| COROS Apex | Garmin vivosmart 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $429 | $149★ |
| Subscription | ✓ None | ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 40g | 25g★ |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 5ATM |
| Battery | 24 days★ | 7 days |
| Always-on display | ❌ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅★ | ❌ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Tier | Sports GPS | Fitness Tracker |
| Buy timing | ||
| Released | Oct 15, 2025 | Apr 26, 2022 |
| Cycle advice | good★ | bad |
| Deals advice | neutral | great★ |
| Next model | — | Garmin vivosmart 6 (Expected 2026) |
The 46mm Apex 4 delivers 65 hours of GPS tracking and 24 days typical use — enough for multi-day mountain events without charging. The 42mm offers 41h GPS and 15 days.
Global topographic maps with instant rendering, turn-by-turn navigation, POIs, and an underwater depth gauge — the Apex 4 is the first COROS mid-tier with a depth sensor.
Audio alerts, hands-free calling, and voice pin recording — a first for the Apex line, adding practical trail and daily-wear convenience to this mountain sports watch.
Body Battery energy monitoring — the feature Garmin is known for — in a wristband that's thinner than most fitness trackers.
Continuous heart rate variability monitoring and all-day stress tracking give a more complete picture of recovery and readiness than step counts alone.
All data syncs to Garmin Connect, compatible with thousands of third-party apps, coaches, and integrations across the Garmin platform.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$359 vs $429 over 3 years · no required subscription.
24 days vs 7 days battery.
5 sensors.
25g · no required subscription.
Trail runners, ultramarathon athletes, and multisport competitors who want full offline maps and long GPS battery without paying Vertix 2S prices. The speaker and depth gauge make the Apex 4 more capable than any previous Apex for mixed adventure and triathlon use.
Full details →Garmin users and health-focused individuals who want Body Battery, HRV, and advanced sleep analytics in a slim, discreet wristband rather than a sports watch. Compatible with both iPhone and Android via Garmin Connect.
Full details →