For years, Coros watches have offered a compelling alternative to more established brands, often delivering similar functionality at a more accessible price. However, a few key features consistently set them apart – not always in a positive way. Now, a recent beta firmware update signals a significant shift, addressing long-standing criticisms and bringing Coros closer to feature parity with its competitors.
The update, tested through a public beta program, introduces a feature many runners have been waiting for: music control. Previously, Coros watches could only play music files directly loaded onto the device. This limitation felt archaic to many, forcing users to choose between phone-free running and the convenience of controlling music from their wrist – a capability standard on Garmin and Suunto watches.
The solution is elegantly simple. A new “media control” app joins the existing “music” player within the watch’s toolbox, accessible via a long-press of the lap button. This new app seamlessly displays track information and provides controls for play, pause, skip, and volume, mirroring the functionality found on other leading sports watches.
Another frustrating quirk of Coros watches involved workout termination. Previously, a programmed workout would automatically pause upon completion, requiring a manual “resume” to continue tracking distance. This often led to unintentionally truncated runs, especially during cool-down periods. The update resolves this, allowing workouts to seamlessly transition into an open tracking segment, mirroring the behavior of Garmin devices.
Accidental lap button presses are a common occurrence during activity. The new firmware introduces an “undo” function, allowing users to quickly revert a mistakenly registered lap. While currently limited to unstructured workouts and initial lap marking, this addition provides a welcome layer of user-friendliness.
Strength training on Coros watches was previously hampered by a cumbersome exercise selection process. The watch insisted on requiring a body part designation for each set, even during simple routines. This proved incredibly disruptive, discouraging the use of the built-in rest timer.
The update streamlines this process dramatically. Users can now select a body part at the beginning of a strength workout, which remains active throughout the session. This simple change transforms the strength training feature from an annoyance into a genuinely useful tool, allowing for effortless rest tracking without constant input.
These updates aren’t just incremental improvements; they represent a fundamental shift in the Coros experience. They address core usability issues and bring the platform closer to offering a truly comprehensive and competitive experience for athletes of all levels.
