Amazfit T-Rex 3 – Packaging

If there is one brand that has made a name for itself in recent years, it is Amazfit. And rightly so, as Zepp (the company behind the Amazfit brand) mostly produces smartwatches that can usually qualified as very strong value-for-money. Models from Amazfit are available for a fraction of what you would pay for similar devices from Garmin and most of the time, the functional differences are minimal.

As both companies offer an extensive range of models, it is quite difficult to decide on a particular one. Hopefully, this review will help to simplify that procedure as well.

Amazfit T-Rex 3 Overview

Let’s start with giving some context: The T-Rex 3 is the latest generation of Amazfit’s T-Rex series. Some time has passed since the release of its predecessor in may 2022, so the following table compares the key specifications of the T-Rex 3 against the T-Rex 2 and its competition:

In terms of the very basic specs, the products are quite similar. The T-Rex 3 stands out primarily for its 1.5″ AMOLED display. With a resolution of 480 x 480 pixels, the display boasts a pixel density of 320 PPI, making it comparable to other smartwatches. It delivers content as sharply as Garmin, Suunto, and Polar watches, while benefiting from a slightly larger diameter.

New and Noteworthy

Before we dive into the details of the T-Rex 3, here are the watch’s key new features:

• 1.5″ AMOLED display
• Max. 2,000 nits brightness
• Stainless steel bezel
• Longer battery life
• Readiness score
• Heart rate variability
• 177+ sports modes
• Offline maps (including contour and ski maps)
• Turn-by-turn navigation
• GPS privacy settings
• AI integration / microphone + voice control
• 26 GB storage
• Contactless payment / NFC
• Suitable for free diving

As a reminder, the T-Rex 2 was released in May 2022. Therefore, while all the features mentioned here are new to the T-Rex series, they may not be entirely brand-new. Many of these features were introduced in other products and are now also included in the T-Rex 3.

Unboxing and First Impressions

For me, unboxing a new watch is still one of the most exciting moments. However, since Amazfit rarely changes the packaging and presentation of its watches, opening the white T-Rex 3 box has been relatively straightforward.

Amazfit T-Rex 3 in the open box

Inside the box, the T-Rex 3 is displayed first, with a protective film over the display to guard against scratches. In my opinion, this isn’t necessary, as the watch sits securely in its box.

Amazfit T-Rex 3 with protective film

The protective film is the only piece of plastic that needs to be disposed of. Most companies now avoid using cable ties and plastic bags, which is in line with modern sustainability efforts and a positive step forward.

Alongside the watch, there’s also a small USB charging cradle, adapters for standard straps, and a tiny screwdriver in the box.

Accessories and quick guide

Regarding the USB charging cradle: only the cradle itself is included in the package. Amazfit has opted not to include the cable, which is typically provided with the similar Amazfit Balance charger.

So how does the power get from the adapter to the watch? Via a USB-C cable that plugs into the side port of the charging cradle, which you’ll need to provide yourself. Given the number of USB cables in most households, this shouldn’t be an issue.

The small magnet that is supposed to hold the charging cradle in place during charging could be a bit stronger. It tends to slip more than the Balance charger, likely due to the rigid band of the T-Rex 3 that angles away from the watch case at around 60 degrees.

If you want to swap the strap, you’ll need to attach the included adapters first. After that, you can use standard 22 mm bands with spring bars.

The watch itself stands out with its 1.5″ display and octagonal-round bezel. Octagonal-round doesn’t make sense? Actually, it does. The outer shape of the bezel is octagonal, while the inner form is round to frame the equally round display.

Octagonal-round bezel of the T-Rex 3

The stainless steel bezel gives it a more premium look than the T-Rex 2. The build quality is high as usual, with no reason for criticism.

The slightly higher weight of the T-Rex 3 is noticeable, especially when switching from the Polar Vantage V3, which I had been wearing for the past few weeks. There’s no question that the target audiences of both watches differ, and like most outdoor watches, the design and weight of the T-Rex 3 are more prominent. While it was noticeable at first, I can confirm that it isn’t distracting at all, even during movement-intensive activities.

Visually prominent appearance

In addition to its weight, the T-Rex 3 also stands out visually. A slim profile and narrow bezels aren’t a priority here, which puts the watch in good company with models like the Polar Grit X2 Pro, Suunto Vertical, or Fenix 8.

Amazfit T-Rex 3: Basics

The T-Rex 3 is primarily operated via the touch display and the four buttons, which are evenly distributed on both sides of the watch’s case.

4-Button Design

The buttons on the left side are used to switch between views and functions, while the buttons on the right side are for selecting and confirming functions, or going back to the previous menu.

Standard Watchface

Starting from the watchface, you can navigate through the widgets using the up and down buttons. These widgets are similar to Garmin’s Widget Glances, offering an overview of key metrics or functions. By tapping or pressing the Select button, more detailed information can be accessed.

You can achieve the same result by pressing the lower right button from the watchface, which opens the main menu, allowing you to access all functions and metrics.

Function menu with all T-Rex 3 features

Pressing the back button generally returns you to the previous view.

Thanks to the T-Rex 3’s touch-enabled screen, it can be controlled very easily by touch. It is also very responsive, so there are no delays when changing views.

However, there are sometimes functions that can only be accessed by tapping the touchscreen, as no buttons are assigned to these functions.

Generally, that is no problem and the glass seems to have an anti-fingerprint coating.

Features of the Amazfit T-Rex 3

Whenever I evaluate sports watches or smartwatches, I find it helpful to break down their features into these categories:

• Features adressing everyday life
• Features adressing health
• Features adressing sports

I will follow this same structure in this review. But first, let’s start with a look at the nearly fully revamped app. Let’s dive in…

Zepp Health App with New Design

In September, Zepp invited Amazfit Balance owners to participate in the beta program for the revamped version of the Zepp Health App. The app has now been released in its final version and is available on Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store.

The dashboard continues to be the main entry point, featuring the three core aspects — Sleep, Readiness, and Effort — as well as a range of metrics for the current or previous day. The use of tiles has been significantly reduced, which I find makes the layout clearer. Metrics can be shown or hidden based on your individual preferences.

It’s easy to switch views to get detailed information on sleep, readiness, or effort.

The app largely retains the settings, watch face selection, and app store for connected watches.

The app store still lacks truly standout options. While the selection is growing, nothing has really caught my attention yet.

The watch face selection, however, offers numerous free and now also paid watch faces.

Features adressing everyday life

Each model in Amazfit’s portfolio targets a specific user group. Despite these differences, Amazfit smartwatches are generally quite similar, offering a wide range of features adressing everyday life. This holds true for the T-Rex 3, much like the Amazfit Balance.

Voice Control and Zepp Flow

Not entirely new, but new to the T-Rex series, is the integration of Zepp Flow, which allows for voice control of the watch. Thanks to generative AI, this feature works without predefined keywords, enabling commands in natural language.

Zepp Flow – Textual response to spoken question

In my experience, this works remarkably well. The cool part is that not only can you control watch functions, but also ask general questions (e.g., “How many bridge days are there in April 2025?”) and get answers directly on the watch.

