All-around high quality
Garmin gave the Forerunner 255 most of its greatest working instruments, from dual-frequency monitoring and wrist-based working dynamics to restoration recs and coaching load focus. It has wonderful battery life and loads of knowledge the 245 lacked. Remember that you will have to pay additional for music storage and wi-fi.
For
- Two measurement choices
- Devoted up/down buttons
- ANT+ assist
- Higher glass safety
- Extra sturdy software program (security, tap-to-pay, prompt exercises)
Towards
- Dearer, esp for Music model
- Shorter battery life
- No customized marathon plans, Coaching Readiness
Reasonably priced excellence
A $230 working watch should not be this good, however COROS selected to not maintain again on the subject of the PACE 3. All the model’s coaching instruments can be found right here, although COROS’ greatest nonetheless misses some issues in comparison with a compromised Forerunner 255. Total, it is petite, long-lasting, and really dependable, and also you get the identical music storage and wi-fi that Garmin calls for an additional $50 for.
For
- Lighter and longer-lived
- Crown and touchscreen
- Amazingly inexpensive
- Higher battery life
- Wonderful EvoLab coaching instruments
Towards
- Design appears to be like low-cost and small
- Lacking some non-running software program Garmin has
- GPS could be barely much less correct
Operating watches have gotten extra feature-packed and costly in recent times, particularly as extra health manufacturers change away from battery-saving memory-in-pixel (MIP) shows to vivid AMOLEDs. For long-distance runners that favor epic battery life at an affordable value, you have got two wonderful choices: the Garmin Forerunner 255 or the COROS PACE 3.
As the one who reviewed each the Forerunner 255 and COROS PACE 3, I wholeheartedly endorse them each when it comes to high quality, and so they’re truly fairly related when it comes to what they provide. Maybe the most important distinction, although, is that the PACE 3 prices considerably much less — particularly since you need to pay additional for the Forerunner 255 Music to get the identical music storage and wi-fi the PACE 3 has.
Is there a motive to spend extra for that patented Garmin high quality, or do you have to save your self the cash with COROS for the same expertise? I am right here to reply that query! Here is what you must know concerning the Garmin Forerunner 255 vs. COROS PACE 3!
Garmin Forerunner 255 vs. COROS PACE 3: Design and show
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| Class | Garmin Forerunner 255 | COROS PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Show | 1.3-inch (260×260) or 1.1-inch (218×218) Reminiscence-in-Pixel non-touch show | 1.2-inch (240×240) Reminiscence-in-Pixel touchscreen |
| Supplies | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Safety | 5ATM, Gorilla Glass 3 | Gorilla Glass |
| Dimensions | 45.6 x 45.6 x 12.9mm (255) or 41 x 41 x 12.4mm (255S) | 41.9 x 41.9 x 13mm |
| Weight | 49g (255) or 39g (255S) | 30g (nylon) or 38g (silicone) |
| Bands | 22mm or 18mm | 22mm |
| Colours | 255: Tidal Blue, Slate Grey; 255S: Gentle Pink, Powder Grey; 255 Music/ 255S Music: Whitestone, Black | White, Black, Observe Version (Crimson), Eliud Kipchoge Version (multicolored) |
The 1.2-inch COROS PACE 3 falls proper in between the 1.3-inch Forerunner 255 and 1.1-inch 255S in measurement. Selecting Garmin’s watch provides you extra flexibility, nevertheless it’s greatest should you favor a bigger show measurement. For small-wristed runners, the PACE 3 is identical weight because the 255S with a bigger show and silicone strap; should you select the nylon strap, it is barely above 1oz, making it even much less noticeable whereas working.
Each watches are fabricated from fiber-reinforced polymer — exhausting, sturdy plastic, in different phrases — and neither is particularly enticing. These watches are greatest suited to the monitor or path outdoor the place daylight makes MIP shows extra readable; you will have to up the brightness of the backlight to make both watch readable indoors for notifications.
By way of type, the COROS PACE 3 has extra enjoyable with colourful bands; I want I had the multi-colored Eliud Kipchoge Version or bright-red Observe Version as an alternative of the boring Black PACE 3. The small, rounded watch design makes it look low-cost throughout the board, however at the very least these variants are enjoyable to have a look at.
