Coros Pace Pro Review: Is This AMOLED Sports Watch Worth Your Money?

The Coros Pace Pro launched on October 31, 2024, bringing some impressive upgrades that caught our attention as a sports- and smartwatch enthusiasts. With a vibrant 1.3-inch AMOLED display boasting 1,500 nits of brightness and a processor twice as fast as its predecessor, this watch certainly makes a strong first impression.

Throughout this Coros Pace Pro review, we'll examine whether this investment delivers enough value to justify choosing it over established rivals like the Garmin Forerunner 265 and Polar Vantage M3. Additionally, we'll explore if the enhanced heart rate monitoring, offline TOPO maps, and training features make this Coros watch a worthy contender in the increasingly competitive mid-range sports watch market.

If you already have the Coros Pace Pro and are looking for a way to keep it safely and securely on your wrist, then check out our large collection of Coros Pace Pro straps.

What’s New in the Coros Pace Pro

The Coros Pace Pro represents a significant step forward in the company's wearable technology lineup. Diving into the specific improvements reveals why this sports watch deserves attention from serious athletes and casual fitness enthusiasts alike.

AMOLED screen and faster processor

The most noticeable upgrade in the Coros Pace Pro is undoubtedly its vibrant 1.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen display. This marks a dramatic shift from the memory-in-pixel (MIP) displays found in previous Coros models. The screen delivers impressive visibility with 1,500 nits of peak brightness, making it readable even in direct sunlight.

The touchscreen functionality adds a new dimension to the user experience, allowing for quick navigation through menus and maps that was previously impossible. Moreover, the display's responsiveness benefits from the new dual-core processor, which offers twice the processing power of its predecessor. This upgrade eliminates the lag that sometimes plagued earlier Coros watches when scrolling through data screens during activities.

Despite these power-hungry additions, Coros has managed to maintain impressive battery efficiency. The watch delivers up to 20 days of standard use or 41 hours in full GPS mode – a testament to the optimisation work behind the scenes. When using the always-on display feature, battery life reduces to about 10 days, still outperforming many competing AMOLED watches.

Upgraded GPS and heart rate sensors

The GPS capabilities in the Pace Pro have received substantial enhancements. The watch now incorporates dual-frequency (L1+L5) GPS technology with support for all five major satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS). This multi-band approach significantly improves location accuracy, particularly in challenging environments like dense forests or urban canyons where signal reflexion often causes tracking errors.

Heart rate monitoring has also seen notable improvements with a completely redesigned optical heart rate sensor. The new configuration uses more LEDs and photodiodes than previous versions, resulting in more reliable measurements during high-intensity activities and interval training. My testing shows reduced spikes and delays when compared to chest straps – a common issue with wrist-based sensors.

Another meaningful upgrade is the barometric altimeter, which now includes temperature compensation for more accurate elevation readings in varying weather conditions. This enhancement is particularly valuable for trail runners and mountain athletes who rely on precise altitude data for training and navigation.

Comparison with Coros Pace 3

When placed alongside its predecessor, the Pace Pro's advancements become even more apparent:

• Display: The shift from a 1.2-inch MIP display to a 1.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen represents the most visible upgrade
• Storage: Internal storage jumps dramatically from 4GB to 32GB, enabling offline storage of detailed topographic maps and more music
• GPS Accuracy: The move to dual-frequency GPS from single-band significantly improves tracking precision
• Heart Rate Monitoring: The redesigned optical sensor provides more reliable readings during various activities
• Maps: The Pro now supports full-colour offline TOPO maps with contour lines and navigation features, whereas the Pace 3 only offered basic route guidance

The weight difference between models is minimal, with the Pro weighing just 1g more than the Pace 3 when paired with the nylon band (37g vs 36g). This maintains the ultralight feel that Coros watches are known for, despite the additional technology packed inside.

Although the price point has increased, the technological improvements justify this premium for serious athletes. The Pace Pro essentially brings many features previously reserved for Coros' higher-end Apex Pro and Vertix models to a more accessible price point.

In essence, the Coros Pace Pro isn't merely an incremental update – it represents a fundamental reimagining of what a mid-range sports watch can offer. The combination of AMOLED display technology, enhanced sensors, and expanded storage creates a compelling package that challenges more established brands in this competitive segment.

How It Compares to Other Mid-Range Sports Watches

With the mid-range sports watch market becoming increasingly competitive, placing the Coros Pace Pro alongside its rivals reveals some interesting points of difference. After extensive research against comparable watches from leading brands, we've compiled a detailed comparison to help you determine if this Coros watch offers the best value for your specific needs.