However, there are two minor limitations:

• For more complex voice commands, a paired smartphone needs to be nearby. A limited number of commands (e.g., Start + Workout Name, Open Music) work in Chinese, English, German, and Spanish without smartphone assistance.
• Without paired headphones, responses are shown only in text form as the T-Rex 3 lacks a speaker.

Ultimately, it is up to each user to decide when and where to use Zepp Flow. For instance, I’d find it difficult to speak to my watch in a public setting like on public transportation. Nonetheless, it is a feature with great potential that can be further explored over time.

Contactless Payment

Also new to the T-Rex line is contactless payment via NFC, which Amazfit calls Zepp Pay. Amazfit has taken two approaches here:

• Direct integration

  For direct integration, Amazfit faces the same challenges as many other companies: the number of banks is limited, with major banks not yet supported. Currently, Zepp Pay only supports Mastercard, so Visa or debit cards are not supported.

• Integration via Curve

  A simpler option, independent of one’s primary bank, is to link through Curve’s virtual credit card, which is fully compatible with Amazfit. Transactions are charged to the cards and accounts linked in the Curve app.

Music: Storage and Playback

Amazfit has offered the ability to store and play MP3 files for quite some time. This feature is also available on the T-Rex 3.

Unfortunately and in my opinion, this feature continues to be somewhat underused for several reasons:

• Lack of support for streaming services

  In an age where streaming services provide the main access to music, I sorely miss support for popular services like Spotify, Amazon Prime Music, or YouTube Music.

• Complicated Data Transfer

  This leaves users with no choice but to transfer the music as MP3 files first to the smartphone and then to the watch via the Zepp App. Setting up a private Wi-Fi connection between the watch and the app is tricky, as the smartphone repeatedly chooses the “better” Wi-Fi network with internet access, ending the MP3 upload.

  Only disabling the automatic connection to the home network achieves the desired result.

• Lack of Organization Features

  Once the music is on the watch, there are no options for organizing the content. Neither directories nor playlists can be created. The two predefined playlists, “Favorites” and “Jogging Music,” show that the functionality is available in principle but is very limited in its use through the watch and app.

  

  Music on the T-Rex 3: Essentially only two playlists

This feature could be greatly improved if the app displayed the content on the watch and allowed users to create folders and playlists directly within the app.

As it stands, the functionality feels like a ‘halfway solution.’ However, the fact that handling MP3 files could be enhanced with just an app update offers hope.

Night Mode in Red, Orange or Green

Amazfit seems to have taken a cue from the competition, equipping the T-Rex 3 with a night mode that tints the display in red, orange or green hues. While this might seem like a gimmick, I find it incredibly useful because, at night, the display is much more eye- and relationship-friendly compared to the brighter, untinted modes.

Night mode display: Red Shift mode

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Other Features for Everyday Use

In addition to the aforementioned features, the T-Rex 3 also offers several other everyday functions that have become standard features for smartwatches. I will not go into detail about them here, as they are well-known.

• Compass
• Barometer
• Weather
• Alarm
• Calendar
• Membership Cards
• Sunrise/Sunset & Tides
• Cycle Tracking
• Stopwatch/Countdown
• Tasks
• Voice Memos
• World Clock
• Pomodoro Timer

Features addressing health

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is not only a rugged smartwatch but also offers a range of features designed to provide insights into health and well-being. These include metrics like the Readiness Score, heart rate variability, and PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence). These functions aim to help plan activities, monitor personal health, and support daily decisions that promote long-term well-being.

Readiness Score

Since the summer of last year, Amazfit has been offering the Readiness Score metric on various watches. This metric evaluates different aspects of recovery from the previous night and summarizes them into a score between 0 and 100. The score is meant to reflect how ready you are for upcoming activities.

The Readiness Score is generally a useful function to get a quick overview of your current recovery state. I find it helpful that Amazfit provides insights into the different aspects contributing to the overall score.

There are even more detailed insights available in the app. For those interested, additional background information on the individual aspects can be found here.

I am somewhat critical of the often high overall score, even when my sleep or recovery has been suboptimal. Scores above 80 are common, but not every day feels like an “80.” I hope that over time, Amazfit will refine this and make the scores fluctuate more clearly.

Heart Rate Variability

Heart rate variability (HRV) measures the fluctuations in the time span between successive heartbeats and is an important indicator of overall health and stress levels. A high HRV suggests that the body is well able to adapt to different stresses, while a low HRV may indicate stress or exhaustion.

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 continuously monitors HRV at night and provides valuable insights into the autonomic nervous system. HRV analysis helps to better understand how well the body recovers from physical exertion or psychological stress. Especially useful is that HRV data is integrated into various functions like the Readiness Score, providing a more comprehensive view of recovery and readiness for performance. This makes heart rate variability a useful tool for optimizing health in the long run and better managing training and recovery.

PAI – Personal Activity Intelligence

PAI (or: Personal Activity Intelligence) is a fitness metric system based on heart rate and aims to promote long-term health. Rather than focusing solely on steps or calories, PAI calculates the heart rate load during various activities and derives a score from it. The higher and longer the effort, the more points you get. The goal is to consistently achieve a PAI score of 100 or higher to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases in the long term.

The first points are easy to earn. The higher the score, the harder it becomes to reach high points, which helps keep motivation high. Points from activities expire after seven days.

I had to get used to PAI after many manufacturers used different metrics as the central tool for an active lifestyle. What I like is that Amazfit doesn’t only consider intense sports sessions but also moderate activities (e.g., brisk walking, hiking) and sometimes even everyday movements. This makes the design of an active day very flexible and more motivating than if a step goal is always looming on the horizon.

However, there is criticism: if a 10-km walk does not raise the heart rate enough, this activity will not contribute to the increase of the PAI score—even if the movement itself should have been beneficial to health.

Features addressing sports

With Amazfit watches, there is always a debate about whether they are sporty smartwatches or smart sport watches. I believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle. In any case, the range of features adressing sports is extensive.

New features of the T-Rex 3 include:

• Offline Maps

  For those exploring unfamiliar terrain, the T-Rex 3’s offline maps will be a valuable feature. To use them, you must first select the desired map section in the app and transfer it to the watch.

  

  This works flawlessly and, depending on the size of the map section, quite quickly as well. To transfer the map data to the watch, it must be connected to a Wi-Fi network.

  Two limitations should be considered:

  • Only one map section at a time can be stored on the watch
  • Maximum dimensions: 400 x 675 km

  The fact that only one map section can be stored on the watch isn’t a major issue for me, but for those traveling frequently across multiple countries and unable to swap out map sections, Garmin and Polar might offer more suitable alternatives.

  

  While the level of detail in cities is quite good, I missed a bit more topographical information in the mountains. The hiking trails were all present, and the contour maps did their job, but a little more geographical detail about the surroundings would have been even better.

• Navigation

  Offline maps are already a fantastic feature, but they become even more valuable when paired with the route and navigation capabilities of the T-Rex 3.

  Routes can be imported either as GPX files or by linking the watch to Komoot. However, integration with Strava for route import is still not supported.

