| Polar Grit X | COROS Apex | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $749 | $429★ |
| Subscription | ✓ None | ✓ None |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 57g | 40g★ |
| Water resistance | 100m★ | 5ATM |
| Battery | 40 days★ | 24 days |
| Always-on display | ❌ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Tier | Sports GPS | Sports GPS |
| Buy timing | ||
| Released | Apr 11, 2024 | Oct 15, 2025 |
| Cycle advice | bad | good★ |
| Deals advice | good★ | neutral |
| Next model | — | — |
Five times the battery of the Vantage V3 — enough for week-long mountain stages or ultramarathons without charging access.
Automatically segments your run by uphill and downhill sections, calculating pace and power for each — essential for mountain race training.
Running power without a chest strap or foot pod — Polar's key differentiator versus Garmin at this price tier.
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.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$429 vs $749 over 3 years · no required subscription.
40 days vs 24 days battery.
5 sensors.
40g · no required subscription.
Trail runners, hikers, and outdoor athletes who want Polar's analytics with significantly longer battery life than the Vantage V3. The titanium case and sapphire glass make it suitable for technical terrain where watch durability matters.
Full details →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 →