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Coros APEX 4 (42mm) vs Garmin inReach Messenger Plus

Weight and specs compared for 2026 — and which one to choose.

Coros APEX 4 (42mm) is the lighter option — 60 g lighter than the Garmin inReach Messenger Plus (52% less weight). If grams matter to you, that is the one to beat.
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Spec Coros APEX 4 (42mm) Garmin inReach Messenger Plus
Weight 56 g · 0.056 kg · 0.12 lb 116 g · 0.116 kg · 0.26 lb
Brand Coros Garmin
Category Electronics Electronics
Coros APEX 4 (42mm)
56 g

Mountain sports GPS watch with dual-frequency satellite positioning for improved accuracy, ECG heart rhythm monitoring, and barometric altimeter for navigation

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Garmin inReach Messenger Plus
116 g

Compact satellite messenger with enhanced messaging features. Only 4.1 oz.

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Coros APEX 4 (42mm) vs Garmin inReach Messenger Plus: which should you buy?

If saving weight is your priority, the Coros APEX 4 (42mm) wins — at 56 g it is 60 g (52%) lighter than the Garmin inReach Messenger Plus (116 g). That said, the heavier option may justify the extra grams with more capacity, durability or comfort, so weigh the trade-off against how you'll use it.

See where both rank against everything else in this category on the lightest electronics page, or browse the full gear weight database.

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