  

  Before starting an activity (e.g., outdoor running, hiking), a route can be selected for use. For the route, you can:

  • View a route profile
  • View an elevation profile
  • Get information on ski slopes
  • Set the map orientation (map always points north vs. map points in the direction of movement)
  • Set the route direction (from A to B or from B to A)

  How the T-Rex 3 gathers information about ski slopes remains a bit of a mystery. Despite the lack of nearby ski areas, the watch still provides slope information. It seems that Amazfit may determine downhill tracks based on longer, downward sections of the route. However, the slope data is limited to an elevation profile rather than a map representation.

  

  During the activity, the map is displayed in the light variant with a white background or in the dark variant with a black background. The colors of the route and the traveled distance can be adjusted in the watch settings (default: Magenta and Blue).

  

  Tracking a route on the T-Rex 3

  If you deviate from the route, the T-Rex 3 will alert you. However, since the watch doesn’t offer pathfinding, there’s no option to recalculate the way back to the planned route. That said, with the watch warning you after a deviation of just 50 meters, the risk of getting lost is minimal. You can also adjust the maximum deviation setting to trigger earlier or later warnings, depending on your preference.

  

  Warning when deviating from the route

  

  Notification when returning to the route

  The watch also acknowledges when you return to the original route.

  The distance from the planned route at which the T-Rex 3 warns you can be reduced to 20 meters, or increased if necessary.

  When following a route, if a direction change is required, the T-Rex 3 shows the distance to the next turn. Just before the change (e.g., at a junction or fork), the watch reminds you again.

  

  Displaying the distance to the next direction change

  This has worked very well so far, although you have to get used to the fact that sometimes your position is shown slightly off the road: the map material simply does not know the width of roads, so even a road with a green strip in the middle is represented with the same line as a one-lane side street. If there is also a green strip between the road and the sidewalk, your current position may appear a little off the displayed road.

  Amazfit can tick off the “Offline Maps and Navigation” feature, although there is still some room for improvement: Currently, only Garmin provides map material that can be used for route finding. For Amazfit, Polar, and others, the maps are no more (but also no less) than images projected onto the current location.

• Diving

  I unfortunately can’t contribute any personal experience with freediving to this review. However, it should be noted that the T-Rex 3 is certified for dives up to 45 meters deep.

  It apparently measures the current and maximum dive depth, dive time, and ascent speed. However, essential metrics for a real dive computer are missing, such as No-Decompression Limits (NDL), decompression stops, and surface intervals.

Before Recording

Before starting a sports activity, you select the appropriate sport from the sports menu.

Selection of the sport

Then, for outdoor activities, the T-Rex 3 searches for a GNSS signal. Like most Amazfit models, it is one of the faster ones. A satellite fix is found within seconds.

Waiting for all signals

At this point, you can not only wait for signals from satellites and external sensors (e.g., Bluetooth heart rate straps) but also adjust settings for the upcoming recording, such as selecting routes, intervals, and workouts. You also have the option to configure the data pages and fields for display during recording: The T-Rex 3 allows up to 6 data fields per data page.

After Recording

After completing the recording, the watch briefly summarizes the sporting aspects.

You can browse through a variety of details and charts that essentially display the values that can also be found in the app after synchronization.

The T-Rex 3 benefits once again from its high-resolution 1.5″ display.

In the app, the data is, of course, even more clearly displayed:

The app has a clean and organized interface, and many of the metrics it provides are comparable to those found in Garmin devices. However, especially for power measurement and training effects, the results may differ, as each company uses its own algorithms for these calculations.

Accuracy of location tracking

For many, the quality of a sports watch largely depends on the accuracy of its GPS, or more broadly, its GNSS capabilities. The T-Rex 3 supports not only dual-band GPS but also GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS. This is an important feature, as accurate location tracking becomes crucial when venturing off familiar paths.

While there are no mountains, canyons, or other challenging conditions in the suburban areas around Berlin, I tested the watch on familiar routes, both with and without tree cover, through areas with terraced houses and narrow streets to see how well it performed.

What stood out was how effortlessly the T-Rex 3 handled these conditions. There was no reason to complain about its performance, and even the short section through the forest was navigated without issue.

From a high vantage point, it becomes clear that the GNSS chip and antenna design of the T-Rex 3 do their job seamlessly.

Only when looking closely do you see some deviations that both Amazfit models share. However, there is nothing significant, and regardless of which products you use, you will occasionally notice slight offsets from the actual path.

In the end, I consider the deviations to be negligible.

In the next test, there was again a high level of agreement with the competition, though some deviations appeared upon closer inspection. This is not uncommon right after the start of the recording, when, although sufficient satellite signals are available for an initial location fix, a greater number of GNSS signals would improve the reliability of the positioning.

Accuracy of Heart Rate Monitoring

As always, I not only looked at the accuracy of the GPS tracking but also checked how accurately the T-Rex 3 measures the heart rate.

As a reference, I used the Polar H10 chest strap, with which I have always had excellent experiences, and by which most products are evaluated.

I’m not sure if it is obvious from the curves, but the effects of my COVID infection from early September still make my body feel strained during exercise. What’s important is how the T-Rex 3 compares to the Polar H10 and how it holds up against the competition.

During a run with some intervals, surprisingly, it is the heart rate chest strap that seems to have issues. If I had to guess the reason today, I would suspect too dry skin or contact issues with the chest strap. However, I can’t say for sure. Since the Polar H10 remains a stable measuring instrument, I excluded the initial anomalies for further analysis.

The difference chart highlights the solid performance of the T-Rex 3, although it falls behind during intervals and doesn’t always capture rapid heart rate spikes accurately.

This is reflected in the coefficient of determination (r²), which indicates how well the values from one or the other sport watch matches the heart rate chest strap, which serves as the reference here.

The T-Rex 3 can’t quite top the comparison and has to let the Coros Pace 3 take the lead. However, it still performs better than the Amazfit Cheetah Pro, which was even less accurate in tracking heart rate during the intervals.

With fewer pace changes, the T-Rex 3 consistently provided reliable and comparable values. During rapid changes in heart rate, it faces the same challenges as many competitors and therefore doesn’t stand out either positively or negatively.

Battery Life

On paper, the T-Rex 3 stands out as a true battery life champion. However, confirming or disproving this through user testing is still challenging for me, even after nearly 10 years of testing sports watches.

Company-provided specifications are typically based on controlled environments, so they serve as a general indication rather than an absolute benchmark for real-world usage. Even small changes, such as additional screen activations or adjusting the brightness, can cause these numbers to vary.

As mentioned, the T-Rex 3 impresses on paper, and the great news is that it performs just as well in everyday use. I managed to get through the first three weeks without a charge, although my sports activity was minimal. It was only when the battery dropped to 8% that I needed to recharge.

In the following weeks, the T-Rex 3 had to record activities more frequently. This not only draws more power due to the active GNSS, but the PPG sensor also works at a second-by-second rate.

What does this mean in the end? The battery life specs seem plausible, although I cannot fully validated them due to varying usage. Is this important? No, because the T-Rex 3 offers an impressive battery life regardless and is quickly recharged for the next use.

