Coros vs. Garmin: Which Running Watch is Right for You?

Coros vs Garmin Running Watches in 2025

Choosing a running watch can feel overwhelming with so many brands and models on the market. Two names that consistently stand out are Coros and Garmin—both known for their high-quality, feature-packed watches designed for runners and endurance athletes. But how do they compare?

According to a recent survey of the WeeViews running community, 56% of respondents use Garmin watches, while 16% use Coros. These numbers reflect the strong foothold Garmin has in the market, while also highlighting the growing popularity of Coros among dedicated athletes. 

In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between Coros and Garmin running watches, including their features, design, performance, and value. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced runner, this comparison will help you decide which watch best fits your needs.

Coros vs Garmin: Brand Backgrounds

Garmin has been a dominant player in the GPS watch market since 1989, offering a wide range of models tailored to runners, triathletes, and outdoor enthusiasts. Known for its robust feature set, advanced GPS accuracy, and smart integrations, Garmin is often considered the gold standard in running watches.

Coros, a newer company founded in 2016, quickly gained traction by focusing on simplicity, ultra-long battery life, and elite athlete performance. While its lineup is smaller than Garmin’s, Coros has built a strong reputation among endurance athletes and trail runners.

At their core, Garmin prioritizes technology and customization, while Coros emphasizes efficiency and longevity—a distinction that influences their designs, features, and user experience.

Coros Bestsellers of 2025

 🎯 Already leaning toward Coros? Explore the best Coros watches by activity to find the right model for running, triathlon, hiking, or ultra trail adventures—plus insights from the pros who use them. 

Best Coros Running Watches

Everyday Running Companion

Coros Pace 3

A featherlight GPS watch built for runners who want essential metrics, dual-frequency GPS, and unbeatable battery life at an entry-level price.

Coros Pace 3
Price
$229
Release Date
August 2023
Battery Life
38 hrs (GPS) / 24 days (standard use)
Weight
30g
Display Type
1.2" Memory LCD
Marathon-Ready Performance Watch

Coros Pace Pro

Built for race-focused runners, the Pace Pro adds training load insights, touchscreen durability, and faster processing for marathon prep and peak performance.

Coros Pace Pro
Price
$349
Release Date
October 2024
Battery Life
38 hrs (GPS) / 20 days (standard use)
Weight
42g
Display Type
1.3" Touchscreen LCD (240x240)
Multisport and Mountain Versatile

Coros Apex 2 Pro

The ultimate crossover GPS watch for triathletes and adventurers alike—offering top-tier accuracy, rugged durability, and seamless sport transitions.

Coros Apex 2 Pro
Price
$449
Release Date
November 2022
Battery Life
75 hrs (GPS) / 30 days (standard use)
Weight
53g
Display Type
1.3" Memory LCD
Ultra-Endurance Trail Beast

Coros Vertix 2S

Designed for the extremes, the Vertix 2S delivers unmatched battery life, dual-frequency GPS, and full offline mapping for ultra and mountain athletes.

Coros Vertix 2S
Price
$699
Release Date
August 2021
Battery Life
140 hrs (GPS) / 60 days (standard use)
Weight
89g
Display Type
1.4" Touchscreen LCD (280x280)

Garmin Bestsellers of 2025

 🎯 Favoring Garmin? Explore the best Garmin watches for running, triathlon, hiking, or ultra-trail challenges, with pro insights to guide your perfect choice.

Best Garmin Running Watches

Everyday Running Essential

Garmin Forerunner 165

The Forerunner 165 is Garmin’s best value-for-money GPS watch. It’s ideal for runners who want a lightweight design with all the essential run features.

Garmin Forerunner 165
Price
$249
Release Date
February 2024
Battery Life
19 hrs (GPS) / 11 days (smartwatch mode)
Weight
39g
Display Type
1.2″ AMOLED touchscreen
Marathon Performance Pro

Garmin Forerunner 970

Garmin’s top-tier running watch with AMOLED display, sapphire/titanium construction, onboard music, LED flashlight, and speaker/mic. The Forerunner 970 is a premium GPS watch designed for marathoners and data-focused athletes.

