| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | COROS |
| Type | GPS running watch |
| Series | PACE |
| Released | Announced 29 August 2023, shipping September 2023 |
| Price at launch | GBP 219 / USD 229 / EUR 249 |
| Predecessor | COROS Pace 2 (August 2020) |
| Successor | COROS Pace 4 (November 2025) |
| Status | Discontinued February 2026. Still available from some retailers and on the used market. |
| Sizes | 41.9mm (small) |
| Colours | Black, White |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Jump to: Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Activity profiles | Further reading
Expert opinion
The Pace 3 is a good entry-level and first-time sports watch, light at around 30 grams, accurate on GPS, and carrying more sports features for the money than anything else at its price. It is a workhorse rather than an all-day smartwatch, best worn during training and racing rather than for lifestyle use.
GPS accuracy is among the best on the market. The COROS ecosystem off the wrist does not match Garmin’s, the physiology metrics in EvoLab lack Garmin’s depth and do not deserve to be treated as measurement, and there is no third-party app store to fill the gaps. Sensor support is Bluetooth only, which matters to cyclists running ANT+ power meters. Navigation is breadcrumb only, with maps held on the phone rather than the watch. There is no AMOLED option and no streaming music. For a runner it does the job well, and for a data-driven triathlete it falls behind Garmin, Suunto and Polar on ecosystem depth.
What’s new versus the Pace 2
COROS updates older watches with new software where the hardware allows, so the Pace 2 already carried most of the Pace 3’s software features. The genuine changes were in hardware.
- Dual-frequency all-satellite GNSS chipset
- Optical heart rate sensor with SpO2 and wear detection
- Scratch-resistant Corning glass touchscreen, replacing the Pace 2’s screen
- Touchscreen added alongside the digital dial and button
- 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi for faster firmware updates
- MP3 music playback to Bluetooth headphones
- Turn-by-turn instructions when following breadcrumb routes
- Improved battery life, and a slightly thinner and lighter case
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Size | 1.2 inch |
| Type | Memory-in-pixel touchscreen, always-on |
| Resolution | 240 x 240 pixels |
| Lens | Corning glass |
| Physical | |
| Case size | 41.9 x 41.9 x 11.7mm (small). Height excludes the optical heart rate sensor |
| Weight | 39g with silicone band, 30g with nylon band |
| Case material | Fibre-reinforced polymer |
| Bezel material | Fibre-reinforced polymer |
| Strap material | Silicone or nylon, 22mm quick release |
| Controls | Digital dial, back button, touchscreen |
| Water rating | 5 ATM |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GPS | All-satellite dual-frequency. GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS |
| Heart rate | Optical heart rate monitor |
| Other sensors | Pulse oximeter, barometric altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass |
| Not fitted | Electrocardiogram sensor, microphone, speaker |
| Connectivity and storage | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth for phone and accessories. Wi-Fi for data sync and firmware. No ANT+, no NFC |
| Music | MP3 playback to paired Bluetooth headphones. No streaming services |
| Onboard maps | No. Breadcrumb navigation with turn-by-turn instructions only |
| Charging | USB-C adapter |
Battery life
The figures below come from the official COROS specification.
| Mode | Battery life |
|---|---|
| Daily use and sleep tracking | 17 days |
| Standard full GPS | 38 hours |
| All systems | 25 hours |
| Dual frequency | 15 hours |
Features
Feature explanations are covered in the the5krunner COROS hub. The headings below follow COROS’s own grouping.
Training
- EvoLab: recovery, training load, base fitness, race predictor and threshold zones
- Running Fitness
- Activity alerts for cadence, distance, pace, heart rate and power
- Structured workouts and calendarised training plans, including for trail running
- Track mode
- Running power from the wrist, using the barometric altimeter
- Stryd running power and advanced Stryd metrics
- Resting heart rate
Daily
- Sleep tracking with stages and readiness
- Basic fitness tracking covering steps, stairs and calories
- Smartphone notifications
- Custom watch faces, up to five stored on the watch
- MP3 music playback to paired Bluetooth headphones
- Firmware updates over Wi-Fi and the COROS app
Navigation
- Breadcrumb route following with turn-by-turn instructions. There is no onboard map layer
- Back-to-Start
Third-party integration
- Strava, Komoot, RideWithGPS, TrainingPeaks, Nike Run Club, Apple Health, Final Surge and Stryd
- Stryd running power supported natively
Activity profiles
The Pace 3 supports over 20 sports modes.
| Category | Profiles |
|---|---|
| Run | Run, Indoor Run, Track Run, Trail Run |
| Bike | Bike, Indoor Bike |
| Water | Open Water, Pool Swim |
| Snow | Ski, Snowboard, XC Ski |
| Other | Triathlon, Multisport, GPS Cardio, Gym Cardio, Strength, Hike, Walk, Training |
Further reading
- the5krunner COROS Pace 3 review
- COROS Pace 4 specifications, the successor
- COROS watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming watches
Related watches
Looking at alternatives to the Pace 3?
- Successor: COROS Pace 4, with an AMOLED screen, more battery and a microphone.
- Step up in the range: COROS Pace Pro, with offline maps and AMOLED.
- Also consider: Garmin Forerunner 165, the Garmin built to compete with the Pace 3.
