Simply whenever you suppose GPS watches can do all of it, COROS comes out with new updates and improved know-how. Our evaluate of the brand new Coros Tempo 4 (and our group has a variety of Coros expertise!).
At any time when there are bells and whistles added to tech gear I wish to be sure that the fundamental options will nonetheless work effectively. For a operating watch, meaning an correct GPS monitoring system, lengthy battery life, and a method to simply evaluate my knowledge.
I can say that COROS has managed to enhance the fundamentals of their GPS watch whereas additionally including on some additional options.
- Novice Runners – This watch has all the fundamental options however greater than most novice runners most likely want.
- Present Garmin Customers – Higher battery life and all the identical knowledge plus extra, with related GPS monitoring.
- Day by day Utilization – All the usual smartwatch options, together with step depend, sleep monitoring, HR, HRV, in addition to menstrual cycle monitoring
- Worth for Worth – Superb worth for all of the excessive tech options and updates.
COROS watches have a repute for the wealth of knowledge that they supply. The Tempo 4 presents all the info that runners want with some further options added on. The up to date design with a vibrant and clear AMOLED show makes it excellent for carrying all day lengthy. And some small updates take this watch to the subsequent degree, making it an throughout best choice for runners.
COROS Tempo 4 Overview
COROS Tempo 4 Specs
- Dimensions: 43.4 x 43.4 x 11.8 mm
- Weight: 32g with the nylon band/40g with silicon band
- Show dimension: 1.2 inches
- Satellite tv for pc Connection: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS
- Navigation: Breadcrumb navigation sync and comply with route, touchscreen enabled map management, and security alerts
- Touchscreen: Mineral glass,1.2 inch, tapered AMOLED touchscreen
- Battery: As much as 41 hours of GPS and 19 days of day by day use
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
- Obtainable at Amazon for $249
Fast Take Professional’s and Con’s
- Correct GPS and coronary heart charge knowledge
- Lengthy battery life
- Massive, clear, and responsive touchscreen
- Loads of choices for customizing knowledge screens and settings
- Strap can turn into free all through the day
- Small, simply misplaced charger
- Not everybody likes dial solely controls
GPS Accurarcy
I used to be skeptical about going again to COROS after utilizing an older mannequin of one in all their watches that was not giving me good GPS accuracy. After I switched to Garmin I used to be very pleased with the GPS so I hoped the Tempo 4 can be akin to what I’m utilizing now.
My day by day runs round my neighborhood have a variety of turns, so I often count on some variation and for monitoring to be a bit off every now and then. On my first run utilizing the Tempo 4, my Garmin measured 4 miles and COROS measure 3.96.
Not an enormous distinction, however you could possibly see how over longer runs that will add up. Nonetheless, after that run the accuracy improved and I bought related readings from each watches. It’s possible nonetheless not as correct as a few of the very high finish GPS watches from Garmin.
In reality, I wore each watches (Garmin 265s and COROS Tempo 4) to run the Richmond Marathon and each measured the race at 26.34 miles.
COROS additionally launched an replace just lately that now permits for exercise cropping, so in case you overlook to cease your watch after you end an exercise you possibly can return and crop the exercise utilizing the app.
Coronary heart Price Monitoring
I exploit a COROS armband coronary heart charge monitor so to match the wrist-based coronary heart charge studying of the Tempo 4 I additionally wore my Garmin related to the armband.
The readings had been virtually equivalent, even after I glanced at every watch through the run. Normally I discover a little bit of a delay with wrist-based readings however the Tempo 4 appeared to choose up on my coronary heart charge simply as shortly because the armband monitor.
That is possible because of the 5 LEDS and 4 photoreceptors.
Whereas we’re excited to see this, we’ve usually discovered wrist sensors to be much less dependable over time and particularly unreliable through the winter, so we just like the Coros arm band HR monitor!
Voice Notes
A brand new function on the Tempo 4 is the flexibility to document voice notes after a exercise. At first I believed, why would I wish to do this? However I attempted it out and will see how it might be helpful.
After a exercise, you possibly can choose your RPE utilizing the dial of the watch. Then there’s an possibility to go away a voice be aware utilizing the in-built microphone.
So within the second, proper after you end your exercise, you possibly can document something related about the way you felt, climate circumstances, any ache or accidents, and so forth.
I do know personally after I go into my coaching log to sort out my notes for my coach after a exercise I usually overlook how I felt or omit necessary info. The voice be aware will likely be saved in your COROS app so you possibly can switch to a different coaching log or simply preserve it there for you or a coach to evaluate.
It even transcribes your voice be aware to textual content within the app so you possibly can learn again your be aware with out having to take heed to it.
