Thanks for the video! I've had Garmins for around 10 years so I'm used to how they work and find it difficult to switch. If it wasn't for that I'd definitely want the Suunto (titanium) instead of my 265. It's much more premium looking and has maps, yet cheaper than the Garmin!
It would be very nice to have a segment about the companion apps (android/ios and web apps). That is, for me, a big part of decision making process. Thanks for the video.
@@ChaseTheSummit How soon? haha I am trying to make a decision (before the deals end) and I have yet to find a recent review (within the last year) of all the apps. What I am looking for in particular is what watch/ecosystem is best for adaptive training plans. From what I've read that sounds like Polar but the app experience plays into the purchase as well.
Yesss! This is going to be good! Also the 265 is on sale at 349.99 on Amazon right now, full size Suunto race is 399.99. Didn’t find any on the polar or coros
Fantastic video Dave! I know it takes a LOT of work to get a video like this put together. You make a good case for each watch depending on user needs while giving plenty of detail for each of them. 💪🏃
Great video as always. It has been a while now but all of these watches and companies offer pretty much the same features and functionality. It is hard to pick. You cannot go wrong with any of them.
Coros got the best tool for training. Just broke my half marathon PB and training for my first marathon after getting Pace 3 since March. Had never been so motivated with Garmin.
How is the COROS app? I’ve heard mixed responses. I have an iPhone so I’m hoping it’s good. I’m trying decided between the COROS Pace 3 and the Garmin Forerunner 165.
@@swiftfoxrunner I've had the pace pro for a week now. I don't know how other apps compare but I really like the coros app. Everything is there really, customization of the watch, route creation, recovery status, wellness checks, workout planning calendar, past workout reviews, all the data for those workouts and in general, sleep tracking, general fitness level... I got a coros watch mainly because I was interested in all the data of my workouts. I didn't care so much about general smartwatch features. Remember you won't get features like NFC, music streaming services or sending text messages/making calls. However the watch is capable of receiving messages and offline, local music files. Also most of the data is available on the watch itself and on their training hub website, which is nice when you want to look at your data on a bigger screen. This is probably a thing with other watches/websites too but I really like the 3D satellite map of your run. It's cool to see exactly where you ran from a birds eye view in 3D. Hadn't seen that before. On mobile the detail is kinda low but on desktop is really detailed.
I think Polar has the best software eco-system. If I could pair the Suunto Race S to Polar Flow I would get the Suunto in a heartbeat. Garmin is good, but I find Garmin Connect data a little cumbersome. Suunto needs a web inerface for the computer---using just the phone app is a bit of a dealbreaker for me. Never had a Coros before, but looks promising.
Great review Dave! I watched it when I ran on the treadmill this evening. One thing I’d recommend is to add the size and weight comparison because this is quite important for wearing experiences.
I am due a watch upgrade and have been looking really closely at and would love to go with a Coros or Suunto as my next watch since Garmin ramped up their pricing (e.g. charging premium prices for plastic watches). Garmin are too expensive now, but the lack of proper music service integration on Coros and Suunto is sadly a deal breaker on those watches for me. Got so used to running with my watch and headphones I cannot go back to carrying a phone.
I love the channel and I really appreciate all that you do. I have to say though that these videos give me a certain feeling. I understand that Garmin has been on the "top" of many of the features and functions lists of the last few years, but I often get a pro-Garmin vibe watching these videos. I also appreciate that you mentioned at the top of the video that they are all good watches, however it seems that beyond product testing many of these watches are not used as daily drivers. It appears Garmin is and has been worn daily for a long period of time where as the others not so much. I say this because there are functions and "differences/criticisms" that have been fixed or just need an alternate POV. One example is that the Coros and Suunto can be used as cycling computers. (I do not own the Polar so I cannot say on that one) Both Coros and Suunto connect to my power pedals and offer much of the functionality one would need from a budget setup for a runner and rider. If I am going to buy a 300-400 dollar watch I probably am not going to buy an Garmin bike computer. While I realize Garmin was one of the first if not the first to have Body Battery, the function is so ubiquitous now that I am not sure we need compare every companies fitness/recovery functions to those of Garmin. Many fitness metrics are fuzzy and inaccurate at best and are no where near being medical grade. Recovery algorithms are different with each company and none are a gold standard. I agree with your ecosystem thoughts. If you want a watch that is going to allow you to continue to spend more and more money for fitness tech then Garmin is the clear winner. I do hope though that we can also see content that helps us decide what watch will be a 4-5 year watch if we are just looking for a well built sports watch that will get us outside. You almost stick the landing in the summary, but man I just feel like there is a Garmin bias there. Sure the Garmin is a great watch with an expandable ecosystem, but it scratches super super easy, it is totally plastic, and maps do not exist beyond breadcrumb. All 3 others have that beat. And to boot to get all of that you have to pay the Garmin tax so that you stream music and tap a payment. Maybe it is about clicks and views. I know you have to do what people want as a full time RUclipsr to get clicks, but it is nice to not see Garmin and Apple in so many reviews and that is hard because most other brands do not have 50 million skus with new ones coming out so often to help create content. I am sure Garmin is very very helpful in that way.
