Garmin Forerunner 265 vs. COROS PACE Pro: I Tried Both
The PACE Pro is the first AMOLED screen watch from COROS, making it harder to decide between a COROS and Garmin.
As a running tech tester, I’ve tried both for a few months to a year, so I’ll be sharing the important differences and similarities based on my first-hand experience.
For context, I’m a road marathoner, trail runner, and hiker. 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.
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 🙂
Need a quick recommendation?
– Forerunner 265 has LiveTrack and Incident Detection, access to music streaming apps, and a smaller version.
– PACE Pro has 1.5-2x the battery life, full mapping & navigation, and costs $50 less. Use code COROS-Lily to get a free extra watch band when you buy from the COROS site.
Things in Common: Forerunner 266 and PACE Pro
Before we dive into the differences between the two watches, here’s a look at their similarities so you know what you’re getting.
1. Same display size and resolution
The display size on both is 1.3″ and the resolution is 416 x 416 pixels. Both also have an AMOLED screen, making the display itself crisp and bright. You can also navigate both watches with the touchscreen or buttons.
2. Breadth of activity profiles
Both watches cover a wide range of sports, including the following:
| Category | Activity Profiles |
| Running | Run, Indoor Run, Track Run, Trail Run, Virtual Run |
| Biking | Bike, Indoor Bike, Mountain Bike |
| Swimming | Pool Swim, Open Water Swim, |
| Outdoors | Hike, Walk |
| Gym | Strength, Cardio, Elliptical, Floor Climbing, Yoga, Pilates, Indoor Row, Boxing |
| Racket | Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Padel |
| Snow | Ski, Snowboard, XC Ski |
| Water | Row, Flatwater/SUP |
| Team | Basketball, Soccer, Frisbee |
Both also have also have Triathlon/Multisport mode.
3. More advanced training metrics
On both watches, you get metrics that help inform your run training, including:
- Training Load: whether your training is a smart amount
- Training Status: whether your training is effective
- Race Predictor
- Recovery Time
With that, let’s get into the reasons to choose one over the other!
4. All Systems and Dual Frequency tracking.
For the most accurate tracking, you’ll have access to all satellite systems and both frequencies on the two watches. If you’re not sure which to use, the Forerunner 265 also has an autoselect mode based on the situation.
Reasons to Pick the Garmin Forerunner 265
1. There’s a smaller version.
The FR265 has a smaller version called the Forerunner 265S (47 vs. 42mm). I prefer the smaller version since I have smaller wrists, and it’s the one shown in this post. It weighs 39g instead of 47g for the larger version.
In comparison, the PACE Pro is 49g with the silicone band and 37g with the nylon band. It’s pretty much the same weight as the regular FR265, but I like how the strap of the FR265 will rest flat; on the PACE Pro, the watch band is naturally curved.
2. More smartwatch and safety features.
The Forerunner 265 is more of a traditional smartwatch.
It has Garmin Pay, which lets you do contactless payments with your watch via major banks and cards.
You can also download your playlists from Spotify Premium, Deezer, and Amazon Music and listen via Bluetooth headphones. COROS only has MP3 functionality.
And if you’re running alone and are concerned about safety, the FR265 has LiveTrack and Incident Detection. LiveTrack is super useful for sharing your real-time location and stats, and Incident Detection will automatically alert your emergency contacts if your watch detects and accident like a fall. COROS has manual emergency contact notifications, but not automatic ones.
3. More team sport profiles.
The FR265 has more specialized sport profiles, including:
Bouldering, Archery, eBiking, Virtual Run, Squash, Platform Tennis, Racquetball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Cricket, Softball, Baseball, Mixed Martial Arts, Inline Skating.
Keep in mind that you can make a custom sport profile on COROS, however. It also has Jump Rope while the Forerunner 265 doesn’t.
Reasons to Pick the COROS PACE Pro
1. The battery lasts 1.5-2x longer.
On smartwatch mode, the PACE Pro lasts 20 days vs. 13 days for the FR265 and 15 days for the FR265S.
For Dual Frequency tracking mode (all satellite systems and in 2 frequencies), you get 31 hours of of battery life on the PACE Pro and 14-15 hours on the Forerunner 265 and 265S.
So, if you’re doing ultramarathons or treks, you’ll probably prefer the PACE Pro.
2. Stay on-trail with mapping and navigation.
In fact, the PACE Pro also has landscape and topographic maps while the Forerunner 265 only has breadcrumb navigation. You can easily download GPX files and ensure you’re going the right way; if you’re off-trail, the PACE Pro also has course deviation alerts (I’ve used them many a time).
Please excuse me as I didn’t take photos of the mapping on the PACE Pro, but you can get an idea of what it looks like on this shot from my APEX 2.
3. Cheaper price by $50.
The PACE Pro retails for $300 while the Forerunner 265 costs $350 (both of these have been discounted since their launch).
It’s difficult to find full mapping on watches at this price point, so the PACE Pro is definitely great value.
The Bottom Line
At their current prices, both the Garmin FR265 and COROS PACE Pro are fantastic value, offering training performance metrics, dual frequency tracking, and a breadth of activity modes.
If you want a watch more with smartwatch features like contactless payments and music app connectivity, go with the FR265.
If you’re doing more rugged activities and need the mapping and battery life, go for the PACE Pro.
Where to Buy the Forerunner 265 and PACE Pro
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 Garmin/COROS:
PACE Pro (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. This code is applicable in the US and UK. Please do not share this code on public forums).
Amazon
As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Forerunner 265 (the 265 is discounted on the Garmin site but not Amazon, so do look there first)
Let me know what you decide on, and feel free to ask any questions in the comments!