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Coros Apex: an attractive multisport and triathlon watch

Coros Apex: an attractive multisport and triathlon watch

March 30, 2020

Technical characteristics
Coros Apex: in brief
Detailed review of the Coros Apex
Coros Apex versus Coros Pace comparison
Our opinion
Price and availability

Buy the Coros Apex 42 mm

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€ 299

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€ 299 € 284.05 (* 1)

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€ 299

(* 1) Discount of -5% on this product with the promo code ELC5 !

Buy the Coros Apex 46 mm

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Price (from)

i-Run

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€ 349

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€ 349 € 331.55 (* 1)

Amazon

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€ 349

(* 1) Discount of -5% on this product with the promo code ELC5 !

Commercial links. Non contractual prices. Please consult the merchant website.

Technical characteristics

WeightApex 42 mm: 49 gApex 46 mm: 55 g

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Coros Apex: in brief

An improved version of the Coros Pace

Coros is a Chinese start-up specializing in smart health connected helmets for bikes. It has recently launched into sports watches and released, in spring 2018, the Coros Pace (read our review and our opinion), a triathlon watch, for less than € 200. A few months later, it announced the launch of a new watch, still geared towards running and triathlon, but even more complete, more robust, elegant, with better autonomy and offering a completely revised and more practical interface: the Coros Apex.

This new model offered between 300 € and 350 € (depending on the model) can be seen as a revised and improved version of the Coros Pace. It is at the same level as the Garmin Forerunner 645 (without the many smart health connected functions offered by Garmin), the Suunto 5 or even the Polar Vantage V, but below high-end models like the Forerunner 945 or the Fenix 6.

3 major evolutions: noble materials, a “digital knob” to simplify navigation and 2 sizes of boxes as at Garmin

Unlike the Coros Pace with a slightly cheap look, it is offered in a nice design with a titanium or ceramic bezel (depending on the model), a sapphire crystal, an interchangeable bracelet without tools. The watch is therefore more robust but also more elegant.

Also new, it exists in 2 case sizes (43 and 47 mm) to adapt to all wrists, same purposes. Coros here adopts the strategy of Garmin and its Fenix offered in 3 sizes.

The other big change made by Coros on this new model is its interface. Instead of 4 push buttons, the watch has only 2 left, including a large knob, the "digital knob" for simplified navigation and possible use in difficult conditions (use of the watch during activity , use with gloves, use under water for example). Coros has taken up the concept of the Apple Watch here.

We find on the Apex a non-touch color transflective screen of 218 x 218 pixels for the small model (Apex 42 mm) and 240 x 240 pixels for the large model (Apex 46 mm). Each model can display up to 6 data per screen.

A serious alternative to Garmin, Polar and Suunto

The Coros Apex has a GLONASS, GPS, Galileo and Beidou (the Chinese satellite system) compatible GPS chip, a new wrist-based optical heart rate monitoring operating underwater, a barometric altimeter with manual or automatic calibration, a compass, a accelerometer, gyroscope and compatibility with external ANT + sensors (including cardio belt or armband, footpod, cadence, speed and power sensors for cycling). It is waterproof to 100 m (against 50 m for the Coros Pace) and therefore allows use in diving.

Its autonomy is still a little improved compared to the Coros Pace but only on the large model (Apex 46 mm). It reaches 35 hours in training mode, 100 hours in UltraMax mode and 30 days in watch mode with activity tracking! We detail this further in the article.

It has 11 sports profiles: indoor and outdoor running and cycling, trail running, hiking, swimming in the sea and in the pool, triathlon / multisports, indoor and outdoor cardio.

In terms of sports functions, the watch offers a virtual coach (Coros Trainer) offering tailor-made training and evaluating recovery time. She also knows how to estimate, from the performance of the last activities, the running time for a 5 km, 10 km, half-marathon and marathon. The Apex offers some physiological measures (VO2max, lactic threshold, aerobic and anaerobic training effect, pace at the threshold in particular), the programming of simple interval training and, unlike the Coros Pace, GPS navigation (track, route tracking , return to departure).

The Coros Apex manages activity monitoring (steps, calories, climbs, quality of sleep) but does not measure the level of stress. It has alerts (heart rate, cadence, etc.).

It is a trail, running and triathlon oriented watch of excellent value for money which constitutes a serious alternative to the equivalent watches of the market leaders (Garmin, Polar, Suunto). Please note, it only works with a Smartphone (no web interface).

