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Coros Apex vs Garmin Vivoactive 4

Coros Apex

112 reviews

View Product Details

Garmin Vivoactive 4

Garmin Vivoactive 4

210 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

#5 most mentioned

Reddit · r/garmin

#7 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 high-end fitness tracker with advanced metrics

Accurate tracking of sleep, breathing, and stress

Motivating training plans

Contactless payments

Downloadable apps and onboard music storage

Not a touch screen

No contactless payments

No ability to store songs locally

Not as stylish as some other fitness trackers

Battery life could be better

No built-in altimeter for tracking elevation

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

The Garmin Vivoactive 4 is a great choice for those looking for a high-end fitness tracker with advanced metrics and smartwatch features. It offers accurate tracking of sleep, breathing, and stress, motivating training plans, contactless payments, downloadable apps, onboard music storage, and the ability to leave your phone at home while exercising. Additionally, it can be paired with other devices such as chest strap heart rate monitors for more accurate readings during workouts.

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

youtube

Garmin vívoactive 4S First Impressions // Activities, Menus & Animated Workouts!

So, let's go and back out of there for a second next one's gon na, be your health stats, your heart rate, stress level, body bout in respiration and t...

Positive

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

An Amazing Smartwatch—But Beware of Updates and Garmin "Customer Service".

maybe not exactly. From the first quarter of 2021 through most of July, my device performed admirably. Sure, sometimes the GPS can take a while to connect, but overall, the watch did everything it was supposed to. It consistently did a good job

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

Garmin Vivoactive 4 Review

The Vivoactive 4 gamifies fitness by giving you badges for certain achievements. When you earn a new badge, the watch will vibrate and a congratulatory message will pop up on the screen. To view all your badges, visit the Garmin Connect app, tap My Day at the bottom, then tap your photo or avatar at the top of the screen to open your profile.

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

Works as described

As far as cost/value rationing, given accuracy, with bias as purchased prime day at a discount, it definitely for me was a winner without the chicken dinner.

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

nice watch, weak battery life, music sync didnt work, too complicated/clunky interface, 4s too small

I didn't realize that one hour of running with the GPS on and music on would kill two days of "smartwatch" mode, or that a few hours of use in gps tracking mode w/o music would do the same thing. So on average if you are using this the way it is intended you should really expect to have to charge it every 2-3 days minimum. If you're doing longer gps exercises or listening to music then you'll probably change every day. And charging isn't quick, it does charge up to 80% fairly fast but the next 20% seems to take forever

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

Pretty cool features questionable longevity

I have only had this for a week and a half and while it’s very informative and has lots of cool features and really keeps me motivated. I am however concerned it’s not going to last for the long haul. The bezel has already worn into the metal in one spot and I’m not sure how as I’m pretty careful and haven’t been playing rough. I’m not sure I can wear this to work once my landscaping job starts back up as it may not withstand it

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

Basically what I was looking for

It's summarizes you day or week probably more but I have only had the phone for 1.5 weeks.

Software Updates

So I've recently update the firmware of my Coros Apex and updated the app. After that the watch was unpaired from my phone and I can't pair it. I've tried everything. I've reset all network connection and cache on my phone, restarted my phone and watch, reset my watch, but still nothing

Negative

reddit.com/r/Coros

Excellent product, performs as described.

6) For much faster initial software updates I would recommend to install the Desktop app and update the watch from there.

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.

Out of Pure Curiosity - Does this Community Prefer Transflective MIP or AMOLED Displays?

I found a lot of nice looking watchfaces (of rather simplistic design/coloration) that look nice in the MIP display so I wear the VA4 constantly.

Positive

reddit.com/r/Garmin

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

Battery life or GPS? You can only pick one...

Fit and comfort on my small wrist seems to be very good. Band fits me great, to the point I'm starting to think my wrist isn't as small as I thought it was. Explicit Exercise tracking - when you set it to track an activity - mostly walking for me - it works great. The app draws a very precise map of my route and indicates the distance to a high level of accuracy

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