Verdict
The Coros Apex 2 has everything you postulate in a high - end seaworthiness watch – and some extra number you arguably do n’t – cased in a tough top - calibre shield . Some of its more advanced feature could do with further development , though .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Coros Apex 2 is a high-pitched - end dedicated physical exercise spotter and one of the key rivals to a Garmin from the Forerunner or Fenix series .
So , should you buy the Apex 2 instead of a Garmin ? There ’s a compelling leaning of reasons to do just that . The Apex 2 is price likewise to theForerunner 255 , but it has a higher - end body-build , mapping feature article entirely absent from more low-cost Garmins and more svelte haptics than on any Garmin ascertain out there .
However , the Apex 2 ’s port is n’t quite as rich or intuitive , and its tracking accuracy is a small forged . And while it has onboard maps , the feature is not even close to the mapping backup useable on pricier watches , like the GarminForerunner 955andFenix 7 .
I do importantly prefer survive with the Apex 2 to the Suunto watches I ’ve attempt , though .
Design
The Coros Apex 2 is a small - faced watch , but it ’s thickset than you might retrieve . Its build is also importantly more upscale than its penny-pinching Garmin rival in terms of cost , the Forerunner 255 .
The Apex 2 has a titanium back and bezel , whereas the Forerunner 255 has a introductory plastic polymer case . Add the Sapphire screen protection , and the Apex 2 starts to look more like Garmin ’s top - final stage ticker than anything you could get for remotely near its price .
Even the Fenix 7 uses Gorilla Glass and stainless steel unless you upgrade to the Sapphire Solar model . Coros is clear major stage here .
The Coros Apex 2 also has a rather smashing shoulder strap that comes across more like an aftermarket accessory than the basic strap included with the average wearable . It ’s a nylon weave with “ search ne plus ultra ” written across its length . I could do without the motivational taglines , but this matter is very well-situated . With a Coros Apex 2 , 24/7 wear is no visitation .
Its covert is great too . This is a transflective LCD , similar to the style Garmin practice . The screen ’s visibility here is much good than that of rival Suunto lookout man , and the front lightness is bright and consistent across the face .
Interface
The Coros Apex 2 ’s interface takes pool cue from Apple and Gamin , but unfortunately , it does not follow off that well in either comparison .
TheApple Watchinfluence is see in the rotating pate , which is the main control condition user interface . While the watch has a touch screen , it ’s not used in the master user interface as standard . The summit is a continuous ( smooth ) ascendence , whereas the port cause is step and discrete .
Ideally , you want the trend of mastery motions and the type of movement in your interface to match , but there ’s no match here . It made me realise that I preferred the button approach of the Forerunner 255 , even if it seemed more basic from afar .
This comparing is minded because the Apex 2 ’s interface is very alike to Garmin ’s . A list of entries for important daily stats , including calories , steps , level wax , recovery state and warmness rate , sits below the watch expression .
From the watch face , you constrict down on the pennant to get to the exercising mode carte du jour . Coros does n’t really mess up any of this clobber , but Garmin does it well with a better ascendancy interface , plainer font and a more or less more successful all - rotund user experience .
Features and Fitness
One of the parts that drew me to the Coros Apex 2 was its function support . This watch has 8 GB depot , and you may use that to transfer an entire continent ’s worth of maps .
This is normally one of the key draw poker of a high - end Garmin – even if I scantily use it myself . Here , Coros offers innocent downloadable maps at a couple of hundred Sudanese pound less than Garmin .
But do n’t be fooled by this : the Apex 2 ’s use of mapping is not great . No mathematical function are preinstalled , and catch them on the watch is an super slow drag - and - fall process that can take hours due to the slow file transportation speeds .
If you do n’t tally GPX route Indian file to the watch , all you could do is scroll and zoom around the map figure of speech . You ca n’t create routes on the watch , or even in the Coros phone app . And there ’s no mapping screen add to , for exercise , the Run body process mode .
To use map to follow a itinerary , you have to expend the Navigation mode . Still , at least the maps are free to download , and the Coros site lets you choose the country you need , to avoid the 2hr hold when jam in the entire European continent . Topographic and landscape maps are useable , but they do n’t have information like road names , so they are generally unspoiled for non - urban use .
You have about 6.3 GB of place on the Apex 2 – not quite enough to fit the whole of North America on it , but Coros split up the giant continents to make that a non - event .
You may require to save some space for music anyway . The Apex 2 can connect to wireless headphones to play track , but these require to be your own digital filing cabinet , as there ’s no support for streaming services like Spotify , and you ca n’t operate music played on your phone either .
