Coros Pace 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 265: Which Running Watch is Best for Negative Split Training?

The Coros Pace 3 and Garmin Forerunner 265 represent two philosophies in the running watch market. Coros offers exceptional value and battery life, while Garmin delivers a mature ecosystem with premium features. For runners focused on pacing and negative splits, choosing between them isn't straightforward.

After testing both watches extensively through marathon training blocks, race day scenarios, and daily use, here's our definitive comparison.

Quick Comparison Overview

Quick verdict: The Forerunner 265 offers superior training features and ecosystem, while the Pace 3 delivers outstanding value with double the battery life.

Design and Display

Physical Build

Coros Pace 3:

• Ultra-lightweight design (30-39g depending on strap)
• Fibre-reinforced polymer case
• Mineral glass lens
• Silicone or nylon strap options
• Slim, unobtrusive profile

Garmin Forerunner 265:

• Premium mid-weight build (47g)
• Fibre-reinforced polymer case
• Corning Gorilla Glass 3 lens
• Stainless steel bezel
• Quick-release silicone strap

Build quality verdict: The Garmin feels more premium with its steel bezel and superior glass. The Coros prioritises weight savings, which matters for some runners.

Display Technology

This is where the biggest visual difference lies:

Why display matters for pacing:

• The AMOLED on the 265 makes quick pace checks easier during hard efforts
• Colourful data fields help distinguish metrics at a glance
• The Pace 3's MIP display works perfectly well but isn't as vibrant

Display verdict: The Forerunner 265's AMOLED is noticeably superior, especially in low light. The Pace 3's display is functional but dated by comparison.

Comfort and Wearability

Coros Pace 3 advantages:

• Lightest multisport GPS watch available
• Barely noticeable during runs
• Excellent for sleep tracking (low profile)
• Nylon strap option is supremely comfortable

Garmin Forerunner 265 advantages:

• Comfortable silicone strap
• Well-balanced weight distribution
• Quick-release straps for easy swapping
• More premium feel on wrist

Comfort verdict: The Coros Pace 3 wins for pure comfort due to its featherlight weight. The difference is especially noticeable during long runs.

GPS Accuracy

Both watches feature multi-band (dual-frequency) GPS, a feature that was previously reserved for flagship models.

Testing Methodology

We tested both watches simultaneously on identical runs:

• Open road running
• Tree-covered trails
• Urban environments with tall buildings
• Track running (measured distances)

GPS Results

Detailed findings:

Open roads (10-mile test):

• Coros: 10.02 miles recorded
• Garmin: 10.01 miles recorded
• Both within acceptable margin of error

Wooded trail (8-mile test):

• Coros: 8.05 miles recorded
• Garmin: 8.03 miles recorded
• Pace accuracy similar throughout

Urban (5-mile city run):

• Coros: Some minor GPS wobble near tall buildings
• Garmin: Slightly more consistent track
• Both maintained accurate overall distance

Track (4 x 800m):

• Coros: Consistent but slight tangent cutting on turns
• Garmin: Better track mode with more accurate lap splits

GPS verdict: The Garmin Forerunner 265 has a slight edge in challenging environments and track accuracy. For most road running, both perform excellently.

Heart Rate Monitoring

Optical Heart Rate Accuracy

Both use wrist-based optical heart rate sensors:

Notes:

• Both improve with proper watch positioning
• Neither matches chest strap accuracy during high-intensity intervals
• Daily resting HR tracking is accurate on both

Heart rate verdict: The Garmin's Elevate Gen 4 sensor is slightly more accurate, particularly during variable-intensity efforts. For serious pacing work, consider pairing either with a chest strap.

Training Features

This is where the comparison becomes most relevant for negative split training.

Pacing Tools

Garmin Forerunner 265:

PacePro (Garmin's killer feature):

• Creates custom pacing strategies based on course profile
• Accounts for elevation changes
• Offers negative, positive, or even split options
• Provides real-time guidance during races
• Adjusts dynamically as you run

Virtual Partner:

• Race against a set pace
• Visual indicator shows ahead/behind

Race time predictions:

• Estimates for 5K, 10K, half, and full marathon
• Based on VO2 max and recent training

Coros Pace 3:

Virtual pacer:

• Set a target pace
• Watch shows time ahead/behind
• Simple but effective

Race predictor:

• Estimates for multiple distances
• Based on fitness data

Custom workouts:

• Create structured sessions
• Target zones and alerts

Pacing verdict: Garmin's PacePro is significantly more sophisticated for negative split racing. It's the single biggest feature advantage the 265 holds over the Pace 3.

Training Load and Recovery

Garmin Forerunner 265:

• Training Status (Productive, Maintaining, Overreaching, etc.)
• Training Load Focus (aerobic vs anaerobic breakdown)
• Recovery Time Advisor
• Body Battery energy monitoring
• Sleep score and quality metrics
• Acute/chronic load tracking
• Performance Condition (real-time during runs)

Coros Pace 3:

• Training Load (7-day rolling average)
• Base Fitness (long-term fitness trend)
• Recovery timer
• Sleep monitoring (basic)
• Running fitness level
• Fatigue level indicator

Training analytics verdict: Garmin offers significantly more depth in training analysis. The Training Status feature alone helps optimise taper periods—crucial for arriving fresh on race day.

Workout Execution

Garmin Forerunner 265:

• Suggested daily workouts based on training status
• Downloadable workouts from Garmin Connect
• .fit file import for custom workouts
• Structured workout execution with pace/HR targets
• Auto-lap and manual lap options
• Workout calendar in-app

Coros Pace 3:

• Structured workout support
• Coros Training Hub integration
• .fit file import (via Coros app)
• Pre-built workout library
• Training plans available
• Custom interval creation

Workout verdict: Both handle structured workouts well. Garmin's ecosystem is more mature with better workout discovery and suggested sessions.

