I hate change. I’m the guy who drives the same route to work every day, eats the same breakfast before every long ride, and refuses to make plans unless they’re penciled in weeks ahead. Routine is my security blanket. So when COROS reached out asking if I wanted to try the all-new PACE 4, I hesitated. I’m 8 days from trying to break 10 hours at Ironman Arizona and switching devices meant disrupting a rhythm that’s been locked in for years.
I’ve always been a Garmin guy. My Edge 530 lived on my handlebars for years, and my Fenix 6X Sapphire has rarely left my wrist since I bought it on Facebook Marketplace 5 years ago. They’ve seen every workout, and been with me through every race. But over the last few years, I’ve started to branch out—slowly.
First with the bike computer. As I headed into Unbound Gravel XL, I needed something with solar power and battery life that could survive 359 miles of dirty Kansas gravel and a 30 hours in the sun. I’d been COROS-curious for a while, and after a ridiculous amount of research, I made the leap and bought the COROS DURA. It lasted the entire race on a single charge—from sunrise, through the night, and into the next evening. The experience was good and I was sold.
So when they called about the PACE 4, I decided to see if lightning could strike twice.
🔥 Here’s What’s Awesome
Lighter than a Gel. Seriously. At 11.8 mm thin and 39 grams, all-in, its lighter than the SIS gels I love.
Battery that Impresses. ~41h with High-GPS on (all systems), ~31 h dual-frequency, up to ~19 days daily use. Excellent for an ultralight AMOLED.
Action Button = fewer taps. Keep vertical data stacks with the dial, jump horizontally into maps, pins, (and soon media) with one click.
Voice as a training tool. Record post-workout logs on the spot.
😷 Here’s What Stinks
Mineral Glass Display. It helps with weight/price, but not as scratch-resistant as Sapphire longterm.
Limited Watch Faces. I like a very certain set of data on my watch face. The ones offered were limited and the ‘create your own’ were more limited and booty cheeks.
Needs More Storage. A bit nit-picky but don’t plan on downloading a huge amount of media files, routes, etc. on this device. It comes preloaded with 2.3 / 4GB filled up.
Real Life with PACE 4
In many ways, you’d think going from the Garmin Fenix 6X Sapphire would be a downgrade. Yes, it’s now 6 years old but it continues to hold 21 days of battery life and is built like an absolute tank.
So the first time I pulled the PACE 4 out of the box I was really shocked by how light it was. Like. Feather light. So light I took to our food scale and yup, the watch was lighter than a SIS gel.
Had I been so focused on over compensating with the Fenix than I was ignorant to how amazing a lighter yet fully capable watch was? It barely registered on my wrist —exactly what I want from a training partner.
Its 11.8 mm profile and new 2.5D glass edge felt smooth, not sharp in any way. I’ve worn plenty of watches that remind you they’re there every time you move your arms in a run, or try to rip off your wetsuit mid-Ironman. This one is different. It blends in, never asking to be main character.
Your Voice as a Feature
During the media briefing, COROS’ voice-first philosophy caught me off guard. I know its something they’ve started to lean into more but this was something their CEO Lewis Wu jumped in to reiterate.
Voice is the future of logging training feedback.
At first, I thought it was a gimmick—who wants to talk to their watch?
But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. So after a long taper run, I finished the workout and recorded how it felt. I spoke for 23 seconds noting the legs are feeling fresh and my Ironman pace of 210 felt each and how I could maybe bump it up to 230.
Then BOOM – the file logged instantly, transcribed automatically and perfectly, and sat right next to my data.
Voice isn’t about dictation — it’s about honesty in the moment. It wasn’t me logging into Training Peaks hours later when I no longer cared about how it felt, it was seconds after completely the final rotation of the pedals.
We all tell ourselves a polished version of how a session went after the shower, and a latte. But in that raw, post-effort moment, you tell the truth and as an endurance coach myself, that is the REAL shit I want from my athletes. And it allows the self-coached athletes to go back for a reality check later.
COROS knows athletes might roll their eyes at voice the same way people laughed at Garmin’s flashlight when it launched. But give it time. The flashlight became standard because it solved a real problem. NOT DYING.
Voice could be the same (with smaller consequences) — bridging the gap between data and feeling, turning every workout into a living record instead of a glossy Instagram version.
RANT – My only gripe with voice logging is that COROS should rethink how athletes get to recording training logs. Even if it is a few extra steps, it doesn’t need to be. As it is today, you complete and save an activity, then scroll down and select RPE, inputting your Perceived Exertion from the workout and then pressing the digital dial to record a Voice Training Log. Why not have the software simply ask you “Do you want to record your Voice Training Log” when you finish a workout? Asking anyone to take extra steps this day in age is tough, especially when their brain may already be fried from a hard session.
Action Button
By the second workout, I realized how much the new Action Button changes muscle memory. i went from not really understanding to oh-I get it now. COROS thinks in two directions: you scroll vertically through your usual heart-rate and pace pages, then hop sideways with a single press into maps, pins, or (soon) music controls. No endless scrolling, no lost focus. It’s a small shift that makes the watch feel built for athletes.
Battery Life & Performance
While I haven’t had the watch for 19 days, battery life held up better than expected. With always-on display off, I’ve made it through a full week of runs, rides, and daily wear and still have 55 percent remaining. Switch AOD on hit runs with GPS, and you’ll hit the charger more often, but still less than you’d think for a watch this bright. GPS accuracy never faltered and my runs and paces felt accurate. And the HR readings were as steady as any wrist sensor I’ve tested.
By week’s end, I stopped noticing the tech and just noticed how much it helped. No friction, no over-engineering—just tools that I care about. COROS put effort into this one and if they’re going after beginners, they clearly want to nail a good experience and keep people coming back for more.
The Details
Details are in my DNA. As a coach, I’m always mining my athletes data for the details. As an athlete, I’m planning weeks in advance. So when I get surprised by a company, I have to discuss it.
In the box, COROS provides a tiny (highly lost) proprietary charger. It also provide a key ring. Highly lost tiny charger, meet key ring. Genius.
What to Know
COROS PACE 4: $249. No subscription
Battery (claimed): Up to 41 GPS hours and 19days of daily use (-6 with AOD)
Display: 1.2” AMOLED, 390×390, up to 1,500 nits; 2.5D mineral glass
Weight: from 32 g (nylon band) to 39 g (silicone band)
Colors: Black and white
Verdict: Punching Up Shouldn’t be Costly
For an industry that prides itself on $600 jackets and $800 training watches, the COROS PACE 4 surprised me with how much it offers at an entry-level price.
PACE 4 lands on rare air. It looks modern, wears invisible, stays accurate, and adds features (Action Button, voice logs/pins) that remove friction versus selling you add-ons. It’s priced appropriately right alongside cheaper Garmin Forerunners, yet consistently feels like it’s giving you more ways to train well—not more reasons to pay.
If you need Apple/Samsung Pay, premium materials, downloadable music, full maps or 50-hour single-activity battery, look at COROS Apex or the Garmin Fenix line.
Whether you’re a long time athlete who is looking for a change or someone preparing for their first 5K, PACE 4 gives you an ultralight, bright, honest multisport watch that respects your wallet and can your training coach.
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*Disclaimer: COROS sent me a PACE 4 for testing 9 days before launch. All they asked for was my thoughts, comments, and review which are all my own and real. If this watch sucked, I’d have said so. Also. f*ck AI writing.
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