Buyers who want a full battery rundown before paying flagship money
Launched in October, and its battery case rests on one six-hour test with the sun's help unmeasured
Under $900
COROS PACE 4 ProWait
Claim and test disagree
Runners tempted by the box's 100-mile promise
Tested well short of COROS's always-on multi-band claim until a promised fix ships
Under $450
The biggest battery number on a watch box is usually measured in a GPS mode you won't use, with a screen you'd never leave dark, which is like quoting a pickup's gas mileage measured coasting downhill. Milewright's battery planner sets each maker's claim beside what testers actually measured, on 22 exact US watches, and the widest gap is the COROS PACE 4 Pro: COROS promises 30 hours of multi-band GPS with the screen always on, and DC Rainmaker's test in that same setting projected under 20 hours, about a third short. For 10 of the 22, no lab or owner has published a single GPS battery figure on that exact watch, so the box is all anyone has to go on. The longest battery anyone has actually run flat belongs to the Suunto Vertical 2: 66 hours of continuous GPS in its all-satellite mode, in OutdoorGearLab's test. If lasting your longest day is the whole job, that's the watch we'd buy.
The table below this text is the data itself, built straight from the data file, and it still reads correctly with scripts switched off.
COROS PACE 4 ProMulti-band / dual-frequencyAlways on
30 hclaimedCOROS battery specifications
under 20 hmeasuredDC Rainmaker’s projection from part of a battery, not run to empty
about a third short
For 10 of the 22, no lab or owner has published a single GPS battery figure on that exact watch, so the box is all anyone has to go on.
The longest GPS battery life, on the evidence
Which GPS watch has the longest battery life, mode by mode?
The two long-battery contenders, the Suunto Vertical 2 and Garmin's Enduro 4, split the answer by mode, and only one of them has been run flat:
Everyday GPS: Garmin gives the Enduro 4 80 hours, the biggest claim here. The Vertical 2 holds the biggest proven figure: 66 hours, run to empty by OutdoorGearLab. One is a promise, the other a result.
Most accurate (multi-band): Suunto claims more, 65 hours against Garmin's 60. Nobody has run either watch to empty in this mode. The Enduro 4's one projection reaches about 70 hours from a single outing with no route loaded and the sun's help unmeasured. The Vertical 2's projects to a little over two days, short of Suunto's own figure, on the harder test: screen lit throughout and a route loaded.
Longest-lasting modes: Suunto claims 250 hours in Tour against 210 hours in Garmin's Max Battery. Claims only, on both sides.
So the Vertical 2 has the bigger claim in two modes and the only proven figure in the third. The Enduro 4, launched in October, is a wait until someone runs one flat.
Suunto Vertical 2: the longest run anyone has measured
Suunto claims 65 hours of multi-band GPS, and that claim runs ahead of the evidence. No tester has drained one to zero with multi-band switched on. DC Rainmaker's multi-band mountain day, with the screen lit throughout and a route loaded, used battery at a rate that projects to a little over two days, a fair way short of Suunto's figure, though under a heavier load than a plain recording. What puts it at the top of this page is OutdoorGearLab's rundown: 66 hours of continuous GPS to empty, in the lighter all-satellite mode. Even on the multi-band projection, a 100-mile ultra leaves charge to spare, and a long weekend on the trail lets the cable stay in the car. Between outings, TechRadar charged it about every 10 days.
The catch is mass. It weighs about 3 oz (85 g) in steel, comes in one large size, and testers found it a lump in bed. If you'll wear it for the long days rather than the nights, we'd buy it.
Garmin Enduro 4: a long claim, one short test
Wait
Price band: under $900
Garmin's sheet gives it 60 hours with multi-band locked on and no sun on the screen, and 120 hours in its Extended mode. It launched in October, and so far one independent tester has put a number on it: over a six-hour walk-run in its most accurate mode, the battery barely moved, at a rate that projects to about 70 hours. Promising. But that is one outing, whatever the sun added went unmeasured, and nobody has yet run one to empty. With a route loaded (GPS mode not stated), the same tester saw it drain at much the pace of the Vertical 2's mountain day.
I spent years refusing to sign off a part on one short sample, and a battery gets the same treatment. Wait for a full rundown. This row changes the day one is published.
COROS PACE 4 Pro: the box says 100 miles, the test says not yet
Wait
Price band: under $450
COROS rates it at 40 hours of multi-band GPS with the default screen and 30 with the screen always on. The fair comparison is the always-on one, and there DC Rainmaker projected under 20 hours; a 90-minute run took 8%. On COROS's own figure it just covers a 100-mile ultra. On the test it quits with roughly a third of the race still to run.
Credit where it's due: COROS blamed bugs in its GPS software in public and promised a November fix, though its release notes showed none as of October 30. Wait for that update, then check this row again.
How to read the planner
You give it three things: your longest outing in hours of GPS, the GPS mode you'll actually use, and whether your screen stays on between activities. It gives every watch one of three answers. The screen setting only picks which days-per-charge figure you see; it never changes the GPS answer.
What do 'lasts with room', 'lasts, just' and 'runs out' mean?