Battery Life

This is where the Coros Pace 3 dominates.

Practical implications:

For marathons:

• Coros: No concerns, plenty of buffer
• Garmin: Fine for most, but tighter for 5+ hour finishers

For ultramarathons:

• Coros: Handles 50K easily, 100K manageable with power settings
• Garmin: 50K possible, anything longer requires charging

For training weeks:

• Coros: Charge once per week with heavy use
• Garmin: Charge every 4-5 days with heavy use

Battery verdict: The Coros Pace 3 nearly doubles the Garmin's GPS battery life. For ultrarunners or those who hate charging, this is decisive.

Smart Features

Music

Garmin Forerunner 265:

• Store 500+ songs onboard
• Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music sync
• Bluetooth headphone support
• Offline playback without phone

Coros Pace 3:

• No music storage
• Must use phone for music

Music verdict: Clear Garmin win if music matters to you.

Payments

Garmin Forerunner 265:

• Garmin Pay contactless payments
• Growing bank support
• Convenient for mid-run purchases

Coros Pace 3:

• No payment feature

Payments verdict: Garmin only option if you want wrist payments.

Smartphone Notifications

Both watches offer:

• Call notifications
• Text message alerts
• App notifications
• Calendar reminders

Garmin advantages:

• Better notification management
• Reply from watch (Android)
• More customisation options

Apps and Widgets

Garmin:

• Connect IQ store with thousands of apps
• Custom watch faces
• Data field widgets
• Third-party integrations

Coros:

• Limited to built-in features
• No third-party app support
• Custom watch faces coming soon

Smart features verdict: Garmin wins comprehensively on smart features. If you value the "smart" in smartwatch, the 265 is far superior.

Ecosystem and Software

Mobile Apps

Garmin Connect:

• Mature, feature-rich platform
• Detailed analytics and insights
• Social features and challenges
• Workout creation and sync
• Long-term trend tracking
• Integration with many third-party apps

Coros App:

• Clean, improving interface
• Solid basic analytics
• Workout creation tools
• Training Hub for plans
• Growing feature set
• Less mature than Garmin

Third-Party Integration

Ecosystem verdict: Garmin's ecosystem is significantly more developed with better app integration, more analytics features, and a larger user community.

Value Proposition

Price Comparison

The Garmin costs approximately double the Coros.

What the Extra £200/$220 Gets You

Garmin Forerunner 265 exclusives:

• AMOLED display
• PacePro pacing guidance
• More advanced training status
• Music storage
• Contactless payments
• More accurate track mode
• Larger app ecosystem
• Connect IQ store
• Body Battery
• Performance Condition

What the Coros Does Better

Coros Pace 3 advantages:

• Nearly double the battery life
• Lighter weight (39g vs 47g)
• Half the price
• Nylon strap option
• Excellent basic training features
• Touch/button hybrid interface

Who Should Buy Which?

Buy the Coros Pace 3 if:

• Budget is a priority and you want excellent value
• Battery life matters most (ultras, multi-day events)
• You prefer minimal weight on your wrist
• Basic pacing tools are sufficient for your needs
• You don't need music or payments on your watch
• You're upgrading from a basic fitness tracker
• You run mainly in GPS-friendly environments

Buy the Garmin Forerunner 265 if:

• PacePro's advanced pacing matches your race strategy
• You want the best training analytics available
• AMOLED display quality matters to you
• You'll use music storage for phone-free runs
• Contactless payments are valuable to you
• You want maximum GPS accuracy in all environments
• The broader Garmin ecosystem appeals to you
• You're training for marathons with negative split goals

Head-to-Head: Negative Split Training

For runners specifically focused on negative split racing, here's the direct comparison:

Negative split verdict: The Garmin Forerunner 265 is the superior choice for runners serious about pacing strategy. PacePro alone is worth the price difference for marathon racers.

The Verdict

Coros Pace 3: 4.3/5

Pros:

• Exceptional value at $229
• Outstanding battery life
• Ultra-lightweight design
• Reliable GPS accuracy
• Improving software and features

Cons:

• Basic MIP display
• Limited smart features
• Less sophisticated pacing tools
• Smaller ecosystem
• No music storage

Best for: Value-conscious runners, ultrarunners, those prioritising weight and battery life.

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Garmin Forerunner 265: 4.7/5

Pros:

• Stunning AMOLED display
• PacePro pacing guidance
• Comprehensive training analytics
• Music storage and payments
• Mature, feature-rich ecosystem

Cons:

• Double the price
• Shorter battery life
• Heavier than Coros
• May be overkill for casual runners

Best for: Serious marathon runners, pacing-focused athletes, data enthusiasts, those who value smart features.

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Final Recommendation

For negative split training specifically: The Garmin Forerunner 265 is the better choice. PacePro's ability to create elevation-adjusted, negative-split pacing strategies is unmatched. The superior training analytics help you arrive at race day optimally prepared.

For overall value: The Coros Pace 3 delivers 80% of the Forerunner 265's running features at half the price with double the battery life. If PacePro isn't essential and you can handle basic pacing tools, the Pace 3 is an outstanding choice.

Our recommendation: If your primary goal is executing precise negative splits in marathons, invest in the Forerunner 265. The PacePro feature will pay for itself in better race results. For everything else, the Coros Pace 3 offers exceptional bang for your buck.

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Ready to put your running watch to work? Use our workout generator to create custom negative split sessions with downloadable .fit files compatible with both Coros and Garmin watches.