Garmin Forerunner 970
Price
$750
Release Date
May 2025
Battery Life
26 hrs (GPS) / 15 days (smartwatch mode)
Weight
56g
Display Type
1.4″ Sapphire AMOLED touchscreen
Multisport Adventure All-Rounder

Garmin Fenix 8

The Fenix 8 is Garmin’s multisport powerhouse. It supports triathlon mode and delivers elite performance for every leg of the race. Ultra-rugged with solar power, AMOLED or MIP options, multi-band GPS, topo maps, and built-in flashlight.

Garmin Fenix 8
Price
$1,100
Release Date
August 2024
Battery Life
90 hrs (MIP GPS) / 10 days (AMOLED smartwatch)
Weight
52–74g (varies by size/material)
Display Type
1.4″ AMOLED or MIP with Sapphire & Solar lens
Ultra-Trail Endurance Beast

Garmin Enduro 3

The Enduro 3 is purpose-built for ultrarunners and mountain athletes. Designed for extreme endurance with unmatched battery life, solar charging, maps, flashlight, and rugged build.

Garmin Enduro 3
Price
$900
Release Date
August 2024
Battery Life
120 hrs (GPS) / 36–90 days (smartwatch mode, solar-extended)
Weight
57g
Display Type
1.4″ MIP Power Sapphire (solar charging)

Design: Garmin’s Rugged Look vs Coros’ Sleek Simplicity

A running watch should be durable enough to handle tough workouts while remaining comfortable on the wrist. Both brands deliver high-quality materials and strong builds, but with different aesthetics:

  • Garmin watches tend to have a more classic, rugged look, often featuring stainless steel or titanium bezels and heavily reinforced bodies for outdoor adventures. Many models offer touchscreen displays combined with physical buttons for easy navigation during activities.
  • Coros watches have a sleeker, minimalist design, often using a rotating digital knob instead of touchscreens. This design choice makes it easy to scroll through menus, even with gloves or sweaty hands.

Both brands prioritize durability, water resistance, and lightweight materials, but Garmin offers more variety in style and screen types, while Coros sticks to a streamlined, athlete-first approach.

Coros vs Garmin: Watch Interface & Usability

How easy is it to interact with your watch mid-run?

  • Garmin combines touchscreens with physical buttons, creating an intuitive system for both casual and advanced users. Garmin’s menu layout is deep but well-organized, offering extensive customization options.
  • Coros keeps things simple with a digital dial and two buttons, ensuring quick access to data with minimal distractions. The learning curve is shorter, making it an excellent choice for runners who prefer efficiency over complexity.

While Garmin offers more customization, Coros keeps it simple and distraction-free, appealing to those who want to focus solely on performance.

Features and Performance: GPS, Metrics, and Training Tools

Both brands offer excellent GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, and multi-sport modes, but they excel in different areas.

Accuracy

  • Coros: Highly accurate, fast satellite lock 
  • Garmin: Industry-leading, with advanced multi-band GPS

Battery Life

  • Coros: best in class—weeks on a single charge 
  • Garmin: strong, but varies by model (some need charging every few days)

Heart Rate

  • Coros: solid optical sensor, but no ECG options
  • Garmin: more advanced sensors, including ECG on high-end models

Multisport Tracking

  • Coros: great for running, cycling, swimming, and hiking 
  • Garmin: supports running, triathlons, golf, skiing, rowing, and more

Smart Features

  • Coros: limited—no music storage or payments 
  • Garmin: offers music storage, Garmin Pay, and smartphone notifications

If battery life and simplicity are your priorities, Coros has the edge. If you want the most advanced features and integrations, Garmin takes the lead.

