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Coros Pace 4 Review | Worth It In 2026?
In this article, I’m sharing my HONEST COROS Pace 4 review for those who are wondering if this $249 GPS watch is WORTH IT in 2026.
The COROS Pace 4 dropped in late 2025 as a significant upgrade from the Pace 3. At just less than .5 an oz, this lightweight watch has quickly become a serious contender for hikers, runners, and/or sport athletes.
For this full review, I logged over 50 hikes and trail runs with the Pace 4, testing it across varied terrain in the Northeast USA.
I’ll cover GPS accuracy, battery life, mapping and navigation, features and training tools, versatility, and value.
Everything here is backed by 16 years of experience as a trail guide and over 3,000 miles of combined hiking and running.
Related: COROS Pace 4 Long Term Investment Report
Should You Buy the COROS Pace 4?
Buy If
You want a lightweight GPS watch under $300
You primarily hike established trails and don’t need offline maps
You value longer battery life for multi-day adventures
DON’T Buy If
You need offline maps for backcountry navigation
You want advanced mountaineering features beyond breadcrumb navigation
You need music streaming services like Spotify
You want the most rugged build for extreme conditions
COROS Pace 4 Pros and Cons
Pros
- Exceptional GPS accuracy
- Great Battery Life (35+ hours in GPS mode)
- Bright AMOLED screen
- No Subscription Required
Cons
- Breadcrumb Navigation Only
- No Music Streaming Services
- No NFC Payments
COROS Pace 4 Price
At the time of this writing, the COROS Pace 4 is priced at $249.
COROS Pace 4 Accuracy: 30%
To keep our scoring objective, I compared heart rate readings from the Pace 4 against our Polar H10 chest strap during every test.
The H10 remains one of the most accurate heart rate sensors available.
The Pace 4 uses a redesigned optical heart rate sensor that performed remarkably well in my testing.
Heart rate stayed tight to the chest strap across climbs, descents, and cadence changes during both hiking and trail running.
During more intense runs, I notice my heart rate varied, indicating it was off after my post-run comparison with the H10 strap.
However, this variance was approximately 4.5 beats per minute, which then normalized to an average of .5 bpm variance between my chest strap.
For GPS testing, I compared the Pace 4 against a Garmin GPSMAP 67 and verified GPX routes on familiar trails.
The dual frequency GPS performance impressed me. GPS tracks stayed clean through dense tree cover, and rocky sections.
I tested out the breadcrumb GPS in a blizzard and tracked back multiple times with accurate alerts showing me I was off trail.
Distance accuracy averaged just 0.04 miles of error across repeated routes, which is excellent for this price range, especially compared to the Forerunner 55.
In my testing the Pace 4 handled both high mountain altitudes and dead flat trails without any change in the distance accuracy – which says alot for the tech.
The elevation readings from the barometric altimeter were seriously accurate too, matching my reference routes spot on with no obvious noise or unrealistic spikes in the data.
Accuracy Score: 9/10 (30%)
Battery Life (Real World): 20%
Battery life on the COROS Pace 4 is really good for an AMOLED watch.
COROS claims 31-41 hours in GPS mode depending on settings. I got 35+ hours always on display and multi band GPS enabled.
That’s a big jump from the Pace 3’s 15 hours in high GPS mode.
For multi day hiking I found the Pace 4 handled 3 consecutive days of hiking with 18 hours of total GPS time before needing a charge.
Always on display does impact battery compared to raise to wake, but I thought the trade off was worth it for at-a-glance data while hiking.
I never rushed my hikes thinking I was going to run out of battery.
One note: daily wear with always on display is about 6 days, which is shorter than the MIP display on some other COROS watches. If you prioritize smartwatch longevity over GPS mode, this is something to consider.
Battery Life Score: 9/10 (20%)
Mapping and Navigation: 20%
The COROS Pace 4 features breadcrumb navigation GPX route following with off-course alerts and back-to-start guidance. This is not a full mapping watch.
Let me be clear: if you need offline maps, turn-by-turn guidance or the ability to reroute on unfamiliar terrain you’ll want the COROS Pace Pro or a Garmin with full mapping capabilities.
Despite the lack of full true maps and topographic settings, the Pace 4 really impressed me with off-route alerts while trail running with my pre-planned routes.
Even coming off a few paces off-trail, it began to trigger the alert.
The screen visibility really helps with the breadcrumb route lines. I felt when I was hiking in dim lower-lights my screen was easily visible.
The addition of the action button on the Pace 4 really helps get back to my pre-planned route as the watch goes back to its home screen after a few seconds.
Just hitting my action button brought me right back to my route while running.
Based on my navigation classification system, the Pace 4 earns a base score of 5/10 for breadcrumb navigation, with a +1 adjustment for excellent screen readability and very accurate GPX handling.
