coros 智能运动手表:超强续航&ai 体能教练指导
At present, outdoor sports are developing rapidly in China, with activities such as marathons, cycling, and triathlons becoming increasingly popular among the general public. Sports are always inseparable from equipment, and in recent years, sports watches have become a favorite among sports enthusiasts. Sports watches record exercise data, heart rate data, and running tracks, and can also assist with daily training, making them a standard for sports enthusiasts. As someone who loves running, I am naturally very familiar with sports watches. I have used many sports watches, and when people mention sports watches, brands like Garmin and Suunto often come to mind. The establishment of these brands is, of course, through the recognition of sports enthusiasts and the gradual emergence of the strength of sports watches. Personally, I care about the accuracy of the data, the stability of the GPS track, the battery life, the comfort of wearing, and suitability for long-distance sports. Naturally, to meet performance requirements, unique technology and algorithms are needed. Today, I will introduce you to the COROS APEX smart sports watch and how it stands out among many brands.
COROS can be considered a niche brand in the sports watch industry, deeply rooted in the international outdoor smart equipment market. COROS was founded in 2014 and is dedicated to developing smart outdoor equipment for professional athletes and adventurers abroad, focusing on outdoor sports watches and smart sports helmets. In 2018, COROS entered the domestic market and released its first smart sports watch, the COROS PACE, which received high praise after extensive testing by outdoor enthusiasts both domestically and internationally.
At the end of 2018, COROS launched a newly upgraded version of the COROS APEX. This watch features a knob design for single-finger operation, a sapphire glass screen, a titanium alloy and high-strength fiber shell, supports 100 meters of water resistance, and has a 35-hour GPS battery life. The entire watch weighs only 55g, making it a lightweight watch designed for professional outdoor sports, suitable for various outdoor sports and complex environments.
Recently, the COROS APEX was ranked first among 14 GPS sports watches suitable for runners by the well-known running magazine Runner's World, which included brands like Garmin, Suunto, and Apple. Runner's World also did a special report on the COROS APEX, recognizing its battery life and software and hardware functions, demonstrating COROS's impressive strength.
Let's take a look at its real performance.
The parameter information of the COROS APEX helps us quickly understand the functions, materials, weight, and performance of this sports watch, making it easier to use and operate. The APEX comes in two sizes: a 42mm women's version and a 46mm men's version. The 42mm women's version features a ceramic bezel and colorful designs, making it more aesthetically pleasing for female athletes, while the 46mm men's version is more suitable for men's wear and matching.
The packaging of COROS is exquisite, with a simple and understated overall color scheme. The box features an image of the pure black version of the COROS APEX, but this time I received the 46mm silver-black version. The side of the packaging displays the parameter information and identification code of the COROS APEX sports watch.
Opening the box, the watch is securely placed in the slot. The reflective effect of the APEX's sapphire glass lens is quite good, which may prove more practical in outdoor situations.
The contents of the COROS package include the watch, a magnetic charging cable, two instruction manuals, and an additional strap. The overall package is relatively simple, and for daily use, just having a charging cable is sufficient.
The design of the COROS APEX dial is quite complete, without the 'black chin' seen in some Garmin models. The COROS APEX uses a full-reflective memory LCD screen, which remains very clear even under sunlight.
The bezel and case are made of titanium alloy and high-strength fiber materials, ensuring strength while being lighter in weight. The scale markings on the edge of the screen can assist with the use of tools such as the compass, time, and alarm. The sapphire glass mirror surprised me, as the hardness and strength of sapphire mirrors are well-known, making it more durable in use.
COROS has designed the brand logo on the side of the watch. Although it is not as eye-catching as some brands like Garmin that place their logo on the screen, this design is good for maintaining the integrity of the watch.
The COROS APEX focuses on a simple design, so the button design is also simpler, with two buttons located on the right side of the watch. The combination of a knob button and a flat button makes operation very convenient. The sensitivity of the knob allows for single-finger control, with the watch selecting options by rotating the knob and confirming by pressing it. The feedback effect is quite noticeable. The flat button design greatly improves wearing comfort, as it does not press against the back of the hand when bending the wrist. I think this simple and user-friendly button design is worth promoting.
The back cover of the dial is made of aluminum alloy, which is a selected material for creating lightweight watches. The bottom of the case mainly houses the charging module and heart rate module. Charging is done through a pin-insert method, where the pin is inserted into the charging module for charging. The heart rate module is designed to be flat and does not protrude as much as some other sports watches, which can leave marks. This is one of the reasons I like wearing this watch.
