For a runner who mainly wants long GPS battery life and a light watch for little money, the COROS Pace 3 is the better buy: COROS lists it at $199, at 30 g with a nylon band and up to 38 hours of standard GPS. For a runner who wants the confirmed Garmin coaching toolkit (HRV status, training load, race predictor, running power) and multi-band GPS, the Garmin Forerunner 255 is the stronger choice, at $349.99 on Garmin’s site. Both are still listed by their makers, but each now has a newer sibling at a similar price: the COROS Pace 4 ($249) and the Garmin Forerunner 170 ($299.99). That current pair is compared below as well.
How this page is compiled. Specifications and prices come from each maker’s own pages, checked in October 2026. Battery figures are the makers’ claims. We have not tested these watches, and nothing here is a measured result.
COROS Pace 3, Forerunner 255, Pace 4 and Forerunner 170 compared
| Spec | COROS Pace 3 | Garmin Forerunner 255 | COROS Pace 4 | Garmin Forerunner 170 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US price (maker site) | $199 | $349.99 ($399.99 Music) | $249 | $299.99 ($349.99 Music) |
| Weight | 29-30 g nylon band, 35-36 g silicone | 49 g (46 mm) | 32 g nylon band, 40 g silicone | 41 g |
| Display | 1.2 in transflective, always-on | 1.3 in transflective MIP | 1.2 in AMOLED touchscreen | 1.2 in AMOLED, optional always-on |
| Smartwatch battery | Up to 15 days | Up to 14 days | Up to 19 days | Up to 10 days |
| GPS, standard | 38 hours | 30 hours (GPS-only) | Not listed | 20 hours (GPS-only) |
| GPS, all systems | 25 hours | 25 hours | 41 hours | 14 hours |
| GPS, dual-frequency / multi-band | 15 hours | 16 hours | 31 hours | Not listed |
| Water rating | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Training load | Not stated on maker page | Yes | Not itemised | Yes |
| HRV | Not stated on maker page | HRV status | HRV tracking | HRV status |
| Race predictor | Not stated on maker page | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Running power | Not stated on maker page | Yes | Power-based workouts | Yes |
| Navigation | Turn-by-turn and breadcrumb routes | Courses, point-to-point, breadcrumb | Breadcrumb routes, off-course alerts | Courses, point-to-point, breadcrumb |
| Music | Built-in audio support | Storage on Music model | MP3 storage | Storage on Music model |
Which is better for…
Beginners
The Pace 4 offers an AMOLED screen, a race predictor, marathon plans and MP3 storage for $249, which covers what most new runners need. The Pace 3 at $199 is the cheapest entry point in this group. The Forerunner 170 costs more but brings Garmin’s training readiness and HRV status.
Marathon training
For long race days, the Pace 4 has the largest claimed GPS budget here: 41 hours in All-Systems mode and 31 hours in dual-frequency mode. Among the older pair, the Forerunner 255 adds a course- and weather-specific race predictor and multi-band GPS rated at 16 hours.
Battery
The COROS watches lead on the makers’ figures: 19 days for the Pace 4 and 15 for the Pace 3, against 14 days for the Forerunner 255 and 10 for the Forerunner 170. The Forerunner 170’s All-Systems figure (14 hours) is the shortest in the table.
Data and coaching features
Garmin’s spec tables explicitly list training load, HRV status, race predictor and running power for both the Forerunner 255 and the Forerunner 170. The Pace 4 page lists HRV, race predictions, VO2 max, lactate threshold and power-based workouts. The Pace 3 product page does not itemise these metrics.
Budget
The Pace 3 at $199 is the lowest price on a maker site in this comparison. Garmin’s cheapest current running watch is the Forerunner 70 at $249.99, the same price bracket as the Pace 4.
COROS Pace 3
Still listed by COROS at $199. It is very light, has an always-on transflective screen and claims 38 hours of standard GPS. It suits runners who value battery and low weight over a bright display.
Check COROS Pace 3 prices on Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 255
Still listed by Garmin at $349.99, with some versions showing a 5-8 week wait. It has a MIP display, multi-band GPS and the fullest confirmed set of training metrics among the older pair.
Check Garmin Forerunner 255 prices on Amazon
COROS Pace 4
Released in November 2025 and listed at $249. It moves to AMOLED, adds MP3 storage and claims 19 days of daily use. COROS’s own pages disagree on whether full on-watch maps are supported, so check before buying if maps matter.
Check COROS Pace 4 prices on Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 170
Launched in May 2026 at $299.99, or $349.99 with music storage. It brings AMOLED, training readiness and HRV status to a lower price than the Forerunner 570 ($549.99), but its spec table does not list multi-band GPS.
Check Garmin Forerunner 170 prices on Amazon
Frequently asked questions
Is the Garmin Forerunner 255 discontinued?
No. In October 2026 Garmin still listed it at $349.99, and $399.99 for the Music version.
Is the COROS Pace 3 still sold?
Yes. COROS listed it at $199 in October 2026, alongside the newer Pace 4.
Which watch has the longest GPS battery?
The Pace 4, at a claimed 41 hours in All-Systems mode. Among the older pair, the Pace 3 claims 38 hours of standard GPS against 30 hours GPS-only for the Forerunner 255.
Do any of these watches have full maps?
Garmin lists courses, point-to-point navigation and breadcrumb trails for the Forerunner 255 and 170, but no maps. COROS lists breadcrumb navigation for the Pace 3 and Pace 4.
For triathlon-specific picks, see our triathlon watch guide.
Sources
- COROS Pace 3 product page
- COROS Pace 4 product page
- COROS Pace 4 specs
- COROS battery specifications
- Garmin Forerunner 255 product page
- Garmin Forerunner 170 product page
- Garmin Forerunner 70 product page
- Garmin Forerunner 570 product page
Checked 18 October 2026.
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