The COROS PACE 3 GPS Sport Watch is your new workout buddy. It's lightweight, so you won't even notice it's on your wrist while you're hitting the trails or pushing through that last mile. With built-in GPS, you can track your distance, pace, and route with pinpoint accuracy. It's versatile enough for running, cycling, and even swimming, making it a solid choice for multi-sport athletes. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, this watch is designed to keep up with your active lifestyle.

The Lightweight Running Watch That Outlasts and Outperforms

Introduction

If you're serious about running, cycling, or endurance training, your watch shouldn't slow you down—it should push you forward. The COROS PACE 3 GPS Sport Watch has quickly become one of the most talked-about lightweight GPS sports watches on the market, promising elite-level performance without the elite-level price tag. Designed for runners, cyclists, and multi-sport athletes, this sleek and comfortable watch delivers exceptional battery life, precise GPS tracking, and advanced training tools packed into a minimalist design.

With a claimed 17-day battery life, accurate heart rate monitoring, offline navigation, and sleep tracking, the COROS PACE 3 positions itself as a powerful alternative to more expensive Garmin and Polar models. But does it live up to the hype? In this in-depth review, we break down its features, real-world performance, pros and cons, and how it stacks up against the competition.

Quick Verdict 

The COROS PACE 3 GPS Sport Watch is one of the best value-for-money sports watches available today, especially for runners and endurance athletes. It combines an ultra-lightweight design with industry-leading battery life, highly accurate GPS, and detailed training metrics that rival far more expensive devices. While it lacks some smartwatch features like music storage and contactless payments, it more than makes up for it with performance-focused tools and reliability.

If your priority is training efficiency, long battery life, comfort, and accuracy, the COROS PACE 3 is an outstanding choice. Beginners will appreciate its simplicity, while advanced athletes will benefit from structured training plans, navigation, and deep performance insights. Overall, it's a no-nonsense sports watch built for athletes who care more about results than flashy extras.

Key Features 

The COROS PACE 3 is packed with features designed to enhance training without overwhelming the user.

Lightweight and Comfortable Design

Weighing just around 30 grams with the silicone band, the PACE 3 is one of the lightest GPS sport watches in its class. It sits comfortably on the wrist, making it ideal for long runs, races, and even sleep tracking.

Impressive Battery Life

Battery performance is a standout feature. The watch offers:

• Up to 17 days in standard use

• Up to 38 hours in full GPS mode
  This makes it perfect for marathon training, ultraruns, or multi-day adventures without frequent charging.

Accurate GPS and Navigation

The COROS PACE 3 features dual-frequency GPS, delivering fast satellite lock-on and precise distance tracking—even in urban areas or under tree cover. It also supports breadcrumb navigation, allowing users to follow routes directly from their wrist.

Heart Rate and Health Monitoring

The built-in optical heart rate sensor provides continuous tracking during workouts and rest. The watch also monitors sleep stages, recovery, and overall training load.

Multi-Sport and Training Support

With dedicated modes for running, cycling, swimming, indoor workouts, and more, the PACE 3 adapts to different training styles. COROS also offers free structured training plans via its companion app.

Performance Review 

When it comes to real-world performance, the COROS PACE 3 truly shines—especially in the areas that matter most to athletes.

GPS Accuracy

GPS performance is excellent, rivaling top-tier devices from Garmin. The dual-frequency GNSS significantly improves accuracy in challenging environments such as city streets, forests, and hilly terrain. Distance tracking remains consistent, and pace data is stable even during interval sessions.

For runners who rely on accurate pacing and distance metrics, this level of precision makes a noticeable difference during both training and race day.

Heart Rate Monitoring

The optical heart rate sensor performs reliably during steady-state workouts such as long runs and cycling sessions. While chest straps may still be preferable for elite-level precision during high-intensity intervals, the PACE 3's heart rate data is more than sufficient for most athletes.

Training Metrics and Insights

COROS excels in providing actionable insights rather than overwhelming users with unnecessary data. Key metrics include:

• Training Load

• Recovery Time

• VO2 Max estimates

• Running efficiency and cadence

The EvoLab feature analyzes your fitness trends over time, helping you understand when to push harder or take a rest day.

Navigation and Route Tracking

While it doesn't offer full-color maps, the breadcrumb navigation is intuitive and effective. Uploading routes via the COROS app is simple, and turn-by-turn guidance works well for trail running and cycling.

Battery Performance in Practice

In real-world use, battery life often exceeds expectations. Even with daily workouts and frequent GPS use, many users report charging the watch just once every two weeks. This is a significant advantage over competitors that require charging every few days.

App and User Interface

The COROS app is clean, fast, and easy to navigate. Syncing workouts is quick, and firmware updates are frequent, adding new features and refinements over time. The watch interface itself is responsive, controlled by a digital dial and button system that works well even with sweaty hands or gloves.

Pros & Cons 

Pros

• Exceptional battery life (up to 17 days)

• Ultra-lightweight and comfortable design

• Highly accurate GPS with dual-frequency support

• Excellent value for money

• Strong training metrics and insights

• Simple, distraction-free user interface

Cons

• No music storage or streaming

• No contactless payments

• Breadcrumb navigation only (no full maps)

• Limited smartwatch features compared to lifestyle-focused models

Comparison with Competitors 

COROS PACE 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 255

The Garmin Forerunner 255 offers music support and Garmin Pay, but at a higher price point and with shorter battery life. The PACE 3 wins on simplicity, battery performance, and comfort, making it better suited for endurance-focused athletes.

COROS PACE 3 vs Polar Pacer Pro

Polar's Pacer Pro provides excellent running analytics, but its GPS accuracy and battery life fall short compared to COROS. The PACE 3 also benefits from more frequent firmware updates.

COROS PACE 3 vs Apple Watch SE

While the Apple Watch SE excels as a smartwatch, it can't compete with the PACE 3 in battery life, GPS accuracy, or endurance training features. For serious athletes, the COROS is the superior choice.

Overall, the COROS PACE 3 stands out as a performance-first sports watch, prioritizing training over lifestyle extras.

Buying Guide: Is the COROS PACE 3 Right for You? 

The COROS PACE 3 is best suited for athletes who value performance, reliability, and long battery life over smartwatch features.

Ideal For:

• Runners training for 5Ks, marathons, or ultramarathons

• Cyclists and multi-sport athletes

• Users who hate frequent charging

• Athletes seeking advanced metrics without complexity

• Budget-conscious buyers wanting premium performance

Not Ideal For:

• Users who want music playback on the watch

• Those who rely heavily on contactless payments

• People seeking a full smartwatch experience

What to Consider Before Buying:

• Your primary sport (running-focused users will benefit most)

• Whether you need smartwatch features

• Battery life expectations

• Comfort for all-day and sleepwear

At its price point, the COROS PACE 3 offers exceptional value and competes directly with more expensive models without compromising on core training functionality.

Final Verdict 

The COROS PACE 3 GPS Sport Watch is a triumph of innovative design and athletic focus. It delivers everything serious runners and endurance athletes need—accurate GPS, long battery life, detailed training insights, and exceptional comfort—without unnecessary distractions.

While it skips lifestyle features like music and payments, it excels where it truly matters: performance and reliability. Whether you're training for your first race or chasing a personal best, the PACE 3 is a dependable training partner that won't let you down.

For athletes seeking a lightweight, long-lasting, and affordable GPS sports watch, the COROS PACE 3 is one of the best choices available today.