With the Forerunner 255, most variations are Black, White, or Grey with a extra critical, mono-color look; you’ll be able to at the very least get Tidal Blue or Gentle Pink, however you are restricted by which show measurement you need or whether or not you want music storage or not. Whereas the 255 itself is way heavier, you may very well favor that, whereas the PACE 3 appears to be like very small on bigger wrists like mine.
In the end, your determination will come right down to how you are feeling concerning the PACE 3’s rotating crown and touchscreen in comparison with Garmin’s patented five-button structure.
Some runners favor having devoted up/down buttons that you may intentionally press, even when it is slower than a crown as a result of it is not all the time clear how far to show it with a dial. I famous that it’s “pretty comfy to make use of” in my overview, “with a pleasant tactile vibration by the watch each time you flip it.” I additionally famous that it is fairly compact in comparison with different crowns, which suggests it is not as simple to show but additionally would not push into your wrist if you bend it for workouts.
With the Forerunner 255, I complained in my overview that the buttons have been “squishier than previous Garmin watches I’ve examined,” which means I might press them and never all the time have it register till I obtained used to urgent them overly exhausting. You are additionally absolutely depending on the buttons, whereas the Forerunner 265 or Forerunner 955 has the choice of a touchscreen; I by no means use this throughout runs however favor having the choice for informal use.
Garmin Forerunner 255 vs. COROS PACE 3: Sensors and battery life
| Class | Garmin Forerunner 255 | COROS PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | HRM, SpO2, accelerometer, barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, thermometer | HRM, SpO2, accelerometer, barometric altimeter, accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, temperature, put on detection |
| Monitoring | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO; All-systems & dual-frequency GPS; SatIQ mode | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS; All-systems & dual-frequency GPS |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi (Music model solely) | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Music storage | 4GB (Music model solely) | 4GB |
| Battery (smartwatch) | 14 days (255); 12 (255S) | 17 days |
| Battery (GPS) | 30 hours (255); 26 (255S) | 41 hours |
| Battery (All-GNSS) | 25 hours (255); 20 (255S) | 25 hours |
| Battery (Twin-frequency GPS) | 16 hours (255); 13 (255S) | 15 hours |
With regards to important {hardware}, the COROS PACE 3 and Forerunner 255 Music — observe the “Music” distinction — are very related.
Each watches are able to hyper-accurate monitoring with each dual-frequency GPS and a number of GNSS methods concurrently. Though the PACE 3 trounces the Forerunner 255 for GPS-only battery, my guess is that you just will not use that setting typically; as an alternative, for all-systems or dual-frequency monitoring that you may truly depend upon, they’re both similar or inside one hour of one another.
Should you’re contemplating the Forerunner 255S, nonetheless, you get a downgraded battery life throughout the board. It is one other little bit of proof that the PACE 3 is the higher small working watch.
COROS tends to hook up with satellites barely quicker, and you may truly examine the energy of your satellite tv for pc sign if you want. By way of precise accuracy, COROS has been barely extra inaccurate in comparison with Garmin in my restricted testing however nonetheless does very nicely. Even when my mapped location on a monitor is not in the proper lane, I nonetheless get correct distance outcomes, which is absolutely all that issues.
With the Forerunner 255, you’ll be able to choose SatIQ mode, which auto-selects a particular satellite tv for pc mode based mostly on sign energy and solely makes use of the battery-guzzling dual-frequency mode should you’re someplace the place it’s a necessity. Garmin did not present a battery life estimate for this mode, nevertheless it ought to give the Forerunner 255 a number of hours’ edge.
As for traditional idle mode, the PACE 3 does add an additional three days of battery, although the hole narrows to only in the future should you allow the brand new HRV stress monitoring mode. Usually talking, you can keep away from frequent recharging with these watches, and their battery lives beat a lot of the AMOLED working watches on the market.
Extra typically, each watches supply each an accelerometer and gyroscope for correct exercise and step monitoring. The included altimeter is crucial for runners who care about correct knowledge when coaching at elevation, and never all watches within the PACE 3’s value vary have one. And also you get a compass, so if you wish to comply with an offline GPX map, you are able to do so.
