Coros Pace Pro Review: Bright Screen, Bright Future for Coros?
Coros Pace Pro is a lightweight sports watch with accurate tracking & long battery life—great for athletes seeking reliability at a mid-range price.
Coros Pace Pro is a key addition to the brand’s lineup. It is the first Coros watch with an AMOLED display, a feature becoming standard on the best sports watches. Packed with features like offline maps and long battery life, it competes with mid-range rivals such as the Garmin Forerunner 265 and Suunto Race S while maintaining a lightweight design.
Although it comes at a higher price than the Coros Pace 3, the Pace Pro offers a major design upgrade and new features. It provides good value for money, considering its improvements. After wearing the watch for over a month for my Coros Pace Pro Review, I found it to be an excellent sports watch.
Unless you need extra battery life, a hardier metal design, or more smartwatch features, the Pace Pro will meet your sporting needs. However, competition is tough in this category. In my Coros Pace Pro Review, I will compare it to the Garmin Forerunner 265, Polar Vantage M3 and Suunto Race S to help you choose the best option.
Key features: AMOLED screen, lightweight design, maps, long battery life
Coros Pace Pro vs. Coros Pace 3: Pace 3 is cheaper and lighter but it lacks maps & AMOLED display. Pace Pro also has a faster processor making it better choice for those who want premium features.
Table of Contents
Coros Pace Pro Specification
| 🏷 Category | 📌 Details |
|---|---|
| 📏 Size & Weight | 46 x 46 x 14.2mm, 37g (nylon) / 49g (silicone) |
| 🛡 Materials | Durable polymer case, mineral glass display, nylon/silicone band |
| 🌊 Waterproof & Temperature | 5ATM, works from -20ºC to 50ºC |
| 📺 Display | 1.3″ AMOLED (416×416), 1,500 nits brightness |
| 💾 Storage | 32GB internal memory |
| 🔋 Battery Life | Up to 20 days (standard), 6 days (AOD mode) |
| 📡 GPS Battery | 38 hrs (All GNSS), 31 hrs (dual frequency) |
| ⚡ Charging Time | Fully charges in 1.5 hours |
| 🩺 Sensors | Heart rate, altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, SpO2, ECG |
| 🎛 Buttons | Digital dial + back button |
| 📶 Connectivity | Bluetooth, WiFi |
| 🏃 Sports Modes | Running, biking, swimming, hiking, skiing, strength training, triathlon & more |
| ⭐ Key Features | EvoLab, Fitness Test, Training Load, Recovery Timer, Workouts, Altitude Performance, Daily Stress |
Coros Pace Pro Price and Availability
Coros Pace Pro was launched on October 31 and is available for purchase. It costs $349 in the U.S. and £349 in the U.K. Watch comes in three colors: blue, black, and grey. While it is more expensive than the Coros Pace 3 ($229 / £219), it is cheaper than some competitors, such as Garmin Forerunner 265 and Polar Vantage M3. It is priced similarly to Suunto Race S.
Coros Pace Pro Key Specifications
- Price: $349
- Size: 46 x 14.15mm
- Display: 1.3-inch AMOLED (416 x 416 resolution)
- Bezel: Polymer
- Screen: Glass
- Weight: 37g (nylon band), 49g (silicone band)
- Water Resistance: 5ATM
- Battery Life: 20 days in watch mode (6 days with always-on display)
- GPS Battery Life: 38 hours (all-systems GPS), 31 hours (dual-band GPS)
- Storage: 32GB
Design and Display
New AMOLED screen on the Coros Pace Pro is a major upgrade from previous models. With 1,500 nits brightness, it is clear and easy to read, even in bright sunlight. Color display makes navigation and maps more engaging and improves readability during workouts.
Watch remains lightweight, though it is slightly thicker than Pace 3. Stainless steel dial improves durability and enables ECG measurements. While it doesn’t have the premium materials of higher-end Coros watches like Vertix 2, it still looks good and feels comfortable. The included silicone band may not be the best choice for everyone, and a nylon band would be a better alternative for comfort.
A notable change is new charging port, which is now deeper, making older Coros cables incompatible. However, Coros includes an adapter for USB-C charging, which is a smart and eco-friendly move. Unlike many smartwatches, Coros does not provide a proprietary charging cable but will send one on request.
Watch features Coros’ fastest processor to date, making navigation and zooming in on maps smooth and responsive. It also offers 32GB of storage, a significant increase from 4GB on the Pace 3. Watch connects to external sensors via Bluetooth, but it does not support ANT+.
