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Suunto Race Review

This watch features an improved menu, UI, and AMOLED display, along with its excellent build quality
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Suunto Race Review (The Suunto Race is of high quality, without the extra features that may be distracting to some users.)
The Suunto Race is of high quality, without the extra features that may be distracting to some users.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Price:  $449 List
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Manufacturer:   Suunto
By Matthew Richardson ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jul 3, 2024
82
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#5 of 16
  • Accuracy - 30% 9.3
  • Activity Use - 20% 8.5
  • Everyday Use - 15% 7.5
  • Extra Features - 15% 6.5
  • Wearability - 10% 9.5
  • Battery Life - 10% 6.3

Our Verdict

The Suunto Race stands out as Suunto's premier GPS smartwatch. Boasting an AMOLED display and smooth software interaction, the new UI enhances the user experience with streamlined navigation. Competitive pricing, coupled with an AMOLED display, should appeal to loyal Suunto enthusiasts. For users wanting a simple and effective altimeter, barometer, or compass GPS watch, this is an excellent option. Check out how it compares to others in our best GPS watch review.
REASONS TO BUY
Build quality
Improved UI
AMOLED Display
REASONS TO AVOID
Less software features than competition
Single Bluetooth pairing per sensor type
Editor's Note: We brought this review up to date on July 3, 2024, with changes to our metrics and accuracy testing.

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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line Great craftsmanship and design with an updated UI, menu, and AMOLED displayWe prefer a slightly larger screen for enhanced readability, those with smaller wrists will love the Forerunner 165This watch excels as an affordable GPS companion, offering value and dependable accuracyAn entry-level GPS watch that does everything you need without the advanced features found on the most premium modelsLacking an always-on display is a huge bummer for those who like their like the watch face to be viewable to others, still, this is an acceptable option
Rating Categories Suunto Race Garmin Forerunner 165 Coros Pace 3 Garmin Forerunner 55 Amazfit Active Edge
Accuracy (30%)
9.3
9.3
9.0
9.0
7.5
Activity Use (20%)
8.5
6.5
7.5
6.0
6.5
Everyday Use (15%)
7.5
7.0
7.0
7.0
5.0
Extra Features (15%)
6.5
7.5
5.0
5.5
5.0
Wearability (10%)
9.5
8.0
7.5
6.5
6.0
Battery Life (10%)
6.3
4.6
5.4
4.6
4.5
Specs Suunto Race Garmin Forerunner 165 Coros Pace 3 Garmin Forerunner 55 Amazfit Active Edge
Measured Main Body Size (Diameter) 49.0 mm 43.0 mm 41.9 mm 42.0 mm 46.5 mm
Measured Thickness 13.3 mm 11.6 mm 11.8 mm 12.5 mm 12.0 mm
Measured Screen Width 36.0 mm 30.4 mm 31.0 mm 26.5 mm 33.5 mm
Measured Weight 2.93 oz 1.40 oz 1.50 oz 1.31 oz 1.90 oz
Screen Type AMOLED AMOLED MIP MIP TFT
Measured Charging Time 84 min 103 min 113 min 111 min 120 min
Battery Life Claims by Manufacturer In time mode: 26 days
With 24/7 Tracking and Mobile Notifications: 12 days
Training Mode with GPS: 40h / 50h / 70h / 120h
Smartwatch mode: Up to 11 days;
Battery Saver Smartwatch mode: Up to 20 days;
GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 19 hours;
All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 17 hours
Full GPS: 38 hours - 10 hours with music; All Systems On: 25 hours - 9 hours with music; Dual Frequency: 15 hours - 7 hours with music; Daily Use: 17 days - 15 days with daily stress monitors Smartwatch mode: 2 weeks;
GPS: 20 hours
Smartwatch mode: Up to 16 days; Battery Saver Mode: Up to 24 days; Heavy Usage: Up to 10 days;
GPS: Up to 20 hours
Measured Battery Life with GPS 50 hours 19 hours 34 hours 19 hours 18 hours
Sensors Included Heart rate, altimeter, barometer, compass, blood oxygen level Heart rate, altimeter, barometer, compass, blood oxygen level Heart rate, altimeter, barometer, compass, blood oxygen level Heart rate Heart rate, blood oxygen level
Navigation Detailed, back to start Breadcrumb, back to start Breadcrumb, back to start None Breadcrumb, back to start
Music Options Control only Control only Downloaded control, storage Control only Control only
Touchless Payment No Yes No No Yes - limited
Sleep Tracking Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Water Resistance (Max Depth) 100m 50m 50m 50m 100m
Main Software App Suunto Garmin Connect Coros App Garmin Connect, widgets for other features Zepp App
Compatible with Other Software Ecosystems Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Watch Face Material Sapphire crystal Chemically strengthened glass Mineral Glass Chemically strengthened glass Glass
Battery Type Rechargable lithium ion Rechargable lithium ion Rechargable lithium ion Rechargable lithium ion Rechargable lithium ion
Bezel Material Stainless steel Fiber reinforced polymer Glass fiber reinforced polyamide Stainless steel Dual-color plastic
Case Material Glass fiber reinforced polyamide Fiber reinforced polymer Glass fiber reinforced polyamide Glass fiber reinforced polyamide Dual-color plastic
Strap Material Silicone Silicone Silicone Silicone Semi-transparent TPU
Tools Required to Change Band No No No No Yes
Model Tested Stainless steel Standard Standard Standard Standard
Size Tested One size only One size only One size only One size only One size only
Warranty Offered 2 year 1 year 2 year 1 year 1 year

