Polar Pacer Pro vs Vantage V2 vs Garmin Forerunner 245/945 vs COROS PACE 2/APEX Running Watch Comparison  

The 2022 Pacer Pro is Polar's new essential GPS watch for straight-up runners!

This lightweight watch puts a running lab on your wrist along with many other features regular runners require. In a nutshell, you get:

• Running-specific features: Pace, Time, Distance, Stopwatch, Lap Timer, Interval Timer, Training Targest, Training Load Pro, Running Program, VO2 Max, Running Performace Test, Running Index, Race Time Predictor, Running Power
• Assited-GPS for faster fix times and best positioning
• Polar's next-generation advanced optical heart rate monitor
• A brighter, sunlight-readable display
• Ergonomic, super-grip buttons; no touchscreen fumbling
• Rapid charging and data transfer
• Polar's faster processor for a faster performing running watch
• All wrapped up in a minimalist design that weighs ony 41g!

For only $199.99, the 2022 Polar Pacer is a strictly no-nonsense GPS running watch.

If you've fallen in love with running (or want to), you'll fall harder with this runner's essential wearable on your wrist!

Here's the rundown:

• Pacer running basics include: Pace, Time, Distance, Stopwatch, Lap Timer, Interval Timer, Training Targest, Training Load Pro, Running Program
• Assited-GPS for faster fix times and best positioning
• Advanced optical heart rate tracking
• A bright display—even in full sun!
• Puts a minimalist design and only 40g on your wrist
• Ergonomic, super-grip buttons instead of a sweaty touchscreen
• Rapid charging and data transfer
• Faster processor for a faster performing running watch

With these Polar running watches, you can grab the base model for $199.99 or pay $100 more for Pacer Pro. Here's what that gets you:

The Pacer Pro let's you make and import routes from Kamoot or other third-party apps. This consists of basic breadcrumb navigation—not a full-color base map with details. But it will keep you headed in the right direction!

The Polar Pacer Pro has a built-in altimeter that can show elevation change over time. This enables HillSplitter, which automatically detects all uphills and downhills.

Get running power data collected from the wrist with no additional sensors required. This data let's you guage your effort level on a run and combines it with your heart rate data for a picture of your performance level.

Lastly, the Polar Pacer Pro offers Strava Live Segments. Through a special data page within your activities, it displays your current position and ranking when you're out on a run and on an active Strava Segment.

These 2022 Polar running watches are pretty much the same size in every way with a 1.2" display, 45 mm case, and 40-41g.

Polar Precision Prime™ sensor fusion technology tracks your heart rate from the wrist. This innovation combines optical heart rate measurement with other sensor technologies to rule out motion noise that might disturb the heart rate signal and produce unreliable readings.

Now the Polar Pacer Pro running watch sports an optimized heart rate sensor! Polar took that algorithm that omits motion from the equation and made it even better.

Furthermore, they made the sensor smaller and removed the famous Polar bumps—finding the sweet spot between size and the best HR measurement with their heart rate monitoring technology. Sweet indeed!

Pound for pound (or shall we say ounce for ounce), the Garmin Forerunner 945 is not only a superior running GPS watch, but it's also, at its core, one of the most popular multisport watches available—second only to the Garmin fēnix 7/7S/7X.

But, that's why it's a full $300 more than the Polar Pacer Pro, which is an ace running watch in its own category.

But here's what upgrading to a Forerunner 945 gets you

• Full color topo maps for navigation.
• More perfromance metrics like Running Dynamics (with compatible accessory—Garmin HRM chest strap or running pod), Training Status, Training Load, Training Effect—aerobic and anaerobic, Finish time, Virtual Partner, Course Guidance, Performance Condition, PacePro™ Pacing Strategies, Race Predictor, and more!
• Garmin's full suite of health-monitoring features.
• Garmin Pay for contactless payment on your wrist!
• Stores up to 1,000 songs on your watch for phone-free listening!
• ANT+ connectivity so you can use more than one sensor/device.

See all Forerunner 945 specs here.

The Polar Pacer Pro and the Garmin fēnix 7 are two very different GPS watches for two very different kinds of runners with two very different budgets.

