Review – Who Needs A Garmin When You Have A Coros Apex?

When it comes to GPS and sport, Garmin is probably the biggest name out there. But just because they are big, doesn’t mean they are the best. Coros, a California brand that started in smart cycling helmets back in 2016 with the Lynx, is becoming a powerhouse in the running, triathlon, and outdoor GPS segment with multiple models of watches. We had a few months to run, ride, and hike with the Apex 46mm to see just how capable it is.

I have been a Garmin user for over a decade with various Edge computers since the 305 and Forerunners, including the 920XT that I still currently use as my running watch. All have worked well, but there were always some issues/bugs with either the hardware, software, or Garmin Connect. Since then, I turned to the Leyzne Super GPS, Wahoo Elemnt, and currently the Stages Dash computers for cycling, but there are times that a watch is a better option. Cyclocross, when you are swapping between bikes, du- and triathlons, where you are competing in multiple types of events, or even gravel and bike packing, when your bars can be filled with lights or handlebar bags, are just a few, not to mention if you cross-train with weight training, running, or other forms of cardio. Sometimes, you just want to go out and enjoy a ride and not have a screen in front of you with numbers.

The Coros Apex is the brand’s third-tier model. The top tier Vertix is the brand’s headliner mountain watch. It is made for exploring and ultra-distance trail running, yet is still at home in a 5k, a bike ride, the gym, or in the office. Since I mentioned Garmin earlier, for an apples to apples comparison, think of it on the same level as the Fenix. The Apex Pro is next in line as the brand’s full-featured triathlon watch and would be on the same level as the Forerunner 900 series. The Apex would be around the same level as the 700XT series. Finally, the Pace 2, the brand’s budget new feature-packed entry-level watch.

The Apex is Coros’ “entry-level” triathlon watch. I put that in quotes because even though it might lack some of the features of the Pro (touch screen, Pulse Ox, blood oxygen monitoring, altitude mode), it is still a very solid watch. It can handle anything from running, cycling, swimming, hiking, gym workouts, or any of the 21 preset activities. And if you can’t find exactly what you are looking for, you can go with Gym Cardio.

The Apex uses an LCD display that measures 240×240 pixels. It can be run in light or dark mode, I preferred the dark. As far as sensors and communication protocols, it uses Bluetooth to connect to your phone, Bluetooth/ANT+ for external sensors has an optical heart rate monitor, barometric altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass. It is water-resistant down to 100m and uses GPS, GLONASS, and BDS for navigation. All of this is pretty standard for a watch at this price point.

For the optical heart rate monitor, I used it more for tracking my heart rate throughout the day but stuck to my chest strap for activities. The Apex seemed to measure fairly accurately, but when it comes to training, I have no problem with the chest strap. If you prefer to workout without any type of an external heart rate sensor, the Apex can handle it and will be pretty accurate for you.

It took me a little to get used to using the Apex, but once I did, I really liked it. Instead of six buttons on the 920XT, the Apex has one and the dial. You can customize how the buttons work, so I have the dial set that I have to hold it for a few seconds, and it unlocks the watch to use. You spin the dial to select the various activities or to get into the settings, and push it again to select. The other button acts as a back button. When in use, you use the dial to move from one screen to the next and to wrap up a workout, you use the dial. Push it once to pause and get to the screen to continue, save, or delete, spin to select save, and then hold it in and watch the count down from 3 and it saves. Once I got the buttons programmed to how I wanted them, I never had any issues with accidental pauses or losing any data.

On the bike, once I paired it with the speed, cadence, and power meters I was using, and set the speed sensor with the correct size tire, it was dead on with the Wahoo Elemnt or the Stages Dash. Speed, cadence, distance, and power all matched, which it should since it is pulling from the same sensors. The few times that I did not have the Apex and computer I was using paired to a speed sensor, I did get some slight variation in distance and speed due to GPS signal strength. It was about a 1% variation between the two, so honestly, it isn’t something I was concerned about.

The Apex does provide navigation if you choose to use it. I did use a route a few times, and it works. Personally though, if I am going to use navigation, I’d prefer a traditional cycling computer with a larger screen. You cannot create a route in the app, but you can add it if you already completed it as an activity. If it is a brand new route, create a .gpx file, and then add it to your phone. For iOS, find the route in the Files app, and do the “Open with…” function, selecting the Coros App. From there, the Coros app will open when the route has been saved, click Save. To add them to the watch, click on the Device logo in the lower right, click on Route, and then Import from Library. You can select which routes you’d like to have added (up to 10 total on the watch at a time), and then you are all set.