Go directly to our opinion on the Coros Apex

Detailed review of the Coros Apex

The design: 2 case sizes, a sapphire crystal and a titanium or ceramic bezel

The Coros Apex is an elegant watch offered in 2 case sizes (like Garmin!):

The Coros Apex 42 mm: with a 43 mm diameter and 11.75 mm thick case and a 1.1 inch screen in 218 x 218 pixels.
The Coros Apex 46 mm: with a 47 mm diameter and 12.9 mm thick case and a 1.2 inch screen in 240 x 240 pixels. Its autonomy is better than that of the small model.

The watch is available in several colors which vary depending on the model (gold, black, white with a silver, gray or gold colored bezel), with a silicone strap of 20 mm (Apex 42) or 22 mm (Apex 46) without tools. Coros offers a choice of additional bracelets and a varied palette of colors.

Unlike the Coros Pace, the Apex is equipped with a sapphire crystal (ultra-resistant) and a ceramic bezel (42 mm model) or titanium (46 mm model). This gives it an appearance that is both refined and robust. These noble materials obviously add a little weight to the watch but it remains very reasonable. With 49 and 55 g (against 48 g for the Coros Pace), we are a little above the weight of the Forerunner 645 (42 g) or the Forerunner 245 (38.5 g) but below that of Suunto 5 (66 g).

The screen offers a resolution of 240 x 240 px for the large model (like that of the Forerunner 245 and 945 or the Fenix 6S) and only 218 x 218 px for the small model (like the Fenix 5S). It is a transflective screen readable even in full sun but a little dark in low light. The backlight is activated by pressing a button or by moving the wrist. You can deactivate it completely (movement + button). It is also possible to deactivate only the lighting by movement of the wrist by defining a time slot for sleep (this allows the backlight to be used without being awakened by the light when the wrist is moved).

The Coros Apex screen offers up to 6 fully customizable data fields (including 6th field which is no longer reserved for the stopwatch as in previous versions of the firmware). In comparison, Garmin offers 4 fields on its watches but up to 6 to 8 fields (depending on the model) on its very recent Fenix 6.

Since March 2019, the French language has been added (after German and Spanish). We can therefore read the menus in French.

The digital knob: easy and accessible navigation even when wearing gloves

One of the big differences of the Coros Apex compared to the Coros Pace is its completely revised interface. Three of the four pushbuttons have been replaced by a single thumbwheel, the "digital knob".

This concept taken from the Apple Watch allows you to scroll through commands and menus or even to zoom a screen with a simple finger. We turn the dial in one direction or the other and validate by pushing on it. This practical solution makes it possible, among other things, to use the watch with gloves, even when large, and facilitates navigation during a sporting activity including underwater.

Unlike the Apple Watch, the button is not "haptic" (no knocking effect), so a little less practical, especially for a first start. You can easily turn the dial a bit too much and skip a screen or two by mistake. But it improves after the first days of use.

The sensors

The Apex is equipped with all the useful sensors for triathlon and its activities, including indoor training, but also for trail running and hiking:

Wrist heart rate sensor running underwater (like Polar and Garmin). This model is equipped with sensors detecting good contact with the skin, a bit like in Polar and its latest watches (Ignite, Vantage). The idea is to improve the results by only considering the measurements where the watch is really in contact with the skin
GPS: the chip is compatible with the main satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo) and the Chinese Beidu system (BDS). GPS can be used alone or in combination with one of the other networks (for example GPS + Beidu).
Barometric altimeter with manual or automatic calibration: it measures the atmospheric pressure and deduces the altitude (the GPS is not used). It can be calibrated manually and thus correct errors related to changes in atmospheric pressure or let the watch use GPS for calibration. The Apex displays the pressure and the altitude (instantaneous values, average over 4 h, min and max over the last 24 h) as well as graphs.
Compass with azimuth: it allows you to orient a topographic map during a hike. It is also used by the intelligent stride algorithm to extrapolate the GPS track when the signal is weak. It can be calibrated manually.
The other sensors: the Apex is also equipped with a gyroscope and an accelerometer. They are used for indoor activities and to assess the GPS track when the signal is weak (see below). The watch also has a thermometer.

The Coros Apex is waterproof up to 100 m (10 ATM). It can therefore be used for swimming but also diving in shallow waters.