Amazfit T-Rex 3 - Verdict

Score: 93%

Pros

• Great 1.5" AMOLED display
• Offline maps / navigation
• Extensive metrics
• Battery life
• Value-for-money ratio

Cons

• limited support to Zepp Pay
• Music upload / playlists
• Apps

Buy on Amazon

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The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is a successful blend of a rugged outdoor smartwatch and a smart health companion. Its impressive value-for-money ratio stands out: it offers a wide range of fitness metrics, including Readiness Score, PAI, and HRV analysis, supporting an active and health-focused lifestyle. Outdoor enthusiasts will especially appreciate the offline maps and GNSS support, which provide reliable navigation in various terrains.

Another standout feature is the battery life; even with intensive use, it lasts exceptionally long, making it an attractive option for frequent users and adventurers. The solid build quality, excellent 1.5″ AMOLED display, and intuitive app complete the overall package.

While the T-Rex 3 may not match the Fenix 8 in app variety, advanced mapping features, music functionality, or premium material quality, it certainly holds its own as a competitor. For those unwilling to pay three to four times the price, the T-Rex 3 stands out as an excellent alternative.

Disclosure: The Amazfit T-Rex 3 to me by Zepp, free of charge, at my request for testing. No conditions were attached to this review, and the opinions and experiences shared here reflect my entirely unbiased assessment of the product.

Der Beitrag Amazfit T-Rex 3 review: A Fenix challenger for a fraction of the price erschien zuerst auf Fitness Tracker Test.

With the Forerunner 165, Garmin introduced a watch that not only broadened the existing lineup but also established a new category within the Forerunner series. Positioned strategically between the entry-level Forerunner 55 and the mid-range Forerunner 265, the Forerunner 165 bridges the gap between basic and advanced features.

Garmin provided me with the Forerunner 165 for a 60-day testing period upon my request. As always, there are no conditions or obligations attached. And because it is a loan, the watch will return to Garmin after the testing period.

Rating: 92%

Pros

• great display
• feature-packed

Cons

• no multisport / triathlon
• no training load / training readiness
• lots of plastic

Verdict

The Garmin Forerunner 165 is dedicated to running and offers most of its functions in this area but is equally suitable for many other sports. I was impressed by the great display and the mix of functions that the watch inherited from significantly more expensive models. The Forerunner 165 leaves little to be desired, but the decision for the watch is not an easy one.

There are good alternatives from Garmin and competitors – Garmin has not really occupied a niche with the Forerunner 165. Yet, it is the overall package that makes the Forerunner so attractive for entry into Garmin’s sports segment.

Forerunner 165 – What’s new and noteworthy?

Typically, watches within a product line evolve incrementally from one generation to the next — such as the Forerunner 245 evolving into the Forerunner 255, and then the Forerunner 265. This makes it straightforward to compare successive generations within the same series.

However, with the introduction of a completely new product line, comparing the new model requires a broader perspective. In this case, positioning the Forerunner 165 involves looking at the adjacent models: the more affordable Forerunner 55 and the higher-end Forerunner 265. This approach helps in better understanding the new model’s place within Garmin’s lineup.

• Distinction from Forerunner 55

  The Forerunner 55, now three years old, is considered quite outdated in the rapidly evolving world of wearables. The difference between the Forerunner 55 and the Forerunner 165 is striking, particularly in their displays. The Forerunner 55 is equipped with a 1.04″ transflective MIP display, whereas the Forerunner 165 boasts a 1.2″ AMOLED touchscreen with a much higher resolution.

  Comparing the features of these two watches would be like comparing day and night. The Forerunner 165 benefits from the latest fourth-generation Elevate sensors, whereas the Forerunner 55 relies on the third generation, underscoring the significant advancements in technology and features.

• Distinction from Forerunner 265

  Distinguishing the Forerunner 165 from the Forerunner 265, which debuted in March 2023, is more straightforward.

  Starting with the display, Garmin basically uses the same touch-capable AMOLED screen for both models. However, the Forerunner 265 is available in two sizes: 1.1″ and 1.3″, compared to the Forerunner 165’s 1.2″ display.

  Functionally, the Forerunner 165 offers fewer features than the higher-end Forerunner 265. As a buyer of the Forerunner 165, you will need to forgo the following advanced features:

  • Multiband GPS
  • Training Readiness
  • Training Status
  • Training Load
  • Support for Multisport/Triathlon
  • Greater range of sports profiles
  • Sat-IQ
  • Pace adjusted to incline
  • Connection to power meters/smart meters

  The list is by no means exhaustive, but it would get lost in detail. These are the main features that the Forerunner 165 does not offer.

• Features of the Forerunner 165 at a glance

  When comparing the Forerunner 165 to the Forerunner 265, the list of differences can seem extensive, which might overshadow the fact that for most athletes, the Forerunner 165 is an exceptionally well-rounded sports watch. While it may lack some advanced metrics and features found in the Forerunner 265, these omissions are unlikely to be missed in the initial months or even years of use.

  With this perspective in mind, here’s a concise overview of the key features of the Forerunner 165 before we dive into the details:

  • 1.2″ AMOLED display (touch-capable, hardened glass)
  • 39 g lightweight plastic case with silicone strap
  • Elevate V4 sensor
  • Multi-GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, etc.)
  • Garmin Pay
  • Music playback (MP3, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Deezer)
  • Barometric altimeter

Unboxing and first impression

As is typical with Garmin, the Forerunner 165 comes packaged in a compact gray box, adorned with the product name and an image of the sports watch. This model is offered in a variety of colors including turquoise, berry, white, and black.

There’s nothing particularly surprising about the packaging, so I’ll keep this brief:

• Garmin Forerunner 165
• Strap (circumference: 126 – 203 mm)
• USB charging cable (USB-C to proprietary)
• Warranty/safety instructions

Garmin has been using the same 4-pin connector for the charging port for years. However, the other end of the cable now features a USB-C connector.

Overall, the build quality of the Forerunner 165 is good. The extensive use of plastic is typical for the Forerunner series, resulting in a low weight and a somewhat less premium appearance.

Case, back, and buttons – everything is made of plastic but is well crafted. Gaps are rare, and when they do exist, they are even and small.

Forerunner 165: A Basic Operation Guide

The Forerunner 165 features the typical 5-button design found on most Garmin sports watches. Two of the three buttons on the left side are primarily for navigating through menus and functions, while the third button manually turns the display on and off.

The buttons on the right side of the case allow you to:

• Start features / activities
• Stop features / activities
• Access menu items
• Go back

At the same time, the Forerunner 165 can be fully operated using the touch display. The choice is yours.

Display of the Forerunner 165

As it is a good fit here, let me briefly share my impressions of the AMOLED display:

The display offers a 1.2″ size, which is the middle ground between the Forerunner 265S and the Forerunner 265. Initially, I thought a 1.3″ display wouldn’t be bad, but the smaller display looks great on my wrist.

The contrast, colors, and brightness of the display are impressive. Even in direct sunlight, the contents are easily readable.

To ensure the display doesn’t light up the bedroom at night, the watch adjusts the brightness to a lower level. The “night times” can be individually set for each day of the week.