"Lasts with room" means the watch's figure beats your outing by a quarter or more. "Lasts, just" means it covers the outing with less than that to spare. "Runs out" means it doesn't. The quarter is our rule, not a lab's: cold mornings, a map left on screen and a battery a couple of years old all take a bite, and nobody wants to learn which one at the last aid station.
Which number does each answer rest on?
In this order:
A test or projection on that exact watch. Where there are several, the lowest, so the answer is the cautious one. A projection from part of a battery is labelled as one, never written up as a battery run flat.
If nobody has tested it, the maker's claim, labelled "maker's claim; nobody has measured it".
Failing that, a figure from a size or edition sibling of the same watch, labelled with the reason (a tester who didn't say which case size they wore, for instance).
Otherwise, "not measured".
Another model's result never stands in. Every test we hold of Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra is of the 2024 watch, so the 2025 row reads "not measured" for GPS hours. A test whose GPS mode isn't stated is shown but decides nothing, and owners' trip reports sit word for word beside the tests, never as a verdict.
Why does my watch die sooner than the box says?
Three things sit behind nearly every gap: the screen setting, the GPS mode and the firmware date. Garmin's own manual for the Forerunner 570 (47mm) shows the spread on one watch: 18 hours in GPS-only, 14 hours in multi-band, 8 hours in multi-band with music playing. A marathoner told to use multi-band gets the 14, not the 18 the ranking pages quote. Firmware moves numbers too, which is why every figure carries the date it was checked. The same Garmin manual lists the fixes: turn off the always-on screen, shorten the screen timeout, and pick a GPS mode that favors battery.
GPS battery planner
Will this watch's battery really last my longest day out, in the GPS mode I'll actually use?
21Lasts, with room0Lasts, just0Runs out1Not measured
Your outing: 5 h+25% spare15 hDays per charge, everyday wear
GPS mode not stated: about 50 h, projected from Bautsch Sportstec (YouTube, 20 Oct 2026)’s 2%/h test Bautsch Sportstec (YouTube, 20 Oct 2026)
Lasts, with room
Days per charge, everyday wear20 daysBautsch Sportstec (YouTube, 20 Oct 2026) · measuredBautsch Sportstec (YouTube, 20 Oct 2026)’s projection from part of a battery, not run to empty
The quarter is our rule, not a lab's: cold mornings, a map left on screen and a battery a couple of years old all take a bite, and nobody wants to learn which one at the last aid station.
7 daysowner report2 Reddit owners (r/amazfit, Mar 2026)Testers disagree'7-8 days' with AOD, 3 swims, 2 gym, 2 x 1 h GPS weekly, not worn overnight; second owner 'over one week' with AOD after switching from Garmin
10 daysclaimedAmazfit (restated by Gadgets & Wearables) (opens in a new tab)Claim and test disagreeAmazfit's spec figure: the review's spec table lists '10 days (AoD)' and its text repeats it ('you're looking at about 10 days'); the reviewer's own result is 'well over a week' with most features on. Re-filed 2026-11-04 as a claim (the independent audit's planner check).
Days per charge, everyday wear
10 daysmeasuredT3 (opens in a new tab)Raise-to-wake, notifications, a few GPS workouts a week: 'comfortably over 10 days'
14 daysmeasuredT3 (2 weeks) (opens in a new tab)neighbouring modeSize tested not stated (quotes 1.32in screen spec)Size tested not stated (quotes 1.32in screen spec); 10 days with five GPS workouts left ~30%
18.6 hTester's estimate, standard modemeasuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)DC Rainmaker’s projection from part of a battery, not run to emptyExtrapolated from a 2 h ride (32->21%) = 18h47 and a 6 h activity (82->46%) = 18h33
18 hStandard workoutclaimedApple (opens in a new tab)neighbouring modeOutdoor run workout without iPhone
Battery used per hour of GPS, tested or owner-reported
7 %/hMeasured drainmeasuredCNET (YouTube) (opens in a new tab)1-hour trail run on regular workout mode 80->73%; Max Extended mode drained <1% in the same run
Longest-lasting GPS mode
25 hExtended / power-saving GPSclaimedApple (opens in a new tab)Extended Workout: Low Power Mode, no running form metrics
45 hMax battery GPSclaimedApple (opens in a new tab)neighbouring modeMax Extended Workout: no alerts or splits; HR shown as 5-min rolling average (DCR)
“very good without navigation; with a route loaded the trail track turned to 'connect the dots' and over-smoothed switchbacks”measuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)Testers disagree
Battery used per hour of GPS, tested or owner-reported
2 %/hMeasured drainmeasuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)DC Rainmaker’s projection from part of a battery, not run to empty14-hour, 70 km hike, dual-frequency, navigation on: projects to ~50 h, better than the ~40 h claim.
50+ miles in a vacation week of hiking and runs without chargingOwner's trip reportowner reportReddit owners (read by Codex)neighbouring modespelldante98, 46 mm; GPS mode and hours not stated. https://www.reddit.com/r/Coros/comments/1xg0ahm/.
“very good without navigation; with a route loaded the trail track turned to 'connect the dots' and over-smoothed switchbacks”measuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)Max GPS, 70 km mountain hike and trail runs, Oct 2025 firmware. No later release note names a fix (https://support.coros.com/hc/en-us/articles/42682214780820-COROS-APEX-4-42-and-APEX-4-46-Release-Notes).
