Simply if 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 workforce has lots of Coros expertise!).
At any time when there are bells and whistles added to tech gear I wish to make it possible for the fundamental options will nonetheless work effectively. For a working watch, meaning an correct GPS monitoring system, lengthy battery life, and a strategy 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.
Who’s the CHORUS Tempo 4 an excellent match for? Let’s break it down with some widespread classes:
- 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 comparable GPS monitoring.
- Each day Utilization – All the usual smartwatch options, together with step rely, 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 information that they supply. The Tempo 4 provides all the information that runners want with some further options added on. The up to date design with a vibrant and clear AMOLED show makes it splendid for carrying all day lengthy. And some small updates take this watch to the subsequent stage, making it an throughout best choice for runners.
COROS Tempo 4 Assessment
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 each 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
- Giant, clear, and responsive touchscreen
- Loads of choices for customizing knowledge screens and settings
- Strap can change 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 considered one of 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 each day runs round my neighborhood have lots of turns, so I often anticipate some variation and for monitoring to be a bit off occasionally. On my first run utilizing the Tempo 4, my Garmin measured 4 miles and COROS measure 3.96.
Not an enormous distinction, however you possibly can see how over longer runs that may add up. Nevertheless, after that run the accuracy improved and I acquired comparable readings from each watches. It’s seemingly nonetheless not as correct as a few of the very high finish GPS watches from Garmin.
In actual fact, 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 lately that now permits for exercise cropping, so should you neglect to cease your watch after you end an exercise you’ll be able to return and crop the exercise utilizing the app.
Coronary heart Fee Monitoring
I take advantage of a COROS armband coronary heart charge monitor so to check the wrist-based coronary heart charge studying of the Tempo 4 I additionally wore my Garmin related to the armband.
The readings have been virtually equivalent, even after I glanced at every watch in the course of 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 seemingly as a result of 5 LEDS and 4 photoreceptors.
Whereas we’re excited to see this, we’ve typically discovered wrist sensors to be much less dependable over time and particularly unreliable in the course of the winter, so we just like the Coros arm band HR monitor!
Voice Notes
A brand new function on the Tempo 4 is the power to file 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 will be helpful.
After a exercise, you’ll be able to choose your RPE utilizing the dial of the watch. Then there may be an choice to depart a voice word utilizing the in-built microphone.
So within the second, proper after you end your exercise, you’ll be able to file something related about the way you felt, climate circumstances, any ache or accidents, and many others.
I do know personally after I go into my coaching log to sort out my notes for my coach after a exercise I typically neglect how I felt or miss essential info. The voice word shall be saved in your COROS app so you’ll be able to switch to a different coaching log or simply maintain it there for you or a coach to evaluate.
It even transcribes your voice word to textual content within the app so you’ll be able to learn again your word with out having to take heed to it.
Show and Design
The AMOLED touchscreen is giant 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 generally opens on it’s personal all through the day, so I’m at all times making an attempt to recollect to verify it’s securely closed.
There are 3 buttons to navigate the options of the watch: one on the underside left and two on the suitable. The highest proper button permits scrolling and is used to unlock or lock the watch by holding it down.
COROS lately launched an replace with new pause choices. You possibly can select what occurs if you pause the watch by going to System > Exercise Interface > Dial Press Menu. You possibly can select between Occasion Pause or Pause Choices. Should you select Pause Choices then if you pause an exercise it is possible for you to to scroll by means of different choices.
When a exercise is accomplished, and you choose “end”, you should maintain down the highest proper button for 3 seconds for it to save lots of. There have been fairly a number of occasions after I left the watch paused as a result of I neglect to carry it down to complete and save the exercise.
Each day Exercise Monitoring
The Tempo 4 has comparable options to most different health trackers, together with sleep monitoring, resting and each day HR, and HRV. A brand new COROS function is menstrual cycle monitoring.
You possibly can choose non-compulsory reminders akin to an ovulation predictor or interval reminder, and may observe your signs. Gathering this info can doubtlessly assist with understanding how your exercises would possibly really feel throughout totally different phases of your cycle.
One other new function on the Tempo 4 is a built-in flashlight. I may see how this may very well be helpful, however to date 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 may be additionally a “Crimson SOS” setting that blinks purple if you’re making an attempt to get help.
Security Alerts
A dependable and simple to make use of security alert system is a crucial function of a GPS watch. As a way to use the protection alerts on the COROS Tempo 4 you should arrange your emergency contacts within the app by including their telephone quantity and electronic mail handle.
If in case you have the “security alert” setting turned in your emergency contact will get a notification if you begin an exercise. (Be sure that the COROS app is opened in your telephone.) The e-mail they obtain has a hyperlink to your stay monitoring location.
As a way to provoke a security alert you should maintain the dial on the highest proper of the look ahead to 7 seconds. A textual content message and electronic mail shall be despatched to your emergency contacts requesting help.
Information Screens
Utilizing the app, you’ll be able to arrange your knowledge screens for actions to be fully personalized 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!
Understand that as soon as you’re utilizing the watch throughout an exercise it may be slightly tough to know what knowledge you’re looking at.
Once you first scroll to a brand new display screen it would say “common tempo” within the common tempo field, however that goes away after a number of seconds and exhibits a tempo image as an alternative. So attempt to arrange your screens in a approach 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 each 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’ll be able to cost it on the go. (You continue to want a USB-C charging wire). The adapter is small, so it will 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 3there are a number of enhancements and updates. The show is brighter and clearer, with increased 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 each 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 will be good to have. And COROS was in a position so as to add on these extras with out taking away any of the foundational options which can be most essential. For $249 the Tempo 4 provides a ton of options in addition to all the things you’d get from different watch manufacturers.
94%
Coros is de facto 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 value makes this a very compelling alternative for a lot of runners.
Who Tried It?
Lisa is a distance runner, working coach, counselor, and mother of two children. She’s been working since highschool and has accomplished 8 marathons and dozens of different races. Her runs are often executed within the early morning hours both on the roads or on the treadmill. Lisa has additionally embraced energy coaching to remain robust and stop accidents. You will discover Lisa on instagram at @milebymile.
