Coros Apex Pro 2 Review

The Apex Pro 2 continues to impress with its incredible battery life for its size (66 hours in full GPS mode). Equipped with the same UI as all Coros watches, this watch is easy to use and is paired with an awesome companion application that allows for watch customization and visualization of health data. Sensor upgrades such as heart rate, HRV, and electrocardiogram, as well as new features like music storage (MP3) and multi-pitch climb modes, make this an advanced Coros watch.

Performance Comparison

Accuracy

We took each watch on a 2.8-mile course and noted the recorded distance. For heart rate testing, with a watch on each wrist, we ran 0.5 miles and the recorded heart rates were compared to the Polar H10 chest strap, known for its scientifically validated accuracy. GPS and heart rate accuracy were then averaged to determine the accuracy score of each watch. All GPS tests were conducted on the same day under similar weather conditions. When testing heart rate accuracy, we were sure to tighten the watches equally for a consistent fit. Data from the tests were exported, and timestamps were matched to ensure an accurate comparison between the chest-worn heart rate monitor and the GPS watches.

The Coros Apex Pro 2 had a difference of +/- 5.0 BPM during our heart rate comparison. While larger than others in our group, we wouldn't discount the model purely because of this test. Heart rate accuracy depends quite a lot on fit, and each user can provide different results. For the highest accuracy, we continue to recommend a chest-worn heart strap. For GPS testing the model was +/- 0.17 from our set 2.80 course.

Activity Use

The Coros Apex Pro 2 is a great option for those who want premium-level battery life without spending top dollar. The 47mm case size allows for a fair amount of data to be displayed per page. This is nice for reducing the amount of times you need to change data pages. It also makes for easy viewing of singular data pages, like heart rate. We think this watch is most suited for serious athletes that need dependability and simplicity.

There are a multitude of different sport modes, all with unique data page layouts that are customizable to tailor the activity to your needs. Navigation features are also included, like breadcrumb trails, turn-by-turn, and detailed maps. While it's nice knowing these features are available as a backup, we've never really been fond of the interaction. We've long preferred MIP displays, but one area where AMOLED wins is mapping. Regardless, we are still going to pull out our phone for detailed mapping. Pre-loaded GPX tracks are a great way to prevent unnecessary screen time, and we think this combo serves our testers best.

Everyday Use

A required mobile companion app allows for easy changes to settings and data fields. This app is one of the best we've tested, and it does a good job of balancing data and space, making the UI feel clean and uncluttered. The setup is easy, and linking to third-party apps like Strava is straightforward. We experienced no lag in uploads, and the Bluetooth connection was always reliable and fast.

Interacting with the Apex Pro 2 is smooth and precise, but we would still prefer dedicated buttons over the larger scroll wheel. We found the dedicated back/backlight buttons useful and are glad they were kept around for this iteration. The touch screen is still limited to certain data screens, but is not enabled throughout the entire device. It's probably most useful moving the navigation screen, but we almost always rather pull out our phone. The screen lock is still one extra step we could live without. Really, our biggest complaint is the continued implementation of the scroll wheel; it has never felt like a natural way to interact with the watch. Still, if you've used any tech products in the past five years, the Apex Pro 2 will feel familiar.

Extra Features

The Apex Pro 2 has all the expected features you'd want on a modern GPS device. Our team insists on a few important features such as sleep tracking, activity tracking, some form of navigation, ABC (Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass), and health stats via a heart rate monitor. The increasingly popular HRV (Heart Rate Variability) metric is newly included in this model, which can help visualize overtraining and overall health. Coros is also known for implementing substantial software updates, which we anticipate will bring new features in the future.

The Apex Pro 2 lacks a few other features found elsewhere at this price point. Music storage is still limited to MP3, which is confusing given today's ecosystem of streaming services. Map navigation is still limited to GPX route following and does not offer turn-by-turn directions. Health metrics are still very data-oriented and do not provide detailed insights into a user's health. ANT+ has been removed, and Bluetooth is now the only method of connecting external sensors. Also missing are features we personally enjoy, like contactless payment, music remote control, and inReach pairing. These missing features may or may not be a deal breaker, depending on your personal preferences, and Coros makes up for them largely with its industry-leading battery life.

Wearability

While the form factor hasn't changed with this newest iteration, Coros has switched up the design a bit, offering new colorways and a standard loop wristband. The durability of the materials and the tactile feel of the buttons and haptics are of high quality. There is a new watch face specific to this model, and it does a good job of sharing data without leaving the timing field cluttered. We prefer the slightly more angular design of other watches, but we can see the appeal of the rounded design found here.

The Apex Pro 2 only ships with a loop band — a normal watch band is available as an accessory. We prefer a watch strap because it is easier to attach to other gear or a bag. The ability to micro-adjust your watch is nice, but we actually prefer the ability to index the tightness based on the hole count. Largely, this will come down to your preference, and overall, this model is a sleek-looking design and competes with the competition on durability and high-quality materials.

Battery Life

With 66 claimed hours of full GPS, this is impressive battery life for any ~47mm watch. Coros continues its battery life domination, and, in our opinion, this is one of the main selling points of this watch. You can receive top-tier battery life and save hundreds over other higher-end models.

During our testing, we went from a dead battery to 100% in 93 mins (12W USB-A), and full GPS lasted for 73 hours of continuous usage. This is roughly 88% longer than the previous version. We would prefer for the included cord to be USB-C, which is more convenient and potentially allows for faster charging. Regardless, this battery life was more than sufficient for all of our daily needs and even supported us on extended multi-day outings. If you plan on using dual-frequency or music while tracking, expect the battery life to drop.

Should You Buy the Coros Apex Pro 2?

If your primary concern is battery life, this is a great option for the price point. However, if you don't mind sacrificing some hours, there are other watches with more features, some of which are very useful. Without a doubt, this is one of the best watches Coros has released, but we wish it also included some additional features found elsewhere.

What Other GPS Watches Should You Consider?

For a slightly lower cost with comparable performance, the Coros Vertix 2 isn't a bad option. Or, if battery life is less important to you, but you still want a solid adventure watch, we'd recommend the Garmin Forerunner 965. It has multiple software features that we appreciate, like Spotify Music, Garmin Pay, ANT+, and turn-by-turn navigation. If you're on a budget but still want a great watch, we'd recommend the Coros Pace 3.