“excellent, tracks close to route even under tree cover”measuredTom's Guide (opens in a new tab)Testers disagreeAbout 100 miles vs Fenix 8 Pro and Apple Watch Ultra 3, multi-band; Believe in the Run and The Run Testers also report no GPS issues (https://believeintherun.com/gear-reviews/coros-apex-4-review/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIfts4Vewbc).
global landscape + topo maps with street/trail names and POIs, turn-by-turn; non-routableclaimedCOROS / Tom's Guide (opens in a new tab)No ClimbPro-style climb split at launch (DC Rainmaker https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/10/coros-apex-4-series-depth-review-comes.html); Hill Alerts added March 2026 (https://coros.com/stories/latest-news/c/march-2026).
Music stored on the watch
MP3 storage only, no streaming; phone media control added by firmware Dec 2025claimedBelieve in the Run / COROS release notes (opens in a new tab)Tom's Guide (Oct 2025) said no phone music control (https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/smartwatches/coros-apex-4-review-a-lightweight-garmin-fenix-rival-with-impressive-battery-life); added V3.1308.0, 2025-12-15 (https://support.coros.com/hc/en-us/articles/42682214780820-COROS-APEX-4-42-and-APEX-4-46-Release-Notes).
MP3 only, no streaming servicesclaimedCOROS Help Center (opens in a new tab)COROS Help (updated ~Oct 2026) lists APEX 4: 'COROS watches do not support streaming services or apps'; MP3 only, dragged over USB; phone media controls. Memory table: 32 GB.
15 daysclaimedCOROS battery specifications (opens in a new tab)With sleep tracking + Daily Stress; 17 days with sleep tracking only. COROS says a February 2024 update changed battery estimates; at launch DC Rainmaker quoted 24 days smartwatch mode (https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2023/11/coros-depth-review.html).
GPS track accuracy (testers)
“best in COROS line-up at launch on land; tall-building city test among the best; open water struggled”measuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)Multi-watch side-by-side tracks (forest, downtown high-rise, 58 km mountain hike, cycling). Tested Sept-Nov 2023, older than 12 months.
Has a multi-band GPS mode
YesclaimedCOROS (opens in a new tab)'Dual-frequency GPS'; 15 h in that mode (https://support.coros.com/hc/en-us/articles/23476623096980-Battery-Specifications).
MP3 files only via Bluetooth headphones; no Spotify/Apple Music; phone media controls added by firmware Dec 2025claimedDC Rainmaker / COROS release notes (opens in a new tab)Phone audio playback control added in V3.1308.0, 2025-12-15 (https://support.coros.com/hc/en-us/articles/20087694119828-COROS-PACE-3-Release-Notes).
MP3 only, no streaming servicesclaimedCOROS Help Center (opens in a new tab)COROS Help (updated ~Oct 2026) lists PACE 3: 'COROS watches do not support streaming services or apps'; MP3 only, dragged over USB; phone media controls. Memory table: 4 GB.
30 gwith nylon bandclaimedCOROS (opens in a new tab)coros.com spec table: 29-30 g with nylon band, 35-36 g with silicone band.
36 gwith silicone bandclaimedCOROS (opens in a new tab)neighbouring modecoros.com spec table range 35-36 g; DC Rainmaker gave 38 g with silicone at launch (https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2023/11/coros-depth-review.html).
4-5 days AOD running daily in multi-band; just over 10%/day raise-to-wakemeasuredTom's Guide (opens in a new tab)Testers disagreeHR every 10 min outside workouts.
about 5 days (4.5) AOD over 6 months incl. sleep trackingmeasuredThe Run Testers (opens in a new tab)Testers disagreeSix-month long-term review, ~1,500 miles.
12 daysowner reportReddit owners (read by Codex)neighbouring modedev_ale, several months of training and daily wear, vs 5-6 days on a Forerunner 570; AOD and GPS settings not stated. https://www.reddit.com/r/Coros/comments/1vr4q1k/.
“very good to excellent on road, trail and city; minor offsets only”measuredDC Rainmaker / Tom's Guide / The Run Testers (opens in a new tab)DCR multi-watch tracks; Tom's Guide vs FR970 and Vertical 2 (https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/smartwatches/coros-pace-4-review); Run Testers flawless over 6 months incl. Paris Half and London Marathon vs FR970 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2lCc10DKxY); Quantified Scientist repeated-loop test 'some of the best performance I've ever seen' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxqqray0Kug).
yes since firmware V3.2008.0 (2026-09-26): global landscape + topo, non-routable; was breadcrumb-only at launchclaimedCOROS release notes / user guide (opens in a new tab)Public beta announced 2026-09-04 (https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2026/09/massive-mapping-watches.html); user guide: 'COROS PACE 4 supports global landscape and topographic maps' (https://support.coros.com/hc/en-us/articles/42961616826900-Set-Up-Your-COROS-PACE-4).
