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Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. When the Coros Pace 3 was released in 2023, I praised its lightweight form factor at just 30 grams. The all-new Coros Pace 4 continues that trend with some significant improvements at nearly the same weight, while including a brilliant AMOLED display, new optical heart rate sensor, and a microphone for recording training logs and voice pins. Also: I tested the best sports watches in 2025: Here are the latest and greatest watches, no matter your budget Coros also added a new left-side button, similar to the Nomad and Apex 4, for specific functions within sport modes. Despite the sub-$250 price, the vivid AMOLED display is also a touchscreen so you can use the buttons and the touchscreen to navigate the UI, with the top right button acting as a dial that's easy to scroll through the various menus and widgets. Software feature improvements in the Pace 4 include menstrual cycle tracking, connected smartphone music controls, and a flashlight utility that has three levels of brightness for the AMOLED display. By the way, this flashlight utility is now available on other AMOLED Coros watches, so go update your watch if you have a different Coros model. Unlike the comparable Garmin Forerunner 165 base model, the Pace 4 supports on-board music support, but it's only for downloaded MP3 files -- not offline subscription music. In order to have a more accurate training readiness value, I recommend capturing your metrics while you sleep. Past Coros watches have been a bit chunky, and while I like big watches, they're harder to sleep with. The Coros Pace 4, by comparison, is so light and sleek that I barely even notice it on my wrist while I sleep. Additionally, I was pleased with the sleep stage results when compared to other watches and my Oura Ring 4. Coros provides full-featured health and fitness experiences across all of its watches, with the differentiator between the various models focused on size, watch materials, offline mapping, and focused activities such as rock climbing. With the Pace 4, you can create free race training plans, run with a virtual pacer, check out your race predictions, and have access to both a very capable smartphone application and advanced Training Hub. The ability to access and use all of the data captured by such a small watch is impressive and something others charge for to get access. I wore the Coros Pace 4 to track my outdoor runs, indoor rowing, walks, and daily living for the past couple of weeks, and found the heart rate and location tracking to be very accurate. I was also thrilled with the long battery life that allowed me to travel twice to the East Coast without even needing to recharge the watch. Also: Finally, a smartwatch that competes with my Garmin in battery life (but it's cheaper) The Coros Pace 4 is clearly targeted for folks who want a very lightweight, comfortable watch that supports a wide range of sports modes, has long battery life, and lots of customization. Despite the light weight and small size, the Pace 4 will track you via GPS for up to 41 hours, or perform for up to 19 days in typical use. A handy USB-C charging adapter is included with a keychain connector so it can easily travel with you. The Pace Pro is still available for those that need global offline maps with about the same battery life and larger size, and the Pace 3 is also still available, for now, but I highly recommend that you pay a bit more for the Pace 4. Keep an eye on the Coros website for some pricing updates of those two watches in the near future, and keep in mind that the same 22mm bands used on these two watches also work with the Pace 4. ZDNET's buying advice The Coros Pace 4 is not built for someone like me who loves big watches and a big screen, but it's perfect for those with smaller wrists who want a brilliant display at a very affordable $249 price point. Additionally, I can't say enough about how great the smartphone app and Training Hub website are for tracking your fitness trends and planning your custom training plan. Coros continues to challenge Garmin, Polar, and Suunto and in many cases is beating these companies with customization, price, and free coaching.
