GPS Running Watches / COROS APEX 4 (42mm) vs Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel)
COROS APEX 4 (42mm) vs Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel)
Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel)
The AMOLED that finally posts MIP-class multiband battery — 65 hours, free world maps.
Wins overall by 0.3 points
Quick Verdict
Too close to call on score alone: 0.3 points separate them. The AMOLED that finally posts MIP-class multiband battery — 65 hours, free world maps. The COROS APEX 4 (42mm) answers with a different set of strengths, so let the categories below decide it.
The COROS APEX 4 (42mm) and Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) are both current-generation GPS Running Watch models, and the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) is $170 cheaper than the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) ($429 vs $599). On Display, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) leads (9.4 vs 6.2/10) — brightness, resolution and daylight readability, weighing AMOLED sharpness against MIP's always-on-for-free behaviour.. On Build & Comfort, the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) leads (8.6 vs 7.0/10) — case materials, lens (sapphire vs glass), weight on the wrist and durability ratings.. On GPS Accuracy, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) leads (8.8 vs 8.0/10) — trace quality in cities and under tree cover — multiband L1+L5 hardware plus what independent testers measured in the real world.. Overall, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores 8.2/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.9/10 for the COROS APEX 4 (42mm), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | COROS APEX 4 (42mm) | Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $429.00 | $599.00 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Display | 1.2-in 240x240 3rd-gen transflective MIP, always-on, no AMOLED battery penalty — but DC Rainmaker and Tom's Guide both call it dim indoors and in low light | 1.5-in 466x466 LTPO AMOLED, ~2,000 nits, sapphire lens, optional always-on |
| Smartwatch Battery ( days) | 15 | 20✓ |
| Always-On Display Cost | No always-on penalty — the MIP screen is permanently on. (The 46 mm version is rated 24 days smartwatch and 65 h all-systems GPS if you want the bigger numbers.) | Suunto does not publish a separate always-on smartwatch number; DC Rainmaker measured about 50 h of real use with dual-frequency, always-on display and navigation all running against a 65 h claim |
| Battery, Single-Band GPS ( h) | 41 | 75✓ |
| Battery, Multiband GPS ( h) | Not published by COROS for the 42 mm in any source reviewed here. For reference the 46 mm is rated 65 h all-systems vs 41 h dual-frequency — expect a similar ~35-40% drop. | 65 |
| GNSS Bands | Dual-frequency L1+L5 chipset covering GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou and QZSS. DC Rainmaker warns GPS accuracy degrades noticeably when route navigation is running. | Dual-band L1+L5 Sony chipset. Four published tiers: 65 h Performance (dual-band), 75 h Endurance (single-band all systems), 110 h Ultra (single-band, wrist HR off) and 250 h Tour (GPS only, 2-minute logging). |
| Onboard Maps | Free global offline topographic and landscape maps with street/trail names and POIs, downloaded through the COROS app, plus turn-by-turn on preloaded routes. No ClimbPro equivalent and no automatic rerouting. | Free worldwide offline maps in 32 GB, downloadable over Wi-Fi without pre-loading, with turn-by-turn (which must be enabled manually for third-party routes) and automatic climb guidance. Practically limited to roughly 10-12 stored routes despite the 32 GB. |
| Music Storage | MP3 files only, sideloaded. No streaming services and no phone-music control. | None. No on-device storage and no streaming; Bluetooth headphones are supported for turn prompts only. |
| Training Platform & Subscription | COROS app and EvoLab analytics are entirely free, no subscription tier. COROS' own metrics, not Firstbeat. | Suunto app is free with no subscription tier; analytics are Suunto's own |
| External Sensor Support | Bluetooth only — no ANT+ at all, which rules out ANT+-only power meters | Bluetooth with multiple simultaneous saved sensor pairings — no ANT+ |
| Data Export | Free .FIT/GPX export plus auto-sync to Strava, TrainingPeaks, Apple Health and Health Connect | Free .FIT export and automatic sync to Strava, TrainingPeaks, Komoot and 300+ partner apps |
| Warranty | 24 months | 24 months |
| Colors | Black | All Black |
Category Scores
GPS Accuracy
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) leads clearly here, 8.8 against 8.0 — a 0.8-point margin on trace quality in cities and under tree cover — multiband L1+L5 hardware plus what independent testers measured in the real world.. If that is what you are buying for, the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery Honesty
The COROS APEX 4 (42mm) leads clearly here, 8.8 against 8.2 — a 0.6-point margin on how much of the headline battery claim survives the mode you would actually train in: all-systems plus multiband, always-on display, music playing. The number on the box is almost always the slowest, least accurate mode.. If that is what you are buying for, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Training & Recovery
The COROS APEX 4 (42mm) is marginally ahead, 7.8 to 7.4. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if depth of load, readiness and recovery analysis, and how much of it is free rather than gated behind a subscription or an extra chest strap. is your priority.
