I used to be predisposed to love the COROS PACE Professional greater than its older siblings for one easy purpose: it is the model’s first AMOLED watch. As somebody with steadily worsening eyesight, I’ve by no means preferred utilizing MIP shows besides throughout sunny exercises the place they shine, so to talk. Indoors, COROS watches weren’t that enjoyable to make use of.
The PACE Professional felt inevitable and overdue after rivals like Garmin, Suunto, and Polar adopted AMOLED en masse in 2023 and 2024. I beloved the COROS PACE 3, calling it the most effective reasonably priced watch of 2023, however solely as a result of MIP felt like a good sacrifice for the value. The PACE Professional had a better bar to clear, each for its $349 price ticket and my expectations.
Since late October, I’ve taken the COROS PACE Professional on dozens of runs, hikes, and exercises, evaluating it in opposition to different current health watches just like the Garmin Fenix 8 and Polar Vantage M3. I’ve come away impressed, or at the least glad, with its accuracy and efficiency in key areas.
Whereas it is taken me too lengthy to get this evaluate out, that is solely a mirrored image of how jam-packed 2024 was with smartwatches to check, not its high quality or significance. When you’re on the hunt for a dependable working watch, I would look critically on the COROS PACE Professional.
COROS PACE Professional: Fashions and specs
The COROS PACE Professional launched on October 31, 2024, for $349 / CA$499 / €399 / £349 / A$599. It at the moment ships in three colours — Black, Grey, and Blue — and solely has one 46mm case / 1.3-inch show dimension. It defaults to a silicone strap that matches the case coloration, however you should purchase a nylon strap for $29 that reduces the load by 12g when you choose.
The primary “Professional” of the PACE lineup, it arrived a couple of yr after the PACE 3 with some key upgrades. Probably the most noticeable is the show increase from a 1.2-inch non-touch MIP to a 1.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen with an additional 120 pixels per inch and improved brightness.
Plus, you get an additional 5 days or 16 dual-band GPS hours of battery life, regardless of the change to a extra vivid display screen.
You additionally obtain 2X and 3X sooner CPU and RAM, respectively, together with 3X sooner wi-fi downloads and 32GB storage as an alternative of 4GB (for maps and music). COROS provides new options to each watch that is succesful of it; because the PACE Professional has the quickest processor but, it is able to performance-heavy options like mapping and ought to get years of post-launch updates.
| Class | COROS PACE Professional |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 46 x 46 x 14.2mm, 37g (nylon) or 49g (silicone) |
| Supplies | Excessive-strength polymer case, strengthened mineral glass show, nylon/ silicone band |
| Safety | 5ATM, -20ºC to 50ºC |
| Show | 1.3-inch AMOLED (416×416, 1,500 nits) |
| Storage | 32GB |
| Battery | 345mAh: 20 days; 6 days (AOD) |
| GPS battery | 38 hours (All GNSS); 31 hours (twin frequency) |
| Charging | 100% in 1.5 hours |
| Sensors | Optical HR (5 LEDs + 4 photodiodes), altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, SpO2, ECG |
| Buttons | Digital dial, again button |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, WiFI |
| Actions | Run, Indoor Run, Path Run, Observe Run, Climbing, Strolling, Bike, Gravel Bike, MTB Bike, Mountain E-bike, Indoor Bike, Open Water, Pool Swim, Rowing, Indoor Rowing, Flatwater, Energy, GPS Cardio, Fitness center Cardio, Bounce Rope, Snowboarding, Snowboarding, XC Ski, Triathlon, Multi-Sport, Customized |
| Key options | EvoLab, Operating Health Take a look at, Beneficial Coaching Load, Restoration Timer, Effort Tempo, RHR take a look at, Exercises, Coaching Plans, Altitude Efficiency, Every day Stress |
Notice: COROS contacted me throughout my evaluate that “a small variety of watches from the primary manufacturing have a minor defect threat when uncovered to extremely dry and chilly circumstances. These circumstances brought about some watches to overheat and be uncomfortable to put on. This situation was resolved earlier than PACE Professional went on sale and there’s no threat that client items may have this situation. Solely early samples have been impacted.”
I personally by no means had this situation, however I completed my evaluate with the Black PACE Professional after beginning with the Grey PACE Professional, which is at the moment disabled. Neither mannequin had any noticeable variations by way of accuracy or efficiency.
COROS PACE Professional: What I really like
Reviewing COROS watches can really feel a bit repetitive as a result of every mannequin builds upon the opposite. The options I preferred within the 2021 PACE 2, 2022 APEX 2, and 2023 VERTIX 2S principally apply to the PACE Professional, though the VERTIX prices twice as a lot.
