Attention all fitness enthusiasts: Coros just leveled up its game in a big way! For years, Coros watches have been the budget-friendly alternative to Garmin, but with a few frustrating limitations. Well, get ready to say goodbye to those annoyances, because their latest beta update is a game-changer. It’s like they read my mind—and my reviews—and finally addressed the features we’ve all been begging for. But here’s where it gets controversial: while these updates are a huge step forward, they also raise the question—did Coros just catch up, or are they still playing second fiddle to Garmin? Let’s dive in and find out.
First, a quick heads-up: I’ve been testing these features through Coros’s public beta program, which you can join by following the instructions on their Reddit post (https://www.reddit.com/r/Coros/comments/1pc234f/howtoapplyfordecemberupdateopenbeta/). If you’re on iOS, you’ll need to install the Testflight version of the Coros app to access the firmware update. Android users, it’s a bit different—download the beta app here (https://ctrk.klclick.com/l/01KBDSEZXSA6PN5V6EMV2BYZF31) and then head over to this link (https://ctrk.klclick.com/l/01KBDSEZXSA6PN5V6EMV2BYZF30) to get started. I’ve been putting these updates to the test on the Pace 4 (https://zdcs.link/9l2ZV0?pageviewtype=Standard&template=News&module=contentbody&element=offer&item=text-link&elementlabel=Pace%204&shorturl=9l2ZV0&u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Fhealth%2Fcoross-new-beta-update-adds-everything-its-watches-have-been-missing&eventlabel=Pace%204), and let me tell you, the results are impressive.
Biggest update? Coros watches can now control music playing on your phone. Yes, you read that right. No more downloading music directly to your watch just to go for a run. This has been a major pain point for me—and many others—especially since Garmin and Suunto have had this feature for ages. Now, when you long-press the lap button, you’ll see a new ‘media control’ option alongside the familiar ‘music’ app. It’s a small change, but it makes a world of difference. You can finally see what’s playing on your phone, adjust the volume, skip tracks, and more. It’s the kind of seamless integration a smartwatch should have had from the start. But here’s a thought: did Coros take too long to implement this? Let me know what you think in the comments.
And this is the part most people miss: workouts no longer end abruptly while you’re cooling down. If you’re like me, you’ve probably cursed your Coros watch after realizing it stopped tracking your workout mid-cooldown. Garmin’s approach has always been superior—the workout continues until you manually stop it. Well, Coros has finally caught on. Now, once your programmed workout ends, it automatically rolls into an open segment, so you can keep going without missing a beat. It’s a small fix, but it eliminates a major frustration.
Another welcome addition? You can now undo a lap button press. We’ve all been there—accidentally hitting the lap button during a workout and messing up your data. Garmin introduced this feature a while back, and now Coros has followed suit. But there’s a catch: the undo option isn’t available for every scenario. It works great for unstructured workouts, but if you’re following a pre-written workout with built-in lap segments or doing a strength workout, you’re out of luck. Is this a dealbreaker? Maybe not, but it’s worth noting.
Speaking of strength workouts, timing your rests just got a whole lot easier. Previously, Coros forced you to select a body part for each exercise, even if you were just using the rest timer. It was a tedious process that made the strength feature almost unusable. Now, you can select a body part at the start of your workout (or choose ‘full body’ if you’re not picky), and it stays active as you switch between sets. It’s a simple fix, but it transforms the strength workout experience from frustrating to functional.
So, what’s the verdict? Coros has undoubtedly closed the gap with this update, addressing some of its most glaring shortcomings. But does it go far enough? Are there still areas where Garmin holds the edge? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Is Coros now your go-to smartwatch, or do you think they still have work to do? Let’s start the conversation below!