Some of the Apex 2 ’s feature are developing , but their comprehensiveness is telling . It has anECGreader , for lesson . This monitors your spirit charge per unit and rhythm using a weak electric signal – rather than a light sensor of the stock wearable HR reader .
Other watches , such as theApple Watch Series 8 , make use of this technical school to mark off for potential heart abnormalities , but the Apex 2 uses it for manual HRV readings . HRV is heart rate variability , which other big blade measure overnight via the optical reader .
While I ’m no expert , a quick 30 2nd stint does not seem the best time to take an HRV reading . It means there ’s very small consistency between the readings , and the measurement window is too small . A mellow HRV is generally plus , but it ’s unmanageable for the mean soul to decipher , even when displayed as a single daily score .
have ’s get to the proper stuff . The Apex 2 has 27 exercise tracking modes with generally greater deepness than those of an middling fitness tracker . Its cross - country skiing mode , for example , has stats like grade , height , elevation gain and loss – and 3D space , account for terrain in the core distance stat .
Coros also beat Garmin and Apple to offering accessory - barren run magnate statistics . This is where your running effort are value in watt , to take changing terrain into account in a fashion that raw pace does not . It ’s yet another thing you may base your workouts on , alongside clip , spirit rate , distance and footstep .
The Apex 2 also offers helpful stats when you ’re not mid - exercising . There ’s your recovery Department of State , your current running performance andVO2 Max . you may also create custom workouts and change these to the watch , so it can guide you through them in real time .
The workout are not as various as what Garmin offers . There ’s no yoga , for example , but in the Strength section , there ’s a large library for choose specific utilisation .
Performance
The Coros Apex 2 lacks themulti - stripe GPSof the Apex 2 Pro , but you may not call for this unless you plan on running among skyscraper or in valley , where the extra transmission striation comes to the fore . Running in parks and along residential streets , I had no issues with the GPS sign strength .
However , the Apex 2 ’s triangulation time can be maddeningly obtuse when the watch ’s onboard information expire – it can take up to 5mins – and it does n’t seem to update automatically while connected to a earphone . This is something you ’re only likely to see regularly if you take long breaks between recitation sessions , but it ’s still frustrative .
fix readings when interlock on were consistent . When jade with aGarmin Enduro 2 – one ticker per arm – the Apex 2 recorded more or less shorter length at each kilometre , mounting up to a consistent 1 - 2 % conflict . wait at the immortalize routes , the Apex did have me running through the rummy rowing of houses or a lake , usually in the first third of a exercising .
The ticker pace reader seems to have more substantial emergence with the early portion of physical exertion . In about half of the sessions , there were unexpected dips in readings within the first 5mins . This used to be the average for just about all wearable heart rate reader . You had to expect the occasional morsel of debris at first . However , I regain that the former Garmins and the Apple Watch Series 8 manage to avoid this .
While it ’s a step below the good , I do consider that the Apex 2 ’s heart rate reader is decent .
Battery life is very good too . Coros says a care will last up to 17 days , or 45hrs in standard GPS mood and 30hrs in its All Systems Global Positioning System modal value . It seems the only thing that can really kill the battery is music playback , which convey it down to as piffling as 7hrs .
After workouts , 2 % is the typical battery going . The Apex 2 is the form of watch that lasts so long you’re able to all draw a blank about its charge level and palpate confident go out for a outpouring even with only 10 % battery go out , which would not dilute it with a “ saucy ” scout .
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Should you buy it?
The Coros Apex 2 offers a wide array of features for the money , including downloadable maps and a higher - class build than rival Garmins thanks to the Sapphire show and part - atomic number 22 casing .
This watch ’s maps and music integration are basic , and the crown - direct navigation can feel sticky . The heart rate sensor also has unconstipated minor trip-up in the early part of exercise , which some other party have get by to largely iron out .
Final Thoughts
The Coros Apex 2 is a strongrunning watchwith a across-the-board cooking stove of features , including ECG – one not often found on purely fitness - driven wearable . Several aspects of its design also beat theGarmin Forerunner 255 Music , one of its central rivals .
The Apex 2 has Sapphire screen protection and part - titanium casing – some of the honest materials you could ask for . However , I still cogitate thePace 2is the hardest hitter in the Coros scope . While the latter lacks maps and music , I do n’t intend Coros pulls off these feature of speech anywhere nigh as well as Garmin . And Coros ’s implementation of ECG is n’t all that utilitarian at the moment .
Trusted Score
FAQs
This watch is body of water - resistant to 5ATM , make it hunky-dory for surface - level pool swim .
The Apex 2 is the footstep - up model , with a higher - end build and support for lots of extra feature , including maps , euphony , ECG and rakehell oxygenation readings .
Maps can be downloaded from the Coros web site and routes sum up to the scout via the Coros app .
