Coros Pace 3 Review

The Coros Pace 3 continues to impress at an entry-level price point. It has the performance and price point to suit most users and budgets. Excellent battery life is packed into an ultralight size and weight. With roughly 30+ hours of GPS time or two weeks of normal daily use, charging will be one less thing to worry about. If you are looking to minimize smartwatch-type distractions on your wristwatch, we find the simplicity of Pace 3 extremely appealing. A wide spectrum of users can benefit from this model, and serious athletes will appreciate the long-lasting GPS tracking and diverse data metrics. Those more concerned with daily health tracking also get a wide variety of metrics like sleep stats, daily steps, and resting heart rate.

Performance Comparison

Accuracy

We calculated our accuracy score by evaluating the GPS chipset and heart rate sensor of each watch. For GPS testing, each watch was taken on a known 2.8-mile course, and the distance recorded by the watch was compared to this 2.8-mile benchmark. For heart rate testing, we ran with a watch on each wrist for 0.5 miles, comparing the readings to those from the scientifically validated Polar H10 chest strap. The overall accuracy score was found by combining the findings of both these tests.

To keep GPS conditions consistent, we tested on the same day to avoid possible weather differences. For heart rate testing, each watch was securely tightened to ensure a uniform fit. We exported all data and matched the timestamps to ensure a fair comparison between the chest-worn heart rate monitor and the GPS watches.

The Coros Pace 3 had one of the most accurate heart rate readings of any Coros model we tested, being +/- 1.54 BPM compared to our Polar chest strap. The model also showed pretty good GPS accuracy for our hill GPS test, being +/- 0.14 miles off. The model was even closer to other known mileages on less technical terrain.

Activity Use

The Pace 3 is one of our favorite models for activity use; it simply works. There is little to clutter the experience, and it's our go-to recommendation for those who simply want to record workouts. Where other units get bogged down in features, the Pace 3 is simple and easy to use.

One of our favorite aspects of the Pace 3 is the excellent MIP display; it's crisp and easy to read in various conditions. Data pages are easier to cycle now with the addition of the touchscreen; we still prefer the scroll wheel, though, as it leads to more predictable use. Navigation is also now enabled on the Pace 3 series. While not fully detailed, breadcrumb mapping is often quite helpful if you are looking to backtrack or follow an uploaded route.

Some could find the smaller case of the Pace 3 more difficult to read cluttered data pages. We found this model best for sports where you'd only want to see a few metrics at once, like distance, pace, and time. Coros has a wide variety of modes and sports, and more are added with each update. For a list of all the enabled sports modes, we'd suggest checking out the manufacturer's product page.

Everyday Use

While some look at Coros and see fewer features, we tend to see a simple platform that saves you money. Realistically, any of the watches in our lineup do the basics quite well. Daily HR, sleep stats, and performance levels are easy to keep track of in the Coros app. This data can also be transferred to other health apps of your choice if you have multiple health trackers.

The Coros companion app is easy to use and has less clutter than some of the competition. You can also build routes and explore trails if you're in a new area. We don't personally use this often since we have other dedicated navigation apps.

By paring your phone, you can receive notifications and access features like Find My Phone. Coros also implements a glance/toolbar system for easy-to-access data pages like altimeter, barometer, and steps. The circular toolbar also gives you access to quick change settings. If you feel overwhelmed by the dense feature sets found on other watches and want to save some money and focus on the items most used, this is a great option for you.

Extra Features

We've tested nearly every Coros watch that has come onto the market, and we've long been impressed with the simplicity of the Pace models. The newest iteration, the Pace 3, has included features like a touch screen, music downloads, and breadcrumb mapping. Significant software updates continue to be implemented in the lineup, allowing new access to features previously only on higher-end models.

That said, from our testing, it's clear that the feature set is not the main priority. Coros focuses mainly on build quality and battery life. Opting for simplicity over software features, Coros has been able to keep the price down, allowing for a low entry point to a great GPS watch. Both Garmin and Apple put more emphasis on software, which drives up the cost of their watches. The standout features of the Coros Pace 3 are its health, GPS tracking, and battery life. When using this watch, we often miss features found on more premium watches, like contactless payment, music controls, a flashlight, and Spotify integration. But if you are simply looking for longer battery life and GPS tracking and care about little else, this is probably the watch for you.

Wearability

Weighing in at only 1.5 ounces, you won't even feel the Pace 3 on your wrist. Even though the case is plastic, it still feels robust and durable. The screen and its E Ink-like display are fantastic in direct light, offering great contrast and readability. It does suffer in lower light conditions as the backlight is less powerful than higher-end models.

The tooless strap design increases in width by 2mm, which we are happy to see as the previous model felt a little thin. Unfortunately, it still has a double-sided clasp, which is a bit annoying — we'd prefer having to thread the strap only once. Both the backlight button and scroll don't feel quite as nice as the metal materials on more premium models, but they allow for a lower weight. This may not seem like a big deal, but the Pace 3 is noticeably lighter than others, and for serious running athletes, we can see the appeal. We are impressed with the quality at this price point, but we feel there could be some subtle changes, especially when coming out with a new-generation watch.

Battery Life

Coros shines when it comes to battery life, and even with this smaller case size, there are still 30+ hours of continuous GPS tracking with the Pace 3. This extended battery performance allows budget-minded ultra-endurance athletes to have multi-day life, assuming they take some time to rest when the GPS is off. With most entry-level watches, you generally sacrifice battery life, but Coros continues to provide a substantial amount of hours no matter the cost. If needed, you can also charge while still recording.

There aren't any low-power modes on the Pace 3, which is probably because it's largely not needed, and generally, the only outcome is a decrease in accuracy. We tested this watch in a wide range of environments, from hot to cold, and found no influence on the battery. Another plus is the ability of the watch to quickly charge, taking less than two hours to charge, depending on our charging setup. This excellent battery is another instance where Coros focuses on hardware performance over battery-draining software features.

Should You Buy the Coros Pace 3?

Standing out for being incredibly lightweight and well-featured for the price, we'd highly recommend the Pace 3. This watch is best for athletes who don't desire an ultra-rugged-looking design or a ton of fancy features. It has minimal clutter and just works. Most of the higher-end watches fit in a niche category where you spend a premium on battery, design, or features. The Pace 3, while not the best, does everything quite well and at a price that cannot be beaten. For most users, you can stop looking because this is the model for you.

What Other GPS Watches Should You Consider?

If price is a factor, but you can spend a little more, we'd recommend the Garmin Forerunner 965, which offers a great blend of performance and value. If you are after smartphone integration, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers one of the best user experiences and feature sets. For the most serious athletes who perform in technical terrain, the Garmin Fenix 8 Solar is where it's at.