Coros vs. Garmin: Which Running Watch is Right for You? - WeeViewer Brian trains approximately 10 hours per week and only charges his Garmin Fenix 7s Pro Solar watch once every 7 days.
WeeViewer Brian trains approximately 10 hours per week and only charges his Garmin Fenix 7s Pro Solar watch once every 7 days.
Brian Rock
The Garmin Fenix 7S Pro Solar is an excellent, premium level running watch. The size is perfect - don't let the 'small wrist' thing fool you. The battery life is great, and the flashlight is more useful than you can imagine. A great choice.

Battery Life: Coros Takes the Crown

One of Coros’ biggest advantages is battery life. Their watches are built for endurance, often lasting weeks on a single charge, even with GPS use.

Garmin’s battery performance varies by model—some last just a few days, while others (like the Enduro and Fenix series) offer extended battery modes. However, Coros consistently outperforms Garmin in battery efficiency, making it an excellent choice for ultrarunners and adventurers.

Coros vs. Garmin: Which Running Watch is Right for You? - WeeViewer James found that his Coros Pace 3 has 8+ days of battery life even when he uses it for 45 minutes in GPS mode each day.
WeeViewer James found that his Coros Pace 3 has 8+ days of battery life even when he uses it for 45 minutes in GPS mode each day.
James Lau
It is light, takes seconds to get a gps signal, >8 days battery life with 45+ mins GPS/day & the metrics you need. Simple to use but lack many lifestyle/smart features compared with Garmin/Apple if you care about those things. Great for runners.

Garmin Connect vs Coros App

Both brands offer companion apps for tracking workouts, analyzing data, and adjusting watch settings.

  • Garmin Connect is a feature-rich platform with detailed analytics, custom workout plans, and deep integration with third-party apps. However, it can feel overwhelming for new users.
  • Coros’ app is simpler and easier to navigate, providing essential training insights without excessive clutter.

If you love data and customization, Garmin Connect is superior. If you prefer a straightforward, no-nonsense approach, Coros is better suited for you.

Coros vs. Garmin: Which Running Watch is Right for You? - WeeViewer, Rebecca found the Coros app to be less user friendly than that of Garmin, but the battery of her Coros Apex was worth the tradeoff.
WeeViewer, Rebecca found the Coros app to be less user friendly than that of Garmin, but the battery of her Coros Apex was worth the tradeoff.
Rebecca Galvan
The Coros Apex 42mm watch is a monster in battery life. This is valuable for any distance over a marathon. Elevation and heartrate readings appear accurate. Log all types of runs from indoor to trail. Con: App is not as user friendly, as Garmin’s.

Coros vs Garmin: Which Is the Better Value?

When comparing price vs. features, Coros watches are generally more affordable than Garmin’s high-end models, while still offering excellent performance.

  • Garmin’s lineup ranges from $200 to over $1,000, with premium models like the Fenix and Epix offering advanced training metrics, mapping, and smartwatch features.
  • Coros watches typically cost between $200 and $500, delivering great battery life and essential training tools without the extra frills.

If you want a high-tech, feature-packed smartwatch, Garmin is worth the investment. If you need a reliable, long-lasting running watch without extra distractions, Coros offers better value for money.

Final Verdict: Coros or Garmin?

There’s no one-size-fits-all winner—the best running watch depends on your needs.

  • If you want a feature-packed watch with deep customization, music, and smart integrations, Garmin is the way to go.
  • If you prefer a simple, lightweight watch with exceptional battery life and core performance metrics, Coros is an excellent choice.

Ultimately, both brands offer top-tier running watches—the choice comes down to whether you value high-tech features or streamlined efficiency.

Which team are you on—Garmin’s tech-heavy innovation or Coros’ endurance-focused simplicity? Let us know in the comments!

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Comments

David Moore Can't beat the Coros battery life!! I do very little with my running watch aside from tracking my runs.
When I switched from the Garmin Forerunner to the Coros Apex 2, I was blown away at how much more battery life it has. The hardest part now is remembering where I left my charger last week.

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