The Forerunner 255 has one area of interest upside: It is the one watch to hook up with ANT+ equipment within the uncommon case you purchase one that does not assist Bluetooth connectivity. This primarily issues for fitness center gear or bike equipment.
Then again, the usual 255 lacks a Wi-Fi antenna, whereas the PACE 3 does assist this. Whilst you technically can add knowledge or obtain updates over Bluetooth, a direct wi-fi connection does actually repay for saving you time.
Should you purchase the Forerunner 255 Music, you get Wi-Fi assist and 4GB of music storage, the identical because the PACE 3. Garmin does win right here in a single particular approach: Should you subscribe to Spotify, Amazon Music, or Deezer, you’ll be able to obtain playlists from every respective app. In any other case, you will have to add your individual music information to both watch or simply accept playback controls on your cellphone’s playlist.
Garmin Forerunner 255 vs. COROS PACE 3: Health and software program
| Class | Garmin Forerunner 255 | COROS PACE 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Customized exercises | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Exercises and plans | Every day prompt exercises, Garmin Coach, coaching plans | Coaching plans, customized marathon plan, COROS coaches e-mail |
| Operating knowledge | Coaching load, coaching load focus, acute load, coaching impact, VO2 Max, restoration time, grade-adjusted tempo, efficiency situation, race predictor, depth minutes | Coaching Load, base health, load affect, fatigue, coaching impact, restoration timer, 4-week depth distribution, working efficiency, race predictor, VO2 Max, threshold zones, coaching focus |
| Wrist-based working dynamics | ✔️ | ❌ (solely with Pod accent) |
| Faucet-to-pay | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Navigation | Level-to-point, breadcrumb, Tracback, Up Forward, Distance to Vacation spot, Elevation profile, Solar and Moon data | Flip-by-turn / breadcrumb, elevation profile, distance to vacation spot, real-time GPS coordinates, deviate alerts, checkpoints |
| Customized programs in app | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Sleep/ vitality knowledge | Physique Battery, sleep rating and insights, nap detection, all-day stress knowledge | Nightly sleep levels, all-day stress knowledge |
| Well being knowledge | Resting coronary heart fee, excessive/low HR warnings, respiration fee, leisure reminders, Well being Snapshot, girls’s well being monitoring | Resting coronary heart fee, Wellness Examine |
| Security | Incident detection, Livetrack | ❌ |
| Suitable Third-party apps | Newbie Triathlete, Concept2, Fetcheveryone, Ultimate Surge, Komoot, MapMyFitness, MyFitnessPal, Nike+, Noom, RunKeeper, Runcoach, Slopes, Strava, TrainingPeaks, Virgin Pulse, Weight Watchers, Sure.Match, Zwift | Nike Run Membership, Komoot, TrainingPeaks, Strava, Relive, adidas Operating, Apple Well being, Stryd, Ultimate Surge, Runalyze, Operating Quotient, Decathlon |
| Sports activities modes | 54: Operating, Outside Observe Operating, Path Operating, Extremely Operating, Treadmill Operating, Indoor Observe Operating, Digital Operating, Mountain climbing, Strolling, Pilates, Yoga, Energy, HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Coaching, Stair Stepping, Ground Climbing, Indoor Rowing, Triathlon, Biking, Mountain Biking, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking, Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Desk Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball, Snowboarding, Snowboarding, XC Basic Snowboarding, Basketball, Volleyball, Subject Hockey, Ice Hockey, Soccer/Soccer, American Soccer, Lacrosse, Rugby, Final Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball, Boxing, Combined Martial Arts, Inline skating | 24: Run, Indoor Run, Observe Run, Path Run, Hike, Bike, Indoor Bike, Open Water, Pool Swim, Flatwater, Rowing, Ski, Snowboard, XC Ski, GPS Cardio, Health club Cardio, Stroll, Triathlon, Multisport, Indoor Rower, Bounce Rope, Energy, Coaching, Coaching Plan |
Right here we come to the portion of the Garmin Forerunner 255 vs. COROS PACE 3, the place Garmin justifies the additional value.
