Suunto Race S vs Coros Pace 4: Worth $100 for the Screen?

Both watches sit in the sub-$350 multi-band GPS bracket with AMOLED screens, but they aim at different buyers. The Suunto Race S is the more premium-feeling object. The Coros Pace 4 is the more serious training watch.

For most runners, the Pace 4 wins on every metric that matters during a workout. The only reason to spend up for the Race S is if you specifically want the bigger screen and more storage.

Key Differences

• Weight: The Coros Pace 4 is 32 grams. The Suunto Race S is 60 grams. That is nearly double the weight on your wrist.
• Battery: Pace 4 lasts 19 days in smartwatch mode and 41 hours on multi-band GPS. The Race S lasts 11 days and 30 hours.
• Price: Pace 4 launched at $249. Race S launched at $349. That is a $100 gap for less battery and more weight.
• Display: Race S has a sharper 1.32-inch 466 x 466 AMOLED. Pace 4 uses a 1.2-inch 390 x 390 AMOLED.
• Storage: Race S has 32GB. Pace 4 has 4GB. Big gap if you care about offline music.
• Mic and speaker: Pace 4 has both. Race S does not.
• Connectivity: Pace 4 adds Wi-Fi. Race S is Bluetooth only.
• Sensors: Pace 4 adds a thermometer and gyroscope on top of the shared HR, SpO2, and barometric altimeter set.

Deep Dive Comparison

Design and Comfort

The Race S is built from glass fiber reinforced polyamide with a stainless steel bezel. It looks and feels like a more premium watch on the wrist, and at 45mm it has a larger presence. The downside is the 60-gram weight, which you notice on long runs and overnight wear.

The Pace 4 uses a fiber-reinforced polymer case at 43.4mm and 32 grams. It disappears on your wrist. For runners doing high mileage, sleep tracking, or 24/7 wear, lighter is better. The Pace 4 wins this round on pure comfort, even if the Race S looks nicer in a photo.

Battery Life

This is not close. The Pace 4 delivers 19 days of smartwatch use and 41 hours on multi-band GPS. The Race S manages 11 days smartwatch and 30 hours multi-band. For an Ironman, ultramarathon, or a week of backcountry use, the Pace 4 has a real margin.

Health and Fitness Features

Both have multi-band GPS, optical heart rate, SpO2, and a barometric altimeter. Both will track runs, rides, swims, and outdoor activities accurately. The Pace 4 layers on a thermometer and gyroscope, which feed running form metrics and ambient temperature data.

Coros’s training platform also stays free, with structured workouts, training load tracking, and stride dynamics built in. Suunto’s app and platform are competent but not as deep on the running side. If your sport is endurance running, cycling, or triathlon, the Pace 4 is the better training tool.

Smart Features

Neither watch has NFC payments, so leave the wallet at home plans are out either way. The Pace 4 has a mic and speaker, which means you can take calls from the wrist when paired to your phone. The Race S does not.

The Race S does counter with 32GB of internal storage versus 4GB on the Pace 4. If you want to load a full offline music library on your watch, the Race S has more headroom. For most users storing a focused playlist, 4GB is enough. The Pace 4 also adds Wi-Fi for faster syncing.

Price and Value

The Race S launched at $349. The Pace 4 launched at $249. You get a lighter watch with longer battery, more sensors, mic and speaker, and Wi-Fi for $100 less. The only thing the Race S clearly buys you is a sharper screen, more storage, and a metal bezel.

Unless that screen and storage matter to you specifically, the Pace 4 is the better value by a wide margin.

Technical Specs

Spec	Suunto Race S	Coros Pace 4
Launch Price	$349	$249
Weight	60g	32g
Case Size	45mm	43.4mm
Display	1.32-inch AMOLED, 466 x 466	1.2-inch AMOLED, 390 x 390
Water Rating	50M	5 ATM
Smartwatch Battery	264 hours (11 days)	456 hours (19 days)
Multi-Band GPS Battery	30 hours	41 hours
GPS	Multi-band	Multi-band
Storage	32GB	4GB
Connectivity	Bluetooth	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
NFC Payments	No	No
Mic and Speaker	No	Yes
Sensors	HR, SpO2, Barometric Altimeter, Digital Compass	HR, SpO2, Barometric Altimeter, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, 3D Compass, Thermometer

The Verdict

The Coros Pace 4 is the better watch for almost every buyer in this comparison. It is lighter, has dramatically longer battery life, costs $100 less, adds a mic and speaker, includes Wi-Fi, and ships with more sensors. For runners, triathletes, and endurance athletes, this is not a hard call.

Buy the Coros Pace 4 if you train seriously, want the longest battery, prefer a feather-light watch for daily wear, or just want the best value in the multi-band GPS class.

Buy the Suunto Race S if you specifically want the sharper 1.32-inch AMOLED, the stainless steel bezel feel, or the 32GB of storage for a large offline music library, and you do not mind paying $100 more for a heavier watch with shorter battery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which watch is better for marathon and ultramarathon runners?

The Coros Pace 4. Forty-one hours of multi-band GPS versus 30 on the Race S is a real margin, and the 32-gram weight is friendlier on a long day. Coros’s training platform and structured workouts are also more developed for endurance running.

Does either watch support contactless payments?

No. Neither the Suunto Race S nor the Coros Pace 4 includes NFC payments. If tap-to-pay from your wrist is a must-have, you need to look at watches like the Apple Watch, Garmin Venu, or Coros’s higher-tier Vertix line.

Is the Suunto Race S worth the extra $100?

Only if you care about the sharper 466 x 466 AMOLED screen, the metal bezel build, or the 32GB of music storage. On every training-related metric, the cheaper Pace 4 is better. For most buyers the $100 is not justified.

Will both watches work well with iPhone and Android?

Yes. Both pair over Bluetooth with iOS and Android phones for notifications, sync, and call alerts. The Pace 4 adds a mic and speaker so you can take calls from the wrist when your phone is nearby, which the Race S cannot do.

Which has better GPS accuracy?

Both use multi-band GPS, which is the current gold standard for accuracy in dense city blocks and tree cover. In real-world testing, both track within a few meters of each other. The Pace 4 just lasts longer between charges while doing it.