Suunto Race
Buy Suunto Race at today's best price
6 minute read
Overview
The Suunto Race is a GPS smartwatch designed for runners seeking a balance between performance and price. This watch is known for its bright AMOLED display and robust build quality.
Key Features:
- AMOLED Display: Offers vibrant colors and clear visibility even in bright sunlight.
- Dual-Band GPS: Provides accurate tracking even in challenging environments.
- Long Battery Life: Lasts up to 40 hours in GPS mode, making it suitable for long-distance events.
The Suunto Race is an ideal choice for runners who prioritize display quality and battery life for extended activities. Its dual-band GPS offers reliable tracking, making it suitable for trail and mountain running.
According to our analysis of reviews from experts around the world, it averages a review score of 78%. This puts it in the lowest rated 30% of comparable running watches. According to our analysis of prices across the internet, at current rates it's just above the median price of running watches.
Verdict
The consensus on the Suunto Race
The Suunto Race is a solid contender in the GPS smartwatch market, offering a bright AMOLED display and robust build quality. Its dual-band GPS provides reliable tracking, although some users have noted occasional inaccuracies in dense environments. The heart rate monitor, while convenient, may not be as accurate as a chest strap, which is a common issue with wrist-based sensors. The watch excels in battery life, lasting up to 40 hours in GPS mode, which is a significant advantage for ultra runners. However, the user interface, while improved, can still be laggy at times. The Suunto Race lacks some advanced features found in competitors, such as music storage and contactless payments, which may be a drawback for those seeking a more comprehensive smartwatch experience. Despite these limitations, the Suunto Race offers excellent value for its price, especially for those focused on running and outdoor activities. Overall, the Suunto Race is a great option for runners who value display quality and battery life over additional smartwatch features.
Comparable Watches
The Garmin Forerunner 265 is a good alternative for those who prioritize advanced software features and a smoother user interface. While it lacks the Suunto Race's mapping capabilities, it offers music storage and contactless payments, which may appeal to users seeking a more comprehensive smartwatch experience. The Forerunner 265 also provides more accurate heart-rate monitoring, making it a better choice for those focused on precise health data.
The Coros Apex Pro 2 is a strong competitor for those seeking a balance between performance and price. It offers similar GPS accuracy and battery life to the Suunto Race, but with a focus on durability and outdoor features. The Apex Pro 2 may be a better choice for users who prioritize ruggedness and simplicity over the Suunto Race's AMOLED display and advanced mapping capabilities.
The Polar Vantage V3 is another option for runners who value training analysis and sleep tracking. While the Suunto Race offers better battery life and build quality, the Vantage V3 excels in providing detailed training insights and a more user-friendly interface. It may be a better choice for those who prioritize these features over the Suunto Race's mapping and GPS capabilities.
Special versions of Suunto Race
The Suunto Race S is a smaller version of the Suunto Race, offering the same features in a more compact design. It includes an upgraded optical heart rate sensor, which may provide improved accuracy over the standard model. The Race S is priced lower, making it an attractive option for those seeking a more affordable GPS watch without sacrificing functionality. Its smaller size may appeal to users with smaller wrists or those who prefer a less bulky watch.
6 Suunto Race Pros & Cons
3 Pros
3 Cons
In Depth
Battery life
The Suunto Race boasts impressive battery life, lasting up to 40 hours in GPS mode and 624 hours in regular use. This makes it an excellent choice for ultra runners and those who engage in long-distance activities. The watch offers multiple battery modes, allowing users to optimize power consumption based on their needs. This feature is particularly beneficial for those who require extended tracking capabilities without frequent recharging.
Screen quality and brightness
The Suunto Race features a bright AMOLED display, which provides vibrant colors and excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. This makes it ideal for outdoor activities where screen readability is crucial. The high pixel density of 460 ppi ensures sharp and clear visuals, enhancing the overall user experience. However, the AMOLED screen can impact battery life, requiring users to balance display settings with power consumption.