Coros Pace Pro vs Garmin Forerunner 265

The most direct competitor to the Coros Pace Pro is arguably the Garmin Forerunner 265. In terms of design, both watches feature similar dimensions with the Forerunner 265 measuring 46mm and the Pace Pro coming in slightly thinner at 12.25mm compared to the Garmin's 12.9mm. Both sport high-quality AMOLED displays with 416 x 416 pixel resolution, though I noticed the Garmin appears marginally brighter even when both are set to maximum brightness.

Battery performance is where the Coros running watch truly shines over its Garmin rival. The Pace Pro delivers 31 hours in dual-frequency GPS mode compared to just 14 hours on the Forerunner 265. This advantage extends to smartwatch mode as well, with 20 days of battery life versus 13 days on the Garmin.

One crucial difference is mapping capability. The Coros Pace Pro includes full-colour offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation, a feature the Forerunner 265 lacks entirely. For serious trail runners or hikers, this could be a decisive factor in favour of the Coros sports watch.

However, the Garmin does offer several advantages including music streaming service integration, NFC payments, and fall detection – none of which are available on the Pace Pro. The Forerunner's training analysis features are also slightly more comprehensive according to many testers.

You can also check out our Garmin Forerunner 265 straps.

Coros Pace Pro vs Suunto Race S

At an identical price point, the Suunto Race S represents another compelling alternative to the Coros Pace Pro. The first noticeable difference is physical design – the Suunto offers a more premium aesthetic with its stainless steel bezel and Gorilla Glass protection, compared to the Pace Pro's all-polymer construction.

The Coros Pace Pro holds a substantial advantage in battery performance, delivering 20 days of standard use compared to the Suunto's 9 days. This difference becomes particularly important for ultramarathoners and multi-day adventurers.

Weight is another significant difference, with the Coros (37g with nylon band) being considerably lighter than the Suunto Race S (60g). For extended activities, this weight difference can impact comfort dramatically.

Display-wise, the Suunto offers a slightly higher resolution at 466 x 466 pixels versus the Coros' 416 x 416. Both watches provide similar mapping capabilities, though users report the Suunto interface makes route importing from apps like Strava more intuitive.

Additionally, we have a large collection of Suunto Race S straps and accessories.

Coros Pace Pro vs Polar Vantage M3

The more expensive Polar Vantage M3 rounds out the trio of main competitors in this segment. Like the others, it features an AMOLED display, though its screen is marginally smaller at 1.28 inches compared to the Pace Pro's 1.3 inches.

Battery life reveals another clear win for the coros watch, with the Vantage M3 offering just 7 days of standard use compared to the Pace Pro's 20 days. Similarly, the Coros is lighter at 49g (with silicone band) versus the Polar's 53g.

Both watches come with 32GB of storage and comparable GPS systems with multi-band capability. The sensor arrays are relatively similar, though the Polar includes ECG functionality that might appeal to those with specific health monitoring needs.

The Polar does offer a more refined design with its stainless steel bezel, which some users might prefer over the utilitarian aesthetic of the coros running watch. Additionally, the Polar Flow app provides excellent sleep and recovery tools that many consider industry-leading.

Throughout our research of these four watches, the Coros Pace Pro consistently delivered the best battery performance and strong GPS accuracy while maintaining a lightweight profile. Meanwhile, its competitors each offer unique strengths: Garmin with its training ecosystem, Suunto with its premium build quality, and Polar with its recovery metrics.

If you're curious, you can take a look at our Polar Vantage M3 straps and accessories.

Training and Health Features Breakdown

Diving into the Coros Pace Pro's software capabilities reveals a sophisticated training ecosystem that rivals more established brands.

EvoLab metrics and race predictor

The core of the Coros Pace Pro's training intelligence is EvoLab, a comprehensive suite of metrics that provides detailed insights into your fitness and training status. Initially, the watch requires at least one 25-minute run at 65% of your maximum heart rate reserve to establish baseline measurements.

Base Fitness, a cornerstone metric, evaluates your long-term training capacity using data from the past six weeks. Meanwhile, Load Impact measures short-term training stress based on the previous seven days. The difference between these values creates your Intensity Trend, which falls into one of six categories ranging from Recovery to Overtraining.

The race predictor functionality is notably practical. Using your training data from the last six weeks, the Coros Pace Pro estimates your potential finish times for 5k, 10k, half marathon, and full marathon distances. Unlike some competitors' overly optimistic predictions, I found these estimates realistically aligned with my actual capabilities. Notably, long runs over 30km significantly impact your marathon prediction, whilst threshold pace runs affect shorter distance predictions.

Running Efficiency, another valuable metric, ranges from 80% to 120% and provides feedback on your most recent run compared to your overall fitness level. Readings above 105% suggest you're peaking, whilst under 95% indicates you likely need more recovery time.