Usually talking, COROS watches are light-weight, long-lived, and easy to navigate via the core widgets utilizing the crown (or “digital dial”). COROS does not lock options to pricier or newer fashions, so the whole lot the PACE Professional tracks is already obtainable on the opposite watches (until their processors are too previous to assist them).
Utilizing the PACE 3 software program will not really feel any completely different to 2022 APEX 2 homeowners; it is primarily the show, supplies, and GPS which have modified.
That is why testing the PACE Professional is extraordinarily acquainted. COROS’ EvoLab coaching metrics have remained largely unchanged. You see after each run how exhausting you labored out, how a lot of your exercise splits into completely different coronary heart price zones, how lengthy to relaxation earlier than your subsequent run, and different core knowledge that runners have to succeed. Other than a few lacking options I would love added, it is pretty complete and solely bettering over time.
With just some crown twists, you will discover your each day exercise stats, coaching load and coaching standing, restoration estimates, sleep stats, barometer, and different knowledge; just a few different helpful widgets like race predictions and depth distributions within the submenus by urgent the dial.
The UI is not nice for anybody who cares about apps, messaging, or a digital assistant, however it’s completely specialised for athletes who do not use their watches a lot exterior of sports activities and checking notifications.
The software program can lag behind rival health manufacturers for key options, however COROS has been on an replace tear just lately to catch up (even when COROS itself would not body it that manner). And it makes the PACE Professional a extra well-rounded gadget for athletes.
Simply in 2024, we have seen COROS add each day stress monitoring, wellness checks, sleep levels & high quality, and nap detection. I believe some equal to Garmin Physique Battery or Fitbit Every day Readiness is the following logical step to this collective knowledge, although COROS solely has a Restoration widget for now. The PACE Professional is a lot better at understanding the state of your physique fairly than guessing based mostly in your health stage and exercise depth.
COROS additionally added area of interest health instruments that made the PACE Professional and its siblings higher specialised for critical athletes: real-time group monitoring, gear monitoring, security alerts to emergency contacts, digital pacing, biking energy modes, Strava Stay Segments, and turn-by-turn alert arrows. The latter two make the PACE Professional extra useable when you care about route navigation or are inclined to re-run the identical routes and need to tempo your self in real-time.
What’s most essential to me is that the PACE Professional has downloadable maps that present background information to your routes, whereas the $449 Garmin Forerunner 265 solely has breadcrumb navigation — topo maps are restricted to the Forerunner 965.
COROS splits its map into grids, so it solely takes a few minutes to obtain a selected area if, as an illustration, you are vacationing someplace new or flying to a vacation spot marathon. Making a route within the COROS app is so simple as plopping down Begin and Finish waypoints; energy customers can import GPX recordsdata or use partnered apps like Strava or Komoot to make routes, as nicely.
I not often use map routes on any smartwatch, however I take pleasure in following them on the PACE Professional over some other model for one easy purpose: the crown. On my Fenix 8, I’ve to press the Up/Down buttons to zoom out and in, and it feels laggy and laborious; on my PACE Professional, it is so simple as scrolling the dial, and the speedy CPU makes the zoom-in or out really feel easy and fast. I bounce from an eagle-eyed view to an in depth perspective in moments.
Perhaps the map can pan and zoom so rapidly as a result of it lacks any avenue/path names or factors of curiosity, so there isn’t any context for what’s round you. COROS instructed DCR that “path/street labels are coming in Q1 2025” — one other instance of COROS’ speedy replace cadence paying off — and for now, that is the one unfavorable to an in any other case optimistic map function.
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The core PACE Professional expertise is light-weight and fairly skinny, makes use of solely a fraction of its battery after an hour-long dual-frequency GPS run, and has a quick-release strap change so you should purchase and swap in any third-party possibility you like — although COROS’ silicone and nylon replacements are very reasonably priced at $29 apiece.
I just like the default silicone band due to its breathable design and its two-slot buckle that retains the watch securely in place, whereas different bands have some bounce throughout exhausting runs until they’re fixed tightly.
With AOD mode on, the PACE Professional is rated to final six days, although I by no means make it that lengthy with each day exercises. With out AOD, it is rated to final 20 days; once more, I discovered that estimate is a bit beneficiant, however it nonetheless simply makes it a few weeks with sleep/stress monitoring and common GPS actions, which is a typical that’ll hold 99% of runners glad sufficient.
COROS PACE Professional: GPS & Coronary heart price accuracy take a look at
Again in November, I did an in-depth COROS PACE Professional health take a look at in opposition to the Garmin Fenix 8 for dual-band GPS accuracy and the Polar H10 for coronary heart price accuracy, together with a number of lengthy runs, a hike, and a observe exercise. Somewhat than repost 1,500 phrases and a dozen graphs right here, I am going to briefly quote my findings.
