Garmin -> Coros, why people switch away from the market leader to the challenger brand

I recently examined why people leave the Garmin watch ecosystem to move to Coros. Here are the reasons I found people gave, plus my opinion next to each reason to say whether or not I think the criticism is justified.

Key Reasons for Switching to Coros

1. Battery Life – especially for endurance athletes and ultra-runners. Coros is perhaps the overall leader for better battery life, but Garmin comes close and maybe even wins if you add solar to the mix. OPINION: True but… What battery life do you need? I suspect the right Garmin watch will meet just about everyone’s needs.
2. Lightweight Design & Comfort – Coros certainly have some featherlight watches like the Pace 3. OPINION: True but… Garmin Forerunners are pretty light. I’d accept that some may say Fenix is too heavy, but the same could be said of Coros Vertix.
3. Simpler & More Focused Features – essential training metrics without Garmin’s perceived “data bloat” (e.g., Body Battery, Endurance Score). OPINION. True. However, Coros are actively trying to add and expand features…they want the bloat, too!
4. User-friendly watch interface –  OPINION: True. I would say that the Coros menu system is easier to navigate, especially with the digital crown, and usability could be why Coros is perceived as more straightforward.
5. Better Pricing – Coros is seen to have better hardware at a lower price. OPINION: Historically true. This certainly has been the case historically, but Pace 3 Pro showed that Coros is actively looking to raise prices to the point that its features and hardware spec might not justify only a modest discount to a similar Garmin. Put another way, you get more from buying a similarly priced Garmin, even though you might not need more.
6. More Trail-Running Focus – Some feel that Garmin caters more to road runners, while Coros provides better support for trail runners. OPINION: False. I don’t understand why someone would say this. Coros have marketed heavily at trail runners; their watch weights are low, and battery lives are high. Garmin has more trail features and a more extended pedigree with maps.
7. Faster, Smoother OS – Users mention Coros’ operating system is snappier and smoother in day-to-day usage. OPINION: True. I would generally agree with this to the point where I would even say that Garmin artificially lowers device speeds to keep battery life high. A simple Garmin example is that it can take tens of seconds to save a workout or several seconds to fully render a map after zooming.
8. Better GPS Accuracy – Some ex-Garmin users prefer Coros’ GPS tracking, especially in challenging environments. OPINION: False. On a like-for-like basis, I’d say Garmin and Coros are similarly accurate. Both are good enough and unlikely to improve more in the future.
9. User-Friendly App Interface: clean and intuitive design. OPINION: Probably true, but Garmin has improved and has more information to show us, making achieving greater usability more difficult.
10. Integrated Power Metrics: Coros provides built-in running power metrics without additional accessories. OPINION: Mostly False. Both Garmin and Coros need a Stryd pod for power values that are more likely to be accurate. However, both power calculations are performed on the wrists without external accessories. What Coros, Suunto and Polar have over Garmin is that running power is native to the ecosystem and appears naturally alongside other data. Garmin requires Stryd power data to be partially separated.

But it’s a 2-way street, and some people moving to Coros miss these Garmin features.

Things Users Miss from Garmin

1. PacePro & Race Planning Tools – Garmin’s PacePro is highly valued for pacing races, especially by trail and road runners on hilly courses. OPINION: True
2. Garmin’s Training & Coaching Tools – Features like Daily Suggested Workouts and Garmin Coach are seen as more advanced than Coros’ offerings. OPINION: True
3. Music & Smart Features – Coros still lacks built-in music support and contactless payments. OPINION: True…this might soon change!
4. More Button Controls – Some dislike Coros’ scroll dial and prefer Garmin’s button layout. OPINION: I disagree and find Coros crown/button layout is very efficient. Digital crowns don’t look good on any watch (Apple included)
5. Better Ecosystem & App Integration – Garmin’s longstanding ecosystem (Garmin Connect, bike computers, sensors) is better. OPINION: True. That’s why you pay more for a Garmin.

Take Out

Not everyone wants every possible feature or has feature FOMO. If that describes you, Coros is a good brand to research when upgrading. You might miss your data history in Garmin Connect, but if you’ve always relied on an external ecosystem like Strava, the manufacturer’s app will be irrelevant to you.

March 2025 – What should I buy? Garmin or Coros

It’s a tricky time to make an informed purchase.

Coros prices tend to be stable and rarely discounted. Garmin prices tend to be initially high but very favourably discounted in sales. The point is that if you look to buy around the usual sale periods, you will likely find a good Garmin deal on a year-old or two-year-old model.

Spring will almost certainly see a new generation of Garmin Forerunner watches, and September(ish) will see the next generation Fenix 8 Pro/8 Pro microLED models. Those new models will be more future-proofed with an extra feature or two; however, they will also be preceded by retailers clearing out stock of older models for reasonable prices.

Coros will also add a new watch or two this year. Most likely, it will be a refreshed Pace 3 Pro in a more premium case – this will be called Apex 3. Later in the year, we will probably see two new Vertix models, one based on an MIP display and the other on AMOLED.

More: Buy a Coros here