Coros Vertix 2 is the latest in the adventure smartwatch segment and competes with the likes of Garmin Solar and a few other adventure-focused smartwatches. Coros already has multiple options in the adventure smartwatch segment which brings the question of why the need for a new one? Well, the answer isn’t a one-liner, as the existing Coros Vertix and Apex Pro are all well-rounded GP adventure watches. The Coros Vertix 2 GPS tries to chisel out the minor incompetencies of existing GPS watches with an appealing exterior. Read on to know about the Coros Vertix 2, its quirks, and the price you have to pay to get your hand on one of the finest pieces of adventure trackers on the planet.
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Coros Vertix 2 Review: Design
Coros Vertix 2 isn’t afraid to embrace its bulky and brawny exterior and looks tough at the first glance. Coros has put a lot of style into the latest version of Vertix and it’s noticeable too. First of all, it ships with a befitting case that stores the smartwatch and all its elements. For a rugged smartwatch it seems a little excessive, but being a premium product, it deserves all the niceties. Plus, it helps you to store and organize everything related to the smartwatch and not need an extra case for that. The rugged titanium alloy exterior with bold colored strap options surely set a standard for future adventure smartwatches. There are two color options available: Obsidian and Lava. You can shop for loads of accessories as well, including silicon or nylon straps, carabiner, extra charging cables, etc.
As far as the weight is concerned, Coros Vertix 2 is surely the heaviest of the bunch. A solid reason behind this is the insane amount of technology, infused into this adventure smartwatch. It could survive many tumbles and still work like a charm. But even for adventure athletes, the nearly 90 grams weight is surely a little extra load on the wrists. Coros Vertix 2 has one unique parlor trick up its sleeve – a detachable crown that can be used on either side of the smartwatch. Most users have to wear it on the left hand due to the right-hand side crown but that’s not a problem with Coros Vertix 2. You can detach it and fix it on either side.
Coros Vertix 2 Review: Display
Coros Vertix 2 sports larger legroom than its predecessor and now offers a 1.4 inches wide touchscreen display. It’s still a basic display with rugged scratch protection and focuses more on durability and usability aspects. The color production on this tiny display is as expected, washed out, and slightly bleak, especially outdoors. One lovable upgrade is the increased font size and design that is legible, no matter how bright it is. The color elements may appear bland but you won’t have to squint to read the data on it. You also get the sapphire coating on the display, which is the toughest solution for scratch protection out there.
Coros Vertix 2 Review: Battery Life
Coros Vertix 2 is unmatched in this attribute. If you thought that the Coros Vertix had long battery life, wait till you understand the power stored inside the Coros Vertix 2. Going by the official claim, this smartwatch can last up to 140 hours with the GPS features fully enabled. If you use the Max Battery GPS mode, it can extend to 240 hours on a single charge. Plus, the maximum battery life in smartwatch mode is 60 days.
The battery life does stand tall against the aforementioned claims and even if you use it with all systems GPS and dual-frequency, it will last more than two days. Clearly, the increase in weight does contribute to the longer battery life and makes it a useful companion for sporting events that last 2 days or more.
Its charging mechanism could have been better. The Coros Vertix 2 supports fast charging and fills up to 80 percent in just an hour. The main issue is the proprietary connector, which is an outdated choice in 2022. If the Proprietary connector gets damaged while you are out on a trek, run, triathlon, there’s no chance that you can charge the Coros Vertix 2. It is a bad move to not offer a USB charging port which means you have to shell out on proprietary cables which are very hard to find anywhere, except the brand’s website.
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Coros Vertix 2 Review: Connectivity
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity are the two primary highlights of Coros Vertix 2. You can connect your favorite wireless buds via Bluetooth and listen to music tracks. However, Coros Vertix 2 drops the ANT+ connectivity option, which is a slight letdown as many devices support that too.
Coros Vertix 2 Review: Smart Features
Sports Tracking
Coros Vertix 2 has 30 sports modes which includes the basic ones such as running, swimming, cycling, along with Snowboarding, Windsurfing, and other adrenaline-pumping outdoor activities. Coros Vertix 2 can withstand 10 ATM water pressure, which makes it a robust companion for water sports and it is rarely seen in even the priciest fitness trackers.
The smartwatch tracks accurate metrics in a variety of sports and includes basic metrics such as heart rate, SpO2, and even ECG in some cases. The stats can be easily viewed on the smartwatch itself but the detailed list is overwhelming at times and very difficult to scroll using the physical crown.
Health Tracking
All the usual sensors plus the ECG sensor make the Coros Vertix 2 a full-fledged smartwatch for health tracking. But sadly, it doesn’t include menstrual cycle tracking and hydration tracking, both of which are present on even older Garmin smartwatches. The results are well within the margin of error but as it gives for most smartwatches, the results are just to provide a broad insight into any medical anomaly. Further diagnosis is required to confirm any indicators produced by the Coros Vertix 2.
Navigation Features
With the new and improved dual-GPS sensors and connectivity to five major satellite constellations, the Coros Vertix 2 can pinpoint the exact GPS location of the user. It also offers three-layer maps with the offline feature that works pretty well even if you aren’t connected to the WiFi. The slightly problematic area is that you lose the turn-by-turn direction feature which won’t issue notifications unless you completely wander off the route.
Music Loading Support
Coros Vertix 2 offers 32 gigs of storage and supports offline music playback. But it doesn’t support any major streaming services at the moment. It means that you have to dig out the old CDs and your favorite MP3 files and load them on your smartwatch. Why did Coros Vertix 2 limit this feature despite ample storage space? Well, it could have to do something with the OS features present on the smartwatch and the lack of a capable music player app. Still, you can load a few tracks but the playback is linear and you cannot order or shuffle them either.
Camera Control
Coros Vertix 2 can control your action camera and eliminate the need of spoiling a shot to adjust the camera angles or settings. The pairing is super easy and covers the major products in the action camera ecosystem including the GoPro 9 and 10, Insta 360 One X2, and One R models. It is certainly a niche feature that not many users will rely on but is a nice addition for athletes who use cameras to record their jaw-dropping activities, achievements, etc.
Should you buy the Coros Vertix 2?
Had it been another upgrade from a premium smartwatch manufacturer, we would have recommended it for sure. But that isn’t the case with the Coros Vertix 2 smartwatch. It is a niche product that won’t be of any use to the average Joe who likes to have a smartwatch. Secondly, it isn’t for everybody for the premium price it retails. 700 dollars is a lot to ask for, even for a fitness tracker and its price point makes it more of a luxury product that isn’t accessible and affordable for everyone. Moreover, its design and hardware are unique to its use case and don’t make a huge selling point for users that like to have basic fitness and health tracking features.
We might sound a bit harsh but those are a few features that will deter most users from buying. They will sell like hot cakes among the athletes, who have specific fitness tracking requirements and their goals depend on all that information. Its GPS tracking, ruggedness, and battery life are unmatched by any other fitness tracking smartwatch available. So, if you are an athlete who can manage the 89 grams weight on their wrist, need an accurate and long-lasting battery fitness tracker, and want the best that the industry has to offer, there’s no other product that we can recommend.
Click here to buy Coros Vertix 2