For location accuracy, “COROS’ redesigned antenna and new GPS chipset paid off” with a “particular enchancment in GPS accuracy” in comparison with previous dual-band COROS watches that put it on par with Garmin’s $1,100 flagship.
For coronary heart price accuracy, I did not see a noticeable distinction between the PACE Professional and PACE 3 regardless of getting a redesigned optical sensor. It is “typically dependable for coronary heart price” and higher than your common working watch, however it did fall distinctly brief throughout an anaerobic exercise and was barely too excessive on common over a protracted hike. I beneficial “shopping for the COROS armband… when you want the very best outcomes,” however discovered it ok for many runners.
Since then, I’ve used the COROS PACE Professional for a number of extra multi-watch runs, together with a 20-mile race carrying 4 watches, to check extra comprehensively how correct it’s. Here is what I discovered:
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The 2 coronary heart price charts above present two extra observe exercises. The primary is extra of the identical: the PACE Professional fell 2 bpm wanting my chest strap’s common as a result of the watch could not sustain when my coronary heart price rose quickly for 400m or 800m units.
For my second exercise, I did a sustained exercise the place I jogged in between exhausting 200m units as an alternative of pausing totally, and the outcomes have been a lot better. You’ll be able to nonetheless see a definite distinction between the 2, however the hole was smaller, and the rising and falling coronary heart charges allowed the PACE Professional to steadiness out when it was too excessive or low. The HR common ended up being the identical for each.
For a “regular” 13-mile run, the COROS PACE Professional did nicely sufficient, although there’s all the time going to be a niche between a chest strap and an optical wrist-based monitor. Other than a few coronary heart price spikes, the PACE Professional was typically a few beats behind the Polar H10, needing slightly time to catch up.
It finally fell 1 bpm wanting the H10’s common. Nonetheless, an on a regular basis runner will discover the outcomes greater than ok for correct coronary heart price zones and coaching load.
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I am together with just a few extra GPS screenshots with the COROS PACE Professional (orange) and Garmin Fenix 8 (blue) from that very same 13-mile run, which ended with Garmin and COROS measuring 13.20 and 13.17 miles, respectively. As you’d count on from such related outcomes, the GPS maps are boringly related, if imperfect. (Click on the field icon to zoom in.)
Principally, Garmin and COROS are typically parallel to or overlap each other in most locations, however do sometimes drift a bit into the road. COROS’ previous dual-band watches did not appear to do as nicely, however the PACE Professional appears totally dependable at this level and incessantly beats Garmin’s $1,100 watch.
You’ll be able to rely on the PACE Professional for dependable GPS outcomes, and that is arguably extra essential than HR accuracy: Critical athletes can purchase an exterior HRM when you want good outcomes — such because the COROS HRM armband, which syncs robotically with the PACE Professional — however they cannot purchase a satellite tv for pc sign booster (so far as I do know).
COROS PACE Professional: What I do not like
I would personally select a PACE Professional over a COROS APEX 2 due to the sooner processor, dual-band GPS, 4x storage, and change to AMOLED. Nevertheless, some will recognize the APEX’s titanium case and sapphire glass, whereas the PACE Professional has a decidedly “sporty” look, which some may name cheap-looking. There is a purpose why it did poorly in my current smartwatch magnificence pageant.
Whichever COROS watch you purchase, you are not getting NFC for contactless funds. Rival health manufacturers like Polar and Suunto share this situation; not like Garmin, which spent hundreds of thousands to amass FitPay in 2019, most smaller watch manufacturers like COROS do not have entry to NFC expertise, which is a deal-breaker for some runners who need to depart their playing cards at house.
On an analogous word, COROS does not have any main music partnerships, so when you care about music storage, it’s important to join your watch to your pc and drag MP3 recordsdata right into a folder. There aren’t any playlists, and songs are organized by add order. That makes the function ineffective for individuals who do not have exhausting copies of their music and annoying for anybody who’d choose customizability as an alternative of 1 library of songs.
Having spent a lot time testing Put on OS and Apple Watches in 2024, I do discover the COROS UI pretty regressive. Having most of your apps, well being sensors, and settings hidden behind a Again Button-long press, then having to scroll via your choices one-by-one as an alternative of swiping via an app drawer, is a ache.
As a substitute of with the ability to examine notifications with a swipe from your own home display screen, it’s important to scroll via your widgets, choose “Notifications,” after which scroll via the lot. I’ve additionally discovered that emojis and photographs do not appear to indicate up; COROS is not taking full benefit of its AMOLED improve, on this case.
COROS watches have lacking or barebones options; some will likely be important deal-breakers; others, you could not even discover.