Music stored on the watch
MP3 storage with Bluetooth headphones plus phone media controls; no Spotify/Apple Music integrationclaimedCOROS FAQ (opens in a new tab)
MP3 only, no streaming servicesclaimedCOROS Help Center (opens in a new tab)COROS Help (updated ~Oct 2026) lists PACE 4: 'COROS watches do not support streaming services or apps'; MP3 only, dragged over USB; phone media controls. Memory table: 4 GB.
under 20 h projected in Max + always-on vs 30 h claim; 8% in a 90-min runMeasured drainmeasuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)DC Rainmaker’s projection from part of a battery, not run to empty
not measured
21% left after 11 days with AOD on, real-time HR, 60 km over 7 activitiesowner reportReddit owners (read by Codex)
40 hMulti-band / dual-frequencyclaimedCOROS battery specifications (opens in a new tab)Max; 30 h with always-on display. Auto mode 40+ h. Tom's Guide quoted 30 h multi-band (https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/smartwatches/coros-pace-4-pro-review), which matches the always-on figure.
Battery used per hour of GPS, tested or owner-reported
under 20 h projected in Max + always-on vs 30 h claim; 8% in a 90-min runMeasured drainmeasuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)DC Rainmaker’s projection from part of a battery, not run to emptyCOROS blamed GPS-subsystem and cycling sensor-scanning bugs, fix promised for November 2026. COROS release notes show no fix as of 2026-10-30 (https://support.coros.com/hc/en-us/articles/53824831742100-COROS-PACE-4-Pro-Release-Notes).
21% left after 11 days with AOD on, real-time HR, 60 km over 7 activitiesowner reportReddit owners (read by Codex)VasilisRun screenshot, r/Coros 2026-10-26 (https://www.reddit.com/r/Coros/comments/1xg908s/); another owner reports 4-6 days with AOD (https://www.reddit.com/r/Coros/comments/1xg0ahm/).
over 7 days always-on, daily runs in the most power-hungry GPS mode, real-time HRmeasuredTom's Guide (opens in a new tab)Testers disagreeFirst charge, 11 days of testing; FR970 and PACE 4 lasted 4-5 days with the same use.
about 2 weeks raise-to-wake with a few workouts/weekmeasuredT3 (opens in a new tab)Testers disagree
19-20 days with about an hour of training a day, gesture wakeowner reportReddit owners (read by Codex)Testers disagreeAcademic_Reaction314; full discharge not verified. https://www.reddit.com/r/Coros/comments/1xg908s/.
“good; matched Fenix 9 Pro on trails; one consistent wrong-side-of-street offset on a city loop”measuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)Tom's Guide: 'right in line with' FR970 and Fenix 9 Pro (https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/smartwatches/coros-pace-4-pro-review).
global landscape + topo, street/trail names, POIs, turn-by-turn; non-routable, no offline re-routingclaimedCOROS / DC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)No re-routing: DC Rainmaker (https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2026/10/coros-pace-4-pro-in-depth-review.html).
Music stored on the watch
MP3 storage (32GB) + phone media controls; no Spotify/Amazon/YouTube MusicclaimedDC Rainmaker / Tom's Guide (opens in a new tab)Tom's Guide agrees (https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/smartwatches/coros-pace-4-pro-review); T3 said no music storage: see Conflicts.
MP3 only, no streaming servicesclaimedCOROS Help Center (opens in a new tab)COROS Help (updated ~Oct 2026) lists PACE 4 Pro: 'COROS watches do not support streaming services or apps'; MP3 only, dragged over USB; phone media controls. Memory table: 4 GB. CONFLICT: coros.com/pace4pro says 32 GB for maps and music;
43 gwith nylon bandclaimedCOROS (opens in a new tab)38 g body. 51 g with silicone band (Tom's Guide table https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/smartwatches/ive-tested-the-coros-pace-4-pro-vs-coros-pace-4-is-the-pro-worth-the-upgrade, Max Kelly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5-Tx_RijHM).
GarminEnduro 4 (51mm)flagship
80 hAuto Select / SatIQ (Garmin's default)claimedGarmin (opens in a new tab)maker's claim; nobody has measured it
80 hAuto Select / SatIQ (Garmin's default)claimedGarmin (opens in a new tab)Activity Mode (Normal, SatIQ); 144 h with solar at constant 50,000 lux.
Most accurate (multi-band) GPS
70 hMulti-band / dual-frequencymeasuredBautsch Sportstec (YouTube, 20 Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab)Bautsch Sportstec (YouTube, 20 Oct 2026)’s projection from part of a battery, not run to emptyReviewer's extrapolation from 1.4%/h on the 6 h 20 min outing above; not a rundown to empty. Garmin claims 60 h without solar / 90 h with constant 50,000 lux.
60 hMulti-band / dual-frequencyclaimedGarmin (opens in a new tab)Claim and test disagreeActivity Mode (Max Accuracy = multi-band forced on, per DCR); 90 h with solar.
Battery used per hour of GPS, tested or owner-reported
1.4 %/hMeasured drainmeasuredBautsch Sportstec (YouTube, 20 Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab)Bautsch Sportstec (YouTube, 20 Oct 2026)’s projection from part of a battery, not run to empty6 h 20 min, 42 km alternating walk/run outdoors in 'highest accuracy' (Max Accuracy = forced multi-band): 9% used. Solar contribution not separated (sun conditions not stated). Single activity, extrapolated.
