Garmin Forerunner 70 vs Coros Pace 4: Hardware or Ecosystem?

Two $249 running watches, near-identical screens, same 5 ATM water rating. And that’s where the twins act ends. The Garmin Forerunner 70 leans on Garmin’s training software and ecosystem. The Coros Pace 4 undercuts it on hardware almost everywhere that matters to a runner. Here’s where each one wins.

Key Differences

• GPS: The Coros Pace 4 has multi-band (dual-frequency) GPS; the Forerunner 70 is single-band. Multi-band holds tracks better in cities and under tree cover.
• Battery: Coros lasts 19 days in smartwatch mode and 41 hours with GPS, versus 13 days and 23 hours for the Garmin.
• Sensors: The Pace 4 adds a barometric altimeter, gyroscope, 3D compass, and thermometer. The Forerunner 70 sticks to optical HR, SpO2, and an accelerometer.
• Weight: The Coros is 32 g; the Garmin is 40 g.
• Connectivity: Garmin uses Bluetooth + ANT+ (great for pairing chest straps and bike sensors). Coros uses Bluetooth + Wi-Fi (faster syncs and updates).
• Storage & audio: Coros packs 4 GB plus a mic/speaker; the Garmin has 512 MB and no speaker. Neither has NFC payments.

Deep Dive Comparison

Design & Comfort

Both watches use the same fiber-reinforced polymer build, a roughly 43 mm case, and a 1.2-inch AMOLED display at 390 x 390. The real difference is on your wrist: the Pace 4 is 32 g versus the Forerunner 70’s 40 g. Eight grams sounds trivial, but on a long run or overnight sleep tracking, the lighter Coros disappears a little more. Both are comfortable; the Coros is just the one you forget you’re wearing.

Battery Life

This is a blowout. The Coros Pace 4 runs 19 days in smartwatch mode and 41 hours (about 1.7 days) of continuous GPS. The Garmin Forerunner 70 manages 13 days and 23 hours (about 1 day) of GPS. For a marathon, an ultra, or a week of training without a charger, Coros is the clear winner: you get nearly double the GPS endurance.

Health & Fitness Features

The Forerunner 70 uses Garmin’s Elevate Gen 4 optical heart rate sensor plus SpO2, and Garmin Connect remains the gold standard for training load, recovery, and structured workouts. The Pace 4 counters with multi-band GPS for more accurate distance tracking, a barometric altimeter for real elevation data, plus a gyroscope, 3D compass, and thermometer that the Garmin simply doesn’t have. Both read blood oxygen. If you want hardware-level tracking accuracy, Coros has the edge; if you want the smartest post-run analysis, Garmin’s software still leads.

Smart Features

Neither watch does NFC tap-to-pay, so leave the wallet expectations at home. The Pace 4 has 4 GB of storage and a built-in mic/speaker; the Forerunner 70 has 512 MB and no speaker. Garmin’s ANT+ support is the standout here for anyone running chest straps, foot pods, or bike sensors. That’s a genuine reason to choose it. Coros leans on Wi-Fi for faster syncing and firmware updates.

Price & Value

They land in a dead heat on sticker price: the Coros Pace 4 is $249 and the Garmin Forerunner 70 is $249.99. At identical money, you’re choosing between more hardware (Coros: multi-band GPS, longer battery, more sensors) and better software plus ANT+ (Garmin). For raw specs-per-dollar, the Pace 4 wins decisively.

Technical Specs

Spec	Garmin Forerunner 70	Coros Pace 4
Weight	40 g	32 g
Display	1.2-inch AMOLED, 390 x 390	1.2-inch AMOLED, 390 x 390
Water Rating	5 ATM	5 ATM
GPS	Single-band	Multi-band
Battery (Smartwatch)	312 hours (13 days)	456 hours (19 days)
Battery (GPS)	23 hours (1 day)	41 hours (1.7 days)
Sensors	Optical HR (Elevate Gen 4), SpO2, Accelerometer, Ambient light	Optical HR, Barometric Altimeter, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, 3D Compass, Thermometer, SpO2
Connectivity	Bluetooth, ANT+	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Storage	512 MB	4 GB
NFC Payments	No	No
Price	$249.99	$249

The Verdict

At the same price, the Coros Pace 4 is the better watch for most runners. Multi-band GPS, six extra days of battery, nearly double the GPS runtime, a barometric altimeter, and a lighter case. All for a dollar less. Buy the Pace 4 if you want the most accurate, longest-lasting running hardware and don’t have a reason to be tied to a specific app.

Buy the Garmin Forerunner 70 if you’re already in the Garmin ecosystem, rely on Garmin Connect’s training and recovery analytics, or pair ANT+ sensors like a chest strap or bike cadence sensor. Those are real, specific reasons, and for that buyer, the Garmin is worth giving up the battery and GPS advantage. For everyone else, the Coros wins on hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which watch is better for most runners?

The Coros Pace 4, at the same $249 price. It has multi-band GPS, a longer battery (19 days vs 13), and more sensors. Choose the Garmin Forerunner 70 only if Garmin Connect or ANT+ sensor support matters to you.

Does the Coros Pace 4 really have better GPS accuracy?

Yes: it uses multi-band (dual-frequency) GPS, while the Forerunner 70 is single-band. Multi-band holds your track more reliably in cities and under tree cover, so the Pace 4 is the stronger choice for trail and urban runners.

Is the more expensive Garmin worth the extra penny?

Not on hardware: they’re effectively the same price, and the Coros gives you more battery, multi-band GPS, and extra sensors. The Garmin’s value is its software ecosystem and ANT+ support, so you’re paying for Garmin Connect, not better parts.

Can I pair a chest strap heart rate monitor with either watch?

The Garmin Forerunner 70 supports ANT+ plus Bluetooth, so it pairs with virtually any chest strap, foot pod, or bike sensor. The Coros Pace 4 uses Bluetooth only: most modern straps work, but older ANT+-only accessories won’t.

Do either of these work for contactless payments?

No. Neither the Forerunner 70 nor the Pace 4 has NFC, so you can’t tap to pay from your wrist. If wrist payments are a must-have, look at a higher-tier watch instead.