Between the PACE 3 and MARQ Athlete (Gen 2), the PACE 3 comes out ahead in gps mode and smartwatch mode, while the MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) wins on ecg. Overall, the PACE 3 scores 46.6 and the MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) scores 45.3 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (46.6 vs 45.3). The decision isn't about overall quality — both clear the bar — it's about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the PACE 3 if you care most about gps mode and smartwatch mode. The biggest gaps in its favor are gps mode, smartwatch mode.
Pick the MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) if you care most about ecg. Its strongest claims are ecg.
Both ship with comparable multi-band gps, solar charging, so those specs don't 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 tells you both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Why Coros - PACE 3 wins
- ▲GPS mode — 26.67% more. 38 h vs 30 h.
- ▲Smartwatch mode — 6.25% more. 17 days vs 16 days.
Why Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) wins
- ▲Has ECG.
Spec comparison
GPS & Sensors
| Spec | Coros - PACE 3 | 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 - PACE 3 | Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | 17 dayslead | 16 days |
| GPS mode | 38 hlead | 30 h |
| Solar charging | false | false |
Design
| Spec | Coros - PACE 3 | Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 42 mm | 46 mmlead |
| Weight | 39 glead | 92 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | 5 ATM | 10 ATMlead |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
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