I try not to have a bias and present things as simply as possible. I do use most of these watches regularly but it would be impossible for me to "daily drive" every single watch on the market right now. This video was based on my experience with all of these watches which I have a lot of after the launch of the Pace Pro and M3 as I was wearing them regularly for weeks/months. Yes, the watches can be used as cycling computers but I know a lot of cyclists who prefer a dedicated computer with a larger display and more intuite controls while moving. Also, AMOLED displays that time out aren't awesome to have on your handlebars as you'll need to tap on them to wake them up to see what's going on. That's were dedicated Edge cycling computers and the COROS Dura are ideal for that kind of situation. It doesn't mean you CAN'T cycle with a watch it's just nice to have options in the same ecosystem. The point I make about Body Battery / Training Readiness is that it's an insightful feature and it's good to see other brands with similar metrics (Oura Ring, Whoop, Etc...) I'm hopeful other watch manufacturers come up with their own aglorithm. When it comes to Music / Smartwatch features it's hard to argue that COROS, Suunto, or Polar are on the same level of Garmin. The simple fact is Garmin offers more... NFC payments and Music. Sure, you may not care about them but lots of folks do. Your point about the Garmin Being plastic is valid (I agree it scratches easily) but the COROS is also made of a similar build quality and the Polar M3 is only slightly nicer with it's metal bezel (the rest is plastic) as mentioned the Suunto is superior in build quality. While one part is clicks/views, there's also the fact that this video was requested hundreds of times in the comments so I thought I'd try to provide some insight and my opinion on them. I'm a person just like you. Trying my best to provide valuable information and share my opinion on which product might fit your use case best. As mentioned, none of these are bad watches but each of them do have objective pro's and con's. Thanks for watching.
@@ChaseTheSummit I appreciate the response. It was hard to write that without it sounding like an attack and it is not meant to be that. I wholeheartedly love the content both on your RUclips channel and your podcast. I guess I just feel like we are living in a world where everything is compared to a Garmin. The Aqua tune Barbie World always comes to my mind when I watch product reviews. I replace the word Barbie with Garmin. ruclips.net/video/ZyhrYis509A/видео.html Again sorry if there was an edge. Really not that person.
Thanks for the review, I bought my Race S before any of the new watches came out and i was kinda feeling icky if I'd jumped the gun, but watching this i can just see they're all good enough in their own terms. Again, thanks for the review. P.S: would've loved to see the Amazfit T Rex 3 here since ur review basically put them on the map and i think it's the same prics
Ive got a garmin 265 and im glad you brought up the scratch issues, its the only irritation really. Mind you since you reviewed the t-rex 3 ive found it tough to resist 😂
The advantages of having multiple band sensors ability either a few BT connections or the additional Ant+ allows the watch to pair to the Polar H10 and a Garmin Edge. Personally I changed from my Polar Vantage V2 to the Forerunner 965. The main thing I miss is the cycling and fitness recovery test from Polar. As soon as the firmware for Polar gets updated, I will consider the M3 for that reason.
Many years ago, I had a Polar watch with METAL backing. That was a PAIN! In the wintertime, with temps down to -10 to -15 degr. Celcius, running with the watch exposed, gave serious frostbites on the skin. And in general, cold weather made the watch a cold spot. In general, the build quality felt cheap... Left Polar after that, never looked back.
This just shows how good of a deal the 255 is right now. It's pretty much the exact same watch as the 265, and the few extra features, like Training Readiness, are more than made up for by the better screen of the 255 (yes, MIP is better for a sports watch, don't @ me). It's the same price as the 165, and I've even seen it on sale for around 200 euros.
I love how you keep your reviews neutral, despite your preferences. I'm into Coros ecosystem right now, the main reason is for support and the new features I keep getting on my watch. I must say I'm really intrigued by the Suunto race S for the built quality and app store, I just don't know if I can survive without web interface
I am in the market for these watches, being an Android watch user (Galaxy) it has been an unpleasant experience using my current watch for running being it hard to pace with GPS accuracy issues. I am leaning towards just waiting for the Forerunner 975 which supposedly is expected to be announced March 2025. But the Coros looks so sleek and modern and looks like it has a great software/app experience over the Garmin.
Something to also mention, which seems to be always overlooked- Garmin and suunto are the only two that have menstrual cycle tracking. Doesn’t apply to everyone, but that doesn’t mean it should be a feature to ignore.
Hey Dave, I just wanted to let you know that play better is as good as you said. Very cool to deal with! I got my fenix 8 from them through your link. Thanks!
In battery life yes. The Apple Watches still have some advantages though. Like full blown LTE connectivity, way more apps, and super powerful processor that makes the user interface incredibly snappy. It all comes as a cost though... battery life!
Personally I wish I could go to a physical store to check all these out (none in my area) I jumped ship from Apple to the GARMIN 265… wow what a down grade. It’s like a toy. I know the watch features are more in depth but plastic fantastic… for the price I would expect a much more premium experience. The sunto or coros looks way better quality .
@ I’m in the uk and I have one running shop in a 30 mile radius and only stock garmin. All the other brands are online only unless in London or other big city’s
My driver for smartwatches is fitness tools (so no Apple, Samsung would do). But I still rock my Huawei GT 2e and wish only to switch for a GT3 Pro/Runner or Amazfit TRex 3. Others are too expensive for no much more performance. I'm very satisfied with my Huawei still.
Well you tried to keep it short. But if you want to know all about these watches, you can't do that in a 10 minute video. Great comparison Chase aka Dave
I need help. I am trying to decide between the COROS Pace 3 and the Garmin Forerunner 165. I don’t care about the music aspect. I just want a watch that accurately tracks my daily steps and workout steps, and tracks daily and workout calorie burn. I want it to accurately track my running pace, time, and distance. I need it to have an option for interval training, and tracks my blood oxygen and heart rate accurately. And I’d like to be able to see all the data displayed so I can alter my training as needed. I do treadmill, road, and trail running as I live way out in the country. I have an iPhone and want to make sure the app works well on iOS and is user friendly. I have heard mixed reviews about the COROS app. I currently have an Apple Watch 6 which is terrible to train with and barely lasts 15 hours. I’m training for my first ever marathon and the AW is not cutting
@@fer2287 Nope. If he wants accurate steps he should go for 165. Garmin is more all around watch. I tested them both, garmin is more accurate. Another thing I tested is bike ride without turning any tracking on. Just a relaxed ride, garmin recorded like 15 steps while pace 3 had around 1000 steps. If it is only running then pace 3 is good enough. I use my 165 specifically for burning 1000 active cal a day and it is very accurate. I could not have this accuracy overall with pace 3
Thank you for this greatest video! :) Is it truth, that COROS Pace Pro has much more running tools and metrics comparing to Suunto Race S? Suunto looks like having more mature health analysis.
