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Coros Apex vs Garmin Instinct 2

Coros Apex

112 reviews

View Product Details

Garmin Instinct 2

Garmin Instinct 2

71 reviews

View Product Details

Best Bang for the Buck

OutdoorGearLab · Best GPS Watch of 2022

#17 most mentioned

Reddit · r/trailrunning

Best Overall Sports Watch

Switchback Travel · Best Sports Watches of 2022

#32 most mentioned

Reddit · r/smartwatch

Great battery life

Stylish design

Data-rich companion app

Breadcrumb trail navigation feature

Advanced fitness metrics like VO2 max

Great GPS accuracy

Rugged and durable design

Excellent battery life

Body Battery metric provides useful information about rest and recovery

Suitable for outdoor activities like hiking, trail running, and fishing

Not a touch screen

No contactless payments

No ability to store songs locally

Not as user-friendly as some other smartwatches

Can be overly complicated to set up and use

Workout features can drain battery life faster

Verdict

The Coros Apex is a multisport GPS watch with excellent battery life and a data-rich companion app that offers a wealth of insights about your performance biking, running, swimming, and more. It offers similar functionality to the Garmin Forerunner 735XT, with better battery life and a more stylish design, making it our Editors’ Choice. Pros: - Excellent battery life - Stylish design - Data-rich companion app - Breadcrumb trail navigation feature - Comparably priced to Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music - Offers advanced fitness metrics like VO2 max - Smart features like contactless payments and the ability to store songs locally Cons: - No touch screen

Verdict

Overall, the reviews for the Garmin Instinct 2 are positive, with many users praising its ruggedness, GPS accuracy, and fitness tracking features. The watch is particularly well-suited for outdoor activities like hiking, trail running, and fishing. Some users find the watch overly complicated to set up and use, but most agree that it is a significant upgrade from the original Instinct. The battery life is also highly praised, although it does drain faster when using workout features. The Body Battery metric is a standout feature for many users, providing useful information about their rest and recovery. Overall, the Garmin Instinct 2 is recommended for those looking for a durable, feature-packed smartwatch for outdoor activities and fitness tracking.

Reviews by Topic

Our analysis shows how reviewers feel about different topics. Please note these are not full reviews.

Activity Tracking

Coros Apex Review

When setting up the Apex, the app asks you to select your training level (light, moderate, or hard), and set your daily calorie and exercise goals. I’m an average runner at best, so I selected the light training level, and went with the default recommendations of 153 calories and 39 minutes of exercise. If you find your exercise goals too easy, you can change them in the app. When you meet your daily goal, the Apex vibrates and shows a congratulatory message on its screen

Positive

From a watch enthusiast perspective, needs improvement

Had it worked, I would have kept the Instinct 2. As mentioned, if you want a gps enabled fitness watch, and don’t care about the shortcomings I’ve mentioned, either of these would work, but I think the real value is the Instinct 2. As it stands, both of these watches left me wondering, “Why not just purchase a handheld Garmin GPS with an inherently larger screen for times when I need Garmin gps features? Or why not buy an Apple Watch for the premier smart watch experience and add the Workoutdoors app to it? Ultimately I put All Trails on my phone, and a regular watch on my wrist.

Connectivity

Multi-sport with A Focus On Runners

For those thinking that perhaps the Coros has a hardware issue, I should note that I had Bluetooth issues on the Pace 2 in many of the similar ways. And for those thinking it’s my phone, I had the same issue with my iPhone 11 and the Pace 2 as well. This is either the Bluetooth stack on their devices, or a poor handling of the Bluetooth API interactions on iOS. As I finally finished my customization (new watch face, workout screen modifications [data fields]), I was able to finally start putting the Apex Pro through it’s paces

OK, but syncing is terrible

I don't know what their problem is -- why don't they fix it? Are their electronic techs and engineers hired base on political bases like inclusiveness and diversity rather than competency? Probably, just like most companies today. I have no trouble with Bluetooth connectivity for all my other Non-Garmin devices, so it is not the smart phone.

Fit

Great GPS watch w/ lackluster iPhone app

I actually give Fitbit the win on both mobile and website interfaces. I find the dark theme and low contrast text on the mobile app hard to read. I don't like that some screens/views require rotating the phone. And, it's just hard to see some of the data I want to see, like HR during specific parts of a workout

youtube

Garmin Instinct 2 In-Depth Review // 2 Sizes, VO2 Max, Unlimited Battery Life, and more!

Again, very much in line with the phoenix 7x solar. The new instinct 2s also come with garmin's latest 4th generation, elevated heart rate sensor, whi...

Positive

Price

Are fitness bands becoming redundant?

I'm in love with my Coros Apex. Got it for $300 on sale. I seriously do not think there is a better deal for a watch. To get a comparable Garmin I'd have to spend $650

Positive

reddit.com/r/running

youtube

Garmin Instinct 2 In-Depth Review - YouTube

So the base model, the non-solar Instinct 2 and 2S starts at $349. If you upgrade to the solar model, it comes in at $449. On top of that, you've got ...

Positive

Battery Life

Battery life is the only selling point

I almost forgot I had it on at times. The battery life is the selling point of this watch (and frankly, all Coros products). A bit better than what I get on my Fenix 6X. The trade-off in software and lack of data ultimately had me stick with Garmin though

A lot to learn but worth it.

Pretty good watch. Battery life is excellent. It drops a lot faster if you are actually using the workout features, but still pretty good. I wear it almost 24/7 to help track my sleep and heart stuff so the fact that i dont need to charge it everynight like every other smart watch helps

Durability

Upgrading from Fitbit to Garmin

I have had a 245 for 2 years and it’s pretty dope. I really can’t see myself upgrading to a different running watch (though having Garmin Pay would be nice).

Positive

reddit.com/r/running

When I think of frugality I think of value. What are some items or services that have great VALUE to you?

2+ years ago I got a Garmin Instinct outdoors watch on sale for about $250. One of the best purchases I've ever made. Very rugged watch that I wear pretty much every day for work and tracking daily activities like hiking, trail running, biking, etc. Great mix of activity tracking and smartwatch features without being annoying

Positive

reddit.com/r/Frugal

Notifications

What smartwatch are you using with your pixel?

I only use the text & call notifications because everything else was just overwhelming/obnoxious. That's also because my Pixel was updated & the "new & improves bubbles" turned my notifications to shit.

Positive

reddit.com/r/GooglePixel

Screen to difficult to read

Majority of the time when I get a notification vibration I pull out my phone to read it because its not easy to read on this screen.

Design

Great GPS watch w/ lackluster iPhone app

And, it's just hard to see some of the data I want to see, like HR during specific parts of a workout. The iPhone app interface is why I gave it a 4 star instead of 5 star and I'd probably only deduct half a start if that were possible.

youtube

Garmin Instinct 2 In-Depth Review: 12 Things You Need To ...

That is not on the base edition, but that is the only software feature difference aside from solar, of course, between the base editions and the solar...

Neutral

Comfort

Moved from Garmin, no regrets.

No complaints. It is comfortable to ware all day and night. It is very light and does not feel thick in the wrist. The Band: The band is also very light and comfortable

Honestly, I have no complaints. The more expensive watches might have more bells and whistles, but I wouldn't use those even if I had them.

Positive

reddit.com/r/triathlon

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