Garmin Forerunner 55 vs Coros Pace 3: Is Multi-Band Worth $30?

Both watches sit in the entry-level GPS running category and both cost roughly the same. But they aren’t really in the same generation. The Forerunner 55 launched in 2021 with single-band GPS; the Pace 3 launched in 2023 with multi-band GPS, more storage, and a lighter case.

Key Differences

• GPS: Pace 3 has multi-band (dual-frequency) GPS. Forerunner 55 is single-band only.
• GPS battery: Pace 3 lasts 38 hours with GPS on. Forerunner 55 manages 20 hours.
• Weight: Pace 3 is 30g. Forerunner 55 is 37g.
• Storage: Pace 3 has 4GB (enough for offline music). Forerunner 55 has 32MB and no music storage.
• Connectivity: Pace 3 adds Wi-Fi for fast syncing. Forerunner 55 sticks to Bluetooth and ANT+.
• Sensors: Pace 3 includes a barometric altimeter, compass, thermometer, and SpO2. Forerunner 55 has none of those.
• Ecosystem: Garmin Connect is more polished and has a bigger third-party network. Coros has a leaner app and a free training hub.

Deep Dive Comparison

Design & Comfort

Both use a fiber-reinforced polymer case, both are 5 ATM water rated, and the case sizes are nearly identical (42mm vs 41.9mm). The difference you actually feel is weight: the Pace 3 is 30g, the Forerunner 55 is 37g. That 7g gap is noticeable on long runs and overnight wear. Displays are also different in kind: the Forerunner 55 uses a transflective MIP screen at 1.04 inches and 208 x 208 pixels, while the Pace 3 uses an always-on memory LCD at 1.2 inches and 240 x 240 pixels. The Pace 3’s screen is bigger, sharper, and easier to read at a glance.

Battery Life

Smartwatch mode is roughly a wash — 14 days on the Forerunner 55, 15 days on the Pace 3. The real gap is GPS: the Pace 3 runs 38 hours with GPS on; the Forerunner 55 runs 20 hours. If you’re training for a marathon or doing long weekend efforts, that’s the difference between charging once a week and charging twice.

Health & Fitness Features

Both have wrist-based optical heart rate and the basic running metrics you’d expect at this price. After that they diverge fast.

The Pace 3 has a barometric altimeter (real elevation data, not GPS-derived), a 3D compass, a thermometer, and a pulse oximeter for SpO2 readings. The Forerunner 55 has none of those — it tracks heart rate, accelerometer-based steps, and that’s it for sensors.

For GPS itself, the Pace 3’s multi-band receiver locks faster and tracks better in cities, tree cover, and trails. The Forerunner 55’s single-band GPS works fine on open roads but drifts in tougher environments. If you run anywhere other than wide-open suburbs, the Pace 3’s GPS is meaningfully better.

Where Garmin claws back ground is software. Garmin Connect’s adaptive coaching, Garmin Coach plans, and the broader app ecosystem (Strava sync, Connect IQ, third-party integrations) are more mature than Coros’s. Beginners often find Garmin’s app friendlier.

Smart Features

Neither watch has NFC payments. Neither has a microphone or speaker, so no calls or voice assistants on either. Both push smartphone notifications.

The split is in storage and connectivity. The Pace 3’s 4GB and Wi-Fi let you store offline music and sync workouts without your phone. The Forerunner 55’s 32MB rules out music storage entirely — you’ll need your phone for audio. If running phone-free with music matters, the Pace 3 is the only option here.

Price & Value

The Forerunner 55 launched at $199 and the Pace 3 launched at $229. Street prices stay close to MSRP for the Pace 3 and often dip below $179 for the aging Forerunner 55. On pure dollar value, the Pace 3 gives you newer tech, multi-band GPS, more sensors, more storage, Wi-Fi, and longer GPS battery for about $30–$50 more. That’s not a tough call.

Technical Specs

Spec	Garmin Forerunner 55	Coros Pace 3
Release Date	June 2021	August 2023
Launch Price	$199	$229
Weight	37g	30g
Case Size	42mm	41.9mm
Case Material	Fiber-reinforced polymer	Fiber-reinforced polymer
Water Rating	5 ATM	5 ATM
Display	1.04-inch transflective MIP, 208 x 208	1.2-inch always-on memory LCD, 240 x 240
Battery (Smartwatch)	336 hours (14 days)	360 hours (15 days)
Battery (GPS)	20 hours	38 hours
GPS	Single-band (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo)	Multi-band
Connectivity	Bluetooth, ANT+	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Storage	32MB	4GB
NFC Payments	No	No
Mic/Speaker	No	No
Sensors	Optical HR, accelerometer	Optical HR, barometric altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, 3D compass, thermometer, SpO2

The Verdict

The Coros Pace 3 wins this matchup, and it’s not close. It’s lighter, has a bigger and sharper display, multi-band GPS, nearly double the GPS battery life, a barometric altimeter, SpO2, Wi-Fi, and 4GB of storage for music — for about $30 more than the Forerunner 55. The Pace 3 is a 2023 watch competing against a 2021 watch, and the gap shows in almost every category that matters for training.

Buy the Coros Pace 3 if you’re a runner who cares about GPS accuracy on trails or in cities, wants longer battery for marathon training, wants offline music storage, or just wants the better hardware.

Buy the Garmin Forerunner 55 if you’re a brand-new runner who values the friendlier Garmin Connect app and Garmin Coach plans, you don’t need multi-band GPS or extra sensors, and you can find it on sale for under $150. Otherwise, spend the extra $30 and get the Pace 3.