The watch face choice is satisfactory, if not as widespread as you get with most different smartwatches. Aesthetics apart, my predominant drawback is with the dearth of problems: you possibly can’t customise the information you see on the watch faces; solely faucet the again button on the house display screen to swap between just a few pre-chosen metrics like coronary heart price, dawn/sundown, and elevation. If I need to see my present coaching load, restoration time, or different stats with out having to scroll via menus, I ought to have the ability to! And I ought to have the ability to faucet & maintain these problems to leap to the related graph.
Past these predominant frustrations, I would like to see an equal to Garmin’s each day steered exercises fairly than having to rely totally on long-term plans within the Coaching Hub. Mentioning whether or not I want easier/medium/exhausting exercise and the way a lot coaching load I want (with out overtraining) looks as if one thing COROS may do. The identical goes for audio prompts that inform you your mile time or announce your subsequent exercise interval via the speaker or your earbuds with out having to take a look at your display screen.
COROS PACE Professional: Competitors
The primary COROS PACE Professional rivals are the $449 Garmin Forerunner 265, $399 Polar Vantage M3, and $349 Suunto Race S. They’re all mid-range, multisport smartwatches with AMOLED shows, coaching load and restoration steerage, dual-band GPS, and at the least per week of battery life per cost. Each Polar and Suunto have downloadable maps, too.
I am accustomed to Garmin Forerunner watches, with entry to Garmin Pay, Physique Battery, each day steered exercises, morning experiences, audio prompts, ANT+ equipment, and a greater collection of customizable watch faces. The PACE Professional has a considerably longer battery life than the Forerunner 265, plus ECG readings and downloadable maps as an alternative of merely breadcrumb navigation. Each have 1.3-inch shows, however you should purchase the 1.1-inch Forerunner 265S when you choose a lighter expertise. Whether or not you like a crown or Up/Down buttons for navigation throughout actions is subjective.
The Polar Vantage M3 will likely be my subsequent evaluate after the PACE Professional, however it had stable GPS accuracy and middling coronary heart price accuracy in my preliminary testing. I can not consider any apparent software program benefits both COROS or Polar have over each other, however the PACE Professional has far superior battery life and show brightness, whereas the Vantage M3 has pores and skin temperature readings, a show flashlight, and a wider array of helpful efficiency and restoration checks.
Having solely reviewed the Suunto Race, I can not say personally how nicely the Race S would examine, besides that it is the solely different possibility with a crown if that is a predominant COROS perk for you, plus a classier stainless-steel bezel. Its battery life is barely per week per cost, and it has no music storage capabilities, however it has distinctive Suunto Apps that you may obtain onto the watch that add distinctive smarts.
COROS PACE Professional: Do you have to purchase it?
You can purchase the COROS PACE Professional if…
- You are a COROS consumer who’s been ready for an AMOLED show.
- You are a critical runner in search of epic battery life and helpful coaching steerage to hit PRs.
- You desire a watch with dependable GPS and coronary heart price accuracy.
You should not purchase the COROS PACE Professional if…
- You care as a lot about type or ruggedness as coaching options.
- You want a particular, lacking function like contactless funds or Spotify playlists.
- You are not a fan of crowns for navigation.
I by no means like giving scores to my evaluations as a result of it simplifies a sophisticated dialog. I am giving the PACE Professional a decrease rating than the PACE 3 — or the identical rating because the APEX 2 — though I would put on the Professional over both watch with out a second thought.
Even when it is an unfair comparability, the PACE Professional prices greater than a Galaxy Watch 7, and so I’ve to weigh its shortcomings in areas like smarts and design on a stricter scale. And as I’ve reviewed a wider array of watches, it is made it clearer in hindsight how previous COROS watches fell brief in key well being and health areas till they closed the hole final yr. I am stricter than I used to be previously after I wasn’t skilled sufficient to see what was lacking.
What issues most is that the COROS PACE Professional is a wonderful working watch, indisputably. It delivers correct GPS & HR outcomes, in addition to helpful insights into my coaching load and restoration, with related findings to different dependable manufacturers. And also you’re now not caught with a boring, low-res MIP show in between exercises.
Whereas the PACE Professional has its shortcomings, I am genuinely excited to see how function updates all through 2025 will repair a few of them. In any other case, I am hoping we’ll see an APEX 3 quickly that delivers the identical accuracy and show increase paired with a extra trendy titanium design.
Tailored for runners
The COROS PACE Professional has a 1.3-inch AMOLED show, 20-day battery life, skinny and decently light-weight design, and a sooner processor able to dealing with offline maps and routes with ease. Paired with the COROS EvoLab suite of coaching instruments, the PACE Professional will information you in the direction of getting more healthy and sooner.
