Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Coros - VERTIX 2S | Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) |
|---|---|---|
| GPS mode | 118 h | 30 h |
| Smartwatch mode | 42 days | 16 days |
| Solar charging | true | false |
| ECG | false | true |
Between the VERTIX 2S and MARQ Athlete (Gen 2), the VERTIX 2S comes out ahead in gps mode / smartwatch mode, while the MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) wins on ecg. Overall, the VERTIX 2S scores 76.5 and the MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) scores 68.1 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The VERTIX 2S is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 8.4 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the VERTIX 2S if you care most about gps mode / smartwatch mode. The biggest gaps in its favor are gps mode, smartwatch mode, solar charging. The single most decisive one: GPS mode — 293.33% more. 118 h vs 30 h.
Pick the MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) if you care most about ecg. Its strongest claims are ecg. The single most decisive one: Has ECG.
Both ship with comparable multi-band gps, 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 - VERTIX 2S or Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)?
Coros - VERTIX 2S leads the current Mars Score by 8.4 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 - VERTIX 2S if…
Coros - VERTIX 2S has the measurable edge on battery gps hours, battery smartwatch days, has solar.
Choose Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) if…
Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) has the measurable edge on 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 - VERTIX 2S wins
- ▲GPS mode — 293.33% more. 118 h vs 30 h.
- ▲Smartwatch mode — 162.50% more. 42 days vs 16 days.
- ▲Has Solar charging.
Why Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) wins
- ▲Has ECG.
Spec comparison
GPS & Sensors
| Spec | Coros - VERTIX 2S | Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-band GPS | true | true |
| Barometric altimeter | true | true |
| Heart rate | true | true |
| ECG | false | truelead |
| Pulse Ox | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Coros - VERTIX 2S | Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | 42 dayslead | 16 days |
| GPS mode | 118 hlead | 30 h |
| Solar charging | truelead | false |
Design
| Spec | Coros - VERTIX 2S | Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 50.3 mmlead | 46 mm |
| Weight | 84 glead | 92 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | 10 ATM | 10 ATM |