Sports Tracking and Training Analysis
Pace Pro includes multiple sports modes, such as track running and multisport but its selection is less extensive than some competitors. For example, there is no dedicated yoga mode, though users can create custom modes in the Coros app.
The watch provides EvoLab training analysis offering details like training load, race predictions, VO2 max estimates and recovery insights. However, its recommendations are not as intuitive as Garmin’s daily workout suggestions. Running Fitness score is another feature that lacks clarity.
Users can create and sync structured workouts via the Coros app or set up quick interval sessions directly on the watch. A pacer mode helps runners track their performance in races like 5Ks and marathons.
GPS and Heart Rate Accuracy
Coros Pace Pro has been tested against Garmin Forerunner 265, Forerunner 965, Polar Vantage M3 and Suunto Race S for GPS and heart rate accuracy. It also compared heart rate readings with Polar Verity Sense armband and Wahoo TRACKR chest strap.
GPS accuracy is impressive even in dense city environments and during tight loops. There were no unexpected jumps in pace making it reliable for tracking speed and distance. New satellite chipset improves positioning, ensuring consistent performance.
Heart rate tracking has not been flawless, but it is more accurate than its competitors. Optical sensors can struggle in cold conditions but Pace Pro performed well overall. It closely matched external heart rate monitors, even during intense interval training. However, for most precise readings, pairing watch with a chest strap is still recommended.
Battery Life
The battery life is excellent, lasting around 5-6 days per charge with the always-on display and daily GPS workouts. Without workouts, it even exceeded Coros’ 7-day estimate.
To conserve battery, the watch only takes heart rate readings every 10 minutes outside workouts. When switched to continuous tracking, battery life still reached 5 days. Using the raise-to-wake mode instead of always-on display extends battery life to 20 days.
For GPS workouts, battery performance is:
- 24 hours (dual-band GPS) with always-on display
- 31 hours (dual-band GPS) with raise-to-wake
- 28 hours (all-systems GPS) with always-on display
- 38 hours (all-systems GPS) with raise-to-wake
Compared to its competitors, the Pace Pro outlasts the Garmin Forerunner 265, Polar Vantage M3, and Suunto Race S in similar conditions.
Maps and Navigation
The color maps on the Pace Pro are bright, easy to use and quick to load. Users can download maps via the Coros app and receive turn-by-turn directions during activities. A back-to-start function helps navigate back to the starting point if lost.
Unlike the Garmin Forerunner 265, the Pace Pro includes maps, which is a significant advantage. While the Polar Vantage M3 and Suunto Race S also have maps, the faster processor and AMOLED screen make the Pace Pro’s mapping experience smoother.
Smart Features
Smartwatch features are limited on the Coros Pace Pro. It provides phone notifications and a weather widget, but lacks NFC payments and advanced smartwatch features.
The music storage feature allows drag-and-drop file transfers but does not support streaming services like Spotify, which is available on Garmin watches. Customization is also limited, as users cannot add weather forecasts or training stats to watch face.
With features like audio streaming, contactless payments and increased customization, Garmin remains industry leader in watches.
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Should You Buy Coros Pace Pro?
A great mid-range sports watch is Coros Pace Pro. It is lightweight, has a long battery life & detects accurately. For athletes who want a dependable watch without going over budget for pricey versions like Garmin Fenix 8 or Coros Vertix 2S, it’s a solid option.
Compared to competitors:
- Garmin Forerunner 265: More features but no maps & shorter battery life. Costs more than Pace Pro.
- Polar Vantage M3: Stylish but harder to use. Pace Pro lasts longer and is more accurate.
- Suunto Race S: Strong build, but Pace Pro is lighter and has better heart rate tracking.
- Coros Pace 3: Affordable, similar features, but lacks maps and AMOLED screen.
For those on a budget, Coros Pace 3 offers a cheaper option with many similar features, but it doesn’t have the Pace Pro’s maps and AMOLED screen.
Pros and Cons of Coros Pace Pro
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| 🌟 Bright AMOLED display | 🏗 Basic plastic design |
| 🔋 Long battery life | ⌚ Limited watch faces |
| 📡 Accurate GPS tracking | 📱 Clunky app & notification UI |
| ❤️ Decent heart rate tracking | ⚖ Slightly heavier than competitors |
| 🗺 Easy-to-use maps | ❌ |
| 🏃 Useful EvoLab for runners | ❌ |
| 🚀 Fast CPU & RAM for future updates | ❌ |
| ⚡ Quick 1.5-hour charging | ❌ |
Conclusion
Coros Pace Pro is a top-tier mid-range sports watch with great accuracy, long battery life and mapping capabilities. If smartwatch features are not a priority, it is one of the best options in its price range.
