, the navigational options on Garmin and Cores watches will be sure to keep on target and return residence safely.
On mid and excessive finish fashions you’ll discover:
- Breadcrumb navigation
- Downloading routes
- Again to begin navigation
When you don’t thoughts taking a look at a map on a tiny display, the Garmin Fenix sequence and Garmin Enduro consists of shade topographic mapping capabilities.
Coronary heart Charge Monitoring – Tie
Nowadays, most GPS watches include both strap-based or wrist-based optical coronary heart fee displays. Optical displays are recognized to offer inaccurate outcomes on account of recording random actions, nevertheless the Polar Vantage sequence has the one watches presently out there available on the market that use bio-impedance expertise to override readings brought on by motion.
- Coros all fashions have been extraordinarily inaccurate for me
- Garmin fashions fluctuate in accuracy (dearer didn’t imply extra correct, proper now the Enduro and 265 have been most correct)
Each manufacturers observe wellness-related knowledge like sleep metrics and coronary heart fee all through the day.
The distinction between the 2 manufacturers is that all the Coros watches embrace some variation of this characteristic, the place Garmin has a number of fashions that don’t.
Since coaching utilizing low coronary heart fee coaching I’ve come to know the relevance of utilizing a coronary heart fee monitor to enrich my coaching. All the Polar watches and the upper finish watches within the Garmin lineup embrace wrist-based and or optical coronary heart fee monitoring.
For some methods on getting extra correct coronary heart fee readings try my GPS watch ideas.
Information Administration and Apps – Tie
Each manufacturers have apps that permit you to see extra particulars about every particular person exercise, your whole exercises, sleep knowledge and to handle your knowledge. However additionally they have some variations.
Garmin makes use of a program referred to as Join which lets you earn badges for various actions, which many individuals discover extremely motivating. MORE importantly it enables you to observe your hormonal cycle, which may be eye opening for feminine athletes.
Coros doesn’t have the cycle monitoring, however does have a characteristic that lets you construct energy coaching exercises from a library. I like this integration as a result of it helps to make sure runners are doing their energy work.
When you’re switching between manufacturers, then an app like Strava might be the most effective place to maintain all your knowledge safely in a single place.
Coros vs Garmin Watch Comparability
Click on any hyperlink under to see the watch and extra perform particulars, watches are divided in to funds, mid-range and excessive finish that will help you examine fashions.
If you’d like a whole comparability of simply the variations in Garmins, checkout my article on the greatest Garmin watches for runners.
Price range Watches
Each watches work for working, biking and swimming. In addition to monitoring HR, cellphone notifications on the watch and offering structured exercises. Under I’ll name out key variations.
Coros Tempo 2 ($199)
It’s fascinating that individuals initially stated they selected Coros as a result of it was cheaper, however I’m not seeing that with the newer fashions which have superior to be on par with different manufacturers.
If they might repair the HR subject, I’d fortunately suggest this has a terrific entry stage watch. However that’s such a detrimental for me, that you simply’ll must resolve for your self if it’s an element.
Coros Tempo 2 is its light-weight design, weighing in at simply 29 grams. This makes it one of many lightest GPS sports activities watches available on the market, guaranteeing that it received’t weigh you down throughout your runs. Regardless of its compact dimension, the Tempo 2 nonetheless manages to ship glorious battery life, providing as much as 30 hours of steady GPS monitoring, making it appropriate for long-distance runs and ultra-marathons.
- Triathlon mode
- Open water swim mode
- Barometric altimeter (extra correct elevation)
- As much as 30 hour GPS life
- Learn my full Coros Tempo 2 Evaluation
Garmin Forerunner 55 ($200)
That is now what’s thought-about an entry stage working watch and it has EVERYTHING together with good watch options. You possibly can go extra primary with the Garmin 25, nevertheless it’s not properly supported now. With the 55 you’ll get wrist primarily based HR, GPS options, Security options and extra.
Having examined this watch, I’m impressed. For entry stage, it actually has a lot greater than most runners want.
Whereas the Forerunner 55 is filled with options, it appears and feels cheaper. Not like the Fenix which is available in pretty white and rose gold, giving it a put on anytime look, the 55 feels nearly plastic. It additionally does NOT embrace the power to offer elevation, ascent, descent, mapping or a number of different stuff you’ll see in a better finish mannequin.
- Contains location streaming security characteristic
- Information PRS
- No Swim monitoring
- As much as 24 hour GPS life
- Learn my full Garmin 55 assessment to match to different Garmin fashions
It’s a terrific worth after I suppose I paid this value for my first Garmin that would solely observe how far I ran!
Midrange Watches
For about $100 extra, you enter the mid-range watches which have a number of extra options like maps, coaching load, and so forth. Following are a number of the key variations. A part of the improve is the fashion and supplies of the watch making it extra sturdy.
