Polar unleashed the Pacer Pro in April 2022 which interestingly undercuts its predecessors in the Vantage Series (M2 and V2). However, the watch is also aimed to give a tough competition to Coros Watches. Both Coros and Polar are vying for the space left by Garmin, the current market leader in the multisports smartwatches niche.
Priced considerably lower than Garmin’s elite Forerunner and Fenix watches, Polar Pacer Pro is well-equipped to capture a considerable market share for itself. However, it has to convince athletes that its sports and fitness tracking capabilities are better than Coros Watches.
Here we would compare Coros Pace 2 vs Polar Pacer Pro to help users decide which watch is better. Though the ultimate decision would depend of course on your needs, we will make it easier for you to get to a decision.
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Table of Contents
Coros Pace 2 vs Polar Pacer Pro: 9 Major Differences
These watches may come from competing brands, but they share a lot of things in common. There is no need to tell you the similarities between the two, the list goes on and on. We will jump straight to their main differences so you can make an informed decision.
Price:
Coros Pace 2 was released almost two years ago (Aug 2020), and at that time it was available at around $200. The watch is often discounted at an e-commerce store where it hit even a $150 price tag. Pacer Pro is a relatively new watch (April 2022) so have to pay around $300 to get your hands on it.
Design:
While the display size of both watches is the same at 1.2-inch, Pacer Pro has a large bezel around the screen. It measures 45mm in size compared to 42mm of Coros Pace 2, making it more suitable for big wrists. Also, it weighs 5-6 grams more than Pace 2 which doesn’t make any big difference. Thankfully, Polar released Pacer Pro in various colors compared to only two options available in Coros Pace 2.
Music Control:
Both watches lack built-in music storage which is pretty much a shame for wearables in 2022. However, Pacer Pro has managed to salvage its image by adding support for ‘Music Control’. You would still have to tow your smartphones around, but you will be able to control them right from your wrist.
Running Features:
Polar Pacer Pro is footpod capable, which gives it an edge over Pace 2. However, the latter triumphs when it comes to advanced metrics (running dynamics). Coros Pace 2 can track VERTICAL OSCILLATION, GROUND CONTACT TIME, and Stride Length. Moreover, the watch has several built-in running features like ‘Race Predictor’ and ‘Recovery advisor’.
Navigational Features:
Polar Pacer 2 is a clear winner in this battle. It takes a leaf out of Garmin’s playbook when it added Courses/waypoints features that help users to set their route while hiking or trail running. The watch also features a ‘Back to start’ feature that allows hikers to find their way back home in case they head in the wrong direction. Also, you can download courses/maps from your smartphone to the Pacer Pro.
Connectivity:
Coros Pace 2 supports both Bluetooth and ANT+ essentially expanding its range of supported external sensors. From Garmin Duo HRM to Wahoo Ticker X you can connect almost all external sensors to the watch. Pacer Pro supports only Bluetooth connectivity, so it basically supports as many sensors like the Apple Watch.
Heart Rate Accuracy:
Polar Pacer 2 offers better heart rate accuracy during workouts than Coros Pace 2. How were we able to make this opinion so fast? Even Ignite and Vantage Series watches beat Pace 2 in this battle, and Pacer 2 is an altogether new watch. However, when you add an external heart rate sensor to both watches, Polar’s advantage fades away.
Sports Modes:
Pacer Pro offers a whopping 130+ preloaded sports modes. Now compared to this it 18 or so modes on the Coros Pace 2. Despite the name that aligns more with runners, Pacer Pro is a true multisport watch.
Battery Performance:
The Coros Pace 2 offers up to 30-40 hours of battery performance on a single charge, whereas Pacer Pro makes it to 100 hours. Overall, the battery life of both watches is not extraordinary as expected of watches with MIPS displays.
Final Verdict:
Polar Pacer Pro clearly has an upper hand in a lot of domains from battery performance to navigational features and therefore it is the winner of this head-to-head comparison. However, the Coros Pace 2 has a perfect equalizer with a $100 lower price tag. If you own a Pace 2, there is no need to switch to the Pacer Pro at this point, the watch doesn’t offer out-of-the-ordinary terms of core functions for athletes. New users can pick the Polar Pacer Pro mainly because it is a recent release and is going to stick around for a couple of years.
Coros Pace 2 vs Polar Pacer Pro: Comparison Table
| Product Name | Polar Pacer Pro | Coros Pace 2 |
| Price | $299 | $199 |
| Predecessor | Vantage M2 | Coros Pace |
| Models | 45 mm | 42mm |
| Release Date | April 2022 | AUG 2020 |
| Parent Company | Polar | Coros |
| Operating System | Proprietary OS | Proprietary OS |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
| Competition | Forerunner 245, Polar Vantage M2, Vantage V2 | Coros Vantage 2, Forerunner 245, COROS APEX, Forerunner 255, |
| Suitable For | Fitness/Running smartwatch | Fitness/Running smartwatch |
| Sensors | GPS, Glonass, Galileo, QZSS, Precision Prime, Barometer, Magnetometer compass, Accelerometer, TEMP RECORDING (INTERNAL SENSOR) | GPS/QZSS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Optical Heart Rate Monitor, Barometric Altimeter, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Thermometer |
| Polar Pacer Pro | Coros Pace 2 | |
| Dimensions, Weight | 45 x 45 x 11.5 mm | 41 g | 42 × 42 × 11.7mm | 35g-36g |
| Band Size | 20mm | 20mm |
| Build materials | Nylon Wristband | Silicone/Nylon |
| Colors | Carbon Gray, Snow White, Midnight Blue, Autumn Maroon | Black, White |
| Waterproofing | 5 ATM | 5ATM |
| Display Size | 1.2 Inch | 1.2 Inch |
| Screen Type & Resolution | MIP, 240 × 240 pixels | Always-On Memory LCD, 240 x 240 pixels |
| Pixel Per Inch | Not specified | Not specified |
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass | Fiber Reinforced Polymer |
| Always-on Display | Yes | Yes |
| Rotating Bezel | No | No |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.1 | ANT+/Bluetooth |
| Companion App | Polar Flow app | Coros App |
| Storage | 32MB | 16MB to 64MB |
| Processor | Hyperfast, high-performance core processor | Not Specified |
| RAM | 5MB | Not Specified |
| Notification Alert | Yes | Yes |
| Calendar, Weather | Yes | Yes |
| Offline Spotify | No | No |
| Timer & Alarm | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable Watch Faces | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Assistant | No | No |
| Music Storage, Control | Just Control the music | No |
| Third-Party Apps | Yes | Yes |
| Make calls, send texts & Emails | No | No |
| Browse Web | No | No |
| Contactless Payment | No | No |
| Built-in GPS | Yes(GPS, Glonass, Galileo, QZSS) | Yes (GPS/QZSS, GLONASS, BeiDou) |
| Heart Rate Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | Yes | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen | No | No |
| ECG | No | No |
| Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis | No | No |
| Steps, Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Menstrual cycle | No | No |
| Sport Mode | Yes(130+) | Yes(18+) |
| Sync Data With Strava or Apple Health | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Performance | Training mode: up to 35 hours, Watch mode: up to 1032 hours, Power save training mode: up to 100 hours | Regular use: 20 days, Full GPS mode: 30 hours, UltraMax mode: 60 hours |
| Battery Size | 273 mAh | Not specified |
| Charger Type | No | Charging dock |
| Fast Charging | Yes | No(1-2 hours) |