The watch also includes a flashlight using the display at a bright setting. While not as powerful as those in the Fenix 7 and Epix 2, it is useful for certain purposes.

There are now numerous watch faces (i.e., function-enriched watch dials) available – either pre-installed or downloaded to the watch via Connect IQ.

From the watch face, you can access the widgets using the up/down buttons or by swiping up/down. These are small, three-line views of individual metrics, such as HRV status, step count or sleep.

By tapping or selecting widgets using the button, you can access the corresponding detailed views. The display showcases its strengths with its high resolution.

The same information that you see on the watch can be found in the Connect app, which Garmin offers for free for iOS and Android.

Functions in Everyday Life

Many of the Forerunner 165’s features come from the higher-end models. Among the newer ones is the HRV status, which the watch determines during sleep. To obtain comparable values, patience is required initially, as the watch needs 19 nights to establish a baseline.

After that, the HRV status is displayed either in a widget or as part of the Morning Report.

Reminder: Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measures the time difference between consecutive heartbeats. Higher HRV values generally indicate better adaptability to stress, as they reflect a more flexible autonomic nervous system. However, this should be interpreted relative to an individual’s baseline. Therefore, a person with an HRV of 65 ms is not necessarily healthier or more resilient than someone with an HRV of 30 ms.

The watch displays the average HRV from the previous night and compares it to the average HRV from the past four weeks.

This information is also available in the app, which is particularly useful for evaluating data over longer periods.

This brings me to the Morning Report, which, in addition to the HRV status, summarizes the most important values (from the previous day, night, and the upcoming day) in a simple manner.

The watch breaks down sleep into phases and tracks sleep duration. While these metrics provide valuable insights, they are indicative rather than definitive. A professional sleep lab would offer much more precise and comprehensive data. However, in my perception, the sleeping and waking times fit very well.

Once again, the watch provides insights into recent data only, while the app offers summaries on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis.

Speaking of sleep: as you know, it helps replenish your energy reserves, which Garmin represents as the Body Battery, depleting over the day – especially with high stress and activities.

But not only nighttime sleep provides new energy; Garmin’s Nap Detection reliably recognizes daytime naps as well.

In the Music variant, the Forerunner 165 allows storing and especially playing music via Bluetooth-connected headphones or speakers. Pairing with headphones from Shokz, Jabra, and Soundcore worked without any issues.

Honestly, having the option to enjoy music is a fantastic feature that provides entertainment and distraction from your heavy breathing during sports. Personally, I’m not concerned with whether the Sony Walkman NW-A306 or a similar device sounds significantly better. While the expectations might be different when relaxing at home, on the track, other aspects are more important. I appreciate being able to leave my smartphone at home just for the sake of enjoying music.

Forerunner 165 for Sports

Anyone opting for a Forerunner model generally has sports in focus, and given its price, the Forerunner 165 is easily convincing in this regard.

The sport mode is activated by pressing the upper right button. Numerous sport profiles are available, although the list is more concise compared to Garmin’s higher-priced models or competitors.

In addition to the basic sports, the Forerunner 165 also offers exotic options such as Pickleball and Padel.

Besides simple documentation, a sport profile serves as a set of settings to be applied when selecting the profile.

This includes data pages and data fields, with each data page accommodating between 1 to 4 fields. You can display a wide range of current and averaged values, as well as small charts, to suit your needs.

A unique feature is the running metrics and running power, which are quite rare for an entry-level watch.

As usual, alarms can also be set up, allowing for targeted training (e.g. by heart rate, pace, or running power).

Speaking of targeted training: in addition to the free training modes, the Forerunner 165 also suggests workouts based on your performance and the load from previous days.

From my experience with running, these recommendations can be valuable at times but also occasionally puzzling: Eight minutes per kilometer is too slow for me, while a pace of 5:30 minutes, even for just 25 minutes, is quite challenging for me.

Since I needed some more custom test data for this report, I politely but firmly ignored the recommendation.

In addition to Garmin’s training suggestions, custom workouts can be stored in Garmin Connect and called up before starting a session. This makes intervals or following a route easily possible.

To give some context: The Forerunner 165 allows you to follow breadcrumb trails, meaning it provides route guidance without referencing or displaying maps. Essentially, you follow a virtual line on the ground.

Routes can be defined in Garmin Connect, as well as on third-party platforms like Komoot, and transferred to the watch. Routes that have been completed but not explicitly defined beforehand can be tracked later as route guidance.

During an activity, you can scroll through data pages using the buttons. This also works with touch gestures, which I prefer to keep disabled.

After recording ends, Garmin automatically synchronizes the Forerunner 165 with the app or cloud, allowing you to review your workout (as well as daily metrics) on your wrist, smartphone, or tablet.

Most of the data is readily available on the watch. For additional information from paired sensors, it’s worthwhile to check the more comprehensive app. Garmin also offers the convenience of accessing this data through the Garmin Connect web portal.

In addition to the very text-heavy analysis on the first screens in the app, the data is also presented more attractively in charts:

To check if the data relates one way or the other, you can overlay various charts.

This allows for some nice composed charts, perfect for showing off to friends and family :)

A step back to sensors: The Forerunner 165 supports pairing with external sensors via Bluetooth and ANT+. Additionally, it can also act as an external sensor itself, transmitting heart rate data via BLE or ANT+ to other devices.

Accuracy in Location Data Determination

With GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo, the Forerunner 165 supports the main satellite systems used for positioning. However, compared to more expensive models, it lacks SatIQ and multiband capability, i.e., simultaneous use of the L1 and L5 frequency bands.

In challenging environments, such as mountains, areas with dense buildings, or densely wooded forests, some accuracy may be sacrificed because the secondary signal cannot be used to correct timing errors. For most casual runners, multiband GPS is generally not necessary.

Many questions I receive revolve around the fact that multiband GPS does not actually increase GPS accuracy but rather helps reduce errors primarily caused by signal reflection.

Of course, I also took the Forerunner 165 out and compared it with the following sports watches:

• Polar Ignite 3
• Amazfit Cheetah Pro
• Coros Pace 3
• Forerunner 245

Dense construction is hard to find here, and the Berlin outskirts also lack mountains, but it does offer sections through forests, residential areas, and open fields.

From a high-level perspective, all participants’ recordings are quite similar. However, the Polar Ignite 3 follows a noticeably different path, and at times, the Forerunner 245 appears to deviate in a similar manner.

And actually, it doesn’t matter where you run with the Forerunner 165; the results always make a good impression, even if you can’t shake the feeling that Garmin smooths the values more than the competition.

But let’s take a closer look at the following run.

On closer inspection, it becomes clear that even the Forerunner 165 has its quirks. This means that the watch sometimes positions itself a few meters off the road, not on the sidewalk but in front gardens. This is not a specific problem of sports watches but an issue with GPS accuracy in general.

Overall, the results are good to very good, as the new Garmin model shows few outliers and provides consistent performance.

Even the section through the now heavily wooded forest is completed without issues by the watch.

In my view, the Forerunner 165 performs strongly across all disciplines. There are no significant or consistent outliers in its recordings. When it does deviate, it’s only briefly and is generally on par with much more expensive models.