120 hExtended / power-saving GPSclaimedGarmin (opens in a new tab)Activity Mode (Extended Battery); 320 h with solar at constant 50,000 lux (the headline 320 h figure).
210 hMax battery GPSclaimedGarmin (opens in a new tab)neighbouring modeActivity Mode (Max Battery, the renamed UltraTrac); unlimited with solar.
Days per charge, everyday wear
20 daysmeasuredBautsch Sportstec (YouTube, 20 Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab)Bautsch Sportstec (YouTube, 20 Oct 2026)’s projection from part of a battery, not run to emptyOne week with 7 h GPS activities + 3.5 h indoor training left 65% (35% used); extrapolated to ~20 days.
36 daysclaimedGarmin (opens in a new tab)neighbouring modeSmartwatch mode without solar; 90 days with solar (3 h/day outside at 50,000 lux). Same in the manual.
“default SatIQ mode matches forced multi-band in downtown SF, trails and a 10 h hike”measuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)Units described as 'Fenix 9 Pro AMOLED' and 'Pro Solar'
18 daysclaimedGarmin (opens in a new tab)Spec block for 010-04336-00; manual table 'fenix 9 Pro AMOLED and fenix 9 Pro AMOLED - inReach', 47 mm, matches.
5 daysmeasuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)neighbouring mode'Mostly using the 47mm Fenix 9 Pro inReach model', LTE/satellite on Auto, 1-2 h GPS/day (4x Garmin's 30-min assumption), always-on display (DCR comment reply)'Mostly using the 47mm Fenix 9 Pro inReach model', LTE/satellite on Auto, 1-2 h GPS/day (4x Garmin's 30-min assumption), always-on display (DCR comment reply). AMOLED is likely but not stated; the 47 mm Pro inReach Solar (010-04338-00) is the other 47 mm inReach.
GPS track accuracy (testers)
“default SatIQ mode matches forced multi-band in downtown SF, trails and a 10 h hike”measuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)Units described as 'Fenix 9 Pro AMOLED' and 'Pro Solar'Units described as 'Fenix 9 Pro AMOLED' and 'Pro Solar'; whether the AMOLED unit was the inReach version is not stated. Same GNSS hardware as this variant. One open-water swim track went wrong on one wrist.
“matched or beat multiband watches (Pace 3, Ultra 2, FR965) in downtown and MTB tests”measuredDC Rainmaker (Feb 2024) (opens in a new tab)DCR does not say whether the loaner was Music or non-MusicTesters disagree
5-7owner report5 Reddit owners (r/GarminWatches, Oct 2026)neighbouring modeMusic/non-Music not stated by any of the fiveMusic/non-Music not stated by any of the five; settings vary; one with 2-3 h GPS 4-5x weekly got 5-6 days
GPS track accuracy (testers)
“matched or beat multiband watches (Pace 3, Ultra 2, FR965) in downtown and MTB tests”measuredDC Rainmaker (Feb 2024) (opens in a new tab)DCR does not say whether the loaner was Music or non-MusicDCR does not say whether the loaner was Music or non-Music; GPS/HR hardware is the same
3.5 daysmeasuredThe Run Testers (opens in a new tab)Claim and test disagreeVariant not statedVariant not stated; same author (Nick Harris-Fry) as Tom's Guide, so not independent
NoclaimedDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)Only the FR170 Music edition (garmin-forerunner-170-music) stores music and has Wi-Fi; Spotify/Amazon/Deezer/YouTube Music Connect IQ listings do not include the plain Forerunner 170.
3.5 daysmeasuredThe Run Testers (opens in a new tab)Variant not statedVariant not stated; same author as Tom's Guide (who used the Music edition), so likely the same test, not independent.
7 daysmeasuredTechRadar (1+ week) (opens in a new tab)Tester used the FR170 Music; 'just over a week with multiple GPS workouts'; AOD setting not stated; music use during the test not stated. Moved here from the non-Music entry.
YesclaimedGarmin US product page (opens in a new tab)'Download your Spotify, Amazon Music or Deezer playlists directly to your watch to listen phone-free (subscription may be required).'
Battery used per hour of GPS, tested or owner-reported
6 %/hMeasured drainmeasuredTom's Guide (Nick Harris-Fry) (opens in a new tab)One 10K race, multi-band, always-on display, DCR AnalyzerOne 10K race, multi-band, always-on display, DCR Analyzer; works out at ~16.7 h. Case size of the 570 used in the race not stated.
Days per charge, always-on screen
3.5 daysmeasuredTom's Guide (Nick Harris-Fry) (opens in a new tab)47 mm tested. Charged every 3-4 days with always-on, daily outdoor runs, other workouts, notifications; over a week with raise-to-wake.
NoclaimedGarmin US spec page (opens in a new tab)No built-in/preloaded maps rows on the spec page (the 970 page lists them); breadcrumb courses only per Tom's Guide.
Battery used per hour of GPS, tested or owner-reported
10 %/hMeasured drainmeasuredTechRadar (opens in a new tab)'an hour's worth of running in the best available GPS mode hit the battery by just shy of 10%' - implies ~10 h, short of the 16 h claim
“virtually identical to Fenix 8 Pro multiband on trail, downtown and gravel tests”measuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)Side-by-side tracks in DCR Analyzer vs Fenix 8 Pro (multiband) and others; several weeks
2.5 daysmeasuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)Always-on at default 2/3 brightness with 1-3 h GPS a day, at launch firmware (June 2025); 1/3 brightness roughly doubles it.
