A Game-Changer in Budget Sports Watches?

The COROS Pace 3 is the latest iteration in COROS’s highly regarded Pace lineup, building on the success of the Pace 2 while adding significant upgrades. At just £219/€263, it delivers features and performance typically found in much more expensive models, making it a standout in the budget sports watch market.

With additions like dual-band GPS, music storage, and a host of new activity profiles, the Pace 3 cements itself as one of the best-value sports watches available today. Here's everything you need to know.

Design and Build

The COROS Pace 3 retains the lightweight, compact design that made the Pace 2 a favourite, with minor refinements. It weighs just 30 grams with the nylon band and 35 grams with the silicone option, ensuring it stays unobtrusive during workouts. The case remains largely plastic, keeping it durable and affordable, while the band width has increased to 22mm for better fit and comfort.

The back of the watch now features an improved optical heart rate sensor with a smoother, lower-profile design to prevent irritation during extended wear. Both silicone and nylon band options are comfortable, though the nylon band offers a slightly better fit and lighter feel, ideal for long runs or races.

Display and Touchscreen

The Pace 3 retains the 1.2-inch transflective memory-in-pixel display with 240x240 resolution, which performs excellently outdoors in bright sunlight. The backlight has been improved, offering better contrast and crisper visuals in low-light conditions.

For the first time in the Pace series, the display is now touch-enabled, making navigation through widgets and data screens more intuitive. While not perfect, there’s a slight lag, it complements the physical scroll wheel and button layout, giving users more flexibility in how they interact with the watch.

Battery Life

Battery performance is one of the COROS Pace 3’s strongest features. It offers:

• 24 days of use in smartwatch mode (with sleep tracking off).
• 18–19 days with sleep tracking enabled.
• 38 hours of standard GPS tracking.
• 25 hours in all-systems GPS mode.
• 15 hours in dual-band mode.

Real-world tests confirm these claims, making the Pace 3 an excellent choice for ultramarathons and extended outdoor activities. Even with frequent use of advanced features like dual-band GPS, the watch easily lasts over a week on a single charge.

Performance and Features

Dual-Band GPS

The introduction of dual-band GPS is a standout upgrade. This feature allows the watch to receive signals from two frequency bands simultaneously, dramatically improving accuracy in challenging environments such as urban areas, dense forests, or mountainous terrain. Dual-band GPS is rare at this price point, previously only found in watches costing £400 or more, making the Pace 3 a trailblazer in its class.

Heart Rate and SpO2 Sensors

The improved optical heart rate sensor delivers greater accuracy than the Pace 2, staying consistent with chest strap data during steady-state activities. It now includes SpO2 monitoring for tracking blood oxygen levels, although this is best used when stationary for reliable results. While HRV tracking is absent, the overall sensor performance is strong for most users.

Music Storage

The Pace 3 includes 4GB of internal storage for music and podcasts, allowing users to listen without a phone. However, it only supports MP3 files, with no integration for streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music. While functional, this feature feels limited compared to competitors.

Activity Profiles

COROS has expanded its activity profiles, adding hiking, trail running, skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing to the mix. It also supports Triathlon and multisport modes, making it versatile for a wide range of athletes. The watch’s jump rope mode remains impressively accurate, a small but noteworthy feature.

Navigation

The Pace 3 includes breadcrumb-style navigation and route-following capabilities. Users can create routes using the COROS app or import them from platforms like Strava. The watch now supports turn-by-turn directions, currently in beta, which provides alerts for upcoming turns. While not as advanced as full mapping found on high-end watches, it’s a welcome addition for trail runners and hikers.

Smart Features

The Pace 3 supports one-way notifications from your smartphone, Wi-Fi for updates, and custom watch faces. While it lacks features like contactless payments or app stores, it focuses on excelling in sports tracking rather than smartwatch functions.

App Integration

The COROS app is one of the best in the industry. Its clean interface makes it easy to review metrics like training load, recovery, and running performance. The app also offers customizable watch faces, route creation tools, and training plan builders, all with seamless integration to platforms like Strava and TrainingPeaks.

