For the budget-conscious athlete or fitness enthusiast, the Coros Pace 2 is a welcome alternative to more premium wearables. The device tracks in-depth metrics and has a great battery life in a unique and sporty aesthetic. Plus, the feature-packed watch comes in at just under $200.
On the other hand, the Garmin 245 has no qualms being the mid-range model of the Forerunner series. A running watch through and through, the 245 also boasts several sports modes along with a variety of health and smart features.
Should you save or should you splurge? Below, we give you a lowdown of how these two watches fare against each other.
Navigation
Coros Pace 2 vs Garmin 245 Comparison Chart
| Model | Coros Pace 2 | Garmin Forerunner 245 |
 |  | |
| Price |  | |
| Dimensions | 42 × 42 × 11.7mm | 42.3 x 42.3 x 12.2mm |
| Weight | 29g to 36g, depending on band | 39.5g |
| Display | Always-on memory LCD | Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) LCD |
| Display Size | 1.2 in. | 1.2 in. |
| Screen | Corning Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Bezel | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Case | Fiber-reinforced polymer | — |
| Key Sensors | Heart rate monitor Barometric altimeter Accelerometer Compass Gyroscope Thermometer | Heart rate monitor Accelerometer Compass Thermometer Pulse ox monitor |
| Built-in GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| SpO2 Monitoring | No | Yes |
| Incident Detection | No | Yes |
| Sleep Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Menstrual Health Tracking | No | Yes |
| Smart Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Water Rating | 5ATM | 5TAM |
| Battery Life | Regular Use: 20 days GPS Mode: 30 hours UltraMax Mode: 60 hours | Smartwatch mode: 7 days GPS mode: 24 hours |
Design
The Coros Pace 2 is a lightweight and sporty wearable, while the Garmin Forerunner 245 has a bit more heft behind its sleek exterior.
If you’re looking for a sporty watch, the Coros Pace 2 will impress you more. It’s crafted from a fiber-reinforced polymer that’s high-strength but also lightweight. Wrapping around your wrist is a nifty silicone band with multiple holes and perforations, making the strap breathable and lending the watch an overall, sportier design. You can get the Pace 2 in full-white or full-navy colors.
The Garmin Forerunner 245 is heavier but less flashy. Its standard, non-music editions come in more discreet gray or berry-colored straps. The Forerunner 245’s case itself is available only in gray. Like the Pace 2, the Forerunner 245 has a fiber-reinforced bezel surrounding its circular watch face. The straps are also made from silicone but with fewer adjustment holes. Both Coros and Garmin devices use 20mm, quick-release bands.
Now, the Pace 2 and Forerunner 245 sport 1.2-inch color LCD screens. However, they’re not touchscreen but instead rely on physical buttons. The Coros Pace 2 has two, while the Garmin Forerunner 245 has five. As expected, the extra buttons on the Garmin make it easier to navigate than the Coros watch.
In terms of durability, both the Coros and Garmin devices have Corning Glass screens. They’re also waterproof up to 50 meters.
Activity and Sports Tracking
Given its value, the Coros Pace 2 offers more bang for your buck than the Garmin 245 when it comes to advanced training metrics.
Calories burned, steps taken, and distance are just some of the metrics covered by the Coros Pace 2 and Garmin Forerunner 245. However, Coros’ sports watch is equipped with an altimeter — a feature missing on the Garmin — so you can track floors climbed and elevation. The Forerunner 245 also lacks a gyroscope, a sensor that helps detect motion and track where you go.
Despite being a budget model, the Pace 2 has more workout modes than the Forerunner 245. It’s also one of the most affordable sports watches that support triathlon and open water swimming, activities missing on the Forerunner 245. You also get multisport mode, gym cardio, strength training, and bike profiles.
Similar profiles are available on the Forerunner 245, including strength training, indoor rowing, and cardio training. There’s even yoga, which you won’t get on the Pace 2. However, the Forerunner 245 has the edge at running, thanks to support for treadmill, virtual, and trail running profiles.
Both watches come with several running features. For instance, the Coros Pace 2 and Garmin Forerunner 245 give users insights into their running performance, condition, and cadence. Thanks to compatibility with Stryd, you also get info on ground contact time and stride length. Advanced training metrics come built-in for the Forerunner 245, while with the Pace 2, you can access them through the Coros EvoLab.
Health Monitoring
The Garmin Forerunner 245 has better health features than the Coros Pace 2.
Although primarily designed for sports, especially running, the Garmin Forerunner 245 is hardly short in health and safety features. It’s in this area where it wins over the Coros Pace 2. Both the Pace 2 and Forerunner 245 come with the standard 24/7 heart rate (HR) tracking. You also get abnormal HR alerts during workouts. However, Garmin’s sports watch does more.
On the Forerunner 245, you also get a Pulse Ox monitor for measuring blood oxygen saturation level. There’s incident detection, too, plus live event sharing and assistance. Female users will also appreciate the presence of menstrual cycle tracking. Garmin also adds proprietary health insights on the Forerunner 245, like Fitness Age and Body Battery Energy Monitor.
The Pace 2 shares with the Forerunner 245 a few capabilities, like sleep tracking and hydration alerts. With the latter, Coros does a better job by including nutrition alerts. The Pace 2 also comes with Muscle Heatmap that tells you which muscle groups you worked during training or workouts.
Click here to read our Forerunner 235 vs 245 review.
Smart Features and Battery Life
Garmin’s Forerunner 245 wins when it comes to smart features, while the Coros Pace 2 edges the competition when it comes to battery life.
Smart features is another area where the Garmin Forerunner 245 has the edge over the Coros Pace 2. While the two devices enjoy smart notifications, including incoming call alerts, the Forerunner 245 adds a few more capabilities. If paired with an Android phone, the Garmin watch can even send text responses and reject phone calls via text. You can also control your smartphone’s music using the wearable.
When it comes to battery life, the Coros Pace 2 takes the cake. The budget wearable can last up to 20 days on regular use. If GPS is turned on, you still get about 30 hours of battery life. Meanwhile, those who prefer to get GPS data during intervals can opt for the UltraMax mode, which gives the Pace 2 60 hours of battery life. In contrast, the Forerunner 245 has a 7-day battery life in smartwatch mode. Turn GPS on, and the rating decreases to just 24 hours.
Verdict
The Coros Pace 2 gives more bang for your buck than the Garmin Forerunner 245.
Garmin’s wearables are always a strong contender when it comes to sports watches. They are durable, well-designed, and feature-packed. The Garmin Forerunner 245 is no exception. You get a ton of training data from this watch designed to help you understand and improve your performance. There are several health monitoring tools, too.
However, the Coros Pace 2 delivers just as many features, including those missing on the Garmin watch, at a much lower cost. It also boasts a lightweight design that’s less noticeable, especially when you’re training or working out. While it does lack a few health and smart features, the overall user experience is positive, especially given its impressive battery life.
FAQs
Given its price, the Coros Pace 2 has the best value of any watch of its class. It’s packed with features and brandishes a distinctly sporty aesthetic.
The Garmin Forerunner 245 comes with a one-year limited warranty.
No, the Forerunner 245 does not have onboard music storage. However, it can control the music played from your smartphone.
Yes, the Coros Pace 2 can track your heart rate while swimming.