All-around high quality
Garmin gave the Forerunner 255 most of its greatest operating instruments, from dual-frequency monitoring and wrist-based operating dynamics to restoration recs and coaching load focus. It has glorious battery life and loads of information the 245 lacked. Take into account that you will have to pay additional for music storage and wi-fi.
For
- Two dimension choices
- Devoted up/down buttons
- ANT+ help
- Higher glass safety
- Extra strong software program (security, tap-to-pay, instructed exercises)
In opposition to
- Costlier, esp for Music model
- Shorter battery life
- No customized marathon plans, Coaching Readiness
Reasonably priced excellence
A $230 operating watch should not be this good, however COROS selected to not maintain again relating to 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 reasonably priced
- Higher battery life
- Wonderful EvoLab coaching instruments
In opposition to
- Design appears to be like low cost and small
- Lacking some non-running software program Garmin has
- GPS may be barely much less correct
Operating watches have gotten extra feature-packed and costly lately, particularly as extra health manufacturers swap away from battery-saving memory-in-pixel (MIP) shows to vivid AMOLEDs. For long-distance runners that desire epic battery life at an inexpensive value, you have got two glorious choices: the Garmin Forerunner 255 or the COROS PACE 3.
As the one that reviewed each the Forerunner 255 and COROS PACE 3, I wholeheartedly endorse them each when it comes to high quality, and so they’re really 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 must you save your self the cash with COROS for the same expertise? I am right here to reply that query! This is what you should 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: Mild Pink, Powder Grey; 255 Music/ 255S Music: Whitestone, Black | White, Black, Monitor Version (Purple), 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 dimension. Selecting Garmin’s watch offers you extra flexibility, but it surely’s greatest should you desire a bigger show dimension. 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 operating.
Each watches are manufactured from fiber-reinforced polymer — laborious, sturdy plastic, in different phrases — and neither is particularly engaging. 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.
When it comes to model, the COROS PACE 3 has extra enjoyable with colourful bands; I want I had the multi-colored Eliud Kipchoge Version or bright-red Monitor Version as an alternative of the uninteresting Black PACE 3. The small, rounded watch design makes it look low cost throughout the board, however no less than 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 may no less than get Tidal Blue or Mild Pink, however you are restricted by which show dimension you need or whether or not you want music storage or not. Whereas the 255 itself is way heavier, you may very well desire that, whereas the PACE 3 appears to be like very small on bigger wrists like mine.
Finally, your choice will come right down to how you’re feeling concerning the PACE 3’s rotating crown and touchscreen in comparison with Garmin’s patented five-button structure.
Some runners desire having devoted up/down buttons which you can 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 evaluation, “with a pleasant tactile vibration by means of the watch each time you flip it.” I additionally famous that it is fairly compact in comparison with different crowns, which implies it is not as simple to show but additionally does not push into your wrist if you bend it for workout routines.
With the Forerunner 255, I complained in my evaluation that the buttons had been “squishier than previous Garmin watches I’ve examined,” which means I would press them and never all the time have it register till I bought used to urgent them overly laborious. You are additionally totally 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 desire 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 usually; as an alternative, for all-systems or dual-frequency monitoring which you can really depend upon, they’re both an identical or inside one hour of one another.
For those who’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 operating watch.
COROS tends to hook up with satellites barely quicker, and you’ll really test the energy of your satellite tv for pc sign if you want. When it comes to 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 appropriate lane, I nonetheless get correct distance outcomes, which is absolutely all that issues.
With the Forerunner 255, you may choose SatIQ mode, which auto-selects a selected 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 is necessary. Garmin did not present a battery life estimate for this mode, but it surely ought to give the Forerunner 255 a couple of hours’ edge.
As for normal 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’ll keep away from frequent recharging with these watches, and their battery lives beat a lot of the AMOLED operating watches on the market.
Extra typically, each watches provide each an accelerometer and gyroscope for correct exercise and step monitoring. The included altimeter is important for runners who care about correct information 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 help Bluetooth connectivity. This primarily issues for fitness center tools or bike equipment.
Alternatively, the usual 255 lacks a Wi-Fi antenna, whereas the PACE 3 does help this. Whilst you technically can add information or obtain updates over Bluetooth, a direct wi-fi connection does actually repay for saving you time.