Have a Garmin but wanted to try the Coros Pace Pro. Agree with everything in your review. Did find that after pairing some Shokz headphones and going for a run the music would either dip in and out or there would be a crackle. Also I was hoping that Nav/Pace alerts would be verbal rather than just on screen with a beep and vibration. Have emailed Coros support but it will probably get sent back. Do like the metrics though and the Coros app.
Actualmente tengo el Suunto Race y voy a regalar a mi chica el Race S, creo que no comentas nada sobre zonesense de Suunto y esto, para mi es definitivo, tener diariamente el equivalente a una prueba de esfuerzo para un deportista puede ser determinante, a mi, me ha cambiado la forma de entrenar, tengo los datos reales de mis umbrales, no solo los de Fc.
I tried Coros & Garmin. and decided on Venu 3, for smart feature and looks. Coros would have done well pricing it at 300. At 350, Garmin and Sunto is there..
Amazing review... I'm using garmin 265 for a years. But I need best maps and navigation for running. So I'm gonna change to coros pace pro, its more usefull for me
moving from garmin epix2 to suunto race ti(black friday sale 17% off), fenix8 is software bloated and price is silly while most new updates i wouldn't use. i use TP anyway and thats on suunto and the heart zonesense is getting alot of good feedback
I would really like to switch from Garmin but to me it just seems that no one can compete when it comes to the complete package. It is also the thing that you can have both the watch and the bike computer synced to the same app. Already owning the HRM-Pro doesn't help either. The Suunto Race is compelling though.
As a non runner, but a tennis player and a general sporty person is it worth considering aw9/10 or should i stick to these watches u compared in the video?
Coming from a pixel watch 2, like the accuracy and speedometer, sleep tracking but hate the battery life. What do you recommend? I am looking for a 10 day battery life minimum but not sure which could give me similar accuracy and a better battery life. The smart watch features don't really interest me.
I watched the comparison video and I like everything about the Garmin because I have some ant plus cycling computers and Garmin radar but I hate the breadcrumb mapping, any idea what model next up has full mapping from 265?
Nice.. I've been using the pace 3 for 6 months.. almost hasn't left my arm the entire time. My Apple watch was doing the job but after using the pace3 and not charging it for 3'ish weeks I was sold. I really thought if it just had a nicer/amoled screen it would be perfect. I may get one.. I do really like the lightweight feeling of the pace 3 too. I know the Pro is a little bigger/heavier so not sure if that's gonna annoy me. Good old Amazon though.. I'll give it a few weeks.
What about altitude and elevation? I have seen some coments about Suunto gets a little inflation on the elevation! Do you have any experience on that with these four watches?
@Arguna people have been reporting that suuntos have more elevation gain than garmins or coros... 1000ft ascend in suuntos is in reality 700ft in a Garmin... (sorry for the english...)😄
@@claudiobarreira9115 I didn't compare my suunto 9pp with other watches, but now I checked in Strava joint with other people runs and cycling - we have more or less similar height gain.
I didn't compare myself to my suunto 9pp with other watches in this, but as far as I see from joint runs/cycling in Strava (there are people with all watch brands) - we have similar elevation gain.
@ thanks to my new job I have 25% discount on Garmin products bought on the official website, I’m resisting to buy something until the future 275 is out 🥹
Got the Fenix 7pro I am completely happy but the MIP Display is so annoying for me… I will Switch got an amoled Display. Because I got a Small wrist will but the fr265 or wait for Next year fr
Oh man this is super timely. I'm just getting back into fitness after a bit of a break (kids, yeah). I'm a data analyst and I'm having serious analysis paralysis from all of the choices. Is there a particular ecosystem you'd recommend for someone getting into fitness wearables for the first time?
Depends, if you're primarily a runner the COROS platform is great. Also check out the Garmin Forerunner 165 as it's a budget option and has a lot of features for the money.
@@ChaseTheSummit Thanks! I think that's my real difficulty. I'm getting into running, but I have also been into MTB and backpacking for years. It's hard to not just drop $1000 on a Fenix 8 (but I really don't want to).
I almost included the T-Rex 3 in this but that would have made this video super complicated lol. I have another similar video planned comparing T-Rex 3. Thanks!
@@ChaseTheSummit Hi man, amazing video like always! ;) I did a video between T-Rex 3 vs. Garmin Enduro 2: ruclips.net/video/U9T3z63-U94/видео.html I think that it's a very good battle (with some differences, of course)! What do you think?
No idea why but Garmin has an aggressive stance on health metrics interpretation. Bottoming out to 5% is the regular, not the exception. Having a lot of comparison with Apple, I just know that it's not so much my behavior but rather the interpretation. Just waiting for a new Race S to arrive, looking forward to getting some perspective on the ecosystem. What is your experience comparing Suunto and Garmin concerning general health estimates?
Currently using a FR945LTE and a FR935. I was going to wait and see what the next FR might offer but I see that the F-7Pro Solar is on sale at $550(250-Off !) ..and who knows when the next FR is pop'n up. Regardless, the price is likely to be in the upper 7-800 range and I don't see the value there. Not for something that will be replaced in a few years. So here is my Q to you. In the past, it's been fine to upgrade a year or two *behind* new releases to take advantage of sales. As we've seen, Garmin has updated new features(software) to the next , older hardware version down. Did I hear you or someone mention that the 7-Pro's will not get any features (pass-downs) from the F8's? If so, do you think the 7Pro's should be a hard pass, even on sale, if there is no feature migration forthcoming? -thanks Dave.
