Advantages
- Very long battery life
- Lightweight design with premium materials
- Digital knob for navigation
- Improved heart rate monitoring
- Dual GNSS frequency support
- Full-featured Coros Training Center
Defect
- Limited app support and notifications
- Can’t play music via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Those who have followed my work know that I love big watches. One of all, Coros Vertix 2, has served as my trusted companion for over a year. In fact, it took place on my other wrist while I was testing Apple Watch Ultra transparent 15K Tough Mudder. Now, Coros is back with Apex 2 and Apex 2 Proprovides the same software experience as Vertix but with hardware differences so users can choose the size, style and material they prefer.
Since Coros launched its first GPS sports watch, stellar battery life has been a hallmark of its products, and the Apex 2 Pro continues that trend with a 75 hour battery life (with all GNSS enabled) and 25 hours with multiband frequency enabled.
For those ratings, the Coros Apex 2 Pro offers a lot for half the price of its sibling, Enduro 2and even more fascinating as you explore Coros . Training Center. This is my full review of the newest contender in the GPS sport watch market.
Specifications
| Display | 1.3 inches 260 x 260 pixels |
|---|---|
| Material | Sapphire glass, titanium bezel, plastic body |
| Warehouse | 32GB |
| Reliability | 5 atm |
| Connection | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou/QZSS |
| Sensor | Accelerometer, Altimeter, Compass, Optical heart rate, Pulse oximeter, Electrocardiogram sensor, Thermometer |
| Battery | 75 hours (GPS and QZSS), 45 hours (all five), 26 hours (dual frequency) |
| Size | 46.1 x 46.5 x 14mm and 53 grams (with nylon strap) |
| Color | Gray, Black, Green |
| Price | $499 |
Premium materials and performance
Coros is known for making watches with premium materials for less than Apple and Garmin. The Apex 2 Pro is no different, with a scratch-resistant sapphire glass display and grade 5 titanium back and bezel. The watch faces are made of plastic, though not as polished as glass and metal. , but creates a durable outer shell.
Two buttons are found at the top and bottom of the right side, with a central digital watch face that rotates and pushes in to navigate the watch. The smartly designed dial supports input even when you’re wearing gloves, making it easier to scroll through lists and settings when you’re outdoors.
Than: The best sports watch you can buy
Navigation is optimized with these buttons. Matthew Miller / ZDNET
I have been using the Apex 2 Pro for almost a week now and the GPS performance has shown to be very close to Garmin Enduro 2 and Apple Watch Ultra which I tested it against. Equally impressive is the significantly better heart rate monitor for $699 Vertix 2, while going head-to-head with Garmin and Apple’s best products. Not bad for a Coros watch that’s hundreds of dollars cheaper.
Quick release pins and improved heart rate sensor are visible on the underside. Matthew Miller / ZDNET
One thing you can count on from Coros is updates over the years. Right out of the box, I received an update that added touchscreen capabilities to the watch. I was especially pleased to see that you can switch between always on touch screen input or just for the maps app. Note that while the touchscreen works for scrolling, it doesn’t work for touches to select items, meaning you’ll still need to press the digital dial to make selections.
Coros is also planning to release a Route Planner to help you develop routes so you can track your progress along the way. In the meantime, you can use third-party routing tools like Strava and Komoot.
Review: Coros Pod 2 helps you run faster and smarter
Coros App and Training Center
The Coros app is available for iOS and Android, with the same interface appearing on both platforms. The app is used to manage all Coros products, including connected watches and helmets, with a series of updates over the years that have made the software experience better than ever.
For example, there are all Part Coros EvoLab, customizable workout programs, training plans, muscle heat maps and more are available in the app. To get the most out of the Coros Apex 2 Pro, you’ll want to take the time to tailor the app experience for your use cases.
Then there are Coros . Training Center, a web-based tool that offers customizable dashboards, EvoLab metrics, activity lists, and training schedules. As someone who loves viewing and analyzing data, it’s great to see all the metrics and then find ways to improve those metrics through training and exercise. It’s a powerful tool for trainers, and you can even create and manage user groups.
Review: I put the Apple Watch Ultra through a layer of hard mud: Here’s how it’s held
The Coros Training Center provides insights into your performance and stats. Image: Coros
Unlike Apple, where your Apple Watch data resides on your watch and iPhone, Training Center allows you to use your computer or tablet screen to drill down into all the details of your workout, see your trends over time, and analyze your collected data into content. your heart. That’s a pretty powerful feature.
Garmin has a similar web-based interface, but could certainly learn a few tricks from Coros and provide a diagnostic tool like this to a large number of users.
Than: Coros Launches Web-Based Training Center: A Free Service for Coaches and Athletes
Coros Apex 2 Pro vs Apex 2
The recent Coros launch saw two new Apex 2 watches, and while I focus most of this review on Apex 2 Pro, the software and functions of both watches are exactly the same. The main difference, listed below, lies in the hardware.
The watch has high quality materials and a comfortable strap. Matthew Miller / ZDNET
- Display: 1.3 inches 260×260 pixels (Apex 2 Pro) to 1.2 inches 240×240 pixels (Apex 2)
- Support GNSS: Apex 2 Pro supports dual frequency GNSS
- Weight: 53 grams versus 42 grams with nylon straps
- Battery life: 75 hours in GPS mode vs 45 hours
- On-board memory: 32GB vs 8GB
- Map: Preload vs PC download
- Watch strap width: 22mm vs 20mm
As for the Apex 2 Pro comparison to the original Apex Pro, there are major updates including enhanced GNSS support, Wi-Fi, a new optical heart rate sensor, an extra control button, native music support and sapphire glass construction. However, Coros has removed ANT+ support, which could be an issue for some people using ANT+ accessories or other exercise devices that support this technology.
Review: Coros Vertix 2 challenges Garmin with longer battery life, lower price, and dual GNSS support
Key point
Given Coros’ track record with software updates, I look forward to further support with health and wellness features for Apex 2 Pro.
While the watch’s app catalog isn’t as robust as Apple’s, Samsung’s, or Google’s, it does offer remote camera support for Insta360 and GoPro cameras, which proves to be quite useful in the My recent Tough Mudder event where I used Vertix 2 to control GoPro Hero 9 mounted on my head. This is a feature missing from Garmin and Apple watches and could enhance the experience for outdoor athletes.
A durable GPS sports watch that offers appeal to the masses. Matthew Miller / ZDNET
The Coros Apex 2 Pro is a solid GPS sports watch. That said, similar prices Garmin Forerunner 955 features better maps, the usual music streaming services, Garmin Pay, third-party app support, and more accurate GPS results. That said, for $100 less, Model Coros 2 for $399 is also an attractive option for users on the go.
Alternatives to consider
The Coros Apex 2 Pro is a solid GPS sports watch at $499, but it gets better with software updates. Here are some other options in the same price range to consider.