In all of its watches, Coros offers an intelligent stride algorithm capable of "predicting" the GPS track in the event of a weak GPS signal or loss of signal (passage through a tunnel, difficult urban area, dense forest, etc.). ). The algorithm uses "machine learning" to learn the habits of the runner and build a stride model that he will use to "guess" the circuit covered. On the same principle as Suunto and its "FusedTrack" algorithm, the watch uses its on-board instruments (compass, accelerometer, gyroscope) and the famous stride model to reconstruct the GPS track. The algorithm is also used for indoor running and for UltraMax (energy saving) mode. The accuracy of the measurements is nevertheless based on a good calibration of the compass beforehand.

External sensors can be smart health connected to the watch using the ANT + protocol, for example a cardio belt or armband, a footpod, speed, cadence and power sensors (Stryd, etc.) for the bicycle. Coros should soon add the Bluetooth Smart protocol. This is currently only used for transferring data between the watch and a Smartphone.

Autonomy: unbeatable in watch mode and activity monitoring!

The Coros Apex offers great autonomy, in particular in a smart health connected watch with activity tracking (up to 30 days with the Apex 42 mm model, like the Coros Pace):

These good results are linked to an optimization of the hardware and the OS (operating system). One can imagine that Coros, young in the field of sports watches, starts with a light OS and firmware, therefore less energy-hungry than a leading brand.

The autonomy can reach 100 hours in UltraMax mode on the 46 mm Apex. Coros saves battery power by only activating the GPS for 30 seconds every 120 seconds. The rest of the time (90 seconds), the trace is calculated using the "Coros Intelligent Stride" algorithm.

The watch is recharged with a cable similar to that of Garmin (plug-in connector on the back of the watch). It connects perpendicularly to the watch case. On the Coros Pace, it was a pair of pliers (like Garmin on its previous models…).

Sports and sports support functions

The Coros Apex offered, when it was launched, only 7 sport profiles oriented triathlon and its activities exclusively (as on the Coros Pace). Since an update at the end of 2018, it has benefited from 4 new profiles, including hiking and trail running. These profiles evaluate the 3D distance (distance in 3 dimensions), that is to say that they take into account the height difference for greater accuracy of the measurements. Indeed, if you climb a slope, the distance seen flat on a map (2D distance) is always shorter than the distance actually traveled (3D distance). In the extreme case, that of climbing a vertical wall, the 2D distance is even zero!

The available profiles are: running (outdoor and indoor), cycling (outdoor and indoor), swimming (sea and pool), triathlon / multisports, trail running, hiking, indoor cardio (without GPS), cardio in outside (without GPS).

You cannot create custom profiles. As for the multisport profile, it is not configurable because it uses the other profiles. It allows to link 2 or 3 different activities. We could for example chain swimming, cycling and running (triathlon), or swimming and running (swim-run) but not swimming, running and swimming again.

We find the functions already offered by the Coros Pace, the entry-level model. The watch records essential data: circuit covered, duration, distance, speed, pace (running and swimming only), cadence, heart rate (even underwater), calories expended, altitude, elevation gain. For cycling, it also measures the slope and, with an external sensor, the power developed (instantaneous, normalized and average over 3, 10 and 30 seconds). The screens display the instantaneous and average values as well as a graph of the last 4 hours of heart rate, altitude and atmospheric pressure. In swimming mode, it displays the duration, distance traveled, pace (speed in open water), heart rate, number of movements and the SWOLF score (average, per lap and over the last length) and detects the type of swim. You can program the length of the pool between 15 and 300 meters or yards.

The Apex has a metronome to work on the cadence and has an auto-pause function.

We find on the watch some interesting tools to help athletes to analyze and monitoring performance:

Coros Trainer:, a virtual coach who assesses the level of effort of a session, estimates the recovery time to be respected after a workout and offers adapted workouts and personalized advice. The algorithm is based on the history of the last 4 weeks of activity and takes into account the data of recent activities (pace, heart rate, distance). VO2max and the lactic threshold are also considered. The idea is to help athletes progress even without specific knowledge, much like the Polar Ignite does.
Guided training: Coros Trainer offers aerobic and anerobic guided training for running to achieve a given goal. We indicate to the watch a level of Training Effect to be reached (moderate, high or intense). The Apex then offers a warm-up phase and then training to follow with a given duration and a heart rate zone to be respected. The watch issues alerts when leaving the area. The duration of the activity is adjusted according to the results measured live. The session ends with a recovery period.
Estimated race time: Coros offers, like Garmin, a function estimating the running time over a 5 km, 10 km, half-marathon and marathon depending on physical condition (VO2max in particular).
Programming of alerts: they allow you to follow a programmed pace, pace or speed or even to train in a defined heart rate zone without having to look at your watch.
Schedule of split sessions: the watch allows you to program simple interval training sessions (running and cycling), for example 5 sets of 30 "/ 10", but no complex training, for example 2 sets of 5 x 30 "/ 10".
Performance analysis: it takes place on the Smartphone, after data transfer. The app displays statistics and graphs on training and activity monitoring. We find all the data of the route, the VO2max, the estimate of the lactic threshold, the training load on the last 7 days, the recovery time and advice to recover well, a fitness index and more.

