Although and share a name and many features, each stands out in its own way. You can’t go wrong with either one. Whether you should go for the small, extremely lightweight PACE 4 or the larger, more impressive PACE 4 Pro depends on what you want from your watch. The only question is: Do you want big or small?
Why choose COROS PACE?
Let’s start with the basics. All new COROS PACE watches are lightweight, have long battery life and navigation, and are easy to use with the signature dial. The watches support most activities, including triathlon, and much more. In short: If you want a lot of watch for your money, COROS PACE watches should always be on your list.
Why instead of another brand? Choosing a brand is always more subjective than people think. All the big brands make good watches, but few (maybe none) can compete with the PACE 4 and PACE 4 Pro on features in their respective “weight classes.” Even in the larger class, where the PACE 4 Pro belongs, not all competitors offer full navigation, which surprises me. But let’s take a look at each model and see what its strengths and weaknesses are.
| Choose PACE 4 if you want… | Choose PACE 4 Pro if you want… |
|---|---|
| A lighter watch (40 g) | A larger screen (1.47") |
| A smaller watch for narrow wrists | COROS’ brightest screen ever |
| An AMOLED screen at a lower price | Sapphire glass and titanium with high-quality construction |
| Maps and navigation | Up to 60 hours of battery life during GPS activity |
| A complete running and triathlon experience | A speaker and microphone for calls from your wrist |
| The most watch for your money | ECG measurement |
| 32 GB for maps from around the world and music | |
| Faster maps that are easier to read |
COROS PACE 4 – Unmatched value, now with navigation
The best watch for the price
When the PACE 4 launched, the biggest news was a brand-new AMOLED screen, a new and faster chip, a better heart rate sensor, a new button, and a microphone. It was already an impressive update, but COROS didn’t stop there. In September 2026, they surprised everyone with a major software update that made the PACE 4 the first entry-level model in the PACE series with full navigation. Before, it only had breadcrumb navigation, and that just doesn’t compare to the real thing.
So if, against all expectations, you didn’t already think the COROS PACE 4 was the GPS watch on the market that gives you the most for your money, you’ll have a hard time convincing me otherwise now.
Navigation and screen size
Taking a closer look at the new navigation on the PACE 4, there are some limitations, but you can work around them. The first is storage space. The PACE 4 has 4 GB of internal memory, which is a long way from the 32 GB found in the other navigation watches. But with the way COROS navigation works, it’s no problem to download only the maps you need. If you want all of Denmark, including all the islands, you’ll need to download seven zones, which take up just 148.6 MB in total. That’s less than 4% of the space, so there’s plenty left for music or something else if you need it.
Although its smaller size is a big advantage for the PACE 4, I see the screen size as a limitation when navigating maps. I’ll come back to that later.
New button and microphone
The extra button and microphone were a big part of COROS’ message at launch, and both features have only become more important in recent months. The extra button makes it easy to switch between maps and your training data. In my view, voice notes have become even more useful because they make it easy to share your thoughts and how you’re feeling that day. I now always record my impressions after a run so my coach can adjust my entire training plan as I go, based on what I say.
For most people who don’t have a coach, voice notes can be pretty fun to look back on when you review your COROS activities.
So the COROS PACE 4 is a fantastic, lightweight, affordable watch with enough features to satisfy 99% of all runners and multisport athletes. So why would you ever choose a COROS PACE 4 Pro?
COROS PACE 4 Pro – bigger and better
The COROS PACE 4 Pro has everything the PACE 4 has, and more.
Screen and build quality
At first glance, you’ll immediately notice the physical differences: the larger screen, the titanium frame, and, what you might not see with the naked eye, the sapphire glass. The stronger, scratch-resistant glass in particular is a good reason to upgrade if you want a watch that lasts and looks good for as long as possible. I’m constantly impressed by how well these watches withstand hard knocks during training and still look great on the wrist.
The larger size also gives you a huge screen that’s a pleasure to use every day, especially when you want to use navigation and maps during a run. As I mentioned earlier, the screen on the PACE 4 is bright and easy to read, but the large screen on the PACE 4 Pro makes a noticeable difference when you use maps. In my opinion, that alone is a great reason to upgrade. At the same time, the PACE 4 Pro has a more powerful processor, so the map responds faster and feels smoother as you scroll around.
The screen is among the brightest and easiest to read on the market. It makes everything from browsing menus and navigating to following your own training data easier and more comfortable. But a larger screen doesn’t only have advantages. A larger screen also means a larger watch, and not everyone wants that. The COROS PACE 4 Pro is 47 mm, while the PACE 4 is 43 mm. 43 mm fits nicely on the wrist, but can look small on a larger person, and the opposite is true for the PACE 4 Pro.
Battery
Looking inside the watch case, you’ll also find some differences. The battery is larger and can last longer if you turn off the always-on screen both during activities and in everyday use. On the most demanding days, with everything turned on and GPS at max during workouts, the watch used around 14–15% battery. Since I don’t run every day, it has lasted around 10 days on average with normal use. That’s very impressive for such a large, bright screen.
Sensors
ECG and a newer heart rate sensor are two more hardware features you’ll find in the PACE 4 Pro, but not in the base model. They should provide more detailed heart rate readings and data. The PACE 4 Pro has COROS’ latest 4th-generation heart rate sensor, which you won’t find in the base model. Now, it’s important to say that I’ve never had any problems with the heart rate monitor on the PACE 4, but if you want the latest technology and more accurate HRV measurements at night, the PACE 4 Pro is the best choice.
Calls from your wrist
The microphone, which is new on the PACE 4, is also on the PACE 4 Pro, and here you also get a speaker so you can take calls from your wrist. It’s one of those features that’s much more useful than you might think, especially in everyday life: when your hands are dirty from gardening, you’re carrying a child, making dinner, or for other reasons have trouble using your phone.
Summary
You can’t go wrong with either watch, and they’re different enough that choosing between them shouldn’t be difficult after reading this.
If you want an affordable, extremely lightweight, small, and extremely powerful watch on your wrist, go for the COROS PACE 4.
If you want a larger, more durable, faster watch with better sensors, the COROS PACE 4 Pro is the best choice.
Whichever you choose, you’ll get one of the best watches in its price range on the market. I have a hard time finding better deals with more features and the promise of even more to come.
Read for more comparisons of COROS watches, or check out to see what the more durable COROS APEX 4 can do.
