COROS PACE 3 vs. APEX 2: I Tried Both

The PACE 3 and APEX 2 are the budget to mid-range models from COROS. If you’re wondering whether it’s worth paying extra for the APEX 2, or if the PACE 3 will suit your needs, this post will go over reasons to choose one over the other.

I’ve tested both models over at least a few months, so this comparison is from my first-hand experience. I’ve actually mainly used the APEX 2 over the past year, and I’ve had a PACE 3 loaner for a couple months.

As more context, I’m a distance runner who mostly trains for half and full marathons, but I’ve also dabbled in triathlons and trail running. I’ve been testing running watches since 2018, and I write a lot of GPS watch comparisons to help you pick the best watch for your needs. If you want to see what I’m currently testing/using, you can follow my Strava.

This post contains affiliate links and discount codes, meaning that I earn a small commission on any purchases through those links/codes, at no extra cost to you. Your support allows me to keep writing reviews like this one 🙂

COROS PACE 3 vs. APEX 2: Quick Summary

If you just want a quick summary, here are some major reasons to pick one watch over the other:

PACE 3:

• At a $230 retail price, the PACE 3 is incredible value (compared to the APEX 2’s $350 retail price, which is still great value for its features, but not as impressive).
• You get an extra week of battery life in smartwatch mode (24 days vs. the APEX 2’s 17 days).
• There’s a more accurate Dual Frequency tracking option.
• The watch is 40% lighter and super comfortable and easy to wear.

APEX 2:

• There are full landscape and topographic maps, helping you better situate yourself when in navigation mode (the PACE 3 only has breadcrumb navigation).
• The watch build is more durable, as it has a metal bezel (the PACE 3 is plastic) and more scratch-resistant screen.
• Battery life in tracking modes is actually longer; you get 45 hours in GPS mode vs. the 38 hours on the PACE 3.
• There are more activity profiles, including: Mountain Climb, Whitewater, Speedsurfing, Windsurfing, Ski Touring, and Indoor Climbing.

Things in Common: COROS PACE 3 and APEX 2

Before we dive into the differences between the PACE 3 and APEX 2, here are the specs they have in common, so you can know exactly what features you’re getting.

Fitness tracking for common activities: Both watches have a variety of outdoor and indoor tracking profiles. You can also create interval workouts and use breadcrumb navigation.

Category	Activity Profiles
Running	Run, Indoor Run, Track Run, Trail Run
Biking	Bike, Indoor Bike
Swimming	Pool Swim, Open Water Swim
Multisport	Triathlon, Multisport
Outdoors	Walk, Hike, Ski, Snowboard, XC Ski, Flatwater, Rowing, Cardio with GPS
Gym	Strength, Cardio, Indoor Rowing

Fitness stats: steps, heart rate, sleep, VO2 max (aerobic performance capacity), SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation), HRV Index (variance between sequences of consecutive heartbeats).

Advanced training metrics: training load (whether your training is a smart amount), training status (whether your training is effective), race predictor, recovery time, wrist-based running power.

Basic smartwatch features: calendar, message, and call notifications; you can also download MP3 files onto your watch and play them through Bluetooth headphones.

Now let’s get into the reasons to pick one watch over the other!

Reasons to Pick the PACE 3

The PACE 3 is the less premium watch, so this section will naturally be shorter. Keep in mind that the watch may still be a better fit your needs though, even if it has fewer features!

More accurate Dual Frequency tracking

Current-generation COROS watches have 3 types of tracking:

• GPS mode: connects to GPS and QZSS (satellite systems)
• All Systems On: connects to 5 satellite systems at the same time
• Dual Frequency: connects to 5 satellite systems in two frequencies at the same time

The PACE 3 has Dual Frequency mode, while the APEX 2 doesn’t. This mode is more accurate and can be helpful in cities with tall buildings and remote areas with poorer signal.

Longer battery life in smartwatch mode

The PACE 3 actually has significantly longer battery life in smartwatch mode. It lasts 24 days, while the APEX 2 lasts 17 days. The battery life of both is great, but if you want to charge your watch less often, you may prefer the PACE 3.

That said, if you’re doing ultra-endurance races, the battery life on the APEX 2 is actually longer in GPS mode (45 hours vs. the PACE 3’s 38 hours). So, definitely consider the duration of your activities as well.

