Technology is meant to make our lives easier, not harder. We live in a world where information is just a few key clicks away, and yet technology is not always perfect. GPS technology has been around in some capacity for decades, and athletes have been able to take advantage of it en masse for a little over 10 years. While the technology from all brands, has drastically improved over this time period, we still see variances between the watches (technology) and the analog measurements (think about your local 5k or half marathon route).
We have seen feedback from many COROS users over the last few weeks suggesting that COROS watches – PACE and APEX are “under-measuring” runs. i.e. our watches are suggesting that the runner has covered less distance than the readings of some of our competitors. So who is right? As human beings, we always want to believe we went farther and faster as opposed to shorter and slower – that is just how our psychology works. In addition, we as consumers are susceptible to what is known as the status quo bias – we believe that the larger more established brands must be right or best, only because they are the largest and best known. This bias also makes us less likely to believe that a newer and lesser-known company could be more accurate.
Despite these various biases, we have seen in our testing that COROS is most accurate when compared to all of the major competitors including the industry leader. Let’s look at some case studies which compare the COROS APEX to one of the top-selling models from the industry’s leading GPS watch brand.
- Below is an example of a road run – this is an environment where the GPS signal is generally quite strong. Even our team was surprised by how much COROS APEX outperformed the industry leader.
- Overview map. Orange is COROS APEX, Blue is the industry leader’s high-end multi-sport watch. The runner runs out and back along the same route. COROS APEX (9.02 miles) vs Industry leader (9.18 miles)
- With a closer look at the GPS data tracking, runners are actually running on the paved trail (white lines) and APEX (Orange) puts the track nearly right on target. Meanwhile, the competitor is off by roughly 3-6 feet.
- Additionally, we look where the path has major curves and goes through a tunnel. The competitor is significantly off under the bridge where there was no GPS signal for both watches while APEX holds close to the proper route.
- Overview map. Orange is COROS APEX, Blue is the industry leader’s high-end multi-sport watch. The runner runs out and back along the same route. COROS APEX (9.02 miles) vs Industry leader (9.18 miles)
- Similar to this – as watches are pinging satellites thousands of miles away, old GPS technology may create a path that has more zigzags than you have actually run, which can result in an increased distance being displayed. As you can see on the map above, COROS has found a way to provide a smoother “path” on the GPS output, which results in a more realistic/accurate measurementIn DC rainmaker’s recent review, he mentioned:
- The reality of running on various terrain is that sometimes watches will lose connection to satellites (whether they tell you they have lost connection/regained connection or not). When the connection is lost, most brands show you as having run a straight line from point to point. COROS has multiple sensors including an accelerometer and a gyroscope and compass which not only allow the watch to use its learning from your runs with a clear signal to determine your pace and distance, but it also can determine your turns and changes in elevation. This all leads to the best possible measurement in areas of traditionally low connectivity (like trails because of all of the tree cover) Now let’s look at a more complex trail in the Grand Canyon.
- Overview. Orange is COROS APEX and Blue is a high-end outdoor watch from the industry leader. COROS APEX (20.0 miles) vs Industry leader (21.66 miles)
- Overview. Orange is COROS APEX and Blue is a high-end outdoor watch from the industry leader. COROS APEX (20.0 miles) vs Industry leader (21.66 miles)
- Finally, as crazy as it sounds, sometimes watches add distance even when you are not moving (if your watch itself is not stopped but you are). As the watch continues to try to ping the next satellite, it is more or less guessing that you are still moving. While this may not amount to much, if you stop in your runs frequently (like at traffic lights), or perhaps are stopping at an aid station during an ultra, you may see an increase in the distance even when you are not moving. COROS has engineered its technology to avoid these “phantom miles”
- This is an example of us using two watches hanging out chatting for 10 mins outside of our office building. While we were not moving at all, APEX recorded 0.2 km but Garmin Forerunner 935 recorded 0.8 km.
- This is an example of us using two watches hanging out chatting for 10 mins outside of our office building. While we were not moving at all, APEX recorded 0.2 km but Garmin Forerunner 935 recorded 0.8 km.