First of all, the fēnix 7 series of 16 watches in 3 different sizes in 3 different models ranges from $700-$1,000.

Also, the fēnix 7 watches have a lot more bulk (because they're stuffed with features and battery power!), so that's something to consider, weighing from 58g at the smallest to 96g at the largest. Display sizes are: 1.2", 1.3" & 1.4". The Pacer Pro weighs in at 41g with a 1.2" display. Its case size is 45 mm, while the fēnix 7S/7/7X cases are 42/47/51 mm. Obviously it is not a watch for a runner who wants something lightweight. This is a watch that is about performance, endurance, and longevity.

The fēnix 7 has recently been called by our partner reviewer and avid ultra runner at Chase the Summit "the best multisport watch Garmin has made to date." And here's why:

• Military tested build-quality created with rugged materials.
• The ultimate battery life, especially with solar-charging.
• All of Garmin's top performance metrics, planning, and analysis.
• Full-color, topoactive maps plus road, trail, ski, and golf maps.
• Up to 2,000 songs can be stored and listened to on this watch!

And that's not all, so check out the fēnix 7 spec page.

The Polar Pacer and the COROS PACE 2 running GPS watches are the exact same price point: $199.99. Here are the differences you should be aware of:

The PACE 2 is smaller with a 42 mm case & 35-36g weight vs the Pacer & Pacer Pro's 45 mm case and 40g weight. Both watches have a 1.2" display.

The PACE 2 has ANT+ so that you can use more than one sensor. The Pacer and Pacer Pro have Bluetooth only.

PACE 2 battery life in smartwatch mode is 20 days compared to the Pacer/Pacer Pro's 7 days. HOWEVER, the Pacer can offer more hours in GPS, 35-100 hours vs the PACE 2's 30-60 hours.

The COROS PACE 2 has a barometric altimeter for uphill and downhill tracking. The Polar Pacer base model does not, but the Pacer Pro does.

The PACE 2 offers Strava Live Segments as does the Pacer Pro. The Polar Pacer base model does not.

See all COROS PACE 2 specs here.

From a price perspective, the Polar Pacer Pro and the COROS APEX (42 mm) fall into the same category as $299.99 running watches.

The COROS APEX (46 mm) is $50.00 more because it adds a bit more size—and along with that comes more battery life.

Here's what you need to know:

As for size, the Pacer Pro comes in between the two APEX smart running watches with a 45 mm case & 41g weight. The APEX is available in 2 sizes 42 mm & 46 mm case and weighs 55.3g & 49g. The Pacer Pro and APEX (46 mm) have a 1.2" display. The APEX (42 mm) has a 1.1" display.

For your multiple sensor indulgence, the Polar Pacer Pro does not have ANT+, while the two APEX watches do.

APEX battery life in smartwatch mode is 24-30 days compared to the Pacer Pro's 7 days. BUT the Pacer Pro can offer more hours in GPS, 35-100 hours, vs the APEX's 25-35 hours.

The APEX 42 & 46 mm are topped off with a durable sapphire lens. The Pacer Pro has a thinner Gorilla Glass lens for a brighter, always-on display!

See all COROS APEX specs here.

Like the Garmin Forerunner 945, the Polar Vantage V2 is in its soul a multisport watch, perfect for triathletes and a variety of serious runners.

Here's what the Vantage V2 offers over the Pacer Pro:

• Recovery Pro to be used with the H9/H10 chest strap heart rate sensor.
• Orthostatic Test (H9/H10 also required).
• Leg Recovery Test—The Leg Recovery Test helps you see how your leg muscles have recovered from training, and also how your explosive strength is developing.
• Track Back navigation feature.
• Touchscreen for tap gestures.
• Compass, location coordinates, sunrise/sunset times
• Ambient light sensor
• GPS Power Save mode
• The Polar Vantage V2 is more durable, meeting military standards.
• While they have the same display size of 1.2", the Vantage V2 has a 47 mm case size and weighs in at 52g, while the Pacer Pro has a 45 mm case and weighs 41g.

See all Polar Vantage V2 specs here.