Coros Apex 2 vs Apex 2 Pro: Which Sports Watch Should You Buy?

Introduction

The Coros Apex 2 and Apex 2 Pro are two very similar watches, and the differences between them are easy to miss on a spec sheet. Both share the same sensor package, the same software suite and the same core design, so choosing between them comes down to a handful of practical factors: price, battery life, screen size, GPS accuracy technology and onboard storage.

This comparison walks through those differences so you can decide which one actually fits your running and training needs.

Price

The Apex 2 costs £419 in the UK or $399 in the US. The Apex 2 Pro sits above it at £499 in the UK and $499 in the US. That gap of roughly £80 to $100 is essentially what you pay for the upgrades covered below.

Design and Build

Both watches use a sapphire glass screen with a grade 5 titanium bezel and a titanium alloy back cover, so the build quality is essentially identical. The Apex 2 is the lighter of the two at 42 grams, while the Apex 2 Pro comes in at 53 grams and sits slightly larger on the wrist.

The screen is one of the clearest physical differences. The Apex 2 Pro has a 1.3-inch, 260 x 260 pixel display, while the Apex 2 makes do with a slightly smaller 1.2-inch, 240 x 240 panel. Both use always-on memory LCD displays, and both now support full touchscreen controls, an extension of the touch-scroll feature previously limited to workout mode on earlier Coros watches.

Both models also gained a larger, more glove-friendly crown, and both use quick-release bands. The Apex 2 Pro takes 22mm straps while the Apex 2 uses 20mm. On colors, the Apex 2 comes in black, gray and coral, while the Apex 2 Pro is available in black, green and gray.

Sensors and Storage

Under the hood, the sensor lineup is identical across both watches. That includes a new optical heart rate setup, an ECG sensor, optical SpO2 monitoring, heart rate wear detection so the watch knows when it is actually on your wrist, a barometric altimeter, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a thermometer.

The one meaningful difference is storage. The Apex 2 Pro carries 32GB of onboard storage compared to the Apex 2’s 8GB, which matters if you like loading lots of maps and music.

Tracking and Features

The software experience is essentially the same on both. You get the full Coros suite of running, performance, training and recovery insights, including VO2 fitness estimates, running performance, fatigue load, race predictor times and paces. Sleep tracking, activity tracking and blood oxygen monitoring are on board too, along with heart rate variability measured automatically throughout the day or via manual timed ECG tests whenever you want.

Sport profiles match as well: run, indoor run, trail run and track run modes, plus triathlon modes on both watches. The only extra on the Pro side is a multi-pitch climbing mode, which is more relevant to climbers than runners.

There is one more technical difference worth knowing. The Apex 2 Pro supports all systems plus dual-frequency GPS, while the Apex 2 has all systems only. Dual frequency is designed to limit signal interference in difficult environments, particularly around steep walls, which is why it tends to matter more for climbing and mountain terrain than for everyday road running.

Navigation

Navigation tools are exactly the same on both watches. You get global offline landscape and topographic maps, breadcrumb navigation, checkpoints, back-to-start, elevation profiles, distance to destination, GPS coordinates and storm alerts.

The practical difference here comes back to screen size. The Apex 2 Pro’s larger display gives you more real estate for following routes and reading guidance on the move, which makes a genuine difference when navigating unfamiliar terrain.

Battery Life

Battery life is arguably the biggest deciding factor between these two. In full GPS mode, the Apex 2 Pro is rated for 75 hours against the Apex 2’s 45 hours. With all systems enabled, the Pro lasts 45 hours while the standard Apex 2 manages 28 hours. In smartwatch mode, the Apex 2 offers 17 days while the Apex 2 Pro stretches to 30 days.

Which One Should You Buy?

In a nutshell, the Apex 2 Pro offers nearly double the battery life, a bigger screen with more room for navigation and metrics, dual-frequency GPS for better accuracy in challenging terrain, and significantly more storage. In exchange, it is slightly heavier, slightly larger on the wrist, more expensive, and comes with wider 22mm straps.

If you run mostly on roads and want to save money, the Apex 2 delivers the same core experience at a lower price and lighter weight. If you spend long days on trails or in the mountains, follow routes regularly, or simply want to charge less often, the Apex 2 Pro’s extra endurance and screen real estate justify the premium.

Conclusion

The Apex 2 and Apex 2 Pro share almost everything that matters day to day: sensors, software, navigation and build quality. The Pro separates itself with battery life, screen size, dual-frequency GPS and storage. Choose the Apex 2 for value and lightness, or the Apex 2 Pro if those four upgrades align with how you actually train.