Accuracy in Heart Rate Recording

Besides route accuracy, no topic triggers people more than the accuracy of heart rate recordings. Here too, the Forerunner 165 had to measure up against models from Polar, Coros, and the Forerunner 245. The Amazfit Cheetah Pro, on the other hand, picked up data from the Polar H10 chest strap, which, despite its age, is one of the most accurate and reliable sensors available. For this reason, I like to use it as a reference for determining r².

Let’s look at a few runs with warm-up, intervals, and cool-down.

And as if the H10 chest strap wanted to disprove me, it has a dropout right at the beginning of the recording. Strap shifting or contacts not wet enough – it’s hard to say today. After a few minutes, the chest strap got back on track.

The sports watches, however, are all quite close to each other. When looking at the difference from the chest strap and ignoring the initial outlier, you see a typical shift along the time axis, i.e., the watch’s PPG sensor is a bit slower in detecting heart rate changes.

Interestingly, the Forerunner 245 with the older third-generation Elevate sensor provides nearly identical values compared to the fourth-generation Elevate sensor.

How close the values of the chest strap and the sports watches are is shown by the coefficient of determination r². The closer the value is to 1, the better the sports watches “follow” the chest strap.

Due to the slower response, the Forerunner 165 lags behind the other sports watches with a value of 0.905. The Coros Pace 3 matches the chest strap’s values best. But these are only gradual differences.

On the next run, the Forerunner 165’s slower response reappears during the intervals, showing the first signs of this issue once again.

Here too, it’s clear how similar the two generations of Elevate technology are. The Forerunner 165 takes longer to detect rapid heart rate changes during intervals.

The older technology of the Forerunner 245 is often closer to the values of the HR chest strap.

As with the previous run, the Forerunner 165 ranks last in the comparison of coefficients of determination with a value of 0.941. The Coros Pace 3 emerges as the performance leader once again with a coefficient of 0.984. However, these are minor differences, and all watches deliver solid results.

In scenarios with steady heart rates, such as during a regular run, all models perform similarly, with no significant outliers observed in the Forerunner 165 or any other models.

In summary, the performance of the Forerunner 165 is commendable, ranging from good to very good.

Comfort

After 60 days of testing, I can also comment on comfort. It’s quite good: The watch is light, compact, and unobtrusive in daily life.

The strap has caused me some issues, and I can’t pinpoint exactly why: The narrow 18-mm silicone strap has caused skin irritations much more often than, for example, the wide strap of a Polar Vantage V3 (Review | German).

My skin under the strap was much more frequently moist, and the strap rubbed despite a normal fit. After just three weeks, I had to keep switching the Forerunner 165 between my left and right wrist to give each wrist time to recover. In the end, both wrists were significantly marked.

Experiences from other users show, however, that this is not a general problem with the Forerunner watch or Garmin. It’s my personal issue with narrow silicone straps. If you find yourself in a similar situation, I strongly recommend nylon bands, which are also available in the right sizes for the Forerunner 165. This will eliminate the problems almost instantly.

Battery Life

I always hesitate to evaluate battery life in detail. It depends on so many factors (e.g., always-on use, number of display activations, display brightness, power-off time, GNSS systems, music playback, etc.) that it’s unlikely to find two identical scenarios.

When used as a smartwatch with gesture-based display activation, it easily lasts a full week. Garmin states the battery life as up to 11 days. Since a weekend is always a regular occasion to charge the watch, I usually do it every seven days.

A completely empty battery takes about 100 minutes to fully charge. After that, it provides enough power for many hours of recording, even when using multiple GNSS systems.

For those who want to know exactly, you can try to get an impression from Garmin’s breakdown.

Garmin Forerunner 165 - Verdict

Score: 92%

Pros

• great display
• feature-packed

Cons

• no multisport / triathlon
• no training load / training readiness
• lots of plastic

Buy on Amazon

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After 60 days of testing, the Forerunner 165 proves to be an exceptionally well-equipped sports watch. Especially beginner runners and even ambitious runners will not miss any features if running is the focus. Even those who increase their expectations over time will find the Forerunner 165 to be a good training partner. However, the possibilities for structured training planning, taking into account training load and recovery, are reserved for the higher-end models.

Although Garmin focuses the watch on running sports, it is also a great companion for many other sports. It just offers a larger range of features specifically for running.

With the AMOLED display, touch control, and also button control, Garmin combines what I believe to be the best approaches for using the watch. The two buttons on the otherwise quite similar vivoactive 5 almost feel a bit limiting in comparison.

The biggest challenge for the watch will likely come from the competition. For its price and the functions it offers for everyday use, there are few alternatives. However, those who don’t need the ultimate all-rounder will find numerous and sometimes more affordable options. Models such as the Coros Pace 3, Polar Ignite 3 or Pacer Pro, and the Amazfit Cheetah Pro are also highly recommended and can be significantly cheaper.

Disclosure: The Forerunner 165 to me by Garmin, free of charge, at my request for testing. No conditions were attached to this review, and the opinions and experiences shared here reflect my entirely unbiased assessment of the product.

Der Beitrag Garmin Forerunner 165 Review: Budget, still feature-packed erschien zuerst auf Fitness Tracker Test.

Coros Pace 3 in profile

Rating: 88%

Pros

• numerous sports functions
• fast multi-band GPS
• great value for money

Cons

• slow USB data transfer
• lots of plastic

Verdict

In my opinion, the Coros Pace 3 is currently the sports watch when it comes to value for money. I was particularly impressed by its long battery life, ease of use and extensive range of functions. The low weight makes the watch largely forgettable in everyday life – also because it keeps a low profile when it comes to smart features.

The simple choice of materials and the slow transfer of MP3 files are minor shortcomings of the watch but do not detract from the great product.

Coros is one of the lesser-known brands, especially on the European market. Wrongly so, as the company offers a range of sports watches that can easily compete with Garmin and Polar.

Coros offers entry-level models in the Pace series, while the current Vertix models cover the other end of the performance spectrum. In the entry-level segment in particular, Coros has launched a new model, the Coros Pace 3, which in many respects is similar to its predecessor, the Pace 2, but still offers a range of new features.

Coros Pace 3 vs. Pace 2 – What’s New?

Coros launched the Pace 2 in August 2020. It’s therefore not surprising that the Pace 3 does offer many new features:

• Multiband GPS

  Coros was one of the first companies to incorporate multi-band GPS into its watches. Meanwhile, the more robust method of positioning is not only found in the premium models but is also offered by the Pace 3.

• PPG Sensor with SpO2 Measurement

  A new feature is the enhanced PPG sensor on the back, which has 5 LEDs and four photodiodes. Compared to the Pace 2, the Pace 3 also offers SpO2 (peripheral oxygen saturation) measurement.

• HRV Tracking

  The measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) can also be attributed to the new PPG sensor. HRV is measured during the night and indicates physical stress deviations from the average values (e.g. due to exercise or illness).

• Touchscreen

  The 1.2-inch display of the Pace 3 has not increased in size or resolution compared to the Pace 2, but it does respond to tapping and swiping gestures.

