The Coros Pace 2 sports watch: effective, inexpensive and accurate
11.1.2021
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
Coros is shaking up the sports watch market. After the premium Vertix model, I’m now testing the less expensive Pace 2. My conclusion: it’s the sports watch with a great price-performance ratio.
Coros, the California-based tech company, launched a smart bike helmet via Kickstarter in 2015. About three years ago, they added the first sports watch to their range. Since then, the Americans also have a steadily growing fan base here in Switzerland. I, too, once hiked through the Swiss Alps with a Coros product (the Vertix). And I was especially thrilled with the battery performance.
So, after testing the high-end product, it’s time to test a product in the lower price range: the Coros 2. It’s the successor to the brand's first sports watch, the Pace.
The battery
Right off the bat, I’m impressed with the battery life of the Pace 2. It’s not quite as good as in the Vertix, but it’s still very good. After two weeks of regular use and some sports activities, the watch is still around 30 per cent charged. That’s good. And it makes the much more expensive Polar Vantage V and Garmin Fēnix 6 Pro, for example, look outdated.
Basic training instead of alpine panorama
With the Pace 2, I find myself doing endurance training right outside my doorstep. When I tested the Vertix last summer, I was all over the alpine trails near the Matterhorn. It’s oddly fitting when you think about the price of the two watches.
I’m interested in the accuracy of the measurement during my endurance training. My coworker Restin put his inexpensive Amazfit through its paces on the 400-metre track in the fall. The poor guy ran his lungs out, only to discover that the Chinese aren't too particular with measuring distance.
So, what about the Americans? Well, thanks to the coronavirus, my options are limited. Unfortunately, I can't test the Pace 2 on the track circuit at the stadium. Here in Basel, things have been continuing downhill since 23 November. I also can’t go to any sports facilities. But I can run my jogging route several times and compare the data I get from the Pace 2 with the data I get from the Garmin and Polar. So, I run the exact same route four times in total: twice wearing the Coros Pace 2, and once each wearing the Polar Vantage V and the Garmin Fēnix 6 Pro.
According to Google Maps, the complete round (there and back) is 7.88 km long.
Sombre winter weather. Cloudy. The sun definitely isn’t treating me to any warmth or light during my four rounds. On the plus side, this route ensures I'm never under a dense canopy of leaves in the forest and that there are no high-rise buildings that could interfere with the GPS signal. It leads me through the residential neighbourhood along two-story townhouses and across open fields. The GPS drift, i.e. the distance between my location and what a GPS receiver thinks it is, should stay within reasonable limits. And stay within reasonable limits it does.
7.88 kilometres. The Polar Vantage V comes closest to this number with its readout of 7.86 km. Furthest away is Garmin's Fēnix 6 Pro with a difference of 230 metres. The Pace 2 lies in the middle, having measured 7.68 and 7.72 km, and deviates by a maximum of around 2.5 per cent from Google Maps. That’s a negligible order of magnitude for me as a hobby runner.
Light like no other
What’s also negligible is the weight of the Coros Pace 2. It comes in at just 29 grammes in the nylon strap version. With the silicone strap, it's still only 35 grammes. According to the manufacturer, it’s the lightest GPS watch in the world. It’s also only equipped with two buttons. One of the buttons is actually a dial you use to operate the clock and navigate through the menu.
By the way, you can also wear the watch upside-down, i.e. rotated by 180°. You have the buttons on the left side and operate the scroll wheel with your thumb instead of your index finger. I prefer the version with the buttons on the right.
Another small but practical detail is the tiny black rubber cover. It protects the connector for the charging cable from lint and the like. And I like well thought-out little things like this.
The app: sometimes hot, sometimes cold
Ah, the app. What can I say? As a German speaker, it’s been quite a nuisance so far because all background info was only available in English. Since then, however, the developers at Coros have made some progress. A lot of information is now also available in German, but there’s still a ways to go. What’s also annoying is that the watch and smartphone have to be paired anew practically every day. The Bluetooth connection is really bad in this regard. What a shame.
Aside from this, there’s not much to complain about. On the contrary. I especially like the muscle heatmap. After a strength training session, it shows you which muscle groups you’ve trained and how often. And of course, you'll find other stats like steps, sleep, calories burned, workout time, stress index, and training status.
The specs
| Display size | 1.2 in x 240 x 240 (64 colours) |
|---|---|
| Display type | Always-on memory LCD |
| Screen material | Corning® glass |
| Bezel material | Fibre reinforced polymer |
| Cover material | Fibre reinforced polymer |
| Strap material | Silicone / nylon |
| Quick release band | 20 mm |
| Physical size | 42 × 42 × 11.7 mm |
| Weight with silicone band | 35 g |
| Weight with nylon band | 29 g |
| Phone connection | Bluetooth |
| Accessory connection | ANT+ / Bluetooth |
| Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
(Galileo via future firmware update) |
| Sensors | Optical heart rate monitor,
barometric altimeter, accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, thermometer |
| Water resistance | 5ATM (50 metres / 164 feet) |
| Working temperature | -20°C to 60°C |
| Storage temperature | -20°C to 65°C |
| Charging time | Less than two hours |
| Battery life | 20 days of regular use,
30 hours in Full GPS mode, 60 hours in UltraMax mode |
| Supported workouts | Run, indoor run, track run, bike, indoor bike, pool swim, open water, triathlon, gym cardio, GPS cardio, strength, training |
My verdict
The Coros Pace 2 is an affordable sports watch that measures accurately and offers many features. The Coros Pace 2 definitely doesn't need to shy away from a comparison with Polar and Garmin. It’s also extremely lightweight and easy to use. If only connectivity between the watch and smartphone worked better. This really annoys me. Despite the watch’s low price. Overall, however, the Pace 2 is the watch with the best price-performance ratio that I know of. It’s a clear purchase recommendation in my eyes.
You’ll find a comparison of all Coros models here and our complete Coros range here.
This article expresses my own unbiased opinion and my personal experience with the product.
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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