TL;DR
- For 2026, the COROS PACE Pro is the value pick at $349, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is the balanced Garmin at $449.99, and the Forerunner 570 is the newest at $549.99. All three run multi-band GPS and AMOLED screens, so the split is battery, maps, and ecosystem.[1][6]
- The cheapest watch has the feature the two Garmins lack: the PACE Pro ships offline maps, while neither Forerunner has onboard maps.[3][5][7]
- Battery is not close: the PACE Pro rates about 38 hours of full-GPS tracking versus roughly 14 hours on the Garmins.[2][7]
- The Forerunner 570 adds 2025 hardware the others do not have: a built-in speaker and microphone for phone calls, the Elevate Gen 5 sensor, and skin temperature.[1][3]
These three cover the whole mid-range running-watch band. The COROS PACE Pro undercuts on price while carrying maps and a huge battery, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is the popular AMOLED Garmin, and the Forerunner 570 is Garmin's 2025 refresh that sits just below the flagship 970. This comparison verifies the 2026 US prices and the specs that actually separate them: battery, navigation, music, and the sensor and software each ecosystem is built on. Verified as of 2026-07-17. For the direct two-watch head-to-head of the cheaper pair, see COROS PACE Pro vs Garmin Forerunner 265, and for the wider field see Best Running Watches 2026.
Verified comparison
| Spec | Forerunner 570 (47mm) | Forerunner 265 (46mm) | COROS PACE Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| US price | $549.99[1] | $449.99[4] | $349[6] |
| Display | 1.4" AMOLED, 454x454[2] | 1.3" AMOLED, 416x416[5] | 1.3" AMOLED, 416x416[7] |
| Weight | 50 g[2] | 47 g[5] | 37 g nylon / 49 g silicone[7] |
| Smartwatch battery | Up to 11 days[2] | Up to 13 days[5] | Up to 20 days[6] |
| Full-GPS battery | Up to 14 h (multi-band)[2] | Up to 14 h (multi-band)[5] | Up to 38 h; 31 h dual-freq[7] |
| Offline maps | No[3] | No[5] | Yes[7] |
| Music | 8 GB, streaming services[3] | 8 GB, streaming services[5] | 32 GB, MP3 only[7] |
Price and what each one is for
The prices bracket the segment cleanly. The COROS PACE Pro is $349, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is $449.99, and the Forerunner 570 is $549.99, a $200 spread from bottom to top.[1][4][6] The PACE Pro (released late 2024) is the disruptor that pushes offline maps and multi-day battery into a sub-$350 watch. The Forerunner 265 (2023) is the balanced Garmin that most runners land on when they want the ecosystem without paying flagship money. The Forerunner 570 (available to order May 21, 2025) is the newest of the three and layers 2025 hardware on top of the 265's template.[1] The read is simple: pay less for the COROS and get more battery and maps, or pay more for a Garmin and get the deeper training platform.
Battery: the PACE Pro is not close
This is the widest gap in the table. In full all-systems GPS, the COROS PACE Pro rates about 38 hours, or 31 hours in dual-frequency mode, against roughly 14 hours of multi-band GPS on both Garmins.[2][5][7] In daily smartwatch use the COROS rates up to 20 days versus up to 13 days on the 265 and up to 11 days on the 570.[5][6] For a marathon or a weekly training block, the Garmins are fine, but for ultras, back-to-back long days, or people who hate charging, the PACE Pro is in a different class.
Full-GPS tracking per charge (longer is better)
─────────────────────────────────────────────────
COROS PACE Pro ~38 h (31 h dual-frequency)
Forerunner 265 ~14 h (all-systems multi-band)
Forerunner 570 ~14 h (all-systems multi-band)Maps: the cheapest watch has them
The inversion buyers do not expect is that the $349 watch is the only one here with onboard navigation. The PACE Pro ships full-color offline maps you can pan and follow, while neither the Forerunner 265 nor the Forerunner 570 has onboard maps; both Garmins can follow a loaded course with a breadcrumb line, but they do not render a base map.[3][5][7] In Garmin's 2025 lineup, onboard maps are reserved for the flagship Forerunner 970.[3] If you run trails or travel and want a real map on the wrist, the PACE Pro is the standout, and it is also the cheapest.
Music, sensors, and the 2026 hardware split
On music the trade flips back toward Garmin. Both Forerunners hold about 8 GB and sync from streaming services such as Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer, while the PACE Pro carries a larger 32 GB but plays local MP3 files only, with no streaming-service sync.[5][7] If you rely on an offline playlist from a streaming app, the Garmins are the easier fit.