Mapping & Navigation Score: 6/10 (Breadcrumb Navigation + usability adjustment) (20%)
Features and Training Tools: 10%
The COROS Pace 4 delivers advanced training tools through the EvoLab, and the best part is that it does not require a subscription.
One unique section is the voice pins. I really use this while trail running to improve my pace and technical trail skills.
I would make voice notes on how I tackled certain terrain and then check my pace at the end of the day.What’s even better is the voice notes are GPS tags, so I reviewed exactly on the trail where I left my notes for continuous improvement.
Pace 4 tracks hiking, trail running, road running, cycling, swimming and indoor activities. Structured workouts can be created in the COROS app and synced to the watch.
You can customize any of these screens; therefore, you can basically use the Pace 4 for any activity.
The sleep tracking I compared to my Oura Ring, and it does not even compare.Unfortunately, the sleep stages aren’t very accurate; however, it still does track overall sleep time.
Without going into every extensive metric that the COROS Pace 4 can track, you can reliably use it for most activities compared to other GPS watches.
Features & Training Score: 9/10 (10%)
Versatility: 10%
The COROS Pace 4 is a multisport functional GPS watch.
This is one of the more lightweight watches available and basically disappeared on my wrist during long hikes and trail runs.
The AMOLED screen is super readable on the move. While checking my pace on technical descents I felt it was easier than other watches I have tested in the past.
The simple layout of the Pace 4 also helps beginner users get used to the watch without going into in-depth “how to” guides for endless hours.
For daily wear the watch face options are clean and the watch fits under jacket sleeves. It’s not trying to be an Apple Watch, no fancy complications or excessive notifications.
It does the basics well.
I didn’t have any issues switching between hiking days and daily runs. The Pace 4 feels like it’s built for both, not compromised for either.
Versatility Score: 9/10 (10%)
Is the COROS Pace 4 Worth It?
$249 and it matches or beats GPS watches that cost way more.
Compared to the Garmin Forerunner 165 at the same price, it has better GPS, longer battery life and voice logging.
Against other COROS watches, the Pace 4 sits in a sweet spot. The Pace 3 is $50 cheaper but no AMOLED display, upgraded processor and voice.
The COROS Pace Pro is $50 more with offline maps (which is worth it if you want true navigation maps).
The build quality feels solid for long term ownership. COROS has a good reputation for durability and software support.
If you want accurate tracking, great battery life and voice logging without paying $400, the Pace 4 is worth it.
Value Score: 9/10 (10%)
Final Scoring Breakdown
Accuracy (30%): 9/10
Battery Life (20%): 9/10
Mapping & Navigation (20%): 6/10
Features & Training (10%): 9/10
Versatility (10%): 9/10
Value (10%): 9/10
Total Weighted Score:
2.70 + 1.80 + 1.20 + 0.90 + 0.90 + 0.90 = 8.4
Our Rating: 8.4/10
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the COROS Pace 4 for hiking?
The COROS Pace 4 delivers excellent GPS accuracy for hiking. However, these routes need to be pre-planned as it only offers breadcrumb GPS.
What Is The Difference Between The COROS Pace 3 and 4?
The Pace 4 has an AMOLED screen, a third button, and voice features, plus stronger GPS battery in high accuracy modes. But it costs more, and the always on screen behavior is the tradeoff to pay attention to.
How long does the battery last during long hikes?
Real-world testing showed 31-41 hours in GPS mode depending on settings. Multi-day hiking is achievable with the always on display enabled and multi-band GPS active.
Can the COROS Pace 4 track trail running and hiking?
Yes, the Pace 4 excels at both tail running and hiking.
Is the COROS Pace 4 worth upgrading from Pace 3?
If you want the bright AMOLED display, voice pins for capturing training logs, and doubled GPS battery life, the upgrade is worthwhile. The new features justify the $50 price difference for active users.
How does the COROS Pace 4 compare to Garmin for hiking?
The Pace 4 matches or beats similarly-priced Garmin watches (like the Forerunner 165) on GPS accuracy and battery life. Also the UI of the COROS app is much easier for first time users than Garmin.
How We Tested and Our Methodology
I tested the COROS Pace 4 throughout 2025 and into 2026, so you get the most honest review possible.
Mountaineer Journey is 100% independent, our testing team has been evaluating outdoor gear in the field for years.
Over the past 16 years I’ve logged over 4,000 miles of hiking, trail running and road running, so I have the experience to evaluate accuracy, comfort and long term performance.
Every category score is based on real world testing, not brand specs.
Tyler
Tyler is the founder Mountaineer Journey and a professional Mountain Guide with 15+ years of technical experience in trekking, mountaineering, and trail sports. Having logged thousands of miles from rugged alpine summits to urban paths, Tyler provides rigorous, field-tested insights on hiking, walking, and trail running gear. All reviews are 100% unsponsored and unbiased, ensuring you get honest scoring based on real-world performance. His mission is to help outdoor enthusiasts of all levels find reliable equipment that ensures comfort, safety, and performance on any terrain.
