Smart watches give you several tools at the touch of a button. In addition to telling you the time, many are able to track your health, workouts, and GPS location. They can also be very stylish, depending on the brand and model. It’s a wearable device that essentially functions as an extension of your phone, not a replacement, which is a common myth about smartwatches.
There are several brands of smartwatches available, including Garmin and a newer brand, COROS. Garmin may be the most popular name, having debuted in 1989, but COROS has quickly become a rising star in the smartwatch space. Garmin makes several smartwatches, all at different prices, but they are generally much more expensive than COROS, in part because it is a more established brand. COROS began producing smartwatches in 2018 and its product line is much less expensive than those made by Garmin. Both offer similar features, but COROS watches tend to last longer in terms of battery life, even beating Garmin’s most expensive smartwatch, the MARQ Adventurer. For a much lower price, the COROS PACE 4 can last up to 41 hours of GPS and 19 days of daily use, while Garmin’s MARQ Adventurer lasts 16 days with gesture and up to six days in always-on mode.
What Users Like About COROS Smartwatch
Check out Reddit and you’ll find several articles and discussions about COROS smartwatches. In one thread, a user claims that the COROS PACE 4 is better than Garmin smartwatches in many ways. Compared to Garmin’s smartwatches, they claim that the PACE 4 has faster GPS features on the screen, and the UX and running tracker are better as well. “I switched from Garmin to the PACE 4 and honestly, I’m shocked at how dated the Garmin seems,” they note. Users in the same Reddit thread largely agree that COROS commands premium prices, and even the brand’s most expensive smartwatch, the VERTIX 2S, beats out Garmin’s most expensive model in price, battery life, and app usage.
The VERTIX 2S will cost you $699 — a lot lower than Garmin’s most expensive offering, the MARQ Adventurer (Gen 2), which costs up to $3,100 (depending on case material). Even one of the cheapest Garmin smartwatches, the Instinct E, costs $249.99, but that’s only after you choose the smaller size and case model, with fewer features — and it still only lasts 14 days. For the same price, you can get the COROS PACE 4 Standard Edition, which offers longer battery life, along with other benefits.
Reddit users who own COROS smartwatches say the app is much more user-friendly than Garmin or other watches. Meanwhile, on Amazon, reviewers say the COROS PACE 4 is exceptionally lightweight, making it a great choice for working out, running, and using the smartwatch’s sleep tracking feature.
Does Garmin have any advantages over COROS?
When it comes to how Garmin compares to COROS, the former company stands out in several ways, although it ultimately depends on what you’re looking for. If you like to track and monitor data on the watch screen itself, Garmin may be the best overall choice, as it offers plenty of screens and data curves to view. These are useful for anyone wanting to workout, run, or track their own pace and steps. For hardcore athletes or anyone doing extended training, Garmin offers a wider selection and more features, although part of that is because the brand has been around longer.
Some COROS PACE 4 owners have also reported that the screen may be susceptible to scratches and require a screen protector. Another feature of some Garmin smartwatches is solar power. On the Instinct 3, you’ll find Garmin’s solar trickle charging technology, a game-changer for better battery life. COROS currently doesn’t offer any smartwatches with solar capability, but again, that means you don’t have to pay for this extra feature.