I'd expect the next Forerunner 9XX watch to be a similar price as the current 965. They haven't increased the price on that model much in the past. In fact, from the 955 to the 965 I don't think the price went up at all from MSRP? In terms of software it's a bit confusing. The new Fenix 8 got an entirely new code base which means Garmin re-built it from the ground up to make it more optimized and efficient. Because of that, new features designed for Fenix 8 may not translate to the older codebase on Fenix 7. With that said, Garmin will continue to provide firmware updates on Fenix 7 models to keep them up to date and functional with Garmin Connect but it is unlikely you'll see the same codebase ported back to Fenix 7 from Fenix 8. Long story short, the future is unclear for the Fenix 7 in terms of "new features" but I wouldn't worry about the Fenix 7 becoming obsolete. It will continue to work indefinitely (just like my 12 year old Fenix 1 that still works!)
hey guys, what kind of watch would you buy if you would do mostly running or cycling, would be owner of a fr630 and your budget would be roughly the price range of the fr965? I really like my fr630 (and Garmin), but it's time to upgrade. Thanks in advance
@ChaseTheSummit I told you before but I'm telling You now this brand is the one to look out for. Coros also Chinese and also doing some fine developments
what you recommend between forerunner 265 and suunto race s? price wise, forerunner 265 currently has a lower price than the suunto race s in my place. anybody can help me to further narrow it down and probably help me decide 😅? thanks!
Hey Dave, I'm a Garmin and Coros user but my Coros is an Apex still going strong but I'm waiting for the new Blue Coros Pro to drop. It doesn't ship in Australia to New Zealand until late December so I'm patiently waiting to upgrade my Apex. I'm more into Coros because the training hub and I can see training load better week by week rather than a rolling average. It's easier to schedule runs based on that weekly average.
We just gonna glaze over that map performance of the Suunto, and call it "Just like the Coros and Polar." Wat? I am actually surprised at how bad the competition is, how can UI performance be so good and fluid, but maps look like it's from 10 years ago?
@@Jack4Lope they’re pretty similar. Mind you I had the COROS in “Dark Model in this video so it looked different. Showing roads, trails, bodies of water, etc… none of them have map labels like Garmin or POI support. What kind of details do you find Suunto does better?
@@ChaseTheSummit I just mean the fluidity and responsiveness, it's like the Suunto Race and Race S have a gyroscopic compass from a modern smartphone compared to the competition which have noticeable delays in updating direction and generally show less detail in view angles. The Polar even looks like it got confused about direction from simply being woken up by tilting it.
@ Hopefully you cover sending gpx trail from AllTrails etc to Amazfit. A reviewer from UK did that and all the trail names were on the maps! Not sure if that’s just for UK, but if Amazfit shows trail names in US from gpx file, that would be amazing.
Garmin is the biggest loser here. Not only is it several hundred dollars more (in Oz), the gps battery life sucks for ultras, though it’s good for road runners. Plus no topo mapping and old style breadcrumb navigation. And it’s plastic. Unless you’re clearly in the Garmin fold the others, particularly the Suunto are better buys (use case dependent of course)
Suunto fits my needs the best! Amazing watch. I am happy with it.
Thanks for the video! I've had Garmins for around 10 years so I'm used to how they work and find it difficult to switch. If it wasn't for that I'd definitely want the Suunto (titanium) instead of my 265. It's much more premium looking and has maps, yet cheaper than the Garmin!
It would be very nice to have a segment about the companion apps (android/ios and web apps). That is, for me, a big part of decision making process. Thanks for the video.
For sure, I have an entire separate video coming soon comparing all of the major brands apps/experiences!
@@ChaseTheSummit How soon? haha I am trying to make a decision (before the deals end) and I have yet to find a recent review (within the last year) of all the apps. What I am looking for in particular is what watch/ecosystem is best for adaptive training plans. From what I've read that sounds like Polar but the app experience plays into the purchase as well.
Yesss! This is going to be good! Also the 265 is on sale at 349.99 on Amazon right now, full size Suunto race is 399.99. Didn’t find any on the polar or coros
Polar is currently having a sale on their site
@ I saw V3 for $480 but nothing on the M3 yet
USA only i bet.
Venu 3 and 965 are also 100 bucks off.
Note that full-size Suunto Race has an older HR sensor, which is not that good.
Oh heck ya! Thank you I’m so excited that you’re doing this! All 4 watches I’m looking at as im a new fitness and running person!
Thanks Dave! Been busting my head between these 😱!
I know the feeling. For me it's between the Polar Vantage M3 and the Suunto Race S.
this is the review I’ve been waiting for.
Fantastic video Dave! I know it takes a LOT of work to get a video like this put together. You make a good case for each watch depending on user needs while giving plenty of detail for each of them. 💪🏃
Appreciate you Dave. These reviews are hard to do and from the comments, will never please everyone. Well done.
Great video as always. It has been a while now but all of these watches and companies offer pretty much the same features and functionality. It is hard to pick. You cannot go wrong with any of them.
Coros got the best tool for training. Just broke my half marathon PB and training for my first marathon after getting Pace 3 since March. Had never been so motivated with Garmin.
How is the COROS app? I’ve heard mixed responses. I have an iPhone so I’m hoping it’s good. I’m trying decided between the COROS Pace 3 and the Garmin Forerunner 165.
@@swiftfoxrunner
I've had the pace pro for a week now. I don't know how other apps compare but I really like the coros app.
Everything is there really, customization of the watch, route creation, recovery status, wellness checks, workout planning calendar, past workout reviews, all the data for those workouts and in general, sleep tracking, general fitness level...
I got a coros watch mainly because I was interested in all the data of my workouts. I didn't care so much about general smartwatch features. Remember you won't get features like NFC, music streaming services or sending text messages/making calls. However the watch is capable of receiving messages and offline, local music files.
Also most of the data is available on the watch itself and on their training hub website, which is nice when you want to look at your data on a bigger screen. This is probably a thing with other watches/websites too but I really like the 3D satellite map of your run. It's cool to see exactly where you ran from a birds eye view in 3D. Hadn't seen that before. On mobile the detail is kinda low but on desktop is really detailed.