Strictly on the subject of working coaching, Garmin Join and COROS EvoLab are very related. In both case, you’ll be able to create a customized exercise or map and add it to your watch, then comply with the route or have your watch buzz your wrist should you’re working too quick or sluggish. Each manufacturers supply customized coaching plans you’ll be able to obtain to your watch’s calendar, with goal race lengths or paces for any potential degree.
After a exercise, both watch will describe the exercise’s coaching impact when it comes to cardio or anaerobic exercise, plus your present and long-term coaching load. You may know the way lengthy you need to relaxation and recuperate based mostly on the run’s depth and your VO2 Max degree.
That is all nicely and good, however the Forerunner 255 is extra well-rounded, even when it is no Venu 3 on the subject of mainstream instruments. You get security monitoring options, a sleep rating proven throughout a cute Morning Report widget, and a Physique Battery rating. It has greater than double the exercise modes for cross-training and different instruments too quite a few to record right here.
COROS has improved as a model in latest months on the subject of smarts. Since November 2023, it is added personalized marathon coaching plans, HRV stress monitoring, a climate widget, turn-by-turn navigation, a working type check (with an elective Pod), and a wellness examine instrument to the PACE 3 (and different watches just like the APEX 2). It is simply clear that, in some ways, it is enjoying catch-up with Garmin.
If I needed to spotlight three particular Garmin instruments I miss with COROS, I might say Physique Battery, every day prompt exercises, and tap-to-pay. Even when I do not often comply with them, I like how prompt exercises change based mostly on my fatigue, coaching load focus, and health degree; and whereas I personally use my cellphone’s NFC funds, it is necessary to have the choice in case your cellphone dies after a long term.
Additionally, whereas I personally do not pay a lot consideration to working type evaluation, solely the Forerunner 255 helps wrist-based outcomes; the PACE 3 provides you working energy by default however wants an elective Pod accent for superior metrics.
My one spotlight for COROS is its customized marathon coaching plan characteristic. Garmin Coach focuses on 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons, leaving marathoners to make use of extra inflexible coaching plans; COROS’ instrument pulls from previous exercise knowledge and allows you to alter your depth and goal time earlier than getting a 16-week calendar of exercises.
Lastly, it is a disgrace {that a} $350–400 watch just like the Forerunner 255 is having Coaching Readiness withheld from it when so most of the different greatest Garmin watches throughout the Forerunner and Intuition lineup obtained it. It is a actually helpful metric that will give it an extra edge over the PACE 3, however Garmin continues to refuse to port the characteristic. COROS would not maintain something again from the PACE 3 simply to make its pricier watches look extra tempting.
Garmin Forerunner 255 vs. COROS PACE 3: Which do you have to purchase?
In comparison with the greatest health watches, neither the Forerunner 255 nor the PACE 3 are particularly good or feature-rich. In comparison with smartwatches, they’re very primary and lack correct apps or colourful shows. And whereas they’re nicely past what an entry-level working watch would supply, they lack essentially the most intense instruments you’d get with, say, the Forerunner 955, like real-time stamina or a Hill Rating for elevation coaching.
Nonetheless, most of those different choices have a lot worse battery life and inflated costs, and lots of runners see “smarts” as a distraction. Both the Forerunner 255 or PACE 3 will maintain issues targeted in your marathon coaching, with some well being monitoring thrown in, and so they will not value an excessive amount of — particularly the PACE 3.
If I needed to suggest one, I might level you to the PACE 3, just because I believe a whole lot of long-time Garmin customers will default to the Forerunner 255 as a result of they’re comfy with the Garmin ecosystem. If you wish to step outdoors your consolation zone, the PACE 3 has only a few downsides moreover its toy-like design and particular options like Garmin Livetrak that, whereas good to have, most individuals not often use.
All-around high quality
Select the Forerunner 255 if you’d like the most important attainable show, particular sports activities modes or software program instruments that COROS lacks, and do not essentially want music storage. Do not buy it if you’d like options the extra superior Garmin Forerunners have, and take into account the PACE 3 as an alternative of the 255S.
Reasonably priced excellence
Select the COROS PACE 3 if you wish to begin bettering your working coaching however do not wish to spend tons of cash to do it — or if you’d like music storage for practically half the value because the 255. Do not select it if you’d like every day exercise recommendations, tap-to-pay, reside monitoring for security, or different particular instruments Garmin affords.