For those who purchase the Forerunner 255 Music, you get Wi-Fi help and 4GB of music storage, the identical because the PACE 3. Garmin does win right here in a single particular approach: For those who subscribe to Spotify, Amazon Music, or Deezer, you may 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 in your telephone’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 | Day by day instructed exercises, Garmin Coach, coaching plans | Coaching plans, personalised marathon plan, COROS coaches electronic mail |
| Operating information | 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 influence, fatigue, coaching impact, restoration timer, 4-week depth distribution, operating efficiency, race predictor, VO2 Max, threshold zones, coaching focus |
| Wrist-based operating 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/ power information | Physique Battery, sleep rating and insights, nap detection, all-day stress information | Nightly sleep phases, all-day stress information |
| Well being information | Resting coronary heart price, excessive/low HR warnings, respiration price, rest reminders, Well being Snapshot, ladies’s well being monitoring | Resting coronary heart price, Wellness Verify |
| Security | Incident detection, Livetrack | ❌ |
| Suitable Third-party apps | Newbie Triathlete, Concept2, Fetcheveryone, Closing 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, Closing Surge, Runalyze, Operating Quotient, Decathlon |
| Sports activities modes | 54: Operating, Out of doors Monitor Operating, Path Operating, Extremely Operating, Treadmill Operating, Indoor Monitor Operating, Digital Operating, Climbing, Strolling, Pilates, Yoga, Power, 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, Area Hockey, Ice Hockey, Soccer/Soccer, American Soccer, Lacrosse, Rugby, Final Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball, Boxing, Blended Martial Arts, Inline skating | 24: Run, Indoor Run, Monitor Run, Path Run, Hike, Bike, Indoor Bike, Open Water, Pool Swim, Flatwater, Rowing, Ski, Snowboard, XC Ski, GPS Cardio, Fitness center Cardio, Stroll, Triathlon, Multisport, Indoor Rower, Leap Rope, Power, 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 price.
Strictly relating to operating coaching, Garmin Join and COROS EvoLab are very related. In both case, you may 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 operating too quick or sluggish. Each manufacturers provide customized coaching plans you may obtain to your watch’s calendar, with goal race lengths or paces for any capacity 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 understand how lengthy you need to relaxation and get well 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 relating to 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 listing right here.
COROS has improved as a model in current months relating to smarts. Since November 2023, it is added personalized marathon coaching plans, HRV stress monitoring, a climate widget, turn-by-turn navigation, a operating kind take a look at (with an optionally available Pod), and a wellness test device 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 would say Physique Battery, each day instructed exercises, and tap-to-pay. Even when I do not often comply with them, I like how instructed exercises change based mostly on my fatigue, coaching load focus, and health degree; and whereas I personally use my telephone’s NFC funds, it is necessary to have the choice in case your telephone dies after a future.
Additionally, whereas I personally do not pay a lot consideration to operating kind evaluation, solely the Forerunner 255 helps wrist-based outcomes; the PACE 3 offers you operating energy by default however wants an optionally available Pod accent for superior metrics.
My one spotlight for COROS is its personalised marathon coaching plan function. Garmin Coach focuses on 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons, leaving marathoners to make use of extra inflexible coaching plans; COROS’ device pulls from previous exercise information and allows you to regulate 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 lots of the different greatest Garmin watches throughout the Forerunner and Intuition lineup bought it. It is a actually helpful metric that may give it an extra edge over the PACE 3, however Garmin continues to refuse to port the function. COROS does 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 must you 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 fundamental and lack correct apps or colourful shows. And whereas they’re nicely past what an entry-level operating watch would provide, they lack probably 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 plenty of runners see “smarts” as a distraction. Both the Forerunner 255 or PACE 3 will maintain issues centered in your marathon coaching, with some well being monitoring thrown in, and so they will not price an excessive amount of — particularly the PACE 3.
If I needed to advocate one, I would level you to the PACE 3, just because I feel 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 in addition to its toy-like design and particular options like Garmin Livetrak that, whereas good to have, most individuals hardly ever use.
All-around high quality
Select the Forerunner 255 if you would like the most important potential 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 would like options the extra superior Garmin Forerunners have, and think about the PACE 3 as an alternative of the 255S.
Reasonably priced excellence
Select the COROS PACE 3 if you wish to begin enhancing your operating coaching however do not need to spend tons of cash to do it — or if you would like music storage for almost half the worth because the 255. Do not select it if you would like each day exercise ideas, tap-to-pay, reside monitoring for security, or different particular instruments Garmin gives.