Yes!! I've been waiting for this video. Thank you for the insight, sir!
The Polar M3 looks great! I love my V3, but if they had been released at the same time I would have chosen the M3!
I think Polar has the best software eco-system. If I could pair the Suunto Race S to Polar Flow I would get the Suunto in a heartbeat. Garmin is good, but I find Garmin Connect data a little cumbersome. Suunto needs a web inerface for the computer---using just the phone app is a bit of a dealbreaker for me. Never had a Coros before, but looks promising.
Great review Dave! I watched it when I ran on the treadmill this evening. One thing I’d recommend is to add the size and weight comparison because this is quite important for wearing experiences.
I am due a watch upgrade and have been looking really closely at and would love to go with a Coros or Suunto as my next watch since Garmin ramped up their pricing (e.g. charging premium prices for plastic watches). Garmin are too expensive now, but the lack of proper music service integration on Coros and Suunto is sadly a deal breaker on those watches for me. Got so used to running with my watch and headphones I cannot go back to carrying a phone.
thanks for the comprehensive review
Thanks for an insighful and balanced comparison of these watches!
I love the channel and I really appreciate all that you do. I have to say though that these videos give me a certain feeling. I understand that Garmin has been on the "top" of many of the features and functions lists of the last few years, but I often get a pro-Garmin vibe watching these videos. I also appreciate that you mentioned at the top of the video that they are all good watches, however it seems that beyond product testing many of these watches are not used as daily drivers. It appears Garmin is and has been worn daily for a long period of time where as the others not so much. I say this because there are functions and "differences/criticisms" that have been fixed or just need an alternate POV.
One example is that the Coros and Suunto can be used as cycling computers. (I do not own the Polar so I cannot say on that one) Both Coros and Suunto connect to my power pedals and offer much of the functionality one would need from a budget setup for a runner and rider. If I am going to buy a 300-400 dollar watch I probably am not going to buy an Garmin bike computer.
While I realize Garmin was one of the first if not the first to have Body Battery, the function is so ubiquitous now that I am not sure we need compare every companies fitness/recovery functions to those of Garmin. Many fitness metrics are fuzzy and inaccurate at best and are no where near being medical grade. Recovery algorithms are different with each company and none are a gold standard.
I agree with your ecosystem thoughts. If you want a watch that is going to allow you to continue to spend more and more money for fitness tech then Garmin is the clear winner. I do hope though that we can also see content that helps us decide what watch will be a 4-5 year watch if we are just looking for a well built sports watch that will get us outside. You almost stick the landing in the summary, but man I just feel like there is a Garmin bias there. Sure the Garmin is a great watch with an expandable ecosystem, but it scratches super super easy, it is totally plastic, and maps do not exist beyond breadcrumb. All 3 others have that beat. And to boot to get all of that you have to pay the Garmin tax so that you stream music and tap a payment.
Maybe it is about clicks and views. I know you have to do what people want as a full time RUclipsr to get clicks, but it is nice to not see Garmin and Apple in so many reviews and that is hard because most other brands do not have 50 million skus with new ones coming out so often to help create content. I am sure Garmin is very very helpful in that way.
I try not to have a bias and present things as simply as possible. I do use most of these watches regularly but it would be impossible for me to "daily drive" every single watch on the market right now. This video was based on my experience with all of these watches which I have a lot of after the launch of the Pace Pro and M3 as I was wearing them regularly for weeks/months.
Yes, the watches can be used as cycling computers but I know a lot of cyclists who prefer a dedicated computer with a larger display and more intuite controls while moving. Also, AMOLED displays that time out aren't awesome to have on your handlebars as you'll need to tap on them to wake them up to see what's going on. That's were dedicated Edge cycling computers and the COROS Dura are ideal for that kind of situation. It doesn't mean you CAN'T cycle with a watch it's just nice to have options in the same ecosystem.
The point I make about Body Battery / Training Readiness is that it's an insightful feature and it's good to see other brands with similar metrics (Oura Ring, Whoop, Etc...) I'm hopeful other watch manufacturers come up with their own aglorithm.
When it comes to Music / Smartwatch features it's hard to argue that COROS, Suunto, or Polar are on the same level of Garmin. The simple fact is Garmin offers more... NFC payments and Music. Sure, you may not care about them but lots of folks do.
Your point about the Garmin Being plastic is valid (I agree it scratches easily) but the COROS is also made of a similar build quality and the Polar M3 is only slightly nicer with it's metal bezel (the rest is plastic) as mentioned the Suunto is superior in build quality.
While one part is clicks/views, there's also the fact that this video was requested hundreds of times in the comments so I thought I'd try to provide some insight and my opinion on them.
I'm a person just like you. Trying my best to provide valuable information and share my opinion on which product might fit your use case best. As mentioned, none of these are bad watches but each of them do have objective pro's and con's.
Thanks for watching.
@@ChaseTheSummit I appreciate the response. It was hard to write that without it sounding like an attack and it is not meant to be that. I wholeheartedly love the content both on your RUclips channel and your podcast. I guess I just feel like we are living in a world where everything is compared to a Garmin. The Aqua tune Barbie World always comes to my mind when I watch product reviews. I replace the word Barbie with Garmin. ruclips.net/video/ZyhrYis509A/видео.html
Again sorry if there was an edge. Really not that person.
Thanks for the review, I bought my Race S before any of the new watches came out and i was kinda feeling icky if I'd jumped the gun, but watching this i can just see they're all good enough in their own terms.
Again, thanks for the review.
P.S: would've loved to see the Amazfit T Rex 3 here since ur review basically put them on the map and i think it's the same prics
I have a similar video coming with the T-Rex 3. Stay tuned!
