Coros Q2 Feature Drop – LOTS of goodies

Nope. Coros still hasn’t run out of new features to add. Today the company announces some quite significant and interesting additions (plus a few boring ones). There are new features for EVERY Coros watch but hardware limitations of older watches mean that most of the new goodies will only work on the newer watches.

Screen Mirroring – Data and Map/Routing

Whether riding with your watch or working out in the gym, sometimes it is safer, easier or more convenient to look at a larger screen directly in front of you rather than on your wrist.

Simple data metrics or the map screen can both be mirrored.

Coros screen mirroring lets your watch continue to record the workout but your Coros smartphone APP also displays the same information. A further benefit of this is that the Coros ecosystem might display better and more advanced metrics than, say, the gym equipment display you might otherwise use.

Note that from a pure technical point of view, the map on the watch is not sent to the smartphone. Rather the route/position is sent to the smartphone app which already has a map.

NOT PACE 1, APEX 42/46mm

Virtual Pacer

This is an old feature, widely available on competitor watches, so it’s nice that Coros now adds the ability to be alerted if you diverge from a target pace.

You can combine pacing with a time or distance goal.

NOT PACE 1, APEX 42/46mm

Climbing GPS Optimisations

GPS accuracy is improved whilst climbing with new algorithms.

I’m not exactly sure what has happened here. It seems that the existing dual frequency mode is now available when climbing and linked to new climb-specific logic.

When you are using Outdoor Climbing mode with your COROS watch a GPS algorithm will automatically turn on during the Climb phase to help improve your GPS track on steep climbs. This updated algorithm is available to all COROS watches with Outdoor Climb mode and dual-frequency satellite. [COROS]

In a nutshell, dual frequency reception improves accuracy by allowing the watch to recognise and reject positional information from reflected GPS signals. It adds a sense check that you have only moved a relatively small distance since the last measurement.

An Easier FTP Test

Coros now offers an alternative test to a standard FTP test. It seems to be a bit easier to execute when guided through the company’s intervals on an indoor trainer with a power meter AND heart rate monitor.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that FTP is the maximum power you can sustain for an hour. One valid way to determine FTP is to take percentages of maximal efforts of a shorter duration, typically 20 minutes is the chosen period but it could equally be 22 minutes or 19 minutes, and you apply a different scaling factor. Once you do a 30-minute test the result is assumed to be the same for an hour. However, if you use shorter durations than 20 minutes for the calculation you will be employing energy systems differently which may skew the results.

That said, Coros mandates a heart rate monitor so they might apply a clever twist looking for certain changes in your HR/HRV. I think that is what Garmin does in real-time as you ride normally.

Honestly folks. Just do the 20-minute test. Or use one of the models that update FTP based on maximal efforts during your rides.

Available for APEX 2 Pro, VERTIX 2, and above

Activity Screen Redesign

Previously the new activity screen used a different zone pointer and font sizes. There are now also metric icons to the left of the metrics when previously just the metric name was above the metric.

I’m not entirely convinced this is an improvement but it’s fine. I don’t think the metric name or its icon is required if the units of measure are shown, and I don’t even need those if I am aware of my normal screen layouts, thus Coros support pressing the crown to make the labels appear

Also Added

• Run and Trail Run – COROS Users can now use navigation on the watch during a planned workout. Basic Interval Mode is also added for treadmill runs.
• Climbing Workouts – Climbers can now build workouts directly within the COROS app or Training Hub to send to their watch, then follow the workout directly from the watch while in the gym.
• Climbing Training Plans – Now uniquely include the ability to add sport-specific workouts into the plan for Run, Trail Run, Bike, Swim, Strength, Indoor Climb, and Bouldering activity modes.
• Bouldering Mode – Added more bouldering grades (UIAA/Ewbank/Australian) – Not PACE models
• Improved Recovery Timer – The Recovery algorithms in the COROS app are updated to improve the amount of time suggested before your next exercise or workout, taking into account your current fitness level and ability.
• Strava Notes Sync – Running Form Test, Running Fitness Test, Bike and Indoor Bike now support syncing Strava Notes.
• Insta360 Integration – Before filming with your Insta360 camera, record an activity on your COROS device and sync your activity to the COROS app. Then import the data to the Insta360 app to overlay your activity data to your videos.
• Swimming – To accommodate common pool sizes, swimmers can now set the interval distance for swim workouts to intervals of 5m.

Take Out

These 13/14 new features add together to become a notable update for most Coros watch owners.

Whilst many of the features are catching up to those of the competition, Coros is demonstrating clear leadership in the climbing space and with screen mirroring.