CorosvsGarmin
Coros Pace 4 vs Garmin Forerunner 965: comparison
Coros Pace 4 vs Garmin Forerunner 965 using the data from our reviews: score, who each one is for, and their strengths and weaknesses.
Summary of both reviews
| Coros Pace 4 | Garmin Forerunner 965 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 80/100 | 84/100 |
| Who it is for | Runners and endurance athletes who want a light AMOLED watch with HRV, sleep tracking and weeks of battery, with no monthly fee and no closed ecosystem. | Runners and triathletes who want a watch with multi-band GPS, maps and HRV and readiness metrics for training, and who prefer weeks of battery to phone features. |
| Skip it if | You want a smartwatch with apps, payments and phone features, or you need ECG and skin temperature to keep an eye on your recovery. | You want a watch with voice calls, ECG or the brightest display in the range, or you would rather use a ring or band for sleep with nothing bulky on your wrist. |
| Check price | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon |
Each score comes from its full review, with its sources and criteria. The two scores are only comparable within the same type of product.
Coros Pace 4
Pros
- • Stated battery life of up to 19 days of daily use and 41 hours of GPS, at only 32 g with the nylon strap.
- • Records HRV, sleep stages and resting heart rate, with a recovery and training app and no fee mentioned on the product page.
- • Dual-frequency GPS and a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen.
Cons
- • No independent validation found for sleep or HRV; wrist heart rate accuracy varies with effort.
- • No ECG or skin temperature, and SpO2 confirmed only by third-party sources.
- • No ANT+, no payments or third-party apps, and no full offline mapping according to reviews.
Garmin Forerunner 965
Pros
- • Battery of up to 23 days in watch mode and up to 31 hours of GPS, according to Garmin's manual, although the figure drops with multi-band GPS and the always-on display.
- • Multi-band GPS with SatIQ, which switches modes to save battery; in DC Rainmaker’s test the running and cycling tracks came out clean.
- • Overnight HRV and a daily training readiness score with no mandatory fee: existing Garmin Connect features remain free, according to Garmin.
Cons
- • It is the previous model: the Forerunner 970 adds a brighter sapphire display, flashlight, speaker and microphone, and ECG.
- • No ECG sensor, and in specialist tests the optical HR failed in very short intervals.
- • With the always-on display, battery life falls well below the advertised 23 days, and Garmin also offers an optional subscription (Connect+) that covers new features.
Coros Pace 4
What the Coros Pace 4 measures, how long its battery lasts, what it lacks next to the Pace 4 Pro and who it suits as a running and recovery watch.
Garmin Forerunner 965
What the Garmin Forerunner 965 measures, how long its battery really lasts, what remains free in Garmin Connect and whether it beats the Forerunner 970.