The watch strap supports quick-release operation, allowing it to be easily removed by pressing the lever. This is an improvement over the COROS PACE. The strap is also quite elastic and can be pulled freely, especially when fastening the strap, which does not feel stiff. However, if the watch is used for long-term mountain climbing or running, the diagonal pattern of the strap can easily collect dust, which may affect its appearance and require cleaning with water each time.
The COROS brand focuses on smart outdoor sports equipment, so the COROS APEX is undoubtedly designed for outdoor sports enthusiasts. It researches precise algorithms to ensure data accuracy and studies the practicality and convenience of functions to create a truly suitable smart sports watch for sports enthusiasts. When manufacturers can research and improve from the user's perspective, it shows sincerity. Let's take a look at the technology and functions of this watch.
Having previously experienced the COROS PACE sports watch, I am somewhat familiar with the watch's system. As a marathon enthusiast, I want to enter running mode as soon as I get the watch, so I can quickly start running. The APEX watch did not disappoint me. By pressing the knob, I directly entered sports mode, with running being the first option, which is indeed very convenient. Compared to some other sports watches that require several operations to find the sports mode, this method is quicker. Currently, the COROS APEX supports seven sports modes, which can be selected by rotating the knob, including running, treadmill, cycling, indoor cycling, pool swimming, open water swimming, and triathlon. Although the range of activities is not very large, I look forward to more modes such as hiking, mountaineering, and skiing to cater to various sports enthusiasts.
In the sports mode page, there is also an AI coach option, which displays the aerobic and anaerobic exercise effects based on data feedback during exercise. It calculates the physical energy consumption after training, estimates the recovery time needed, and analyzes the lactate threshold heart rate, VO2max, and threshold pace based on the data. These data algorithms can analyze our daily training effects, which can be helpful for future training and planning. The AI coach option also allows viewing of exercise records. The exercise data and tracks can be viewed in the software, but the watch currently does not support track viewing.
In the settings options, the watch supports dial settings, alarm settings, and do-not-disturb mode configuration. The COROS APEX also supports the ANT+ wireless transmission protocol, which is suitable for connecting various electronic sensor devices, making it a great feature for cycling enthusiasts.
The main interface of the COROS APEX can be switched using the knob, and the knob operation is easy to master, even without reading the manual. The main sections of the watch include the dial main page, calorie data, altitude, compass, heart rate data, barometer, and temperature, all of which are valuable references for both indoor and outdoor sports.
The APEX dial supports multiple dial replacements, and the colors can be chosen to match different styles. The watch currently supports saving four dials, and more dial resources can be downloaded and synchronized to the watch through the mobile app. The dial types can match the watch's appearance, and you can set different styles such as business or sports according to your preference. Personally, I prefer the sports-style dials.
The COROS software can be downloaded by scanning the QR code or directly searching for COROS in the app store. The interface is very simple, with a low-key black and gray color scheme. The first task is to bind the device, and the binding process is very simple. Select the APEX watch in the device, follow the instructions to proceed to the next step, and once paired, the watch can record all-day exercise data.
One of the powerful features of the COROS watch is the support for custom display of sports dial data. Each mode supports five dial modes, and each dial can display up to six data types, allowing for personalized data settings. The background color of the dial can be changed to white or black as needed, maximizing the satisfaction of individual sports needs from the user's perspective.
The app's dial supports downloads and will be updated periodically, but it currently does not support uploading your own pictures as dials. The dial menu supports 17 dial replacements for download, which is sufficient for now, and more dials will be gradually updated in the future. Personally, I prefer simple data-type dials.
From a multi-dimensional data perspective, the COROS APEX can compare and analyze data such as pace, cadence, heart rate, and altitude using horizontal and vertical axes, making the data more intuitive. This is very necessary for improving performance in daily training and competitions. The COROS watch also excels in software synchronization, allowing data to be uploaded to mainstream websites such as Codoon, Joyrun, Tulip, WeChat Sports, Apple Health, Strava, and TrainingPeaks, ensuring that every piece of data is recorded.
In terms of appearance, although it is not very rugged, it still looks good and is suitable for both daily wear and outdoor use.
