The highly anticipated Coros Apex 4 is entering the scene as a formidable GPS sports watch, threatening to disrupt the market share held by established competitors like Garmin. This new model is clearly designed to meet the rigorous demands of serious athletes and endurance enthusiasts. While it features a color display, Coros has opted for a specific, performance-focused screen technology that differentiates it from many modern rivals.
Official Launch Details and Market Focus
Coros, a company already recognized for its athletic-focused wearables, has officially unveiled its new smartwatch, the Apex 4. Initially, this announcement targets the Chinese market. The company has been using teaser images to build excitement, confirming two critical dates for its domestic release: the official product launch is scheduled for October 15th, with retail sales beginning ten days later on October 25th.
Early Sightings in the Ultra-Endurance Community
Despite the formal debut being weeks away, the Apex 4 is already in circulation among a select group of users. For instance, participants in the demanding Kailas Fuga Gongga 100 Extreme Glacier Challenge Race were seen utilizing the new Coros wearable. Photos and hands-on impressions have rapidly spread across social platforms, including posts on a popular Chinese social network and discussions on Reddit, showcasing the watch and its packaging. While Coros has been tight-lipped regarding the full technical specifications, these early leaks and real-world usage provide valuable clues about its core features.
Technical Features: The Focus on Longevity
Given that the Apex 4 has been tested in an ultramarathon environment, its battery life is expected to be exceptional—a critical feature for any long-distance athlete. Naturally, a GNSS module for global satellite navigation is a guaranteed standard feature for accurate outdoor tracking.
Perhaps the most significant deduction comes from a comparison image where the Apex 4’s screen brightness is notably lower than that of a competitor’s AMOLED-equipped watch, such as the Garmin Forerunner 965. This visual evidence confirms Coros’s decision to stick with its proven Memory-in-Pixel (MIP) display technology.
The Power of Memory-in-Pixel (MIP)
The MIP display is a reflective and power-efficient screen type. Its core innovation is that each pixel retains its state and only draws power when the displayed image changes. This design choice provides two substantial performance advantages:
- Optimal Sunlight Readability: The screen’s reflective properties make it incredibly easy to read, even in bright, direct sunlight, eliminating the need to constantly increase backlight power.
- Unmatched Battery Endurance: By minimizing power draw for static content, the MIP display allows for the ultra-long battery runtimes necessary for extended activities like multi-day treks or long races.
The trade-off for this efficiency is a slower refresh rate compared to AMOLED screens, which makes the MIP less suited for displaying fluid animations or video content—a minor concern for a watch primarily focused on outdoor sports data. Initial leaks further suggest a premium build with a sapphire screen and titanium casing, along with dual-frequency GNSS for enhanced tracking accuracy.
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Source: Reddit