Coros Apex 42mm ($299)
One of many standout options of the Coros Apex 42mm is its distinctive battery life. It makes use of an clever energy optimization system that enables it to final for prolonged durations, even throughout long-distance runs or multi-day occasions. With as much as 100 hours of steady GPS monitoring, you possibly can depend on this watch to maintain up along with your endurance coaching with out worrying about working out of battery.
It supplies exact distance, velocity, and elevation measurements, together with superior metrics comparable to working cadence, stride size, and floor contact time.
The Coros Apex 42mm encompasses a sturdy building that may stand up to harsh situations and is water resistant as much as 100 meters. It gives a transparent and easy-to-read show, even in brilliant daylight, and its intuitive interface makes it easy to navigate via numerous capabilities and settings. The watch additionally helps smartphone notifications, permitting you to remain related while not having to achieve to your cellphone throughout your runs.
There may be additionally an Apex 46mm, which is barely dearer and higher supplies.
- As much as 25 hours GPS life
- Energy meter succesful
- Document HR underwater
Garmin Forerunner 265 ($350)
This watch will observe working, swimming, and biking and let you know your floor contact time stability, stride size, and extra. Plus, the display is simply beautiful.
The colours on this watch are good and to date, I’m seeing good issues with the accuracy of the HR readings as properly. I’m not all the time a fan of the contact display with winter working, nevertheless it does imply you don’t have to recollect how you can use all of the buttons!
- As much as 30 hours GPS life
- Customized apps downloaded to observe
- Efficiency coaching metrics
- Comply with GPS observe again to begin
- Obtain GPS routes, Dwell Monitoring
- Run/Stroll Mode
- Garmin Pay
The Forerunner 245 is the earlier mannequin that was out there and it’s bought practically the identical options for about $100 much less.
Excessive Finish Watches
Now we’re taking the supplies up a notch and including in a number of further options that make these watches even higher for a path run and people spending much more time within the nice vast open air.
You’ll additionally discover sapphire glass which is much less more likely to scratch and once more an improve in supplies.
Do we regularly want every part on these watches…no.
Do they usually look cooler…sure.
The Garmin Fenix S sequence is concentrated on making a smaller watch to suit on a smaller wrist, in order that it might seem like a timepiece you wish to put on all day lengthy. Hear the rose gold bought me!
Coros Vertix 2 ($699)
That is the one watch I’ve no but examined, however once more have many path associates who simply LOVE their Coros watches. So I really feel comfy suggesting it, so long as you learn the notes above.
The Coros Vertix 2 is a sturdy and superior GPS journey watch designed to cater to the wants of outside lovers, mountaineers, and athletes who interact in excessive actions. This rugged timepiece gives a variety of options and sturdiness that make it a dependable companion in difficult environments.
One of many standout options of the Coros Vertix 2 is its distinctive sturdiness and resistance to harsh situations. It’s constructed to face up to excessive temperatures, shock, and affect, making it appropriate for adventures in rugged terrains. The watch can be water resistant as much as 150 meters, guaranteeing it might deal with swimming, diving, and different water actions with none points.
- 140 hours GPS battery life
- Detailed maps for working and monitoring
- Touchscreen and Sapphire glass to guard from breaking
- 3GB of music storage on the watch
- Working dynamics like vertical oscillation, floor contact
- Observe sensor – extra precisely calculates your exercise when working on a observe
Garmin Fenix 7 ($700- 900)
This watch is for the athlete who desires their watch to only know what they’re doing. It’s going to have each bell and whistle we’ve mentioned beforehand, plus the parts are upgraded.
The Fenix can inform the distinction for those who’re working indoors vs outdoors vs on the street or path. It is aware of for those who’re in a pool or swimming in open water. It may possibly even provide you with an correct climate forecast through Bluetooth.
Actually this watch has extra sport options than another available on the market and is without doubt one of the few rated for diving.
- 57 hours GPS life
- Elective photo voltaic possibility (love this characteristic)
- Music management from contact display watch
- Obtain customized apps
- Contactless funds
- Topographical maps
- Digital racer
- Climate
- So many health monitoring types from XC ski, to Climbing to HIIT exercises
The opposite prime finish watch you would possibly see is the Garmin Enduro. I beloved working with this watch, however it’s VERY massive and I might say actually designed extra for these doing lots of ultramarathons or backcountry mountain climbing.
💰Proper now you may get the Fenix 5s at an enormous low cost as a result of they’re rolling out the brand new Fenix sequence, which incorporates the brand new Photo voltaic model. That’s proper, a watch that expenses on the go!!
See my full assessment of the Garmin Fenix 7s.
The Coros Vs Garmin comparability feels something however simple to me. The have a special really feel, completely different fashion and nearly a special advertising and marketing to who their person is.
It actually comes all the way down to do you just like the dial on the aspect, do you want that they’re gentle weight and possibly centered extra on coaching than a number of the life-style components.
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