5.5 daysmeasuredDesFit (YouTube) (opens in a new tab)Testers disagreeOne year; always-on day and workouts, lowest brightness, 8 s timeout, night pulse ox: 5-6 days.
14 daysowner reportReddit owners (Codex read)neighbouring modeSeveral owners at 6-14 months report about two weeks between charges (17 d without activities, 14-15 d with; "around two weeks"; "up to two weeks"); one ~weekly; continuous pulse ox + HR alerts cut one owner from two weeks to one. Display modes mostly unstated, likely gesture/AOD off. Contrasts with 4-6 d always-on measurements.
YesclaimedGarmin US spec page (opens in a new tab)Preloaded road and trail maps, ski resort maps, routable cycle map; TopoActive; Outdoor Maps+ is a paid add-on in the manual.
30 hGPS onlymeasuredOutdoorGearLab (opens in a new tab)'Around 30 hours in standard GPS mode... we were able to replicate'. Same variant inference as above.
35-45Tester's estimate, standard modemeasuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)neighbouring modeWatch's own remaining-time estimates on SatIQ runs/rides with optical HR, Jan 2025 launch firmwareWatch's own remaining-time estimates on SatIQ runs/rides with optical HR, Jan 2025 launch firmware; size of the AMOLED unit not stated. 12 h hike GPS-only estimate 41 h.
Most accurate (multi-band) GPS
23 hMulti-band / dual-frequencyclaimedGarmin (opens in a new tab)All Satellite Systems + Multi-Band, 'assuming typical use with SatIQ'.
7 daysmeasuredOutdoorGearLab (opens in a new tab)'Just under seven days' with AOD on, health tracking, notifications and intermittent GPS. Variant inferred: AMOLED at its list price, 1.90 oz measured = 45 mm AMOLED.
7 daysowner reportReddit owners (AdvancedNobody2953, 19Hank77)Two 45 mm AMOLED owners report about 7 days with AOD; matches Garmin's 7-day AOD claim and OGL.
16 daysmeasuredTechRadar (opens in a new tab)45 mm AMOLED review unit; ran the battery down over 16 days of use; tester says 18-day claim 'accurate'. AOD setting not stated.
18-21owner reportReddit owners (BanditHarris, hpeter2010)Testers disagree45 mm AMOLED with AOD off: 18-day estimate after a week (BanditHarris); charges every 19-21 days with AOD and seconds off (hpeter2010). Estimates, not all completed cycles.
18 daysclaimedGarmin (opens in a new tab)Claim and test disagreeWith wrist-gesture wake; 7 days with Always On Display (manual).
guided 20 km run with maps used 20% in about 2 h (AOD off, 1 s recording); next run 10% in 2 h after turning off phone BluetoothOwner's trip reportowner reportReddit owners (via Codex)
“close to Garmin Fenix 8 on runs; slight drift near buildings and underpasses; wavering under tree cover but total distance within 0.02 mi; track run among best of dual-band watches”measuredAndroid Central (opens in a new tab)Testers disagree
Battery used per hour of GPS, tested or owner-reported
guided 20 km run with maps used 20% in about 2 h (AOD off, 1 s recording); next run 10% in 2 h after turning off phone BluetoothOwner's trip reportowner reportReddit owners (via Codex)1 owner, thread 1shhrme (2026-04), preparing for a ~14 h 100 km event; maps/guidance require 1-second recording.
5 daysmeasuredTechRadar (opens in a new tab)One GPS workout a day, steps and sleep tracking; 'just short' of Polar's 5-6 days moderate-use claim.
4-5owner reportReddit owners (via Codex)Testers disagreeSame US owner (1.5 years) reports ~4-5 days general use and 'up to 30 hours' GPS (not a documented test).
“close to Garmin Fenix 8 on runs; slight drift near buildings and underpasses; wavering under tree cover but total distance within 0.02 mi; track run among best of dual-band watches”measuredAndroid Central (opens in a new tab)Nov 2024; mostly short jogs and walks per the tester.
“least accurate of four watches on an out-and-back lake trail, wobbling south at times”measuredMatt LeGrand (opens in a new tab)Testers disagreeCompared with Apple Watch Series 10, Garmin Enduro 2, Amazfit T-Rex 2; better-accuracy mode.
yes; basic North America and Europe maps preinstalled; detailed maps downloaded in Flow web and transferred with a computerclaimedPolar user manual (Offline maps) (opens in a new tab)Komoot routes sync via Flow app with turn-by-turn (https://support.polar.com/e_manuals/vantage-m3/polar-vantage-m3-user-manual-english/komoot.htm).
60.5 gclaimedGSMArena spec sheet (opens in a new tab)Spec sheet covers SM-L705F/N/U across 2024-2025; aggregator, not makerSpec sheet covers SM-L705F/N/U across 2024-2025; aggregator, not maker
12-15Multi-band / dual-frequencymeasuredCleverHiker (opens in a new tab)Testers disagreeTwo months of testing in Alaska (runs, hikes, skis); cold likely lowers it (manual: low temperatures reduce duration). ~10%/hour burn; reviewer says GPS mode could not be changed.