Heart Rate
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) is marginally ahead, 7.6 to 7.4. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if optical wrist accuracy during intervals and burst efforts, and whether the watch pairs with ANT+ and/or Bluetooth chest straps as a fix. is your priority.
Display
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) leads clearly here, 9.4 against 6.2 — a 3.2-point margin on brightness, resolution and daylight readability, weighing AMOLED sharpness against MIP's always-on-for-free behaviour.. If that is what you are buying for, the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Build & Comfort
The COROS APEX 4 (42mm) leads clearly here, 8.6 against 7.0 — a 1.6-point margin on case materials, lens (sapphire vs glass), weight on the wrist and durability ratings.. If that is what you are buying for, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The COROS APEX 4 (42mm) and Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) are level here, at 8.6/10 each. what the watch delivers per dollar against everything else in the comparison at the moment of purchase. is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) if…
- • Build & Comfort matters most to you — the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) scores 8.6/10 here (case materials, lens (sapphire vs glass), weight on the wrist and durability ratings.).
- • Battery Honesty matters most to you — the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) scores 8.8/10 here (how much of the headline battery claim survives the mode you would actually train in: all-systems plus multiband, always-on display, music playing. The number on the box is almost always the slowest, least accurate mode.).
- • You want to spend less — it's $170 cheaper.
Choose the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) if…
- • Display matters most to you — the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores 9.4/10 here (brightness, resolution and daylight readability, weighing AMOLED sharpness against MIP's always-on-for-free behaviour.).
- • GPS Accuracy matters most to you — the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores 8.8/10 here (trace quality in cities and under tree cover — multiband L1+L5 hardware plus what independent testers measured in the real world.).
- • Navigation & Maps matters most to you — the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores 8.6/10 here (real routable offline topographic maps versus a breadcrumb line, plus how painful it is to get maps onto the watch.).
Pros & Cons
COROS APEX 4 (42mm)
Pros
- +Free global offline topo maps with street and trail names at $429 — Garmin charges $749.99 before you get maps
- +Titanium bezel and sapphire glass at a price where rivals use aluminium and Gorilla Glass
- +MIP means the 41 h all-systems figure is what you get, with no always-on display tax
- +Two years of warranty and zero subscriptions anywhere in the platform
Cons
- −COROS does not publish a dual-frequency battery figure for the 42 mm, and dual-frequency is where accuracy actually lives
- −DC Rainmaker measured a real GPS accuracy drop when a route is loaded and navigation is active
- −MIP display is dim indoors and at night compared with every AMOLED rival here
- −No ANT+, no NFC payments and no LED flashlight
- −The depth gauge has no certification and cannot record dives to the app, and there are no dive sport profiles
Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel)
Pros
- +65 h of dual-band GPS on an AMOLED watch — no other AMOLED here comes close in the accurate mode
- +Free worldwide offline maps in 32 GB, downloaded straight over Wi-Fi with no cable and no charge
- +A bright LTPO AMOLED behind sapphire, plus a bezel-integrated flashlight, for $599
- +DC Rainmaker rates GPS accuracy excellent across difficult terrain
Cons
- −87 g in the steel version reviewed here — the titanium at $699 saves 13 g
- −No music storage of any kind on a $599 watch
- −Only about 10-12 routes can be stored in practice despite 32 GB, and turn-by-turn needs manual enabling for imported routes
- −Real-world dual-frequency runtime with always-on and navigation running measured about 50 h, not 65 h
- −Bluetooth only — no ANT+ sensor support
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) or Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Display, the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) or the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel)?+
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores higher on Display (9.4/10 vs 6.2/10) — brightness, resolution and daylight readability, weighing AMOLED sharpness against MIP's always-on-for-free behaviour..
Which is better for Build & Comfort, the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) or the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel)?+
The COROS APEX 4 (42mm) scores higher on Build & Comfort (8.6/10 vs 7.0/10) — case materials, lens (sapphire vs glass), weight on the wrist and durability ratings..
Which is better for GPS Accuracy, the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) or the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel)?+
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores higher on GPS Accuracy (8.8/10 vs 8.0/10) — trace quality in cities and under tree cover — multiband L1+L5 hardware plus what independent testers measured in the real world..
Which is better for Navigation & Maps, the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) or the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel)?+
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores higher on Navigation & Maps (8.6/10 vs 7.8/10) — real routable offline topographic maps versus a breadcrumb line, plus how painful it is to get maps onto the watch..
Is the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) worth the price difference over the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel)?+
The COROS APEX 4 (42mm) is the cheaper option at $429 versus $599. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Display.
What's the warranty on the COROS APEX 4 (42mm) vs the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel)?+
The COROS APEX 4 (42mm) ships with a 24-month warranty; the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) ships with a 24-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar (45mm) — $399.99
Premium Option
COROS VERTIX 2S (50mm) — $699.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.