The Forerunner 570 is where the newest hardware lives. It moves to Garmin's Elevate Gen 5 optical heart rate sensor, a generation newer than the 265, and adds a built-in speaker and microphone for taking phone calls through a paired phone, plus overnight skin temperature tracking and an aluminum bezel.[1][3] None of the three includes a certified ECG feature: the two Garmins have no ECG hardware, and while the PACE Pro carries an ECG sensor that COROS uses for HRV readings, COROS states it is not a medically certified feature.[3][5][7] Treat that sensor as a training-data input, not a health-diagnostic tool.
Ecosystem and training tools
Beyond the spec sheet, the choice is Garmin Connect versus the COROS app. Garmin offers the broader platform: contactless Garmin Pay, safety and incident detection, a large third-party app catalog, and voice calling on the 570.[1] COROS keeps the software leaner and focused on running and load, which many athletes prefer, and pairs it with the battery and maps advantage. Both Garmins and the PACE Pro compute the modern training-load and recovery metrics runners actually use day to day. If you are already invested in one app's history and structured workouts, that inertia is a legitimate reason to stay.
Decision frame
- You want the most watch for the least money, plus maps and battery: COROS PACE Pro at $349.[6]
- You want the balanced Garmin and the full Connect ecosystem without flagship pricing: Forerunner 265 at $449.99.[4]
- You want the newest Garmin with voice calls, skin temperature, and the Gen 5 sensor: Forerunner 570 at $549.99.[1]
- You run long trails or ultras: the PACE Pro's ~38-hour GPS battery and onboard maps make it the practical pick of the three.[7]
Whichever you pick, the training payoff comes from using the zones correctly. Set your run zones and threshold with the Heart Rate Zone Calculator and dial in workout paces with the Run Training Paces Calculator.
Verified as of 2026-07-17. Watch prices and firmware features change; confirm on each vendor page before buying.
FAQ
Which is the best mid-range running watch in 2026?
It depends on your priority. The COROS PACE Pro at $349 gives the most battery and the only offline maps of the three; the Forerunner 265 at $449.99 is the balanced Garmin; the Forerunner 570 at $549.99 is the newest with voice calls and skin temperature.[1][4][6]
Is the COROS PACE Pro better than the Garmin Forerunner 570?
On battery, maps, and price the PACE Pro wins: about 38 hours of full-GPS tracking, onboard offline maps, and a $349 price versus $549.99.[1][7] The Forerunner 570 answers with the broader Garmin Connect ecosystem, streaming-service music, voice calling, and skin temperature tracking.[3]
Does the Garmin Forerunner 570 have offline maps?
No. The Forerunner 570 does not have onboard maps; it can follow a loaded course as a breadcrumb line but does not render a base map. In Garmin's 2025 lineup, full onboard maps are reserved for the flagship Forerunner 970, while the COROS PACE Pro includes offline maps at a lower price.[3][7]
What is the difference between the Forerunner 570 and 265?
The Forerunner 570 is the 2025 successor to the 265. It adds a built-in speaker and microphone for phone calls, the newer Elevate Gen 5 heart rate sensor, overnight skin temperature, and an aluminum bezel, for $100 more; both watches share multi-band GPS, AMOLED screens, and 8 GB of streaming music, and neither has onboard maps.[1][3][5]
Which running watch has the longest battery life?
The COROS PACE Pro by a wide margin. It rates about 38 hours in full GPS and up to 20 days in daily use, against roughly 14 hours of multi-band GPS and 11 to 13 days of daily use on the two Garmins.[2][5][7]
Do any of these watches have ECG?
None offers a certified ECG feature. The Forerunner 570 and 265 have no ECG hardware at all, and while the COROS PACE Pro carries an ECG sensor that COROS uses for HRV readings, COROS states it is not a medically certified feature, so treat it as training data rather than a health-diagnostic tool.[3][5][7]
References
- 1 Garmin unveils the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 (price, sizes, features) — Garmin Newsroom (2025)
- 2 Forerunner 570 full specifications (display, weight, battery, GNSS) — the5krunner (2026)
- 3 Garmin Forerunner 570 Hands-On: Elevate Gen 5, speaker, no maps or ECG — DC Rainmaker (2025)
- 4 Forerunner 265 running watch (price and specifications) — Garmin (2026)
- 5 Garmin Forerunner 265/265S In-Depth Review (battery, weight, no ECG or maps) — DC Rainmaker (2023)
- 6 COROS PACE Pro technical specifications (price, display, battery, maps) — COROS (2026)
- 7 COROS PACE Pro In-Depth Review: AMOLED and maps — DC Rainmaker (2024)