| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | COROS |
| Type | Ultra, expedition and adventure GPS watch |
| Series | VERTIX |
| Released | 17 August 2021 |
| Price at launch | GBP 599 / USD 699 / EUR 699 |
| Predecessor | COROS Vertix (2019) |
| Successor | COROS Vertix 2S (April 2024) |
| Sizes | 50mm (large) |
| Colours | Obsidian, Lava |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Jump to: Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Activity profiles | Further reading
Expert opinion
The Vertix 2 was the first sports watch with a dual-frequency GNSS chipset, and it brought maps and music to the top of the COROS range against the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro and Enduro. It is a large ultra, adventure and climbing watch built from titanium and sapphire, with the longest battery life COROS made at the time.
Battery life runs to 135 hours in standard full GPS and 50 hours in dual frequency, ahead of a Garmin Fenix 6X at the time. GNSS accuracy improved on earlier watches, though dual frequency did not always resolve reflected signals near buildings and cliffs, so tracks were better on balance but not consistently so. The maps are non-routable on the watch, so there is no recalculation if a turn is missed, and music is MP3 playback rather than streaming. Sensor support is Bluetooth only, which rules out ANT+ power meters and makes it a running rather than a triathlon choice. The physiology layer in EvoLab lacks Garmin’s depth and does not deserve to be treated as measurement.
Buy COROS Vertix 2: UK / EUR / USA
What’s new versus the Vertix
- First sports watch with a dual-frequency all-satellite GNSS chipset, the Airoha AG3335M
- Larger 1.4 inch display at 280 x 280 pixels, the size of a 51mm Garmin Fenix 6X
- Global offline landscape and topographic maps added
- MP3 music playback added
- Wi-Fi added
- Optical heart rate sensor with ECG and HRV
- Multi-pitch climbing mode, recording grades separately within a single climb
- Processor roughly 20 per cent faster
- Storage of 32GB
- ANT+ removed. Sensors are Bluetooth only
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Size | 1.4 inch |
| Type | Memory-in-pixel touchscreen, always-on |
| Resolution | 280 x 280 pixels, 64 colours |
| Lens | Sapphire glass |
| Physical | |
| Case size | 50.3 x 50.3 x 15.7mm (large) |
| Weight | 91g with silicone band |
| Case material | Titanium alloy with PVD coating |
| Bezel material | Grade 5 titanium alloy with PVD coating |
| Strap material | Silicone or nylon, 26mm quick release |
| Controls | Digital dial, back button, touchscreen |
| Water rating | 10 ATM |
| Operating temperature | -30C to 50C |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GPS | All-satellite dual-frequency. GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS. Airoha AG3335M |
| Heart rate | Optical heart rate monitor |
| ECG | Yes, with HRV |
| Other sensors | Pulse oximeter, barometric altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, thermometer |
| Connectivity and storage | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 for phone and accessories. Wi-Fi for data sync and firmware. No ANT+, no NFC |
| Storage | 32GB |
| Music | MP3 playback to paired Bluetooth headphones. No streaming services |
| Onboard maps | Yes. Global offline landscape and topographic maps. Not routable on the watch |
| Charging | Under two hours |
Battery life
The figures below are the launch specification. COROS revised them downward in a February 2024 firmware update, listing the Vertix 2 at 127 hours standard full GPS, 89 hours all systems and 49 hours dual frequency, with 43 days of daily use.
| Mode | Battery life |
|---|---|
| Daily use and sleep tracking | 60 days |
| Standard full GPS | 140 hours |
| All systems | 90 hours |
| All systems, with dual frequency | 50 hours |
| UltraMax | 240 hours |
| Charging time | Under two 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
- Activity alerts for cadence, distance, pace, heart rate and power
- Structured workouts and calendarised training plans
- Track mode
- Muscle Heat Map for strength and conditioning
- Running power from the wrist, using the barometric altimeter
- Stryd running power
- Resting heart rate
Daily
- Sleep tracking
- HRV Index, a waking readiness test
- Basic fitness tracking covering steps, stairs and calories
- Smartphone notifications
- Storm alert
- MP3 music playback to paired Bluetooth headphones
- Insta360 camera control
- Firmware updates over Wi-Fi and the COROS app
Navigation
- Global offline landscape and topographic maps, with touchscreen pan and digital dial zoom
- Breadcrumb navigation with route elevation profile and distance to destination
- Checkpoint and Back-to-Start
- GPS coordinates
- Strava and Komoot course sync, added after launch
Third-party integration
- Strava, Komoot, TrainingPeaks, Nike Run Club, Apple Health, Final Surge and Stryd
- Stryd running power supported natively
Activity profiles
| Category | Profiles |
|---|---|
| Run | Run, Indoor Run, Track Run, Trail Run |
| Climb | Mountain Climb |
| Bike | Bike, Indoor Bike |
| Water | Open Water, Pool Swim, Flatwater, Rowing, Indoor Rower, Whitewater, Speedsurfing, Windsurfing |
| Snow | Ski, Snowboard, XC Ski, Ski Touring |
| Cardio | GPS Cardio, Gym Cardio, Hike |
| Other | Triathlon, Multisport, Strength, Training |
Buy COROS Vertix 2: UK / EUR / USA
Further reading
- the5krunner COROS Vertix 2 review
- COROS Vertix 2S specifications, the successor
- COROS watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming watches
Related watches
Looking at alternatives to the Vertix 2?
- Successor: COROS Vertix 2S, with a newer heart rate sensor and a redesigned antenna.
- In the range: COROS Apex 4, a lighter and newer titanium mountain watch.