Ive got a garmin 265 and im glad you brought up the scratch issues, its the only irritation really. Mind you since you reviewed the t-rex 3 ive found it tough to resist 😂
The advantages of having multiple band sensors ability either a few BT connections or the additional Ant+ allows the watch to pair to the Polar H10 and a Garmin Edge. Personally I changed from my Polar Vantage V2 to the Forerunner 965. The main thing I miss is the cycling and fitness recovery test from Polar. As soon as the firmware for Polar gets updated, I will consider the M3 for that reason.
Many years ago, I had a Polar watch with METAL backing.
That was a PAIN!
In the wintertime, with temps down to -10 to -15 degr. Celcius, running with the watch exposed, gave serious frostbites on the skin.
And in general, cold weather made the watch a cold spot.
In general, the build quality felt cheap...
Left Polar after that, never looked back.
This just shows how good of a deal the 255 is right now. It's pretty much the exact same watch as the 265, and the few extra features, like Training Readiness, are more than made up for by the better screen of the 255 (yes, MIP is better for a sports watch, don't @ me). It's the same price as the 165, and I've even seen it on sale for around 200 euros.
Streaming music apps downloads and a bright display are the most important factors for me.
I love how you keep your reviews neutral, despite your preferences. I'm into Coros ecosystem right now, the main reason is for support and the new features I keep getting on my watch. I must say I'm really intrigued by the Suunto race S for the built quality and app store, I just don't know if I can survive without web interface
Amazing and detailed video. Major kudos
Moving to Suunto Race S based on the video (long time Garmin user)
I am in the market for these watches, being an Android watch user (Galaxy) it has been an unpleasant experience using my current watch for running being it hard to pace with GPS accuracy issues. I am leaning towards just waiting for the Forerunner 975 which supposedly is expected to be announced March 2025. But the Coros looks so sleek and modern and looks like it has a great software/app experience over the Garmin.
Something to also mention, which seems to be always overlooked- Garmin and suunto are the only two that have menstrual cycle tracking. Doesn’t apply to everyone, but that doesn’t mean it should be a feature to ignore.
I wish I could have software/app of the Garmin and the build of the Suunto
Hey Dave, I just wanted to let you know that play better is as good as you said. Very cool to deal with! I got my fenix 8 from them through your link. Thanks!
Glad to hear!
Price a side all these watches still beat the base AW & AWU in terms of battery life
Anything from 14 days to a month is a winner 🙌✅
In battery life yes. The Apple Watches still have some advantages though. Like full blown LTE connectivity, way more apps, and super powerful processor that makes the user interface incredibly snappy. It all comes as a cost though... battery life!
Personally I wish I could go to a physical store to check all these out (none in my area) I jumped ship from Apple to the GARMIN 265… wow what a down grade. It’s like a toy. I know the watch features are more in depth but plastic fantastic… for the price I would expect a much more premium experience. The sunto or coros looks way better quality .
In some areas you can. I think REI carries Garmin, COROS, and Suunto.
@ I’m in the uk and I have one running shop in a 30 mile radius and only stock garmin. All the other brands are online only unless in London or other big city’s
My driver for smartwatches is fitness tools (so no Apple, Samsung would do).
But I still rock my Huawei GT 2e and wish only to switch for a GT3 Pro/Runner or Amazfit TRex 3.
Others are too expensive for no much more performance. I'm very satisfied with my Huawei still.
Great Video, thanks Dave.
Well you tried to keep it short. But if you want to know all about these watches, you can't do that in a 10 minute video. Great comparison Chase aka Dave
I like Coros the best. I wish they go on sell on black friday. FingerCross!!!
Thank you for your video bro!!
Very helpful. Thank you!
Do you only run? It seems when I lift weights my 265 sucks for heart rate tracking
I need help. I am trying to decide between the COROS Pace 3 and the Garmin Forerunner 165. I don’t care about the music aspect. I just want a watch that accurately tracks my daily steps and workout steps, and tracks daily and workout calorie burn. I want it to accurately track my running pace, time, and distance. I need it to have an option for interval training, and tracks my blood oxygen and heart rate accurately. And I’d like to be able to see all the data displayed so I can alter my training as needed.
I do treadmill, road, and trail running as I live way out in the country. I have an iPhone and want to make sure the app works well on iOS and is user friendly. I have heard mixed reviews about the COROS app.
I currently have an Apple Watch 6 which is terrible to train with and barely lasts 15 hours. I’m training for my first ever marathon and the AW is not cutting
Get pace 3
@@fer2287 Nope. If he wants accurate steps he should go for 165. Garmin is more all around watch. I tested them both, garmin is more accurate. Another thing I tested is bike ride without turning any tracking on. Just a relaxed ride, garmin recorded like 15 steps while pace 3 had around 1000 steps.
If it is only running then pace 3 is good enough. I use my 165 specifically for burning 1000 active cal a day and it is very accurate. I could not have this accuracy overall with pace 3
Man this watches are good but im going for amazfit trex 3 all day. ✌🏼
Suunto bcoz of the looks.. already have the epix gen2
Great video thanks you for sharing
Thank you for this greatest video! :) Is it truth, that COROS Pace Pro has much more running tools and metrics comparing to Suunto Race S? Suunto looks like having more mature health analysis.
Have a Garmin but wanted to try the Coros Pace Pro. Agree with everything in your review. Did find that after pairing some Shokz headphones and going for a run the music would either dip in and out or there would be a crackle. Also I was hoping that Nav/Pace alerts would be verbal rather than just on screen with a beep and vibration. Have emailed Coros support but it will probably get sent back. Do like the metrics though and the Coros app.
Hello! Audio prompt is currently under development for COROS watches that are compatible.
I love my 265, I just wish they had a better app and website.
Actualmente tengo el Suunto Race y voy a regalar a mi chica el Race S, creo que no comentas nada sobre zonesense de Suunto y esto, para mi es definitivo, tener diariamente el equivalente a una prueba de esfuerzo para un deportista puede ser determinante, a mi, me ha cambiado la forma de entrenar, tengo los datos reales de mis umbrales, no solo los de Fc.
