Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Coros - PACE 3 | Coros - VERTIX 2S |
|---|---|---|
| GPS mode | 38 h | 118 h |
| Smartwatch mode | 17 days | 42 days |
| Solar charging | false | true |
Between the PACE 3 and VERTIX 2S, the PACE 3 comes out ahead in several specs, while the VERTIX 2S wins on gps mode / smartwatch mode. Overall, the PACE 3 scores 71.4 and the VERTIX 2S scores 76.5 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The VERTIX 2S edges ahead on the Mars Score (71.4 vs 76.5), but the 5.1-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
The PACE 3 does not pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec-table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the VERTIX 2S if you care most about gps mode / smartwatch mode. Its strongest claims are gps mode, smartwatch mode, solar charging. The single most decisive one: GPS mode — 210.53% more. 118 h vs 38 h.
Both ship with comparable multi-band gps, ecg, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the VERTIX 2S is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Coros - PACE 3 or Coros - VERTIX 2S?
Coros - VERTIX 2S leads the current Mars Score by 5.1 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 - PACE 3 if…
Coros - PACE 3 does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
Choose Coros - VERTIX 2S if…
Coros - VERTIX 2S has the measurable edge on battery gps hours, battery smartwatch days, has solar.
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 - PACE 3 wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Coros - VERTIX 2S wins
- ▲GPS mode — 210.53% more. 118 h vs 38 h.
- ▲Smartwatch mode — 147.06% more. 42 days vs 17 days.
- ▲Has Solar charging.
Spec comparison
GPS & Sensors
| Spec | Coros - PACE 3 | Coros - VERTIX 2S |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-band GPS | true | true |
| Barometric altimeter | true | true |
| Heart rate | true | true |
| ECG | false | false |
| Pulse Ox | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Coros - PACE 3 | Coros - VERTIX 2S |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | 17 days | 42 dayslead |
| GPS mode | 38 h | 118 hlead |
| Solar charging | false | truelead |
Design
| Spec | Coros - PACE 3 | Coros - VERTIX 2S |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 42 mm | 50.3 mmlead |
| Weight | 39 glead | 84 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | 5 ATM | 10 ATMlead |