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COROS has officially launched the PACE 4, their lightest GPS sport watch yet, and a clear successor to the hugely popular PACE 3.
It brings a punchy AMOLED screen, upgraded battery life, built-in voice features, and next-gen heart rate accuracy to a surprisingly slim, stylish package.
I have the PACE 4 here on test, and I’ll be sharing my full review soon, but here’s what’s exciting about it so far, and why it feels like the most complete value watch COROS has ever released, for runners.
Key highlights of the PACE 4
- $249 USD at coros.com, shipping now
- 1.2” AMOLED touchscreen with vivid contrast and smooth swiping
- Just 32g with nylon band (one of the lightest GPS watches available)
- Up to 41 hours of GPS tracking or 19 days of smartwatch use
- New built-in microphone for voice memos and “voice pin” training logs
- Updated wrist-based heart rate sensor for better accuracy
- Marathon training plans, race predictions, running fitness scores
- Compatible with nylon or silicone quick-release bands
What it feels like on the wrist
At just 32g with the nylon strap, the PACE 4 almost disappears on your wrist, in the best way.
If you’re coming from the PACE 3 or a similar lightweight watch, you’ll notice the same no-nonsense profile, but now with a noticeably more vibrant display.
The AMOLED screen feels like a big leap forward in terms of legibility, especially when swiping through screens on the run.
It also gives the PACE line a more modern look, that’s polished enough for all-day wear, without trying to be a fashion watch.
And the new low-profile case (11.8mm thick) feels impressively refined. If you’ve been turned off by chunky outdoor watches, this one’s got a much friendlier footprint.
The performance upgrades that matter
Let’s start with battery life. Despite a brighter screen, COROS managed to increase GPS runtime by 16 hours compared to the PACE 3, now up to 41 hours in standard GPS mode and 19 days with normal smartwatch use.
That’s a notable achievement in a sub-$250 watch with an AMOLED display.
The voice features are new for this generation too, very recently seen in the APEX 4.
You can now leave voice memos or “Voice Pins” mid-workout on the PACE 4. It’s a quick way to log how you’re feeling, note fueling, or tag a point on your route without breaking rhythm.
It’s not a must-have feature by any stretch, but it adds a layer of training self-awareness that could be especially helpful during marathon prep or structured sessions.
Also worth calling out is the redesigned heart rate sensor.
If you’ve experienced dropouts or spikes with other wrist-based sensors, this one aims to reduce noise and deliver more stable readings across intensities. I’ll be digging into that more in my full review.
Where the PACE 4 fits in the lineup
COROS has been refining its training tools rapidly, and the PACE 4 inherits many of the smarts we’ve seen across their higher-end models. It supports:
- Personalized marathon training plans
- Virtual Pacer for real-time pacing
- Running fitness metrics like Effort Pace and running index
- HRV tracking, sleep and recovery monitoring
- Menstrual cycle tracking
- Music and media controls
You don’t get maps, but that’s in line with the watch’s mission: lightweight, focused performance. It’s ideal for runners who want race-focused tools without the navigation layers of something like the APEX 4.
Full review of the APEX 4 coming soon, as I have that one in for testing too.
Who it’s for
The PACE 4 is for runners who want to train smarter, not just track statistics.
It’s a big upgrade over the PACE 3 in terms of visibility, battery life, and training depth, but it still costs less than many GPS running watches that do less.
It’s also for those who want a truly lightweight watch with zero fluff. You get a sharp screen, great metrics, and all the training support you need, without added complexity or features you’ll probably never use.
I’d recommend it to:
- Runners chasing a half or full marathon PR
- Track and road runners who want accurate pacing and lap control
- Athletes with slim wrists who love a lightweight watch with zero bounce
- Anyone coming from an older GPS watch looking for modern upgrades without the $400–500 price tag
Final thoughts (for now)
The COROS PACE 4 doesn’t try to be everything, and that’s exactly why it works.
It’s fast, focused, and full of practical training features, now wrapped in a sleeker AMOLED package with extended battery life and new voice tools that feel genuinely useful.
There’s more to test, especially around heart rate accuracy, daily wear comfort, and how it performs on longer training blocks but so far, it’s shaping up to be one of the best lightweight running watches of 2025/26.
My full review is coming soon, so be sure to subscribe to our Newsletter, if you’re curious about how it stacks up in real-world conditions.