What about updates support? How many years? I know Garmin and Coros are good at the updates.
Whay about coros apex 2? Is it still worth compared to the other watches?
I tried Coros & Garmin. and decided on Venu 3, for smart feature and looks. Coros would have done well pricing it at 300. At 350, Garmin and Sunto is there..
COROS PRO is 399€ here, around 450$
Amazing review... I'm using garmin 265 for a years. But I need best maps and navigation for running. So I'm gonna change to coros pace pro, its more usefull for me
have u bought it? how’s it going?
moving from garmin epix2 to suunto race ti(black friday sale 17% off), fenix8 is software bloated and price is silly while most new updates i wouldn't use. i use TP anyway and thats on suunto and the heart zonesense is getting alot of good feedback
I would really like to switch from Garmin but to me it just seems that no one can compete when it comes to the complete package. It is also the thing that you can have both the watch and the bike computer synced to the same app. Already owning the HRM-Pro doesn't help either. The Suunto Race is compelling though.
As a non runner, but a tennis player and a general sporty person is it worth considering aw9/10 or should i stick to these watches u compared in the video?
Coming from a pixel watch 2, like the accuracy and speedometer, sleep tracking but hate the battery life.
What do you recommend? I am looking for a 10 day battery life minimum but not sure which could give me similar accuracy and a better battery life.
The smart watch features don't really interest me.
Team All Black Suunto 🎉
its confused whih one is which one ? if you put the "Name" on scareen or post on the watch belt ? thanks
965 user here. Pace pro is a welcomed sight, though.
what reason u will go for pace pro ? im looking between those 2, and why not the next 975 :p
@@1111italia1111 Price and ecosystem. I'd personally only go for 965.
I watched the comparison video and I like everything about the Garmin because I have some ant plus cycling computers and Garmin radar but I hate the breadcrumb mapping, any idea what model next up has full mapping from 265?
Nice.. I've been using the pace 3 for 6 months.. almost hasn't left my arm the entire time. My Apple watch was doing the job but after using the pace3 and not charging it for 3'ish weeks I was sold. I really thought if it just had a nicer/amoled screen it would be perfect. I may get one.. I do really like the lightweight feeling of the pace 3 too. I know the Pro is a little bigger/heavier so not sure if that's gonna annoy me. Good old Amazon though.. I'll give it a few weeks.
Hi, did you try the pace pro compared to the pace 3?
suunto nawigacja działa najpłynniej, niż w innych droższych jak garmin zegarkach
What about altitude and elevation? I have seen some coments about Suunto gets a little inflation on the elevation! Do you have any experience on that with these four watches?
What do you mean "inflation"?
@Arguna people have been reporting that suuntos have more elevation gain than garmins or coros... 1000ft ascend in suuntos is in reality 700ft in a Garmin... (sorry for the english...)😄
@@claudiobarreira9115 I didn't compare my suunto 9pp with other watches, but now I checked in Strava joint with other people runs and cycling - we have more or less similar height gain.
I didn't compare myself to my suunto 9pp with other watches in this, but as far as I see from joint runs/cycling in Strava (there are people with all watch brands) - we have similar elevation gain.
@@Arguna thanks for the answer!
Best eco system?
Coros or amazfit t rex3 or garmen decent 2x?
thinking about getting the forerunner 255 on sale at 240
Same for me. There are 955 for 365€. MIP, 2 years old flagship for runners with bunch of additional options.
Would you put the Amazfit T-Rex 3 with this group of watches? How does it compare?
Follow up video with T-Rex 3 incoming! Stay tuned.
12:08 Suunto and Hammerhead Karoo 2/3 cycle computers
Link together also.
Suunto !
Which watch has an option for continuous interval timer For example, 5 minutes run, 1 minute walk? Even better with vibration for alarm? Thx!
With the Suunto you can even do that on the watch when starting a run
@@tobioderso same as for coros
So many important and basic features were not covered
I'm really waiting for the successor fo the Forerunner 265 to change my Forerunner 55.
Anyway they seem all very good sport watch
@@yenk82 I’d bet we see it sometime in spring 2025
@ thanks to my new job I have 25% discount on Garmin products bought on the official website, I’m resisting to buy something until the future 275 is out 🥹
I'm confused to choose between 265 or 965. I do Trail and maps battery will be good on 965 but thw watch is big for my wrist
Hello, for trail Epix pro 42mm or Fenix 7s pro are much more appropriate I think and not too Big
Which has the best running training programs?
I believe the Garmin does
Coros
Got the Fenix 7pro I am completely happy but the MIP Display is so annoying for me… I will Switch got an amoled Display. Because I got a Small wrist will but the fr265 or wait for Next year fr
Tip for the next video, put the price, display size etc. as text overlay when comparing each feature. Impossible to follow otherwise.
Absolutely, unfortunately that process is very time consuming lol. Need to hire an editor!
@ but I still enjoyed the comparison. Good points
With the arrival of vantage m3, the v3 may get a price drop.😮
Oh man this is super timely. I'm just getting back into fitness after a bit of a break (kids, yeah). I'm a data analyst and I'm having serious analysis paralysis from all of the choices. Is there a particular ecosystem you'd recommend for someone getting into fitness wearables for the first time?
Depends, if you're primarily a runner the COROS platform is great. Also check out the Garmin Forerunner 165 as it's a budget option and has a lot of features for the money.
@@ChaseTheSummit Thanks! I think that's my real difficulty. I'm getting into running, but I have also been into MTB and backpacking for years. It's hard to not just drop $1000 on a Fenix 8 (but I really don't want to).
If I use Suunto Race S with chest belt and Garmin/Polar with (exactly the same) chest belt will HR be the same?
Answer me plese ;)
Yes
Awesome video & great overview!
