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Head to Head

Coros Pace 4 vs Garmin Forerunner 165

The ultimate budget runner battle: Coros brings dual-frequency GPS, offline maps, and advanced training metrics for less, while Garmin focuses on vibrant display polish and user-friendly daily health tracking.

Coros Pace 4Coros

Coros Pace 4

4.8
Garmin Forerunner 165Garmin

Garmin Forerunner 165

4.7
$249
MSRP
$249
Semi-Smart
Watch Type
Semi-Smart
Solid Training Data
Training Data
Solid Training Data
iOS & Android
Phone
iOS & Android
4.8
Higher rated
Rating
4.7
41 hrs
Longer battery
GPS Battery Life
17 hrs
Dual-Band
More precise
GPS
Single-Band
40g
Weight
39g
Lighter
43mm
Case Size
43mm
No
Wrist Calls
No
Yes
Has maps
Offline Maps
No
Local files only
Offline Music
Spotify/Amazon Music
More music options
5 ATM
Water Resistance
5 ATM
—
Notable For
—
Best For
  • •You want maximum performance-to-price ratio with Coros' robust training hub and light weight
  • •You prefer lightweight hardware focused purely on run metrics over lifestyle features
  • •You want Garmin's polished AMOLED screen and trusted daily wellness tracking
  • •Garmin Connect's guided training plans and ecosystem are worth the slight premium to you
The Full Story

At 40 grams with a bright AMOLED screen, dual-band GPS, and 41 hours of GPS battery, the Pace 4 punches well above its $249 price. A recent firmware update added offline maps, closing the biggest gap between it and pricier watches, while it still skips deep smartwatch extras to stay focused on being an excellent, lightweight training tool.

The 165 brings Garmin's core running metrics, an AMOLED display, and music storage down to a price that doesn't feel like a compromise. It's the watch we'd point most casual-to-intermediate runners toward before recommending anything more expensive.

*Estimated — this model's exact GPS battery life isn't published by the manufacturer. All figures are standard GPS mode, midsize case, no solar boost.

†Estimated — this model launched too recently to have an established customer rating yet.

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