I'll say it briefly: is the ultimate running watch. The watch has all the features you need for your running training. It has excellent battery life and weighs less than many gels.
creeps further into my consciousness each year. Their collaborations with some of the fastest men and women on earth, iconic accessories like the arm heart rate monitor, and sponsorships at many major marathons make the brand hard to ignore.
Here you have everything you need to make running incredibly fun and rewarding.
It may sound strange, but there aren't many running watches primarily aimed at runners. My experience is that many features are added that I never use, only increasing the watch's weight instead.
Low weight is something I believe a watch must prioritize to call itself a running watch. PACE 4 is a runner's watch.
Here, it feels like all choices are carefully considered from a runner's perspective. And this year, COROS spoils the runner with updates that honestly seem like pure bragging.
Read how I've used COROS PACE 4 for four months in over 180 activities.
As a runner with about nine weekly runs, I spend a lot of time looking at my watch and deciphering the data it presents. Here, screen and form play a significant role.
PACE 4 resembles last generation's excellent design but with a few impressive updates.
COROS PACE 4: AMOLED screen without battery barrier
The biggest and most impressive update is the new screen. An AMOLED screen was undoubtedly on my wishlist when I looked at my PACE 3 watch. However, there was always a voice in my head saying, “But you have really long battery life, Jeppe.”
I was shocked when COROS announced the awaited screen and simultaneously longer battery life than both its predecessor and big brother .
The superior battery is not just announced. It is also confirmed from my side.
With the Always On screen feature enabled all the time, which naturally drains the battery, I could go from 100% Tuesday morning to Saturday afternoon before I had to charge the battery from its 10%. Nine activities later, eight with GPS.
Yes, there are watches with longer battery life, but none have the same slim form and low weight as PACE 4.
Personally, I appreciate that the watch always has a lit screen. But if you want even better battery life, you can turn off Always On. This way, the battery lasted for me from Tuesday morning's 100% to Thursday two weeks later. 23 activities later, 20 with GPS. Extreme level.
A choice my colleague Lars and I can't get over is the charger you get in the box. An adapter you can keep on your keychain ensures you can always charge the watch as long as you have a USB-C charger nearby.
Still, I found myself late Wednesday evening in the gym with 8% power. I started the activity expecting to complete the workout with a dead watch. But after 50 minutes, despite much navigation through the smart screens, the watch had only used 1% power.
Additionally, I want to mention that the watch used 6% power on a 33-minute GPS activity with music playback.
COROS PACE 4: New action button offers more potential
One of the slightly overlooked updates is actually quite a significant change. Unfortunately, the new action button is somewhat underutilized right now.
The button breaks with the design the PACE series has had since the second generation, as it adds a button on the left side of the watch case.
You now have three buttons to navigate with, but the user experience hasn't changed. You still scroll through different categories and sports functions with the wheel at the top of the watch case and use it as enter. The button below is used to go back.
A design that is satisfying to use once you get used to it.
But what do you use the third button for?
On the watch or your phone, you can determine during activities whether the button should add a pin to your route or have another function. Pins are used to mark highlights on your trip or to record a voice message about intensity during a session. But more on that later.
The button can also be used to change the display or make a lap during your activity. And while it certainly allows you to switch the lap button from one side to the other, I can't help but think the button is waiting for a software update to fully exploit its great potential.
Fortunately, COROS is known for their software development, and I'm happy to wait for what COROS comes up with. They rarely disappoint.
COROS PACE 4: Strength program I actually use
When I think of tracking strength training, it previously involved so much annoying navigation on a small screen that I completely gave up on it.
That's now over.
COROS has delivered an intuitive strength training program that is easy and downright satisfying to use.
Automatic tracking of reps, weights, and breaks has never been a challenge. But for me, it's always been the precision in recording that's been the problem.
On COROS' strength training function, you can easily go back and edit the automatically recorded movements. You can even do it all after the workout.
This is also one of those times when the touch function on the good screen really comes into its own.
The function is a great addition to the running watch and makes me want to use it when I strength train.
COROS PACE 4: Microphone – pure show-off
One of the most ingenious additions to the watch is the microphone. And although the watch can't take calls, I would almost claim that COROS' idea with this feature is even more relevant than the phone functions in APEX 4.
COROS lets you record voice messages on the watch, which you can use in a multitude of ways.
Very practically, you use the new button during an activity to open a menu where you can choose which pin to place on your run. Here you can choose between pins like “Water,” “Accommodation option,” or “Voice message.”
These can be found on your activity afterward, so you can find your way back to the spot.
I've used the voice message feature extensively. I record messages to myself about things I need to remember when I get home from the run. I also record notes for podcasts and comments on my training effort for my coach.
The possibilities are many, as the microphone works flawlessly.
COROS also manages to transcribe the voice message into a note you can access on your phone afterward. A detail that COROS certainly didn't need to add, but once again emphasizes the brand's focus on excellent software.
COROS PACE 4: Soft- and hardware in harmony
Overall, hardware and software work really well together, creating a true wrist paradise for runners.
However, it's worth mentioning that COROS has made some omissions. These are clearlybased on the principle of low weight, which I respect.
Here, I think software-wise about map navigation and hardware-wise about the omission of Sapphire Glass and an electrocardiogram sensor, which can measure the electrical signals from your heart.
You find the sensor in the big brother and the feature-packed , which my colleague Lars has tested. On the outdoor watch, you also find Sapphire Glass and a titanium body.
It is also with PACE Pro and APEX 4 that you find full landscape navigation with topographic maps.
In PACE 4, I am happily content with the so-called breadcrumb navigation, which always makes it possible to orient yourself in relation to where you came from.
I have never missed the features, but maybe you need some of them.
Otherwise, I have just enjoyed the watch's training algorithms, temperature gauge, Effort Pace (a personal measurement unit that reflects your real effort in relation to terrain and wind) and music settings with offline playback via Bluetooth headphones.
You can no longer avoid COROS. The brand is now established.
And as a runner, you won't lack anything.
If you do, then write to me. Then I'll defend the watch.
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