Coros Pace 4 Review

The Coros Pace 4 swapped the previous model's MIP display for a vibrant 1.2-inch AMOLED screen and improved battery life across all modes. Weighing a mere 1.1 ounces with the nylon band, it is also the lightest GPS watch we have ever tested.

Accuracy

GPS accuracy on the Pace 4 was solid, thanks to a dual-frequency mode that improves accuracy by connecting to two different satellite frequencies. On our 2-mile course, the Pace 4 tracked 2.02 miles, consistent with results from the other dual-frequency watches we tested. Track shape was highly accurate on roads, and although there were some breaks from the line, tracking was pretty good through heavy tree cover and alongside cliff walls.

The redesigned optical heart rate sensor features larger LEDs and a more secure fit against your skin, both of which improve accuracy. Compared with our Polar Verity Sense armband, the Pace 4 had a median difference of only 1.0 BPM, which is among the best results from any watch we've tested. The first several minutes showed a significant warm-up lag, the same as every other watch we tested – initial readings ran high before converging around the 15-minute mark. Once it settled out into a steady state, the sensor tracked reliably through varied effort levels. Coros has clearly improved cold-start responsiveness over the previous model, and the steady-state accuracy puts the Pace 4 on par with watches costing significantly more.

Activity Use

The jump from the MIP display on the previous model to the Pace 4's AMOLED display is immediately noticeable. The screen is bright, even in direct sunlight, and data fields are crisp, making it easier to glance at your watch mid-run. The addition of a third action button also improves mid-run controls. You can assign it to swap between data pages and the breadcrumb navigation screen, or use it to record voice pins via the built-in microphone. Sport mode breadth matches the rest of the Coros lineup, covering running, cycling, swimming, multisport, and strength training.

Breadcrumb navigation is the ceiling here: there are no detailed maps, no turn-by-turn routing, and no topo layers. If you run familiar routes, the lack of mapping is unlikely to matter. However, if you venture into unfamiliar terrain, you'll have to step up to a more expensive watch or carry your phone.

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Everyday Use

The Coros App 4.0 redesign remains one of the cleanest companion apps we've tested. Syncing with Strava, Apple Health, and TrainingPeaks is seamless, and adjusting data fields or watch settings is easy. Health tracking covers heart rate (including heart rate variation), sleep stages, stress, and menstrual cycle tracking.

While you can use the microphone for voice memos or to log training notes, the Pace 4 doesn't have a speaker, so you can't make or take phone calls, nor are there any audible alerts. Notifications display on the AMOLED screen with enough clarity to read a full text message, though you cannot reply from the watch. Widget selection is much more limited than on Garmin watches.

Extra Features

The Pace 4 is lean by design. A screen-based flashlight uses the AMOLED backlight for low-light visibility, but it's limited compared to watches with dedicated LED flashlights. Beyond that, the feature set is stripped back: no offline music, no contactless payments, and no third-party app marketplace.

Coros has consistently prioritized training tools over smartwatch features in the Pace line, and the Pace 4 continues that philosophy. For runners who carry a phone anyway, the missing extras are a non-issue. For those who want to leave the phone at home, the lack of music and payments is a genuine gap.

Wearability

At only 1.1 ounces with the nylon band (and 1.4 ounces with the silicone band), the Pace 4 practically disappears on your wrist – it is noticeably lighter than similar watches we tested. The 11.8mm thickness comfortably fits under jacket sleeves.

The two-tone polymer body uses mineral glass rather than a much more scratch-resistant sapphire. Even though we didn't notice any scratches during our testing period, this is an obvious concession to keep the price down. The scroll wheel requires you to lock the screen to prevent accidental inputs during activity, which is a familiar Coros quirk, and the touchscreen doesn't work well with gloves on.

Battery Life

We measured 40 hours of GPS battery life in All Systems mode, which is remarkable for an AMOLED watch at this price. For context, the MIP display on the previous model delivered 34 hours in the same mode. Watches with MIP displays usually offer better battery life because the screens take less power. We applaud Coros for upgrading the display on the Pace 4 and improving the battery life.

Daily use with the always-on display setting lasted about six days, while gesture-based wake extended that to roughly 19 days. Charging from empty to full takes approximately 90 minutes. In a lineup where most AMOLED watches struggle to clear 25 hours of GPS recording, the Pace 4 stands out.

Should You Buy the Coros Pace 4?

For runners who want a watch with plenty of battery life, the Pace 4 is unmatched at this price point. It won't replace your phone for music, payments, messaging, or off-trail navigation in unfamiliar terrain. But it offers runners reliable training metrics and the confidence that their watch will last through a 50-kilometer race on a single charge.

What Other GPS Watches Should You Consider?

The Coros Apex 4 is one of the few watches less then $500 with a battery life similar to the Pace 4. While it's a significant step up in price, you get a titanium bezel and scratch-resistant sapphire glass on the display, detailed navigation, and a much fuller suite of features. At a similar price point to the Pace 4, the Garmin Vivoactive 6 adds contactless pay, offline music, and thousands of free apps within the Garmin ecosystem, but the trade-off is that its battery life is roughly half that of the Pace 4.

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