20 hMulti-band / dual-frequencyclaimedSuunto US store (opens in a new tab)Claim and test disagree'20 hours in training' (Performance battery mode, dual-band). OutdoorGearLab lists the three battery-mode claims as 20/30/40 h.
Battery used per hour of GPS, tested or owner-reported
10 %/hMeasured drainmeasuredCleverHiker (opens in a new tab)'almost ten percent of the battery per hour' in GPS mode, Alaska testing.
5-6owner reportTrail & Kale (opens in a new tab)Testers disagreeSingle reviewer; 8-10 days with regular training and gesture display. Review carries an affiliate discount code.
“virtually identical to Garmin Fenix 8 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 on trail runs”measuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)Testers disagreeTrack-run mode locks to the track after two calibration laps.
“strong; occasionally short by a few hundredths to 0.2 mi, cause unknown”measuredCleverHiker (opens in a new tab)Testers disagreeAlaska forest, canyons, mountains.
“counted long on every run, up to nearly 3%”owner reportSuunto forum reviewer (one-week test) (opens in a new tab)Testers disagreeSingle tester (TrailEyes/ActionHub); another forum owner logged 42.55 km on the Run vs 42.3 km on a Vertical over a marathon. Contradicts the reviewers who found it short or exact.
Has a multi-band GPS mode
YesclaimedDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)Same GPS chipset as the Race series; DCR: 'about the only thing that's the same' as Race at hardware level.
Maps on the watch
NoclaimedDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)Breadcrumb route navigation with turn-by-turn from Suunto app routes; routes importable from Strava and Komoot.
Music stored on the watch
4 GB offline storage; files dragged over USB (MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC per manual); no Spotify/Amazon/YouTube MusicclaimedSuunto user guide / DC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)DCR says MP3; manual lists MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC. No Wi-Fi (DCR).
66 hAll satellite systemsmeasuredOutdoorGearLab (opens in a new tab)Continuous GPS in All Systems mode; (re-filed 2026-11-04: the test ran in All Systems mode, not multi-band)
Battery used per hour of GPS, tested or owner-reported
2 %/hMeasured drainmeasuredDC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)DC Rainmaker’s projection from part of a battery, not run to empty70 km trail run/hike with dual-frequency, always-on display and navigation: ~50 h projected; beat Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED and Apple Watch Ultra 3 on the day.
4-hour trail hike used 14% in Performance GPS with always-on off (~3.5%/h); 8 GPS hours plus daily wear over about a week left 35%Owner's trip reportowner reportReddit owners (via Codex)neighbouring mode1 owner (nmiguelrf76), thread 1v9b3wz (2026-07); not a full-discharge test.
Longest-lasting GPS mode
250 hMax battery GPSclaimedSuunto US (opens in a new tab)Tour mode, lower GPS accuracy, heart rate off. TechRadar quotes extended modes up to 500 h.
Days per charge, everyday wear
10 daysowner reportTechRadar (opens in a new tab)Months of wear: 2 GPS runs/rides a week with maps, 3 gym sessions, smartwatch use.
20 daysclaimedSuunto US (opens in a new tab)neighbouring modeDaily HR on, wake on wrist raise; 30 days with daily HR off.
“10.71 km vs Garmin FR955 10.69 km in central London; identical 7.56 km on another run; avg positional gap ~54 m, max ~124 m”measuredGadgets & Wearables (opens in a new tab)Testers disagree
YesclaimedSuunto US (opens in a new tab)'Dual-band GPS system'; 'Up to 65 hours Performance mode, best GPS accuracy (multi-band)'. DC Rainmaker: Performance (dual-frequency) is the default mode. Added at stage 4 (asset) from the kept source.
Maps on the watch
free downloadable topo maps worldwide, Wi-Fi download while charging; no offline re-routing; only ~10-12 routes fit on the watchclaimedSuunto user guide / DC Rainmaker (opens in a new tab)DCR had to restart the watch once when a new map would not render. Routes import from Strava, Komoot, GPX.
85 gmeasuredOutdoorGearLab (opens in a new tab)Stainless steel version; TechRadar says 86 g (https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/smartwatches/suunto-vertical-2-review).
Reuse: the part that's ours, meaning which figures we picked, how they're laid out, and the verdicts and notes we wrote, you may reuse under CC BY 4.0 (opens in a new tab). The figures themselves belong to whoever measured or claimed them; each row names them, so name them too when you quote one.
Cite this
Milewright, Real GPS battery: claimed vs measured, https://milewrightgear.com/gps-watch-battery-planner/, data version 2026-11-05; our compilation CC BY 4.0, each figure its source's, credited.
Every figure carries its author, the exact watch, its GPS mode and the date we checked it, and it tells you whether it came off a spec sheet or from someone who measured it. We don't test watches ourselves. We gather and check what makers, labs and owners published, and how we research GPS watches explains the rest.
