If the FR265 had an MIP screen so it wouldn't lose half its battery lighting up useless pixels (since both watches have breadcrumb but no maps that require overly detailed screens), if it had a flat screen crystal that is somewhat protected by the watch's frame and doesn't scratch as easily as Garmin's curved one, if it had a newer heart rate sensor and cost half the price, then perhaps the most details that say Garmin's software provides, combined with the equally good dual band GPS of Coros, would make it a good alternative. Now it is clearly just a cash grab by Garmin and I wasn't keen on spending double the money just for a name.
From what I've researched over the last 3 months, the Pace 3 is truly one of the best smartwatches available today for someone who is athletic. It has activity profiles, measurement accuracy, and battery life that competes with the FR965, the navigation features of the FR265, and a price 100 euros lower than the FR165. In other words, it has it all.
Or almost all. As I am quite new to the smartwatch space, even though I've been running for nearly 10 years, I still have certain expectations about what a watch is, which sometimes makes me see the whole space as a circus. If you had told me until last year that I would pay 250 euros for a watch that is not made of iron and sapphire, has waterproofing only at 5ATM, and a battery that lasts about a week with 2 hours of GPS activities a day and 24-hour use (for sleep tracking, etc.) and that all this is considered good, I would have laughed for an hour and then gifted you a GShock for 45 euros to learn what a watch means. Of course, there are worse things, like paying 2 and 3 times for the exact same package (I'm talking about you FR265 and FR965), which is why, in this very tough market research of mine, the main competitor of the Pace 3 for me was the Suunto Race, with materials that indeed suggest a serious watch, but with a heart rate sensor that, as every reviewer I've seen agrees, leaks from everywhere.
So here we are, and the Pace 3 has arrived on my wrist. It is certainly not made like a Seiko 5, nor does it have the protective plastics of the DW5600, but its plastic body seems quite durable, like a Casio for 30 euros, and I've never broken a Casio, although I've tried. I must say that the product photo does not do justice to the silicone strap, making it look stiff and hard like a GShock strap, while in reality, it is very flexible and soft to fit any wrist. The only downside is the strap loop that has a tooth, which is supposed to secure it in the strap holes and keep it stable, but in reality, it just complicates its passage.
Regarding the software, after syncing the Coros app with Strava or Apple Health, the watch connects seamlessly with the phone (yes, even with an iPhone) and automatically transfers information from one app to the other as soon as a workout or sleep is completed. Overly user-friendly in this regard, it impressed me.
I hope it lasts me about 5 years of comfortable use. If what is said about Coros' good software support is true, I believe it will do just fine. In the end, however, I gradually understand that in this category we are no longer talking about a watch but about a device that mainly collects location, training, and health data, so for what it does, it is one of the most honest watches ever made. Therefore, I must gradually adjust my expectations for these wearables. In any case, the sports information it provides is more than sufficient, and its measurements have been flawless from what I've seen in these few days that I've had it. However, it will not replace my Seiko at night. That will only happen if I go crazy and give away all my wealth to get a Vertix 3 when it comes out. I will continue to keep my DW5600 in my bag just in case. Despite the "impressive" 10-day battery life with everything on that the Pace 3 offers, 10 days is not 7 years, and in a tough moment, it’s good to at least have the time and a basic stopwatch. The Pace 3 is one of the best smartwatches, especially for sports. However, it remains a smartwatch, and everyone must decide if they need something like that.
Update 08/23/24:
After six months of use and literally hundreds of workouts, the watch is definitely proving to be a beast. It has gone through quite a few bushes on trails, has taken dozens of baths in the sea (no dives, I'm not playing with fire yet), and has endured 1-2 moderate scratches on rough walls without suffering any damage at all. Indeed, like a Casio for 30 euros.
From a technical standpoint, it is still one of the best smartwatches for training/adventure IN GENERAL.
GNSS? Extremely accurate on all systems on (25 hours on 100% battery), unnecessarily precise on dual frequency (15 hours).
Heart rate monitoring? Excellent, the combination of strap, lightweight, and sensor makes it stick to the wrist and not miss a beat, comfortably suitable for heart rate-based training without heart rate belts and other additional accessories.
Battery? Still good, although the 6 months have dulled about 10% from the initial peak of the watch. In the charging range of about 35-85% (general lithium battery maintenance routine) with 1-1.5 hours of GNSS All systems on training per day, and 24-hour usage, the watch initially easily lasted 5 days and went for charging on the morning of the 6th, now it needs charging on the evening of the 5th after the workout, because it has dropped to 34-33 and sleep monitoring might drop it to 30-29%. A detail, but yes, it has lost that dynamic in 6 months.
Otherwise, the functions of Coros are flawless. Some that I use and one that is missing:
There is a map in the app, where you can map routes from asphalt to trails and send them to the watch to guide you during the activity. On the Pace 3, you don’t see the map on the watch, but you see the route and your relative location. Very useful, it has saved me in unknown cities.
Training programs: You tell the watch when you will run, which race, and what desired pace, and it gives you a complete program. The company often does promotional training programs through Strava with real coaches, so even more opportunities for training assistance.
The Greek language... The Greek language is still not supported on the watch and app. I have inquired about this, and due to work, but no. A minor issue compared to what the watch offers.
Which is now also available in colored editions (this purple one is very beautiful, if only we had it with the release, that is)... The watch remains at the top and has even increased in my appreciation instead of falling, as would be logical. The only competitor that might come close is perhaps the Suunto Race S, with a better heart rate sensor now and a battery that lasts longer in GNSS activities but not in daily use due to the AMOLED screen, classically. We can't have it all, not yet... So, last update on the review. The watch is worth infinitely, but it has been out for 1 year, so in another year, the next one will probably be released. Still excellent, but for how long?