News + Trends

The Coros Apex 4 is said to offer long battery life and improved navigation

17.10.2025

Translation: machine translated

While outdoor watches from Garmin and Suunto rely on luminous Amoled displays, the new Coros Apex 4 - contrary to the trend - sticks to the energy-saving MIP screen. Thanks to the longer battery life, the sports watch should score points on multi-day adventures.

The Coros Apex 4 is made for ambitious outdoor athletes. But most people probably won't use the watch quite as blatantly as mountaineering icon Kilian Jornet, who has just climbed six dozen 4,000-metre peaks in a month. Kilian Jornet has been travelling with Coros watches for years and shares his data on the platform. This shows that the brand's sports watches can also cope with extreme tours.

Coros is clearly focussing on endurance and mountain sports with the Apex 4
Source: Coros

MIP display and battery life

The focus on endurance sports explains why Coros, unlike other manufacturers, is sticking with the memory-in-pixel (MIP) display. This technology saves battery power, meaning that the watch offers a battery life of 53 hours in the best GPS mode, according to the manufacturer. This is twelve hours less than the recently released Suunto Vertical 2 with Amoled display, which has a slightly larger case. In smartwatch mode, the Coros Apex 4 is expected to last up to 24 days.

These specifications apply to the larger of the two models, the 46-millimetre watch. According to the manufacturer, the smaller model with a diameter of 42 millimetres offers a battery life of 34 hours in all-systems GPS mode and 15 days in smartwatch mode.

The new third-generation MIP technology is said to offer better colours and stronger contrast in backlighting than previous MIP models.

The watch is available in two different sizes and in the colours black and white.
Source: Coros

Speaker and microphone

The loudspeaker and microphone are new features on the Coros 4. They make it possible to answer calls as long as the smartphone is nearby and paired via Bluetooth. However, it does not appear to be possible to call someone yourself via the watch. This is because there is neither a keypad for entering numbers nor a call list.

The microphone can also be used to set voice pins. These are voice notes that point out obstacles on a trail or other special features in the terrain, for example.

Talk to me: The watch offers the option of setting voice pins and accepting calls.
Source: Coros

Maps and navigation function

The watch offers extensive navigation functions such as turn-by-turn navigation, turn warnings, waypoints and street and hiking trail names.

In addition, the Apex 4 is said to load maps 30 times faster than its predecessor, the Apex 2 (there is no Apex 3).

According to the manufacturer, the improved navigation is based on a new satellite chipset, a better processor and optimised vertical GPS algorithms. It should also work in forests, gorges and on steep rock faces. As with the Coros Apex 2 Pro, the internal memory is 32 GB.

Sports and health functions

In the balancing act between sports and smartwatch that most new watches perform, Coros leans more towards sports. It offers special tools such as Effort Pace, i.e. effort-based pacing, and recovery measurement via heart rate variability, sleep and training intensity measurement.

The warning messages for course deviations, lack of food intake and heart rate deviations from the plan are particularly useful for tours away from civilisation. The watch is also said to offer storm warnings and real-time information on weather, wind speed and air pressure.

In addition to special modes for trail running, climbing and ski tours, there are around 30 other sports profiles, including indoor and team sports. The watch also offers training plans, a wellness check with information on sleep quality, heart rate variability and recovery time.

Weight and material

The 46 millimetre watch with nylon strap is said to weigh 52 grammes, the 42 millimetre watch 45 grammes. The bezel is made of titanium. The display with a resolution of 260 x 260 pixels for the larger watch and 240 x 240 pixels for the smaller watch is protected from scratches by sapphire crystal. Unlike the previous model, the back of the watch is made of plastic. This saves weight. The watch is available in black or white. It is likely to cost between 450 and 400 francs.

Coros relies on the touchscreen and physical buttons for control, which can be configured according to personal preferences.

Buttons and touchscreen - the controls work in both ways.
Source: Coros

With the Apex 4, Coros offers a watch for athletes who can do without smartwatch functions such as payment or music streaming.

Thanks to the MIP display, the watch offers a long battery life and is aimed at people who don't necessarily need to wear the latest technology on their wrist. While the microphone and speaker are useful, an integrated torch - as on the new models from Garmin and Suunto - would be helpful, especially on multi-day tours.

When the watch will be available here, you will find out shortly.

Header image: Coros

16 people like this article

Siri Schubert

Senior Editor

Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.ch

Research diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.

Sport

Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest

Smartwatch

Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest

Outdoor

Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest

News + Trends

From the latest iPhone to the return of 80s fashion. The editorial team will help you make sense of it all.

Show all

These articles might also interest you

News + Trends
The Suunto Vertical 2 should score with top battery life and a bright display
by Siri Schubert
News + Trends
Garmin presents the Bounce 2, a new smartwatch for children
by Martin Jungfer
News + Trends
It's pixelating for the 10th time: these are the four new smartphones from Google
by Michelle Brändle