Here’s a full comparison of the battery life in different modes:

	PACE 3	APEX 2
Daily Use	24 days	17 days
GPS Mode	38 hours	45 hours
All Systems On	25 hours	30 hours
Dual Frequency	15 hours	N/A
GPS Mode with Music	10.5 hours	8 hours

Lighter and more comfortable to wear

The PACE 3 is one of the lightest GPS watches out there, weighing only 30g with the nylon band and 39g with the silicone one. The APEX 2 is 42g with nylon and 53g with silicone. The display sizes are the same, and the physical size is very similar as well, with the APEX 2 just being slightly larger and thicker (by 1mm).

As someone with small wrists, I find the PACE 3 way more comfortable. I barely notice the PACE 3 when wearing it, while the APEX 2 can feel a little clunky, especially when sleeping.

Full touchscreen functionality

While the other current-gen COROS watches also have a touchscreen that can be activated during activities and navigation, the PACE 3’s touchscreen is also available for general use. This can make scrolling through your daily fitness data a little easier, as you’d otherwise have to use the dial.

If you don’t like the touchscreen, you can disable it totally, or enable it only during activities or navigation (it is quite handy for scrolling through data screens during activities though!).

Reasons to Pick the APEX 2

The APEX series has always been more of the “outdoorsy” line compared to the PACE. Because of that, you’ll find a more rugged build, more navigation features, and additional tracking profiles. Here are some reasons you might prefer the APEX 2 over the PACE 3.

Full landscape and topographic maps

While the PACE 3 has breadcrumb navigation, you can’t see anything other than the trail trace you upload. The APEX 2 has full landscape and topographic maps overlayed onto the GPX file.

This can make a big difference in situating yourself in more remote areas, as you’ll be able to look at nearby landmarks.

More durable watch build

If you do more rugged activities, you may prefer the APEX 2’s more durable build. The PACE 3 has a plastic case, while the APEX 2’s is made of “Grade 5 Titanium Alloy With PVD Coating” (basically a fancy way of saying metal).

The APEX 2 also has a sapphire glass screen, which is more scratch-resistant than the PACE 3’s is mineral glass. I have accidentally scratched the older PACE 2’s screen while I have not with the original APEX or APEX 2. It was a tiny scratch that was barely noticeable, but it was weird because I had no idea how it even got there and when (my best guess is absentmindedly putting my keys and watch in same pocket).

More activity tracking profiles

The APEX 2 has more tracking profiles than the PACE 3, including: Mountain Climb, Whitewater, Speedsurfing, Windsurfing, Ski Touring, and Indoor Climbing.

Of course, you can always default to the general Gym Cardio or GPS Cardio as a proxy on the PACE 3, but you may not get the activity-specific metrics you want.

Longer battery life in tracking modes

As mentioned earlier, the APEX 2 gets you 45 hours in GPS mode while the PACE 3 gets you 38 hours. If you’re doing an ultra, that may make the difference between running out of battery and not.

Dedicated backlight button

The APEX 2 has three buttons, one of which is a backlight button, while the PACE 3 only has two buttons. The wrist gesture backlight is perfectly fine, but can have a tiny delay, and there may be situations where it’s easier to press a button than flick your wrist (such as when your watch isn’t on your wrist and you want to read the screen in dimmer light).

The Bottom Line

The PACE 3 is a fantastic watch at a great price point. It’s unheard of to get a watch that has open water swimming, dual frequency tracking, and 24 days of battery life for under $250. If the extra features on the APEX 2 aren’t worth the extra $120 to you, then I can heartily recommend the PACE 3.

That said, if you want a more durable build, slightly longer battery life in activity mode, and full mapping, then the APEX 2 is a better pick for you, and still great value.

Where to Buy the PACE 3 and APEX 2

If this review helped you, it would mean a ton if you purchased through my affiliate links or codes. I also want to encourage you to buy secondhand or from small, local running stores if you can. I don’t get paid if you do that, so if you still want to show your appreciation financially, you’re welcome to buy me a virtual coffee.

Directly from COROS

Use code COROS-Lily to get a free, extra watch band or any other accessory, minus gift cards and the explorer pack. Just add both the accessory and the watch to your cart before applying the code at checkout. Please do not share this code on public forums.

PACE 3

APEX 2

Amazon

PACE 3

APEX 2

Other retailers

Swappa (used electronics)
REI
eBay

Let us know what you ultimately end up picking, and feel free to leave any questions in the comments! You may also want to check out these comparisons:

COROS PACE 3 vs. Garmin Forerunner 55
COROS PACE 3 vs. Garmin Forerunner 255
COROS APEX 2 vs. Garmin Forerunner 255