Physiological measurements

Unlike its competitors Garmin or Suunto who work with Firstbeat, or Polar, leader in this field, which develops its own algorithms, the Chinese company works in partnership with an independent company to provide physiological measurements.

Coros notably offers a new indicator, the Stamina or resistance level. It informs the athlete, in real time, about the resources he can still provide for his running training session. It's a bit like the "body battery" from Garmin or the "Body Resource" from Suunto but applied to a workout. The watch estimates the total effort that the athlete should provide for the session to be effective and indicates in real time the energy he has left for the session. The idea is to optimize training while preventing injuries related to overtraining. If, at the end of the outing, the stamina is still high (for example 50%), it is because the training was too short or too moderate. If, on the contrary, the stamina is close to 0 well before the end of the training, it is because it was too long or too intense and it would be better to stop and rest.

Coros also offers, like Garmin, the Training Effect (TE), or training efficiency, an indicator that informs the user of the benefits of training on their aerobic capacities (medium and long-term efforts such as 'endurance) and anaerobic (short but intense efforts, beyond the anaerobic threshold). The watch indicates whether the session had an impact and if so, to what extent (maintenance or improvement of capacities). This indicator is only available for running.

Other physiological measures include VO2max, resting heart rate, estimation of the lactic threshold value, pace at threshold, training load.

Widgets

The Coros Apex offers half a dozen widgets: display (values and graphs) of atmospheric pressure, altitude, temperature and heart rate, activity tracking, compass.

GPS navigation

Absent from the original version, GPS navigation was sorely lacking on a watch of this price. This has been corrected by Coros since March 2019. The watch displays the GPS track of the route taken. You can also follow a course previously recorded in the watch or retrace your steps by following the recorded track. And if we move away from the track, the watch issues an alert.

Activity monitoring

The Coros Apex offers classic activity monitoring: distance, number of steps, calories expended, quality of sleep (light, deep, paradoxical / REM) and, thanks to the barometric altimeter, number of floors climbed. However, it does not offer the possibility of defining objectives to be achieved.

smart health connected functions

They are basic. The Apex can only manage notifications from smartphones (SMS, emails, incoming calls) and classic applications (WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, FB, WeChat, FB Messenger). There is also an assistance function in the Smartphone application but nothing on the watch.

The interface

Coros does not offer any computer interface. You must therefore have a compatible Smartphone or use a third-party application such as Strava or Apple Health to use the data from the watch on a computer.

The interface allows you to manage the recorded data, display the route on a map, display activity tracking (sleep graphs, etc.) and personalize the watch.

Coros puts forward a data transfer speed up to twice faster than its competitors, thanks to "UltraSync", an ultra-fast transfer function based on an optimization of the size of the data files.

Coros Apex versus Coros Pace comparison

The Coros Apex is an improved version of the Coros Pace. It takes over all functions, adds a few, in particular the Stamina. It is mainly the technical characteristics (format, size), interface (buttons), autonomy and materials that change.

To briefly summarize the differences between the Coros Pace and the Coros Apex, the Apex also offers:

2 case sizes (43 and 47 mm) to fit all wrists
A more robust design with a ceramic (Apex 42 mm) or titanium (Apex 46 mm) bezel and a sapphire crystal
2 buttons instead of 4, including a scroll button
A smaller screen and a slightly worse definition on the Apex 42 mm (the small model)
Improved autonomy in GPS and UltraMax mode for the large model
Some functional novelties (Stamina indicator, guided training)

We will soon be offering a comparison between the different models of Coros sports watches.

