| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | COROS |
| Type | Ultra, expedition and climbing GPS watch |
| Series | VERTIX |
| Released | April 2024 |
| Price at launch | GBP 649 / USD 699 / EUR 699 |
| Predecessor | COROS Vertix 2 (August 2021) |
| Successor | Not yet announced. See Release Radar. |
| Sizes | 50mm (large) |
| Colours | Earth, Moon, Space |
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 2S is the best climbing watch on the market, better than the Garmin Fenix for that purpose, built for ultra, expedition and cold-weather use where battery life outweighs a bright screen. It refreshes the Vertix 2’s internals with a new optical heart rate sensor and a redesigned GNSS antenna, and adds climb-specific features new to the COROS range.
Battery life is the longest COROS makes, at 118 hours in standard full GPS and 43 hours in dual frequency, ahead of a Garmin Fenix 7 Pro. GNSS accuracy is among the best on the market, and the redesigned antenna improves ascent recording in CLIMB mode. The memory-in-pixel screen is chosen for battery life and cold-weather legibility rather than resolution, and there is no AMOLED option. Sensor support is Bluetooth only, which matters to cyclists running ANT+ power meters. The physiology layer in EvoLab lacks Garmin’s depth and does not deserve to be treated as measurement. Because COROS gives new features to older hardware, the Vertix 2 gained most of the same software, which narrows the case for the 2S over a discounted Vertix 2.
What’s new versus the Vertix 2
- New optical heart rate sensor with a circular LED array and multichannel design
- Redesigned GNSS antenna, improving accuracy across all sports
- Algorithmic improvements to CLIMB mode ascent recording
- Climbing workouts, bouldering mode and multisport training plans incorporating climbing
- Handlebar mirroring, showing the watch recording on the phone app for cyclists
- Virtual Pacer for running and an easier FTP test
- Three new colours: Earth, Moon and Space
- 2g lighter and 0.3mm deeper than the Vertix 2, owing to the new sensor
- Recycled packaging, replacing the waterproof plastic storage box
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Size | 1.4 inch |
| Type | Memory-in-pixel touchscreen, always-on |
| Resolution | 280 x 280 pixels |
| Lens | Sapphire glass |
| Physical | |
| Case size | 50.3 x 50.3 x 16.3mm (large). Height excludes the optical heart rate sensor |
| Weight | 85g with silicone band, 68g with nylon band |
| Case material | Fibre-reinforced polymer with titanium |
| 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 |
| 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, thermometer |
| Connectivity and storage | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 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 come from the official COROS specification. The 2S draws slightly more power than the Vertix 2 because of the new sensor and antenna, so the figures fall a little against it.
| Mode | Battery life |
|---|---|
| Daily use and sleep tracking | 40 days |
| Standard full GPS | 118 hours |
| All systems | 73 hours |
| Dual frequency | 43 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
- Effort Pace
- 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 climbing
- Climbing workouts and bouldering mode
- Track mode
- Virtual Pacer
- FTP test
- 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
- HRV
- Basic fitness tracking covering steps, stairs and calories
- Smartphone notifications
- Custom watch faces
- Storm alert
- MP3 music playback to paired Bluetooth headphones
- 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
Third-party integration
- Strava, Komoot, RideWithGPS, TrainingPeaks, Nike Run Club, Apple Health, Final Surge and Stryd
- Stryd running power supported natively
- Handlebar mirroring to the COROS app for cyclists
Activity profiles
The Vertix 2S carries the full Climb set, including bouldering.
| Category | Profiles |
|---|---|
| Run | Run, Indoor Run, Track Run, Trail Run |
| Climb | Mountain Climb, Bouldering, Indoor 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, Walk, Jump Rope |
| Other | Triathlon, Multisport, Strength, Training |
Further reading
- the5krunner COROS Vertix 2S review
- the5krunner COROS Vertix 2 review
- COROS watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming watches
Related watches
Looking at alternatives to the Vertix 2S?
- Predecessor: COROS Vertix 2, which shares most of the same software after later updates.
- Cheaper in the range: COROS Apex 4, a lighter titanium mountain watch with a speaker and microphone.