Structured workouts and training load

Creating structured workouts on the Coros Pace Pro is straightforward through the companion app. The system supports various activity types including running, cycling, swimming, and strength training. Each workout can be customised with specific targets (distance, time, or training load) and intensity metrics (heart rate, pace, power, or cadence).

Once created, up to 20 workouts can be synced to the watch. During training, the watch guides you through each session with alerts when you're outside your targeted zones. For those preferring ready-made programmes, Coros offers free training plans designed by professional athletes and coaches.

Training Load functions as the foundation metric for your entire training ecosystem. Every activity receives a Training Load score based on duration and intensity. At week's end, EvoLab tallies these scores to create a Weekly Training Load value and suggests appropriate ranges for future training. This prevents overtraining while ensuring continued progress—following the 10% rule for weekly progression is generally recommended.

Sleep, HRV, and recovery tracking

The Coros Pace Pro automatically tracks sleep 24 hours a day, providing insights into sleep quality and stages. Any sleep lasting more than three hours receives a complete assessment, while shorter periods are categorised as naps. During detected sleep, the watch enters Sleep Mode, minimising disruptions by disabling gesture backlight and notifications.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) monitoring is among the most useful recovery metrics. The watch continuously measures HRV in 10-minute intervals during sleep, requiring just five days to establish your baseline—noticeably quicker than many competitors. This data helps evaluate your neuromuscular fatigue and readiness for training.

After each workout, the Recovery Timer estimates the time needed for full recovery based on your base fitness, training load, and remaining energy since your last session. The system also calculates Resting Heart Rate, which correlates closely with physiological fatigue.

Taken together, these metrics create a comprehensive picture of your training status. Whilst some interfaces like Garmin's might present this information more elegantly, the Coros Pace Pro undoubtedly provides all the essential training and recovery data serious athletes require. Furthermore, the ECG sensor offers more accurate heart rate readings rather than atrial fibrillation detection like some competitors.

Accuracy and Reliability in Different Conditions

Putting the Coros Pace Pro through its paces in real-world conditions reveals how this sports watch performs when circumstances are less than ideal. Throughout our research, we've evaluated the watch's sensor reliability across various environments to determine where it excels and where improvements could be made.

GPS performance in urban and trail environments

The Coros Pace Pro comes equipped with dual-frequency GPS and a new satellite chipset designed specifically to deliver more precise tracking. In practise, the watch performed admirably across different terrains. On trail runs under dense tree cover, the dual-frequency mode demonstrated impressive consistency, tracking almost identically to higher-priced watches like the Garmin Fenix 8.

Nevertheless, urban environments presented occasional challenges. Whilst the watch generally maintained accurate positioning in city settings, there were instances where it showed me slightly misaligned from my actual sidewalk position. Fortunately, these minor deviations rarely affected overall distance measurements, which remained consistently accurate compared to reference devices.

One noteworthy strength of the Coros Pace Pro is its recovery time after signal loss. In testing, the watch took approximately 30 metres to reacquire accurate positioning after passing through GPS-challenged areas. This recovery distance, though not perfect, compares favourably with many competitors in the same price bracket.

Heart rate accuracy vs chest straps

The optical heart rate monitoring on the Coros Pace Pro delivered somewhat mixed results depending on the activity type. During steady-state runs at consistent effort, the watch performed admirably, often within 1-2 bpm of chest strap readings. Similarly, for longer, steady-effort activities, the average heart rate typically remained within 1bpm of chest strap measurements.

Conversely, high-intensity interval training revealed limitations common to most optical sensors. When performing sprint intervals, the Pace Pro struggled to capture rapid shifts in intensity, occasionally reading up to 20bpm higher than reference chest straps. This lag in responsiveness during quick intensity changes is a known limitation of wrist-based optical technology.

Optimising heart rate accuracy requires proper watch placement. Coros recommends wearing the watch higher than your wrist bone, keeping your hands warm to improve blood flow, and ensuring the sensor is clean before workouts. Additionally, selecting the appropriate training mode and waiting for a stable reading before starting can significantly improve measurement quality.

Elevation and pace tracking consistency

The barometric altimeter in the Coros Pace Pro relies on air pressure readings to calculate elevation. Consequently, external factors like weather changes, strong winds, and even dust buildup can affect accuracy. During testing, elevation consistency varied—sometimes matching reference devices perfectly and occasionally underreporting compared to other watches.

For reliable elevation data, regular manual calibration is essential. The watch automatically calibrates using GPS during outdoor workouts, but Coros recommends additional manual calibration, particularly before important training sessions. Unfortunately, if you forget this step, elevation recordings may drift throughout longer activities.

Pace tracking responsiveness measured approximately 12 seconds in standardised testing. This means the watch takes about 12 seconds to reflect changes in your running speed on the display—a middle-of-the-road performance that's adequate for most runners but potentially frustrating for those doing precise interval work.

