Coros Pace 4 vs Garmin Forerunner 170
The Pace 4 is $50 cheaper and has dual-band GPS, offline maps, and about twice the GPS battery life (41 hours versus 20). The Forerunner 170 counters with Garmin Pay, streaming music sync, and Garmin's ecosystem.
CorosCoros Pace 4
GarminGarmin Forerunner 170
- •You want the most accurate GPS, offline maps, and longer battery life for less money
- •You want Coros' simple, running-focused app
- •You want contactless payments with Garmin Pay and streaming music from Spotify or Amazon Music
- •You're already in the Garmin ecosystem and want everything in Garmin Connect
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 Forerunner 170 keeps the Forerunner 70's AMOLED touchscreen and training metrics, then adds a barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, thermometer, and Garmin Pay on top. It's single-frequency GPS rather than the 265's dual-band, but for most runners, it closes almost the entire gap for $150 less.
Two of the Best Budget Running Watches
The Coros Pace 4 and Garmin Forerunner 170 are two of the most popular running watches under $300, and for good reason. Both have bright AMOLED touchscreens, solid training data, and weigh about 40 grams. Either one is a big upgrade from running with just your phone.
But they make very different trade-offs, and one of them gives you noticeably more watch for the money.
Where the Pace 4 Wins
GPS accuracy. The Pace 4 has dual-band GPS, while the Forerunner 170 uses single-band. On open roads, both are accurate. Under tree cover, between tall buildings, or on twisty trails, dual-band holds your track and pace much better.
Battery life. The Pace 4 is rated for 41 hours of GPS, about double the Forerunner 170's 20 hours. That's the difference between charging every couple of weeks and charging every week for most runners.
Offline maps. The Pace 4 gained offline maps through a firmware update. The Forerunner 170 doesn't have them.
Price. It's $50 cheaper and carries a 4.8 rating, one of the highest of any running watch we track.
Where the Forerunner 170 Wins
Garmin Pay. You can pay for a drink or a snack mid-run with a tap of your wrist, which Coros doesn't offer.
Streaming music. The Forerunner 170 syncs playlists from Spotify and Amazon Music. The Pace 4 only plays music files you load yourself.
Garmin's ecosystem. Garmin Connect is the most popular running platform, with deep integration with apps, training plans, and accessories. If your friends, coach, or other gear are on Garmin, staying put has real value.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the Coros Pace 4 if you care most about training: better GPS, double the battery, and maps, for less money. For most runners, it's the better value.
Get the Forerunner 170 if you want a watch that also handles daily life, with contactless payments and streaming music, or you're already invested in Garmin.
Still deciding? Our full Coros Pace 4 Pro review covers the step-up model, and the Watch Finder can match you to the right watch in four questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Coros Pace 4 better than the Garmin Forerunner 170?
For pure running, the Pace 4 offers more for less: dual-band GPS, offline maps, and about double the GPS battery life, for $50 less. The Forerunner 170 is better if you want Garmin Pay, streaming music, and Garmin's ecosystem.
Does the Forerunner 170 have dual-band GPS?
No. The Forerunner 170 uses single-band GPS. The Coros Pace 4 has dual-band GPS, which is more accurate under trees and between tall buildings.
Which has longer battery life, the Pace 4 or Forerunner 170?
The Coros Pace 4, rated for 41 hours of GPS compared to 20 hours for the Forerunner 170.
Does the Coros Pace 4 have offline maps?
Yes. Coros added offline maps to the Pace 4 through a firmware update. The Forerunner 170 does not have offline maps.
*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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