Our opinion

A very good value for money triathlon, trail and hike watch

For 100 or 150 € (depending on the model) more than the Coros Pace, the entry-level model with a slightly cheap look (all in plastic), the Coros Apex offers a neater and more robust design. The ceramic or titanium bezel and the sapphire crystal give it a nice look without increasing the weight too much. The straps are interchangeable without tools. The navigation interface is significantly improved thanks to the "digital knob" and makes the use of the watch viable with gloves or during an activity.

GPS navigation is also an additional and appreciable asset. With the barometric altimeter, the compass, the 3D distance calculation and the new Trail and Hiking profiles, this watch will appeal to trailers and hikers as well as runners and triathletes.

The Stamina indicator is a plus for training. It was not found on the Coros Pace. With Coros Trainer and guided training, we can progress even by knowing it and avoiding injuries.

With its great autonomy, especially on the 46 mm model, this is a watch that can last a long time without being recharged, even when practicing several hours of sport per week.

Reliability of measurements (GPS, cardio, physiological measurements)

Tests carried out on the Apex show a reliability of GPS measurements similar to, if not better, than that of the leaders (Garmin, Polar, Suunto). The Coros tests also confirm this.

Regarding optical cardio data, we know that the accuracy of the cardio on the wrist is not very reliable and that it will never equal that of a chest belt. Sweat, hairiness, bad contact with the skin are factors that greatly influence the measurements. The Apex does not seem to do better than the competition and the results would even be chaotic or even unusable when the heart rate is high, during rapid changes of rhythm or even in water. For reliable measurements, it is better to wear a belt or an armband.

As for physiological measurements, they depend on the accuracy of the measurements of the heart rate and its variability (it is therefore better to use a cardio belt for accuracy) but also on their proper use by Coros. The reliability of the training tools (calculations of recovery time, Stamina, etc.) depend on it. Can we trust Coros here as much as the leading brands?

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See

Verdict

This watch seems interesting to us for its value for money. It has several advantages. It is a triathlon watch. It is well equipped. It can also be used for trail running and hiking. It offers interesting tools to help athletes (Stamina, Coros Trainer and guided training, recovery time, predictor of race time) and performance analysis. The design is neat and the quality materials (rare at this price): sapphire glass, ceramic or titanium bezel. Finally, it is equipped with a barometric altimeter with manual or automatic calibration.

Admittedly, apart from Smartphone notifications, there are no smart health connected functions like at Garmin but is it useful for a purely sporting use? You will hardly find better for the price. Le seul point d'interrogation reste la qualité des mesures physiologiques (sont-elles fiables, peut-on donc faire confiances aux résultats et aux conseils de Coros Trainer ?).

La Coros Apex nous semble une alternative intéressante à la Polar Vantage M ou même la Polar Vantage V, la Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR, la Suunto 5 ou, en plus haut de gamme, la Suunto 9 ou l'excellente Garmin Forerunner 945. Pour la course à pied et une montre de prix similaire, notre préférence va à la Forerunner 245 (avec ou sans lecteur mp3) ou la Forerunner 645. Consultez aussi nos comparatifs : meilleures montres cardio GPS pour le triathlon et meilleures montres cardio GPS pour la course à pied.

Coros Pace ou Coros Apex, laquelle choisir ?

La Coros Pace nous semble parfaite pour les triathlètes et trailers dont le budget est limité. On y trouve des outils intéressants et tous les capteurs nécessaires, y compris un altimètre barométrique.

La Coros Apex est certes plus chère de 100 à 150 € mais elle est plus jolie, plus robuste, son interface est plus pratique grâce au digital knob et elle dispose d'outils d'entraînement plus complets. Si le budget vous le permet, entre les deux, c'est définitivement la Coros Apex qu'il faut choisir !

Nous avons aimé

Une montre triathlon d'excellent rapport qualité-prix
Son excellente autonomie (mode GPS et montre)
L'altimètre barométrique et son étalonnage manuel
Coros Trainer et les entraînements guidés
Les matériaux (verre de saphir, lunette en titane ou céramique)
Le Digital Knob, très pratique

Nous aurions aimé

Plus de visibilité sur la fiabilité des mesures physiologiques
Plus de profils sportifs
La compatibilité Bluetooth Smart pour les capteurs
Une interface web pour une utilisation sur un ordinateur

Prix et disponibilité

La Coros Apex est disponible en France au prix conseillé de 299 € (Apex 42 mm) et 349 € (Apex 46 mm). Découvrez-là chez nos partenaires et profitez de nos bons de réduction.