How do you think the Amazfit T-Rex 3 stacks up to these watches? Does it not make the cut? ❤️🔥
I almost included the T-Rex 3 in this but that would have made this video super complicated lol. I have another similar video planned comparing T-Rex 3. Thanks!
@ haha, fair! Too many watches these days 🙈 Nice one 👊🏽
@@ChaseTheSummit can't satisfy them all ;)
@@ChaseTheSummit Hi man, amazing video like always! ;)
I did a video between T-Rex 3 vs. Garmin Enduro 2: ruclips.net/video/U9T3z63-U94/видео.html
I think that it's a very good battle (with some differences, of course)! What do you think?
Tou forgot to mention as many other testers that only suunto (in fact their whole line) has build deepth meter
Good point! It's not a feature I often use but nice to have it on board!
No idea why but Garmin has an aggressive stance on health metrics interpretation. Bottoming out to 5% is the regular, not the exception. Having a lot of comparison with Apple, I just know that it's not so much my behavior but rather the interpretation. Just waiting for a new Race S to arrive, looking forward to getting some perspective on the ecosystem. What is your experience comparing Suunto and Garmin concerning general health estimates?
Currently using a FR945LTE and a FR935. I was going to wait and see what the next FR might offer but I see that the F-7Pro Solar is on sale at $550(250-Off !) ..and who knows when the next FR is pop'n up. Regardless, the price is likely to be in the upper 7-800 range and I don't see the value there. Not for something that will be replaced in a few years.
So here is my Q to you. In the past, it's been fine to upgrade a year or two *behind* new releases to take advantage of sales. As we've seen, Garmin has updated new features(software) to the next , older hardware version down. Did I hear you or someone mention that the 7-Pro's will not get any features (pass-downs) from the F8's? If so, do you think the 7Pro's should be a hard pass, even on sale, if there is no feature migration forthcoming? -thanks Dave.
I'd expect the next Forerunner 9XX watch to be a similar price as the current 965. They haven't increased the price on that model much in the past. In fact, from the 955 to the 965 I don't think the price went up at all from MSRP?
In terms of software it's a bit confusing. The new Fenix 8 got an entirely new code base which means Garmin re-built it from the ground up to make it more optimized and efficient. Because of that, new features designed for Fenix 8 may not translate to the older codebase on Fenix 7. With that said, Garmin will continue to provide firmware updates on Fenix 7 models to keep them up to date and functional with Garmin Connect but it is unlikely you'll see the same codebase ported back to Fenix 7 from Fenix 8. Long story short, the future is unclear for the Fenix 7 in terms of "new features" but I wouldn't worry about the Fenix 7 becoming obsolete. It will continue to work indefinitely (just like my 12 year old Fenix 1 that still works!)
hey guys, what kind of watch would you buy if you would do mostly running or cycling, would be owner of a fr630 and your budget would be roughly the price range of the fr965? I really like my fr630 (and Garmin), but it's time to upgrade. Thanks in advance
Suunto race s cannot to do for cycling?
Yes it does have a cycling profile and it does support cycling sensors.
T-rex 3 ftw!
Amazfit hands down the best for your money 🤑
It's certainly a good value!
@ChaseTheSummit I told you before but I'm telling You now this brand is the one to look out for.
Coros also Chinese and also doing some fine developments
Team Suunto 🎉😂
nice compare content
what you recommend between forerunner 265 and suunto race s? price wise, forerunner 265 currently has a lower price than the suunto race s in my place. anybody can help me to further narrow it down and probably help me decide 😅? thanks!
*already watched the entire video and just need bit more advice :D
Thanks for Vid ,I'd like to add Amazfit Trex 3 ( $235 ) into the list.
Almost did, but that would have made this video VERY long lol. I have a similar video coming soon including the T-Rex 3! Stay tuned.
Coros is very interesting. It just lacks a airplane mode at this time to convince me. Hope it will be soon developed.
Hey Dave, I'm a Garmin and Coros user but my Coros is an Apex still going strong but I'm waiting for the new Blue Coros Pro to drop. It doesn't ship in Australia to New Zealand until late December so I'm patiently waiting to upgrade my Apex. I'm more into Coros because the training hub and I can see training load better week by week rather than a rolling average. It's easier to schedule runs based on that weekly average.
Gaemins is top noth... Cant compare it with any of these..
race s awesome
Polar or Suunto🤔
Tough call!
We just gonna glaze over that map performance of the Suunto, and call it "Just like the Coros and Polar." Wat? I am actually surprised at how bad the competition is, how can UI performance be so good and fluid, but maps look like it's from 10 years ago?
@@Jack4Lope they’re pretty similar. Mind you I had the COROS in “Dark Model in this video so it looked different. Showing roads, trails, bodies of water, etc… none of them have map labels like Garmin or POI support. What kind of details do you find Suunto does better?
@@ChaseTheSummit I just mean the fluidity and responsiveness, it's like the Suunto Race and Race S have a gyroscopic compass from a modern smartphone compared to the competition which have noticeable delays in updating direction and generally show less detail in view angles. The Polar even looks like it got confused about direction from simply being woken up by tilting it.
@Jack4Lope zero delay on the coros
i dont need a watch to tell me that i had to much alcohol the night before.....
Should’ve added the trex 3 😂
Thought about it... but 5 watches would have been tough! I have plans for a similar video including T-Rex 3. Stay tuned.
@ I’m so tempted to try it… $234 right now 😂
@ Hopefully you cover sending gpx trail from AllTrails etc to Amazfit. A reviewer from UK did that and all the trail names were on the maps! Not sure if that’s just for UK, but if Amazfit shows trail names in US from gpx file, that would be amazing.
Garmin is the biggest loser here. Not only is it several hundred dollars more (in Oz), the gps battery life sucks for ultras, though it’s good for road runners. Plus no topo mapping and old style breadcrumb navigation. And it’s plastic. Unless you’re clearly in the Garmin fold the others, particularly the Suunto are better buys (use case dependent of course)