The Burning Question: Is the COROS Pace 3 Actually the Best Running Watch of 2024?

When we published our review of the Garmin Forerunner 165 two weeks ago (read it here), many readers suggested that while the FR 165 was an excellent contender, the real crown for the best budget running watch of 2024 might belong to the COROS Pace 3. Coincidentally, our CEO Paddy—finally upgrading from his donkeys-years-old Garmin—had recently gotten his hands on a COROS Pace 3. Naturally, we couldn't resist the opportunity to pit these two budget-friendly running powerhouses against each other. Here's what we foun

The Forerunner 165: A Guidance-Oriented Powerhouse

Garmin's FR 165 delivers several features that make it particularly appealing to runners focused on structured training and overall health monitoring:

• Race Day Adaptive Training Plans: The FR 165 tailors its suggested workouts based on your VO2 max and training history, preparing you for key races.
• Garmin Coach: This feature supports adaptive training plans, not just for marathons, but for shorter distances like 5Ks and 10Ks too.
• More Pre-Defined Sport Profiles: It caters to a wide variety of sports and activities, outpacing the Pace 3 in sheer quantity.
• Enhanced Optical HR Sensor: Garmin’s Gen 4 sensor provides better heart rate accuracy and additional wellness metrics.
• Music Control: The FR 165’s Music Edition supports Spotify offline playlists, while the base version still offers remote control for your smartphone’s music.
• Comprehensive Health Monitoring: From body battery to stress tracking, it provides detailed insights into overall health and recovery.

The Pace 3: A Performance-Oriented Tracker

The COROS Pace 3, on the other hand, appeals more to athletes who prioritise battery life, multi-sport capabilities, and user-friendly route planning:

• Unmatched Battery Life: With up to 24 days of regular use and superior GPS battery endurance, the Pace 3 can outlast most competitors.
• Dual-Band GNSS Chipset: While Garmin achieves excellent GPS accuracy with its design, the Pace 3’s dual-band chipset offers a theoretical advantage in challenging environments.
• Wider 22mm Strap: A small but significant detail for those with larger wrists, as it accommodates a wider range of users.
• Triathlon and Multi-Sport Support: Unlike the FR 165, the Pace 3 includes triathlon mode, making it a go-to for multi-sport athletes.
• Route Planning Excellence: With breadcrumb navigation and turn-by-turn instructions (currently in beta), it rivals higher-end devices for navigation.
• User-Friendly App: Many users find the COROS app’s data presentation more intuitive than Garmin Connect.
• Customer Service and Updates: COROS has a reputation for continual improvements to legacy devices and responsive support.

Key Trade-Offs and Final Thoughts

The Garmin Forerunner 165 offers more structured guidance for training, making it ideal for runners who value adaptive plans and wellness insights. Its vibrant OLED display also appeals to those who want a visually stunning interface. However, this comes at the cost of battery life compared to the COROS Pace 3's focus on efficiency and longevity.

The COROS Pace 3, by contrast, is a better option for users who value battery life, triathlon support, and robust route planning. Its user-friendly app and commitment to improving older devices also make it an appealing choice for those seeking a more straightforward experience.

Ultimately, choosing between the FR 165 and the Pace 3 boils down to personal preference. Do you want a watch that acts as a coach or a tool? Are you drawn to vibrant displays or battery-saving practicality? Both are fantastic options for budget-conscious runners, and whichever you choose, you’re unlikely to be disappointed.

Is There a Clear Winner for You?

After reading our breakdown, you might already have a favourite in the COROS Pace 3 or the Garmin Forerunner 165. Are you drawn to the Pace 3’s unbeatable battery life and triathlon support or the Forerunner 165’s adaptive training plans and vibrant display?

If you’re thinking about picking one up, consider using the affiliate links below. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it helps support our work, allowing us to bring you more reviews, Irish running news, and insights. Thank you, it’s like cheering us on from the sidelines of our marathon!

• Garmin Forerunner 165: Buy Now
• COROS Pace 3: Buy Now

Happy running, and may your new watch take you to the next level!