• Music Storage and Playback

  The Pace 3 allows MP3 files to be stored on the watch and played on headphones or loudspeakers via Bluetooth. There is 4 GB of storage space available for this purpose.

• Wi-Fi

  The new Wi-Fi capabilities of the Pace 3 do not currently benefit the transfer of MP3 files, as they only serve to speed up the installation of firmware updates.

The smaller and more modern technology also improves battery life. More on this later…

Specifications

Package Contents

For those who have been following developments or already own a wearable, it’s no surprise that the contents of most product packaging are relatively predictable.

Coros Pace 3 – Package Contents

The Coros Pace 3 is no exception, and so after opening the box you’ll find:

• Coros Pace 3 sports watch
• 2x spare spring bars
• USB charging cable
• Safety/warranty information

Coros Pace 3 – Spare Spring Bars

Coros largely dispenses with plastic, only the protection on the display of the watch is made of plastic.

First Impression

When unpacking the Pace 3, I experienced a deja-vu moment because the Coros Pace 2 and the new Pace 3 are virtually identical.

Coros Pace 3 vs. Coros Pace 2

Admittedly, the strap of the Pace 3 is two millimetres wider, the markings on the bezel are different, and the shape of a button on the right-hand side of the case is slightly different, but all in such small dimensions that you have to look for the differences.

Otherwise, as with the Pace 2, the simple design and the simple, but by no means poor construction of the Pace 3 are striking.

The case continues to be made entirely of fiber-reinforced polymer, and the display is protected by chemically hardened glass.

Coros Pace 3 – PPG Sensors on the back

This has one decisive advantage, and that is the lower weight. At just 30 grams, the Pace 3 is only one gram heavier than the Pace 2 and is still an absolute lightweight.

Coros Pace 3 – Nylon Strap with Velcro Closure

The nylon strap contributes positively to this, but could be 1-2 cm longer to fit comfortably over large hands. It definitely shouldn’t be shorter for me.

Speaking of the strap: the Coros Pace 3 is available with a silicone or nylon strap. If you want to do something good for your skin, I really recommend the textile nylon strap, as it leads to significantly less skin irritation when the watch is worn constantly.

Display

The Pace 3 is still equipped with a 1.2″ transflective MIP display. It has a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels and can only display 64 colors, but it is extremely energy-efficient.

Because the display can do without a backlight in most situations, the watch’s battery can last up to 17 days with the display always on.

The display technology used has its advantages and disadvantages:

Even though AMOLED displays are now found in many sports watches, including the premium segment, I still find the advantages of MIP displays greater during outdoor sports than those of AMOLED displays, which otherwise demonstrate their advantages more clearly in all other situations.

Features

Let’s take a look at the features of the Pace 3, which I’ll divide into common and sports functions as usual. But let’s start with the basics of the Pace 3.

Coros Pace 3 – Watchface

When you look at the watch, it usually displays the watch face. These days it’s more than a dial and most often display the time and several other metrics.

Coros Pace 3 – Exchange and color design of watchfaces

By the way, Coros has extended the number of different watch faces alot so that there should be something suitable for everyone.

If you can’t do anything with the watch faces offered, you can create your own watch face via the app.

Starting from the watch face, you can switch to the widgets using the digital crown or swipe gestures. They are somewhat reminiscent of the Garmin widgets and display the daily readings in a short and concise form.

If you tap on a widget, the detailed view opens, in which the metrics are displayed in a little more detail. You can’t really get much out of the display, as in most cases it is a classification of the current day’s values compared to the previous days.

Coros Pace 3 – Widget with HRV status

I’ve shown this using the “HRV status” metric.

By swiping right or pressing the button below the digital crown, you can return to the widgets.

Overall, operation via the touchscreen is smooth and precise. However, as the display remains cleaner, I use the crown and the buttons almost exclusively on the Pace 3.

Common Functions

As Coros offers GPS sports watches across its entire product portfolio and not smartwatches, the range of functions in everyday life is rather limited. The focus is on sport.

Coros Pace 3 – Number of steps

The Pace 3 naturally records the steps you take throughout the day. It does this at a decent level, but is not directly comparable with other providers. Each brand uses its own algorithms.

Coros Pace 3 – Steps in the last few days

And to be honest, I don’t have to hit exactly 10,000 steps at the end of the day. If I want to increase my level of activity, I do it over a longer period of time. If the watch delivers values that deviate from reality, I don’t mind as long as it delivers these values consistently.

In addition, the Pace 3 records the calories burned, the number of floors climbed and the heart rate/variability in the background. It also records sleep duration and phases.

It can calculate sleep duration quite accurately, but when it comes to sleep stages, I don’t trust it any more than any other watch. If you need a detailed analysis, that’s what sleep labs are made for…

When the paired smartphone is nearby, the Pace 3 mirrors notifications so you know if it’s worth reaching for your smartphone.

Coros Pace 3 – Display of notifications from the paired smartphone

As with all Coros watches, some metrics can only be analysed on the watch and not in the app. You don’t always need this, but I would like to see the number of floors climbed over time.

Coros Pace 3 – Playback of MP3 files

The musical capabilities of the Pace 3 only impress me on paper. Yes, the watch can store and play up to 4 GB of MP3 files via Bluetooth. But since the transfer speed to the device is extremely slow, it’s no fun.

Finally, compared to the Pace 2, the Pace 3 can shine with a small new function: the weather forecast.

Coros Pace 3 – Weather forecast on the watch

This is based on the current location and shows:

• Temperature (current)
• Temperature (highs and lows)
• Temperature (wind chill)
• Precipitation probability
• Humidity
• UV index
• Wind speed/direction

It also includes forecasts for the next 6 hours and the next 7 days.

Sports Functions

When it comes to sports, the Pace 3 naturally has more to offer. Let me walk you through the range of functions step by step.

Pressing the crown opens the sports menu. Here, you can not only choose the sports you want to record but also find training plans, workouts, fitness tests, and a view of past recordings.

Coros Pace 3 – Sports menu

By default, Coros offers sports profiles for 23 sports. Since that may not be sufficient for everyone, you can add custom sports profiles. Let me briefly illustrate this using the example of my new sport, “Walking the Dog,” then we can explain the sports profiles in general.

A sports profile is a logical wrapper around a set of settings and includes:

• Profile name
• Icon representation
• Category
• Data pages (number and layout)
• Data fields (number)
• Data fields (assignment of metrics)
• Sport alarm

This repeats for each sports profile.

You can also change some of the details for existing sports profiles. The name and icon, as well as the category, cannot be changed. However, for the predefined sports profiles, you can define more than one data page where up to 8 data fields can be displayed.

For alarms, you can set threshold values or durations. When these values are reached, the watch notifies you with vibration and beeps. The values include:

• Distance
• Pace
• Cadence
• Heart rate
• Power
• Nutrition intake

Standard settings include notifications after every kilometer traveled. Because not all metrics make sense for all sports, they differ from profile to profile.

So much for the theoretical basics – let’s do some sports.

Coros Pace 3 – Selected sports profile just before recording

Before starting, you select the appropriate sports profile via the sports menu. While the Pace 3 searches for GNSS signals and paired sensors, you can quickly modify some settings, including intervals.

