COROS users have been dealt a frustrating blow over the past few weeks. Since the company released its mid-May 2026 firmware update, a growing number of watch owners are reporting that their devices simply won't turn on afterward - essentially, the watches have been "bricked."
The reports started appearing in COROS user communities shortly after the May 2026 update rolled out. Users described watches dying mid-update, never booting back up, or entering an endless restart loop. For many, it happened without warning - the device was working fine one day, and after a routine sync and firmware push, it was dead.
Which Watches Are Affected?
COROS has confirmed the issue affects a subset of its watch lineup. According to the company, the problem appears to cluster on models that are roughly two to four years old. The COROS Pace 3 stands out as the most frequently reported casualty, though that's at least partially a numbers game - the Pace 3 is one of COROS's best-selling watches, so it naturally shows up in more failure reports than smaller-production models.
Other affected watches reportedly include the COROS Pace Pro, Vertix 2S, and the first-generation APEX watches. The newer models released in 2024 and 2025 - including the Pace 4 and APEX 4 - seem largely unaffected, which suggests the issue may be tied to how older hardware handles certain components of the new firmware.
It's worth noting this isn't COROS's first rocky software moment in recent memory. The company spent much of 2025 addressing a separate set of security vulnerabilities, which it eventually closed out with an official postmortem. The bricking issue is a very different kind of problem - physical device failure rather than a data exposure - but it adds to a pattern of software rollout missteps that has some long-time COROS users questioning whether the brand's famous value proposition comes with hidden support costs.
COROS's Response
In a statement confirmed via email, COROS Head of Product Marketing and Support Darian Allberry said the company is actively replacing watches that fail as a result of the firmware update:
"Also correct - for anyone that reaches out and has had a device failure after a recent firmware update we are replacing those devices."
That's the right move, as far as it goes. A free replacement for a device that dies during a routine update is what customers should expect. But the experience of actually getting a replacement has been uneven. Some users report smooth, quick turnaround from COROS support. Others say they hit long response delays, were initially told their warranty had expired (it hadn't), or were offered only a partial discount on a new purchase rather than a straight replacement. In a few cases, replacement units sent by COROS arrived already bricked - suggesting the root cause may be more systemic than a simple bad firmware file.
The firmware version at the center of the reports appears to be V3.1508.0, which shipped in March 2026 as part of an earlier update cycle, though the May 2026 release has also been implicated. COROS has not publicly disclosed exactly what in the firmware causes older hardware to fail, which has left owners of affected watches with more questions than answers.
What You Should Do If You're Worried
If you own a COROS watch from the affected generation - especially a Pace 3 - and you've been putting off updates, you now have a genuine dilemma. Skipping the update means missing out on new features like voice control (now available on the Pace 4, APEX 4, and NOMAD). Installing it means rolling the dice on a device that, depending on your warranty status, might leave you without a working watch for days or weeks.
The safest approach right now: don't update unless COROS releases a specific hotfix statement confirming the issue is resolved. If your watch has already been updated and is working fine, back up your activity history to the COROS app and keep a close eye on it. If your watch dies after an update, contact COROS support immediately and reference the replacement policy - but be prepared for some back-and-forth.
The Bigger Picture
COROS built its reputation on two things: affordability and a devoted user base that swears by the brand's training features and battery life. The PACE 4 and VERTIX 2S are genuinely excellent watches for the money. But software quality matters as much as hardware quality in this category - a GPS watch that can't reliably receive updates is a liability for anyone training seriously.
For now, COROS appears to be in cleanup mode. The company is replacing failed devices, which is the minimum it should do, and at least some users are getting resolution. But without a clear public explanation of what went wrong and how it's being prevented going forward, the incident will linger in community memory. For a brand that competes on trust and longevity, that's a meaningful cost.
We'll be watching for any official statement from COROS on a root cause analysis or a confirmed fix. In the meantime, if you've been affected, the company's support team is the first call - and screenshots of everything are your friend.