Coros Ecosystem and App Experience

Beyond hardware specifications, the software ecosystem often determines the day-to-day experience with any sports watch. The Coros Pace Pro sits within a growing ecosystem that has matured significantly in recent years.

Coros app usability and data sync

Setting up the Coros Pace Pro through the companion app is remarkably straightforward, with most users able to complete the entire process within five minutes of unboxing. The app interface strikes a balance between simplicity and functionality, presenting data at a high level for key metrics without overwhelming users. Indeed, many testers find the Coros app interface cleaner and more intuitive than Garmin Connect.

Data visualisation in the Coros app follows a logical structure. For instance, sleep information can be sorted by day, week, month, or year, whereas workout data appears immediately after syncing. The synchronisation process itself happens almost instantaneously after completing an activity, though some users report needing to manually refresh the app multiple times to ensure all data transfers completely.

One notable shortcoming is the route creator within the app, which lacks some refinement. Nevertheless, the Coros Training Hub—a desktop portal—compensates by offering more comprehensive analysis and management features. This web interface allows users to plan workouts by dragging activity tiles onto specific days of the week.

Sensor compatibility and third-party integrations

The Coros Pace Pro supports Bluetooth sensors, making it compatible with external heart rate monitors, power metres, and other training devices. Pairing these sensors is straightforward, and the system allows naming multiple sensors clearly to avoid connection confusion.

For those invested in other fitness platforms, Coros offers extensive third-party integrations. The watch syncs with numerous services, including:

• Training platforms: Strava, TrainingPeaks, Final Surge, Intervals.icu
• Running apps: Nike Run Club, Stryd, Runalyze
• Navigation tools: Komoot, Ride with GPS
• Health ecosystems: Apple Health, Google Health Connect

To connect these services, users navigate to Profile > Settings > 3rd Party Apps within the Coros app. After authentication, workout data uploads automatically to connected platforms, typically within minutes of completing an activity.

On account of these integrations, the Coros ecosystem avoids the "walled garden" approach of some competitors. Given these points, users can leverage their preferred analytical tools alongside the native Coros system. Most important, this flexibility prevents ecosystem lock-in while still providing comprehensive native analysis tools for those who prefer to stay within the Coros environment.

Who should buy it and who shouldn't

The ideal Coros Pace Pro owner fits particular profiles:

• Serious endurance athletes prioritising battery longevity and reliable training guidance
• Existing Coros users looking to upgrade to an AMOLED display
• Trail runners and hikers needing mapping functionality without premium pricing
• Athletes valuing lightweight design (37g with nylon band) for extended comfort

Evidently, the watch isn't suited for everyone. Consider alternatives if you:

• Prioritise style or ruggedness over training features—the Suunto Race S offers a more premium metal construction
• Need specific smartwatch features like Spotify playlists or contactless payments
• Prefer button navigation over the crown interface that some users find frustrating
• Want the most beginner-friendly interface—Garmin's daily suggested workouts might better serve new runners

Ultimately, the Coros Pace Pro delivers exceptional value through its combination of AMOLED display, mapping, and battery life—matching or exceeding competitors often selling at higher price points.

Do you have a different Coros watch and need accessories? Check out our Coros straps, screen protectors, and chargers, for every model.

Conclusion

Overall, the Coros Pace Pro makes a compelling case for itself in the increasingly crowded mid-range sports watch market. After thoroughly testing its capabilities across various environments, we consider the combination of exceptional battery life, impressive GPS accuracy, and full mapping functionality delivers genuine value at its price point.

The watch undoubtedly excels in areas that matter most to serious athletes. Its 20-day battery life outperforms competitors costing considerably more, while the lightweight design (just 37g with the nylon band) ensures comfort during extended activities. The dual-frequency GPS performs admirably in challenging conditions, though it occasionally struggles in dense urban environments.

However, this watch isn't trying to be everything to everyone. Those seeking smartwatch features like music streaming, contactless payments, or advanced notification handling should look elsewhere. Similarly, the optical heart rate sensor shows typical limitations during high-intensity intervals that plague most wrist-based monitors.

Above all, the Coros Pace Pro targets endurance athletes who prioritise training metrics and battery longevity over smartwatch bells and whistles. Trail runners and ultramarathoners will particularly appreciate the combination of offline maps, accurate altitude tracking, and battery performance that outlasts most adventures.

The Coros Pace Pro therefore represents excellent value for endurance-focused athletes seeking a lightweight, long-lasting training tool with mapping capabilities. While it won't replace your smartphone for everyday tasks, it excels at its primary purpose – helping you train more effectively regardless of how far or long your adventures take you.