Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Coros - Apex 2 Pro | Garmin - Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) |
|---|---|---|
| GPS mode | 75 h | 104 h |
| Smartwatch mode | 30 days | 28 days |
| Solar charging | false | true |
| ECG | false | true |
Between the Apex 2 Pro and Fenix 8 Solar (47mm), the Apex 2 Pro comes out ahead in smartwatch mode, while the Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) wins on gps mode / solar charging. Overall, the Apex 2 Pro scores 74.4 and the Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) scores 73.5 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (74.4 vs 73.5). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the Apex 2 Pro if you care most about smartwatch mode. The biggest gaps in its favor are smartwatch mode. The single most decisive one: Smartwatch mode — 7.14% more. 30 days vs 28 days.
Pick the Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) if you care most about gps mode / solar charging. Its strongest claims are gps mode, solar charging, ecg. The single most decisive one: GPS mode — 38.67% more. 104 h vs 75 h.
Both ship with comparable multi-band gps, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Coros - Apex 2 Pro or Garmin - Fenix 8 Solar (47mm)?
Coros - Apex 2 Pro leads the current Mars Score by 0.9 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare smartwatch mode, gps mode against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Coros - Apex 2 Pro if…
Coros - Apex 2 Pro has the measurable edge on battery smartwatch days.
Choose Garmin - Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) if…
Garmin - Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) has the measurable edge on battery gps hours, has solar, has ecg.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Coros - Apex 2 Pro wins
- ▲Smartwatch mode — 7.14% more. 30 days vs 28 days.
Why Garmin - Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) wins
- ▲GPS mode — 38.67% more. 104 h vs 75 h.
- ▲Has Solar charging.
- ▲Has ECG.
Spec comparison
GPS & Sensors
| Spec | Coros - Apex 2 Pro | Garmin - Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-band GPS | true | true |
| Barometric altimeter | true | true |
| Heart rate | true | true |
| ECG | false | truelead |
| Pulse Ox | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Coros - Apex 2 Pro | Garmin - Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | 30 dayslead | 28 days |
| GPS mode | 75 h | 104 hlead |
| Solar charging | false | truelead |
Design
| Spec | Coros - Apex 2 Pro | Garmin - Fenix 8 Solar (47mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 46.1 mm | 47 mmlead |
| Weight | 66 glead | 82 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | 10 ATM | 10 ATM |