Coros Pace 3 – Ad-hoc interval training

When searching for satellite signals (e.g. GPS), the Pace 3 is among the very quick responders. Typically, a stable GNSS signal is available within a few seconds.

Coros Pace 3 – Data page with 6 data fields

During the activity, the watch displays the data pages stored in the profile. They can be switched by swiping or using the digital crown.

Coros Pace 3 – Heart rate with heart rate zones

After the activity, the sports watch displays a variety of metrics collected during the activity. If you don’t find the peace to review the values on the display immediately after the activity, you can also view the recording at a later time.

Coros Pace 3 – Insight into recorded data

After synchronizing, the data appears in the app in the same extent.

Connection with external sensors

If the built-in sensors are not sufficient, the Pace 3 seamlessly connects via Bluetooth with almost any external sensor.

The watch doesn’t really care whether it’s a chest strap heart rate monitor, optical wristband heart rate monitor, Stryd sensors, or similar devices. Owners of numerous accessories will be pleased to know that more than one sensor of a type can be stored in the watch.

By the way, the Pace 3 does not support ANT+ – but that’s not a big deal anymore.

GNSS accuracy

For many products, accuracy in location tracking and heart rate monitoring determines success or failure. Let’s start with location tracking. Some might say GPS accuracy, but this is only partially true.

In addition to GPS, the Pace 3 supports GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS. However, you can only choose from:

• GPS only
• all satellite systems
• all satellite systems + multiband

For my runs, the Pace 3 always had access to all GNSS and had to forego multiband because its use here in the outskirts of Berlin doesn’t add much value. At the same time, the deciduous forests in the area are sparse and don’t challenge the watch much.

From some distance, the Pace 3 and its competitors seem to perform quite similar. The Garmin Forerunner 245 is perhaps the one that deviates most. Admittedly, it’s the oldest model in the test field.

On closer inspection, the differences to the Forerunner 245 become clear, while the Pace 3 presents a very uniform picture. The straightness of the lines sometimes gives rise to the suspicion that Coros is smoothing out the values a little. Personally, I think it’s fine for watches to do this in order to compensate for inaccuracies when determining location.

In fact, in all areas of the run you can see how cleanly the sections are recorded by the Pace 3.

Another attempt, this time in direct comparison with the Pace 2. From a bird’s eye view, everything still looks quite uniform…

…but the differences become apparent when you take a closer look again. Once more, it’s the Forerunner 245 that takes different paths. But the Pace 2 also has to make do with a much older GPS chip, which is noticeable in the recorded data.

Here again, you can see how solid the route tracking of the Pace 3 is. Even the significantly more expensive Polar Vantage V3 doesn’t perform better. Coros seems to have successfully focused on the antenna design of the Pace 3. The plastic housing undoubtedly contributes positively to this.

No matter where you look at the corners and ends of the runs, the Coros Pace 3 delivers a great performance. Yes, it will certainly look different when running in the city centre, between narrow streets and tall buildings. But with a healthy mix of open spaces, terraced houses with a limited number of storeys and sections in the woods, the Pace 3 has nothing to hide.

Heart rate accuracy

To get an impression of the accuracy of the PPG sensor, the Pace 3 accompanied me during jogging, hiking, and on the ergometer. Let’s start with a steady 5 km run.

Like me, most products need some time to find their rhythm at the start of a run. This is not always characterised by precision in the first few metres, and the Polar H10 chest strap is not ideal either. However, this equalises out with all models after a short time.

Otherwise, all sensors cope well with the steady trend and seem to deliver identical values in terms of measurement accuracy. The deviations from the Polar H10 are very small. As a reminder: the more blue areas you see in the charts, the further apart the two devices are.

On the next attempt, the Coros Pace 2 stands out unpleasantly. This is actually something I haven’t experienced with it in recent years. Compared to the Polar H10 chest strap and the Polar Ignite 3, the gaps are smaller. However, there are still a few small outliers compared to the chest strap.

The deviations between the Pace 3 and the previous model are more erratic. Although they are only short periods, they come with large fluctuations.

The Pace 3 stumbling occasionally is evident in the first three intervals. However, it is in good company because the significantly more expensive Polar Vantage V3 shows the same issues in the following four intervals.

When only comparing the Pace 3 and the chest strap heart rate monitor as a reference, the outliers become a little clearer against an otherwise decent trend.

Subsequently, the blue area in the difference chart also increases.

The proximity to the chest strap heart rate monitor is also reflected in relatively high r² values. Only the Coros Heart Rate Monitor surpasses the Pace 3 with an r² value of 0.986, better than the Pace 3’s 0.953.

I could provide numerous such evaluations here; the picture is always the same: the Pace 3 demonstrates decent performance, even if the measurements here and there aren’t “spot-on”. Compared to the Pace 2, it seems to deliver more solid values.

Software

The Coros app is free for iOS and Android alike. While there may be more visually appealing apps, it stands out positively in terms of clarity and structuring.

Here and there the translations into German seem a little awkward, but nothing that you can’t accept with a smile. Especially for most readers here, who would probably choose the English language settings.

Battery Life

Coros claims a battery life of up to 17 days in smartwatch mode. This could be accurate considering the daily loss of about 6 percent.

Of course, I don’t wear a watch on my wrist for that long without exercising with it, so the battery runs out faster. The battery drains quickly when using all GNSS during sports, with GPS using both the L1 and L5 frequency bands, and additional music playback via Bluetooth.

Overall, the battery life seems very appealing to me. During the review, I had another, albeit older sports watch on my other wrist. This one demanded power much more frequently.

Coros Pace 3 - Verdict

Score: 88%

Pros

• numerous sports functions
• fast multi-band GPS
• great value for money

Cons

• slow USB data transfer
• lots of plastic

Buy on Amazon

Affiliate Link^*

With small but significant improvements, Coros has succeeded in giving the Pace 2 a worthy successor. Admittedly, the appearance is in need of improvement and does not reflect the inner values of the Pace 3.

At the same time, there is hardly a sports watch on the market that offers so many useful sports metrics and customisation options, coupled with a high level of connectivity.

The accuracy of the GNSS tracking is high, often even higher than that of significantly more expensive products. The Pace 3 also shows few anomalies in heart rate measurement and is pleasingly close to the chest strap heart rate monitor.

For me, the Pace 3 is definitely worth a recommendation, especially as the price of 249 euros is a challenge. The comparable Polar Pacer Pro and the Garmin Forerunner 255 are priced at €329 and €349 respectively (RRP). However, retail prices are already significantly lower, putting the Pace 3 under considerable pressure.

With Coros constantly updating older models with new features, the Pace 3 could be the more attractive choice. Polar and Garmin tend to remain more consistent with their mid-range products in terms of features.

Disclosure: The Coros Pace 3 to me by Coros, free of charge, at my request for testing. No conditions were attached to this review, and the opinions and experiences shared here reflect my entirely unbiased assessment of the product.

Der Beitrag Coros Pace 3 Review – Great value for money erschien zuerst auf Fitness Tracker Test.