Garmin Forerunner 170 vs COROS Pace 3: Which GPS Watch Wins?

Overview

The COROS Pace 3 is a battle-tested endurance training watch with verified real-world performance data, multi-band GPS accuracy, and a 38-hour GPS battery at a lower price point. The Garmin Forerunner 170 is a newly announced mid-range watch with AMOLED display and Garmin's full physiological sensor stack, but no confirmed real-world performance data is available at time of writing. This comparison is straightforward in one direction: the Pace 3 is a known quantity; the Forerunner 170 is not yet.

Specs at a glance

Price: Forerunner 170 at $299.99 / £259.99 vs Pace 3 at approximately €199 (repositioned after price cut)
Display: Forerunner 170 uses AMOLED; Pace 3 uses MIP transflective color, always-on and sunlight-readable
GPS: Forerunner 170 chipset unconfirmed; Pace 3 uses multi-band GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou) with dual-frequency
GPS battery life: Forerunner 170 unconfirmed; Pace 3 delivers 38 hours standard GPS, 20 hours all-systems multi-band
Watch battery life: Forerunner 170 unconfirmed; Pace 3 rated 30 days in daily mode
Weight: Forerunner 170 unconfirmed; Pace 3 is 30g with silicone strap
Skin temperature sensor: Forerunner 170 expected yes; Pace 3 no
Controls: Forerunner 170 presumed touchscreen/button hybrid; Pace 3 is button-only

GPS and tracking accuracy

The Pace 3 has demonstrated genuine multi-band GPS performance in real-world conditions. In urban canyons and forest trail switchbacks where single-band watches drift 5 to 10 percent on distance, the Pace 3 tracks cleanly. Tight trail loops show accurate route tracing where cheaper single-band devices draw wide arcs. For a watch at this price, that is a meaningful advantage in any discipline where split accuracy matters.

The Forerunner 170's GPS chipset has not been confirmed in available sources. Whether it uses standard GNSS or multi-band is unverified. No real-world accuracy data exists at time of writing. Any claim about its GPS performance right now would be speculation.

Battery life

The Pace 3 offers 38 hours in standard GPS mode and 20 hours in all-systems multi-band mode. That covers an ultramarathon, a long ironman effort, or back-to-back training days without recharging. Daily watch mode stretches to 30 days. These are verified figures with real-world context behind them.

The Forerunner 170's battery life is unconfirmed. AMOLED displays at this tier typically consume more power than MIP screens, which is a relevant trade-off for endurance athletes who prioritize runtime. Until Garmin publishes confirmed specs or hands-on reviews emerge, no meaningful comparison is possible on this metric.

For athletes: who wins?

Running (road): Pace 3. Multi-band GPS is confirmed accurate. Forerunner 170 GPS specs are unknown.
Trail and ultra running: Pace 3. 38-hour GPS battery, proven trail tracking accuracy, and 30g weight make it a purpose-built choice for long efforts in technical terrain.
Recovery and physiological tracking: Forerunner 170 could win here if its full physio stack including skin temperature sensor delivers, but no real-world validation exists yet. Pace 3 covers HRV and optical PPG heart rate monitoring competently without skin temperature.
Everyday wear and smartwatch features: Forerunner 170 has the AMOLED display advantage for readability indoors and at-a-glance use, if battery life holds up. Pace 3 is not a lifestyle watch and does not try to be.

Verdict

Buy the COROS Pace 3. It costs less, weighs 30g, delivers 38 hours of GPS battery with confirmed multi-band accuracy, and has a proven track record across running, trail, and endurance use cases. The Forerunner 170 may turn out to be a strong competitor once real-world reviews arrive, but right now it is an unverified product at a higher price. Serious endurance athletes need data they can trust, and only one of these watches has it. Wait for independent Forerunner 170 reviews before spending $299 on it.