Where the box and the test disagree, both sit side by side under a "Claim and test disagree" marker, and only like is set against like: a test run with the screen always on is held against the maker's always-on figure, never its default one. That's why the PACE 4 Pro's gap is a third, not a half. Testers who disagree with each other are shown the same way, and sometimes it's just weather: OutdoorGearLab got 19 hours of multi-band from the Suunto Run in Colorado, CleverHiker got 12 to 15 hours in Alaska's cold. Sometimes it's the maker arguing with itself. Amazfit's own page gives the smaller T-Rex 3 Pro 26 hours in one place and 29 in another for the same mode, which in any machine shop would earn the supplier a phone call.
"Not measured" means nobody has published a figure for that exact watch in that mode. "Not confirmed" means the evidence doesn't settle a feature (maps, music, multi-band, case size). Neither is ever a guess.
The data today: 22 watches, 12 columns, 206 of 264 cells filled, and 78 conflicting facts kept on show rather than averaged away.
Cite it, link it, download it
A link per row: the page address plus # and the watch's id, for example /gps-watch-battery-planner/#garmin-forerunner-970. Opening it jumps to that row with its evidence open.
The cite box: Milewright, Real GPS battery: claimed vs measured, the page address, and the data version, which is the date of the latest change-log entry (now 2026-11-05).
The CSV at /gps-watch-battery-planner/gps-battery.csv: one line per fact, conflicts included, with who, source, kind, mode, date checked and whether the figure is a projection.
Reuse: the part that's ours, meaning which figures we picked, how they're laid out, and the verdicts and notes we wrote, you may reuse under CC BY 4.0. The figures themselves belong to whoever measured or claimed them; each row names them, so name them too when you quote one.
The change log at the foot of the page records every change to the data, newest first. The latest removed notes that named another model's numbers; no figure changed.
The Enduro 4's row could still move once someone runs one flat, and the PACE 4 Pro may yet earn its box. Today, the longest-lasting GPS watch anyone has actually measured is the Suunto Vertical 2, and it's the one we'd strap on for the longest day.
Newest first. One entry each time asset/data.json changes.
Other models' numbers leave the notes too. The cells already held only each watch's own figures; 19 notes beside them still named another model's numbers, and those sentences are gone: the Enduro 3 on the Enduro 4's weight and daily-wear notes, the base fēnix 9 and the fēnix 9 Pro inReach on each other's battery notes, the APEX 2 Pro on the APEX 4's, the PACE 4 on the PACE 3's maps note, among others. No figure, lead, lab or kind changed (206 filled cells, unchanged).
Corrections after an audit of the data. Since 1 Nov:
Other models' results are out. The Enduro 4 no longer carries the Enduro 3's three DC Rainmaker battery figures (70.8 h, 57.2 h and 124.0 h); its Everyday figure is now Garmin's 80 h claim. The Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) no longer rests on tests of the 2024 watch, so its GPS battery per hour, days per charge and track accuracy are "not measured". The base fēnix 9's track accuracy, which DC Rainmaker found on the fēnix 9 Pro, is "not measured". The T-Rex 3 Pro 44mm no longer shows TechRadar's results from the 48 mm model, which has a bigger battery (battery per hour, always-on days and track accuracy).
Each watch's own figures lead. Where a size or edition sibling's number used to head a cell, the watch's own figure now does, with the sibling's beside it: Forerunner 165 (Everyday GPS, days per charge), Forerunner 170 (always-on days), fēnix 9 Pro inReach and T-Rex 3 Pro 44mm (days per charge).
Suunto Vertical 2: OutdoorGearLab's 66 h test moved from multi-band to Everyday, the mode it was run in (all satellite systems). Its multi-band figure is now Suunto's 65 h claim.
Amazfit Active Max: its 10 days with the always-on screen is Amazfit's claim, restated by Gadgets & Wearables, not a test.
Weights filled for the COROS APEX 4, PACE 3, PACE 4 and PACE 4 Pro, from COROS's weights with a named band.
Projections marked. Seven figures that testers projected from part of a battery now say so, rather than reading as a run to empty: two for the Apple Watch Ultra 4, three for the Enduro 4, one each for the COROS APEX 4 and Suunto Vertical 2.
Owners' trip reports join the battery-per-hour column, renamed "tested or owner-reported": the Polar Vantage M3 gets its first independent battery figure (20% in about 2 h with maps), and owner reports sit beside the Vertical 2's and APEX 4's tests. They are shown as written and never decide a verdict.
Now 22 watches × 12 columns: 206 of 264 cells filled (206 on 1 Nov) and 78 conflicting facts kept (81 on 1 Nov). Weight is 21 of 22; Everyday GPS 18; battery per hour 11; always-on days 13; days per charge 21; track accuracy 15.
Second rebuild
Suunto Vertical 2, Everyday GPS (OutdoorGearLab): the note no longer compares the watch with the other AMOLED watches the lab tested; the 66 h figure and its mode are unchanged. No other cell changed.
First version. 22 exact-variant watches × 12 columns, built from the registry (939 facts). Added one fact at this stage: Suunto Vertical 2 has a multi-band (dual-band) GPS mode, from Suunto's US product page. Open questions carried in the data: the PACE 4 Pro's GPS battery (COROS fix promised for November 2026), the T-Rex 3 Pro 44mm's two maker figures (26 h and 29 h), and the Enduro 4's 70 h extrapolated from a 6-hour outing.
