What you need to know
- The COROS VERTIX 2S is an adventure watch that was announced on April 25th and will ship on April 27th for $699.
- It replaces the original VERTIX 2 and features a redesigned GPS antenna, a redesigned heart rate sensor and a slightly lighter body, but a slightly shorter battery life.
- With its massive battery life, MIP display, and bulky but sturdy design, this device is ideal for people who spend days (or weeks) in nature.
The COROS VERTIX 2S launched almost three years after the VERTIX 2, and on the surface, not much has changed. It’s another “adventure watch” for climbers, XC skiers and mountaineers with epic battery life and dual-frequency tracking, at the same price, durability and MIP display. The differences between them are subtle but potentially significant.
While the 2021 VERTIX 2 featured dual-band and multi-GNSS tracking, the VERTIX 2S features a “redesigned” antenna that is “intended to improve positioning accuracy in dense urban/mountain environments,” according to COROS. They also claim to have developed an “optimized GPS algorithm” to combat issues with outdoor climbing maps on steep slopes with the original VERTIX 2.
In addition, the COROS VERTIX 2S gets the same optical heart rate monitor as the COROS PACE 3, with five LEDs and four photodetectors. While the battery life is longer, the accuracy is better – the PACE 3 performed quite well in our last HR and fitness test – and is better at processing stats like daily stress.
Because of these improvements, the original VERTIX 2 beats the 2S battery in days (43 vs. 36 days with sleep tracking), GPS hours (127 vs. 118), and dual-frequency GPS hours (49 vs. 43).
While this may seem like a downgrade, the VERTIX 2S is still as durable as or even exceeds many of the best MIP watches on the market. The Fenix 7X Pro Solar, for example, lasts 37 days or 122 GPS hours and therefore only achieves the performance of the VERTIX 2S if it has constant sunlight.
| category | CHORUS VERTIX 2S |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 50.3 x 50.3 x 17.6mm |
| Weight | 61g (case); 70g (nylon); 87g (silicone) |
| Advertisement | 1.4 inch (280 x 280) MIP touchscreen |
| materials | Titanium bezel, polymer case, sapphire crystal |
| Protection | 10 ATM, works at -22°F to 122°F |
| Battery life (GPS) | 118 hours; 73 hours (All systems); 43 hours (dual frequency) |
| Battery life (standard) | 46 days; 36 days of sleep tracking |
| Sensors | HR (5 LEDs + 4 photodetectors), SpO2, HRV, barometric altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, WiFi |
| Key Features | Dual frequency GPS, offline maps, course deviation warning, offline music, sleep and stress tracking, recovery timer, EvoLab, |
VERTIX 2 and 2S have mostly the same specifications, except that the 2S is 2g lighter with the nylon strap and is available in new colors. From now on COROS will only sell the 2S and call the VERTIX 2 obsolete.
After only briefly testing the VERTIX 2S, I can’t comment on its hardcore adventure features. Look out for a GPS and heart rate accuracy test compared to some other flagship smartwatches this Sunday. But I can still give some initial information and impressions.
The COROS VERTIX 2S comes in a recyclable container – it’s made from recycled materials but is also designed to be reused as storage – and comes with nylon and silicone straps and a quick-fit connector.
Given the weight of the VERTIX 2S, you’ll want to default to the nylon option, which gives it a comfortable feel something manageable, on par with my Apple Watch Ultra 2, although it is significantly thicker. This is probably due to the polymer materials, while most all-steel or titanium watches take more getting used to.
The VERTIX 2S ships in space (black), the moon (white) and Earth (blue) and comes pre-installed with a watch face inspired by your chosen color. For example, our test unit shows a rotating Earth viewed from the lunar surface, and that’s a nice touch – even if it’s not actual data.
As with most COROS watches, your experience will depend on your view of digital crowns. I’m used to most “serious” fitness watches having up/down buttons, but COROS has the middle dial for rotating and selecting, with the top button for backlighting and the bottom button for resetting and adjusting.
The VERTIX 2S is a niche device, as the price suggests. For a few hundred more than, say, the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar, you get a full-size display for offline maps, waypoints with turn-by-turn navigation, and matching activity widgets. Climbers can check their altitude performance or storm warnings in real time, while climbers will appreciate features such as fall detection or automatic climb type detection.
For a certain class of athlete this is all crucial, but for an everyday runner like me the PACE 3 or the APEX 2 Pro is more suitable. I can’t necessarily put these VERTIX 2S features through their paces unless I’m driving hours to a ski slope or dying trying to climb a steep cliff or boulder.
If you prefer MIP displays over AMOLED to get that insane battery life, then the VERTIX 2S is for you. I am not Personally, I’m a MIP fan, but this display is high-resolution enough to be easy to read, and it looks great outdoors. Indoors, I had to dive into the settings to turn on all-day gesture backlighting so I could see what time it was without having to press a button.
Overall, if you already own the VERTIX 2 and like it, I can’t say for sure whether you’ll want to upgrade for another $699 / €699 / £599. Better heart rate accuracy and GPS maps theoretically make a real difference in everyday life. I’ll report back soon as soon as I know whether it’s particularly accurate in real tests.