Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Coros Pace 3
Best Battery LifeGarmin Forerunner 55
Best Budget PickPrice
$229-$259
$150-$200
Summary
Wirecutter's top GPS running watch pick for years running, praised for class-leading battery life, lightning-fast GPS lock, and accurate metric tracking at a lower price than Garmin flagships.
The no-frills entry point into serious GPS running at around $160. Wirecutter recommends it as the best budget running watch, and Reddit beginners consistently praise it as more than capable for tracking workouts.
Pros
- Industry-leading battery life among GPS running watches
- Fastest GPS signal acquisition in its class per Wirecutter testing
- Full multisport watch with dedicated track run mode
- Downloadable training plans for 5K through marathon
- Excellent battery life for the price point
- Accurate GPS tracking for runs and cycling
- Syncs with Strava and other popular platforms
- Pared-down interface is easy to learn
Cons
- Smaller app/smartwatch ecosystem than Garmin or Apple
- No daily suggested workout feature like Garmin
- Less name recognition means fewer community resources
- Missing advanced training metrics found on higher Forerunner models
- No music storage or contactless payments
- Basic smartwatch notifications only
Our take
Coros keeps winning because it does the running fundamentals better than anyone — GPS locks faster, battery lasts longer, and the price is right. Runners who prioritize performance over ecosystem should start here.
Don't overthink it for your first running watch — the Forerunner 55 does everything a beginner to intermediate runner needs at a price that won't sting if you decide running isn't for you.
Buy