Heart-rate monitor accuracy
The heart-rate monitor on the Suunto Race offers convenience with wrist-based readings, but its accuracy can vary. For those who prioritize precise heart-rate data, using a chest strap is recommended. The watch's heart-rate sensor may show occasional spikes or inaccuracies, especially during intense activities. This is a common limitation of wrist-based monitors, and users should consider their specific needs when evaluating this feature.
GPS accuracy
The Suunto Race is equipped with dual-band GPS, providing reliable tracking in most environments. However, some users have reported minor inaccuracies in dense or tree-covered areas. Despite this, the GPS performance is generally strong, making it suitable for trail and mountain running. The watch's ability to maintain a signal in challenging conditions is a key advantage for outdoor enthusiasts.
Who should buy the Suunto Race?
The Suunto Race is well-suited for runners who value a bright display and long battery life. It's an excellent choice for those who engage in running activities, especially trail and mountain running, where GPS accuracy is crucial. The watch's robust build quality and dual-band GPS make it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who need reliable tracking. Runners who prioritize display quality and battery performance will find this watch particularly appealing.
Who should not buy the Suunto Race?
The Suunto Race may not be the best choice for those seeking a comprehensive smartwatch experience with features like music storage and contactless payments. Users who require highly accurate heart-rate monitoring might prefer a watch with a more reliable sensor or the option to pair with multiple Bluetooth devices. Those who prioritize advanced software features and a smoother user interface might consider alternatives with more refined systems.
Suunto Race: What's it good for?
The Suunto Race is good for trail and mountain running, where its dual-band GPS provides reliable tracking. It's also suitable for ultra running due to its long battery life, allowing for extended tracking without frequent recharging. The watch's bright AMOLED display makes it ideal for outdoor activities, ensuring clear visibility in various lighting conditions. Its robust build quality and waterproof depth of 100 m make it a durable choice for running in challenging environments.
4 Suunto Race FAQs
How does the Suunto Race perform in terms of GPS accuracy?
The Suunto Race features dual-band GPS, providing reliable tracking in most environments. However, some users have reported minor inaccuracies in dense or tree-covered areas. Despite this, the GPS performance is generally strong, making it suitable for trail and mountain running.
Is the Suunto Race suitable for ultra running?
Yes, the Suunto Race is suitable for ultra running due to its long battery life, which lasts up to 40 hours in GPS mode. This allows for extended tracking without frequent recharging, making it ideal for long-distance events.
What are the main drawbacks of the Suunto Race?
The main drawbacks of the Suunto Race include occasional heart-rate monitor inaccuracies and a lack of advanced smartwatch features like music storage and contactless payments. The user interface, while improved, can still be laggy at times.
How does the Suunto Race compare to the Garmin Forerunner 265?
The Suunto Race offers better mapping capabilities and battery life, while the Garmin Forerunner 265 provides more accurate heart-rate monitoring and additional smartwatch features like music storage and contactless payments.
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|---|---|---|---|
| bestDeal | Show prices | ||
| priceBand | Price band | ||
| released | ReleasedOct 2023 | May 2023 | Dec 2023 |
| expertReviewScore | Expert Review Score | ||
| Battery life | Battery life624 hours | 720 hours | 216 hours |
| Battery life – GPS mode | Battery life – GPS mode40 hours | 60 hours | 30 hours |
| Screen size | Screen size36 mm | 36 mm | 34 mm |
| Weight | Weight83 g | 86 g | |
| Height | Height49 mm | 49 mm | 45 mm |
| Resolution | Resolution466 x 466 px | 280 x 280 px | 466 x 466 px |
| Waterproof depth | Waterproof depth100 m | 100 m | 50 m |
| Pixel density | Pixel density460 ppi | 282 ppi | 499 ppi |
| Internal storage | Internal storage | 32 GB |