For running and the few hikes that I used it for, the Apex tracked well and was pretty accurate based on previous runs with my Garmin 920XT. My usual 5k course was always within a few hundredths of a mile compared to what the 920XT recorded. There was only one time that something was up with the GPS, and the route, along with some of my speed seemed off, but I can’t say that it has not happened with the Garmin before too. If one out of 100 runs and probably 20 bike rides was an issue, I’m okay with that.

In day to day use and sleep tracking, it was a great watch. Paired to my Apple iPhone 8 Plus, I received notifications from many different apps, phone, and text alerts, all of which were easy to read. In the Coros app, you get a wide range of metrics, including Active Energy (amount of calories burned), Exercise Time, Steps, Heart Rate, Sleep, Training Load, Fitness Index, and Fitness Level. for me, the Sleep, Fitness Index, and Fitness Level were the most interesting to look at. For Sleep, it dives into deep and light sleep levels, awake time, and tracks your heart rate throughout the night to help you understand how rested you are. When paired with the Training Load data, you can understand if you are under or overtraining, and how to move forward with your next workout. I used the Fitness Level metric as a motivator. The more you work out in the training zone, it continues to increase. If you over or undertrain, it will also affect your numbers.

As I mentioned earlier, I prefer the dark setting for the screen. During activities, I found it to be the easiest to read with or without sunglasses. The fields were big enough for me to read, even without my prescription lenses. As with just about any watch or computer, you can customize the screens for what is important to you. There are also various alerts that you can set for things like time, distance, nutrition, and hydration.

Workouts are another strong point for the Apex. Whether you are running, riding, swimming, or in the gym, you can create and upload workouts to the watch, and then use it to track them. An interesting update that came late in the review is the ability to create and track gym workouts, with a muscle heat map that tracks the number of reps for various muscle groups. I didn’t have a chance to try out the strength training feature, but it adds a new dimension to how the Apex can be used in your training.

When it comes to battery life, Coros has really made a name for themselves. For the 46mm, it is rated to 100 hours in UltraMax GPS mode, which is their most efficient but records less GPS data. In Full GPS mode, you can get 35 hours of activity tracking. For day to day use, it is rated at 30 days. Now, this doesn’t mean 30 days of sitting on a desk, not being worn, not connected to a phone or any sensors. This is 30 days of real-life usage, which I can attest to. I usually went about 2 weeks before I’d charge it back up, but even with daily GPS usage for running and riding, along with 24-hour heart rate tracking and sleep tracking, there was still some charge left. When it comes to charging, it uses a proprietary plug, which is okay, but using a micro USB would be so much more convenient when you need to charge and left the cable at home by accident.

My one problem with these metrics though is that it only factors in what you did on the watch, just like Garmin. If I did a Zwift workout, or a taught a spin class, or decided to use my cycling computer, and didn’t also turn on the Apex, the workout would not be counted in these metrics. On the other hand, if you use sites like TrainingPeaks or Strava, the Apex uploads to these and many other sites once you sync the watch with the app (and have your accounts connected). Something unique with the Coros app is that all of your workout and biometric data is stored on the app only.

The Apex is available in two sizes, 46mm and 42mm, and four colors. Silver/white and grey/black are available in both sizes. The 42mm also comes in a gold bezel with a maroon strap and the 46mm in a midnight black on black color. Other than size, the 42mm has a stainless steel bezel with sapphire glass, and the 46mm is upgraded to a titanium bezel. The 42mm is $299.99, with the 46mm Apex coming in at $349.99. Our 46mm sample weighed in at 54g, which is 1.3g below the claimed weight. It never felt heavy, and the silicone band was comfortable and breathable.

If it wasn’t for the fact that I had to send the Apex back, it would no brainer on using it as my running watch and I’d probably keep using it on my rides as well. For the riding I typically do, I don’t think I’d be ready to give up my cycling computer on every ride, but I’d use both to keep the fitness metrics going. If you rely on using a watch for your training though, the Coros Apex is a feature-rich contender that will give Garmin and any other watch in its category a challenge.

http://www.coros.com