Show and Design
The AMOLED touchscreen is massive and vibrant, making it straightforward to learn each all through the day and through a exercise. Although the watch appears to be like larger than my Forerunner, it doesn’t really feel any heavier. (Garmin 265s weighs 39g and COROS Tempo 4 weights 40g)
The silicon fast launch band that it got here with typically opens on it’s personal all through the day, so I’m at all times attempting to recollect to ensure it’s securely closed.
There are 3 buttons to navigate the options of the watch: one on the underside left and two on the fitting. The highest proper button permits scrolling and is used to unlock or lock the watch by holding it down.
COROS just lately launched an replace with new pause choices. You may select what occurs whenever you pause the watch by going to System > Exercise Interface > Dial Press Menu. You may select between Occasion Pause or Pause Choices. When you select Pause Choices then whenever you pause an exercise it is possible for you to to scroll via different choices.
When a exercise is accomplished, and you choose “end”, it’s essential to maintain down the highest proper button for 3 seconds for it to save lots of. There have been fairly just a few instances after I left the watch paused as a result of I overlook to carry it down to complete and save the exercise.
Day by day Exercise Monitoring
The Tempo 4 has related options to most different health trackers, together with sleep monitoring, resting and day by day HR, and HRV. A brand new COROS function is menstrual cycle monitoring.
You may choose non-compulsory reminders comparable to an ovulation predictor or interval reminder, and may monitor your signs. Gathering this info can probably assist with understanding how your exercises may really feel throughout completely different phases of your cycle.
One other new function on the Tempo 4 is a built-in flashlight. I may see how this might be helpful, however up to now it hasn’t been one thing I’ve wanted to make use of.
Not solely does it have a reasonably vibrant white flashlight, however there’s additionally a “Pink SOS” setting that blinks crimson if you’re attempting to get help.
Security Alerts
A dependable and simple to make use of security alert system is a vital function of a GPS watch. To be able to use the security alerts on the COROS Tempo 4 it’s essential to arrange your emergency contacts within the app by including their telephone quantity and e-mail tackle.
If in case you have the “security alert” setting turned in your emergency contact will get a notification whenever you begin an exercise. (Be certain the COROS app is opened in your telephone.) The e-mail they obtain has a hyperlink to your reside monitoring location.
To be able to provoke a security alert it’s essential to maintain the dial on the highest proper of the look ahead to 7 seconds. A textual content message and e-mail will likely be despatched to your emergency contacts requesting help.
Information Screens
Utilizing the app, you possibly can arrange your knowledge screens for actions to be fully custom-made to your preferences. Perhaps you need one display screen to indicate your common tempo, exercise time, and distance. One other display screen can present coronary heart charge and cadence. Any mixture is feasible!
Take into account that as soon as you’re utilizing the watch throughout an exercise it may be a bit of difficult to know what knowledge you’re looking at.
While you first scroll to a brand new display screen it should say “common tempo” within the common tempo field, however that goes away after just a few seconds and exhibits a tempo image as an alternative. So attempt to arrange your screens in a manner that you’ll know what you’re looking at.
Battery Life
The Tempo 4 lasts 41 hours on excessive GPS mode, and for 19 days of day by day use (6 days with the display screen show at all times on). The estimated charging time is 1.5 hours.
It comes with a USB-C charging adapter on a keychain so you possibly can cost it on the go. (You continue to want a USB-C charging twine). The adapter is small, so it might be good to maintain it on an precise keychain in any other case I may see this getting misplaced simply.
When evaluating the Tempo 4 to the Tempo 3, there are just a few enhancements and updates. The show is brighter and clearer, with larger decision and an AMOLED show. There’s a further motion button on the look ahead to shortcuts to your most used options, pins, and extra. The battery life is elevated from 25 to 41 hours throughout actions and 15 days to 19 days throughout day by day use. Moreover, there’s a microphone for recording coaching notes and voice instructions, in addition to menstrual cycle monitoring.
Whereas many runners don’t want all of those options, they positive may be good to have. And COROS was ready so as to add on these extras with out taking away any of the foundational options which can be most necessary. For $249 the Tempo 4 presents a ton of options in addition to the whole lot you’ll get from different watch manufacturers.
94%
Coros is absolutely dialing within the options and every new mannequin is impressing us extra an extra. Now that it has a touchscreen so that you don’t need to depend on the dial, the worth makes this a very compelling selection for a lot of runners.
Who Tried It?
Lisa is a distance runner, operating coach, counselor, and mother of two children. She’s been operating since highschool and has accomplished 8 marathons and dozens of different races. Her runs are often achieved within the early morning hours both on the roads or on the treadmill. Lisa has additionally embraced power coaching to remain robust and stop accidents. You’ll find Lisa on instagram at @milebymile.
What to learn subsequent?
