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COROS APEX 4
US$249
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Garmin Forerunner 570
US$549
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Choosing between the COROS PACE 4 and Garmin Forerunner 170 is essentially choosing between two different approaches to a modern running watch. COROS focuses heavily on battery life, lightweight construction and straightforward performance data, while Garmin offers a broader ecosystem of training, health and smartwatch features.
Both are aimed at runners who want more than basic pace and distance tracking, but their strengths are noticeably different.
Main Differences
The biggest differences can be summarized quickly:
Best battery life: COROS PACE 4
Best smartwatch features: Garmin Forerunner 170
Best value for serious runners: COROS PACE 4B
est health and wellness ecosystem: Garmin Forerunner 170
Best for long-distance running: COROS PACE 4
Best for runners who want an all-around smartwatch: Garmin Forerunner 170
Design and Display
Both watches use a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, making them considerably brighter and more colorful than older generations of running watches. COROS says the PACE 4 uses a 390 × 390 AMOLED panel and has redesigned the watch around a slim 43.4 × 43.4 × 11.8 mm body.
The philosophy behind the PACE 4 is clearly minimalistic. It is designed to almost disappear on the wrist during a run, which is particularly attractive for marathon training, interval sessions and athletes who also wear the watch while sleeping.
Garmin takes a slightly more smartwatch-oriented approach. The Forerunner 170 also features a vibrant 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen but combines it with Garmin's traditional five-button control system. This is useful during workouts because runners can navigate the watch without relying entirely on the touchscreen.
Winner: COROS PACE 4 for lightweight performance; Garmin for controls and everyday usability.
GPS and Running Performance
Running performance is where both watches become much more interesting.
The COROS PACE 4 is designed primarily as a performance tool. It provides metrics such as VO₂ Max, lactate threshold, Running Fitness, recovery information, Race Predictor and Virtual Pacer. COROS also offers personalized marathon plans through its training ecosystem.
The Forerunner 170 goes deeper into Garmin's training ecosystem. Garmin includes training readiness, training status, wrist-based running power, running dynamics and adaptive Daily Suggested Workouts.
Garmin Coach can also create plans that adjust according to performance, recovery and health data.
The difference is less about whether the watches can track running properly—they both can—and more about how much interpretation they provide.
COROS presents training information in a relatively clean, athlete-focused environment.
Garmin provides significantly more layers of data and recommendations. For runners who enjoy analyzing every part of their training load and recovery, Garmin has an advantage. Athletes who prefer a simpler interface may actually find COROS easier to use consistently.
Winner: Garmin Forerunner 170 for training analytics, although COROS remains extremely competitive for pure running.
Battery Life: A Huge COROS Advantage
Battery life is probably the biggest difference between these watches.
The COROS PACE 4 can reach up to 19 days of regular use and up to 41 hours of continuous GPS tracking in All Systems mode.
The Garmin Forerunner 170 reaches up to 10 days in smartwatch mode. Garmin's published estimates for the Forerunner 170 Music indicate up to approximately 20 hours in GPS-only mode and 14 hours with all satellite systems enabled.
That is a substantial advantage for COROS.
For a runner training four or five times per week, this can mean charging the PACE 4 much less frequently. It becomes even more important for marathoners, ultrarunners and athletes traveling for races.
Winner: COROS PACE 4, by a large margin.
Health and Recovery Tracking
Garmin traditionally puts more emphasis on monitoring the user throughout the entire day, and the Forerunner 170 continues that strategy.
It includes advanced sleep tracking, Sleep Coach, HRV status, Pulse Ox, lifestyle logging and Garmin's Health Status features. These metrics are combined with training data to influence readiness and workout recommendations.
COROS also monitors sleep, recovery, HRV, heart rate, steps and training response. Recent software updates have expanded COROS sleep analysis and recovery information as well.
However, Garmin still provides the more extensive overall health ecosystem.
Winner: Garmin Forerunner 170.
Smartwatch Features
This is another area where Garmin separates itself.
The Forerunner 170 supports Garmin Pay, allowing compatible users to make contactless payments directly from the watch. If you choose the Forerunner 170 Music, you can also download music and podcasts from supported services and listen using Bluetooth headphones without carrying a smartphone.
The PACE 4 is much more sports-oriented. COROS provides smartphone notifications and training-focused functionality, but it does not try to compete as aggressively with Apple Watch-style lifestyle features.
This difference matters depending on how you intend to use the watch.
If the device will primarily be on your wrist during training, COROS makes a lot of sense.
If it will also be your everyday smartwatch, Garmin becomes more attractive.
Winner: Garmin Forerunner 170.
Price and Value
The standard COROS PACE 4 starts at approximately US$249, while the Garmin Forerunner 170 launched at US$299.99.
The Forerunner 170 Music increases the price to US$349.99.That makes the COROS particularly interesting.Despite costing less, it offers outstanding GPS battery life, an AMOLED screen and a serious collection of running metrics.Garmin costs more, but part of the premium pays for the broader Garmin ecosystem, additional wellness features, Garmin Pay and, depending on the version, integrated music.
Which Should You Buy?
Final Verdict
The Garmin Forerunner 170 is the more complete smartwatch, but the COROS PACE 4 may actually be the better running watch for the money.
Garmin wins when it comes to ecosystem, health monitoring, smart functions and the amount of information available to the athlete.
COROS counters with something extremely important: simplicity, excellent running functionality and dramatically longer battery life at a lower price.
For someone who wants a watch mainly to train and race, I would choose the COROS PACE 4.
For someone looking for a combination of running watch + fitness tracker + smartwatch, the Garmin Forerunner 170 is the stronger overall package.