Satellite Search
As a running enthusiast, GPS positioning in a sports smart watch is one of the key points I value. Fast satellite search speed can reduce waiting time and allow for quicker start of exercise. I tested the satellite search speed outdoors. After turning on and restarting the watch, the first satellite search took 12.3 seconds, and the second search took 3.5 seconds. The satellite search speed is quite fast, and the accuracy of the search improves the precision of the track, making the recorded data more accurate.
Battery Life
The battery life of the COROS APEX is a major highlight, supporting 35 hours of GPS usage. Through testing, after being fully charged and continuously worn for 10 days with daily GPS exercise, the battery still had about 10% remaining. This battery life can directly compete with Garmin and Suunto.
In terms of charging, although the COROS APEX does not support fast charging, it can be fully charged within 2 hours. The power-saving mode is automatically activated when the battery is at 5%, and it is still timely to charge at that point.
Water Resistance
The COROS APEX supports 100 meters of water resistance, which is sufficient for current sports watches. The watch's knob remains functional underwater, which is much better than many watches whose buttons are not responsive underwater, making it practical for swimming enthusiasts. Due to testing conditions, I could not perform a water pressure and depth test, but I conducted a simple 10-minute underwater immersion test to check the watch's performance. After 10 minutes of time-lapse photography, the watch showed no abnormalities when submerged in water. When taken out of the water, only a few water droplets adhered to the surface, indicating that the sapphire glass mirror's waterproof layer is very effective.
Dust Resistance
As an all-around sports watch, COROS must perform well in all aspects. The outdoor environment is complex, and dust is inevitable. Dust can enter the watch through the gaps in the dial and case. The watch's dust and water resistance levels are very high, and it can be operated in dusty conditions without any issues. However, it is important to regularly clean the watch with water when it accumulates too much dust, which will help extend the watch's lifespan.
Low Temperature
The weather in the north is not only cold but also windy, and this winter has been especially cold, with outdoor temperatures below -10°C in the morning. The watch performed normally during a 10-kilometer outdoor run in low temperatures, and the power consumption was satisfactory, with about 8% power used for a 15-kilometer run. Although the official data for the APEX indicates a working temperature range of -10°C to 55°C, it is actually more powerful than we imagine. After several days of low-temperature testing, the APEX performed normally.
Running Experience
Through two different watch data tests, I experienced the accuracy of the watch's data in various aspects. Compared to the Junto 5X watch, which is considered a military-grade brand in many aspects, the satellite search speed of the COROS was relatively faster. I only enabled the standard GPS positioning mode. In terms of exercise data, with the same start and end times, the Junto watch showed a deviation in the track when circling the park, resulting in data loss. The COROS APEX showed a distance of 15.16KM, while the Junto 5X showed 14.64KM, with a deviation of less than 500M over 15 kilometers. Based on the track analysis, the Junto 5X showed significant track deviation in areas with dense trees in the park, while the COROS APEX data remained stable.
Comparing the COROS APEX with Huawei watch data tracks, during a 10-kilometer run on the road with no trees or tall buildings obstructing the path, the distance shown by both watches was very close. The APEX showed 10.59KM, and the Huawei watch showed 10.60KM. Based on the pace data and track details comparison for each kilometer, the COROS APEX data was more accurate.
After using the COROS APEX watch for a period of time, its performance has been fully demonstrated in terms of battery life, positioning, track, and heart rate. This watch is more professional and cost-effective. The major pain points of current smart watches, such as short battery life, heavy watch body, slow positioning, and track drift, make it highly competitive among sports watches priced over 3000 yuan. In multiple rounds of data testing, it performed well in terms of accuracy and detailed data, especially in track details, where the APEX showed great precision at every corner. In terms of service, COROS also does a great job, offering a 15-day free return and a 2-year warranty, which is better than many big brands. The performance, quality, appearance, and technical support from the R&D team of the COROS APEX smart sports watch make it an excellent choice in the 2000 yuan price range, standing out in the smart sports watch market.
Advantages:
1. Battery life supports 35+ hours in GPS mode
2. Software supports custom display of sports data dials
3. Accurate positioning, more precise track data
4. AI training mode, data algorithms can estimate recovery time and status
5. The watch body is made of titanium alloy, making it lightweight and more comfortable for sports
Disadvantages:
Currently does not support track navigation, and there is no map track display on the watch. According to the official information, this feature is in the internal testing stage and will be optimized and updated soon.