**The COROS September Update: Gear Monitoring, Nap Recognition, and More – A Final Tribute to the PACE 2**
COROS, a brand celebrated for its economical yet feature-rich fitness watches, has unveiled its September 2024 update, presenting an array of new features sure to captivate runners and cyclists. Nevertheless, this update signifies a concluding chapter for one of COROS’ most cherished devices, the PACE 2. After four years of dedicated support, the PACE 2, along with the VERTIX 1 and APEX Pro, will cease to receive firmware updates, although they will keep benefiting from app enhancements. Let’s explore what this update entails and its implications for the future of COROS devices.
### Key Highlights
– **Last Firmware Update for PACE 2**: The COROS PACE 2, VERTIX 1, and APEX Pro will stop receiving firmware updates after September 2024, but they will still receive app updates.
– **New Features for All COROS Watches**: Gear monitoring, sleep quality evaluation, and nap recognition are now included across all COROS watches, while newer models are equipped with additional functionalities like all-day sleep monitoring and new cycling and swimming modes.
– **COROS DURA Launch**: The COROS DURA bike computer, postponed from its initial July debut, will now be launched on September 26 featuring real-time elevation, back-to-start direction, and more.
– **Public Beta Access**: New updates will hit public beta on September 23, with an official rollout in October.
### The PACE 2 Bids Farewell
Introduced in 2020, the COROS PACE 2 has been a go-to choice for budget-minded runners seeking a dependable GPS watch. With a price tag of just $200, it delivered numerous features usually associated with pricier devices. However, after four years of ongoing support, the PACE 2 has hit its hardware storage ceiling, which means firmware updates will no longer be provided.
Although this may come as a disappointment to some, it’s worth mentioning that four years of support for a budget watch is quite remarkable. The PACE 2 will continue to receive app-based updates, allowing it to remain functional and pertinent for the foreseeable future. For those in pursuit of cutting-edge features, the newly launched **COROS PACE 3** offers dual-band GPS and will remain eligible for updates for years ahead.
### New Additions in the September Update
The September update introduces various new features that enhance the user experience across the COROS range. Here’s a summary of the most significant additions:
#### 1. **Gear Monitoring**
The newly added gear monitoring feature enables users to keep track of the mileage on their running shoes, hiking boots, or bicycles. You can allocate specific gear to activities like running, hiking, or cycling, and COROS will automatically log the mileage after each session. This feature is especially beneficial for runners who wish to know when it’s time to replace their shoes based on mileage.
In contrast to Garmin’s gear monitoring, which categorizes activities more broadly, COROS permits more specificity by allowing the assignment of gear to specific sports. However, a drawback is that it doesn’t retroactively assign mileage to past activities, even if you specify when you initially started using the gear.
#### 2. **Enhanced Sleep Tracking**
COROS has greatly enhanced its sleep tracking functionalities. In July 2024, the company rolled out sleep stage tracking, including deep and REM sleep. With the September update, COROS will now evaluate the **quality** of your sleep, offering insights on whether you spent sufficient time in restorative phases like deep sleep. Additionally, the new **24/7 sleep tracking** feature will identify naps, though only naps exceeding three hours will receive in-depth sleep-quality data.
This update brings COROS in line with competitors such as Garmin and Fitbit, which provide similar sleep and recovery metrics. It also raises the possibility of COROS introducing a feature akin to Garmin’s **Body Battery** or Fitbit’s **Daily Readiness** in the future.
#### 3. **New Swimming and Cycling Modes**
For swimmers, the update introduces **Drill** and **Interval Modes** for pool swim sessions, enabling more detailed tracking of swim workouts. Cyclists too will gain from new activity modes for **Gravel Biking** and **Mountain Biking (MTB)**, broadening the array of activities that COROS watches can log.
#### 4. **Advanced Metrics and Integrations**
The update unveils new mid-activity data fields, including **% FTP** (Functional Threshold Power), **% Max HR** (Maximum Heart Rate), **% HRR** (Heart Rate Reserve), and **% LTHR** (Lactate Threshold Heart Rate). These metrics are particularly advantageous for athletes aiming to refine their training.
Additionally,