Our Analysis and Test Results

If you are looking for an upgraded Suunto GPS watch, the Suunto Race is a great option. A new AMOLED display and internal hardware run the menu systems much more smoothly than they did in the past. A new UI also makes the model more straightforward and allows quicker access to on/off features. Also, we love that the cost is competitive, especially with an AMOLED display. With a touch screen, physical buttons, and a rolling crown, there are many ways to interact with this model, which is well suited for the many activity types that the Suunto Race supports.

Performance Comparison


suunto race - the amoled display on the suunto race is clear and crisp looking.
The AMOLED display on the Suunto Race is clear and crisp looking.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Accuracy


We determined our accuracy score by rigorously testing the GPS chipset and heart rate sensor. Each watch was taken out the same day on a known 2.8-mile course for GPS accuracy, and the recorded distance was compared to the actual 2.8 miles. For heart rate accuracy, we wore a watch on each wrist while running for 0.5 miles and compared the readings to our Polar H10 chest strap, which is known for its scientific accuracy. The scores from both tests were averaged to obtain an overall accuracy score. For the heart rate tests, the watches were tightened equally to ensure a controlled fit. We then exported and matched the data timestamps to facilitate a precise comparison between the chest strap heart rate monitor and the GPS watch.

We found the Suunto Race fit great on our wrist, so we were confident in the ability of the heart rate monitor. The watch provided =/- 0.65 BPM during our testing, which was excellent and ranked among the best. The watch also performed almost perfectly for GPS testing, giving us +/- 0.02 miles. One downside of this unit is that only one Bluetooth device type can be paired at a time, so you may consider a different model if you have multiple HR monitors or power meters. This is easily one of the most accurate Suunto watches we've tested, and the data supports it.

suunto race - heart rate analysis between the suunto race and the polar h10 chest...
Heart rate analysis between the Suunto Race and the Polar H10 chest strap.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Activity Use


We'd recommend the Suunto Race for most users unless you are concerned with maximum battery life. It has an AMOLED display, which is great during activities due to its brightness. The Race has the ability to display detailed maps, with routing and breadcrumb maps that look excellent on the AMOLED display. Interaction with the device is also a plus; we found this to be one of the more fluid software experiences, and the physical buttons and crown are a nice touch. Many different sport modes are listed, and Suunto has a long history of providing support for Multi-sport, which is also at the forefront of this model. Unfortunately, not many 3rd party apps, such as Strava, have developed their platforms to mesh well with multi-sport activities.

With a dual-frequency chipset, you can be confident of accurate GPS collection even in technical terrain.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Everyday Use


Suunto has adapted the UI of the Race, which makes it quite impressive. The UI includes new features like a control center with easy on/off switches to access valuable items like do not disturb, flashlight, alarms, find my phone, etc. The speed at which you can use the menu systems is also improved, making utilizing the model pleasant. We appreciate the multitude of sports modes and the ability to quickly adjust the data fields and settings within the sports page. The Suunto App is also well-featured and easy to use, offering a well-designed data section, training log, and route creation suggestion page.

With a new UI found on the Race, Suunto is finally starting to catch up with the competition.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Extra Features


The latest Suunto models strive for simplicity and focus on the most valuable components of a GPS watch. The Race's barometer and compass are accurate and dependable. Daily health tracking records and estimates sleep, provides training trends, and gives insight into your training load. New features found on this model are items like Find My Phone, HRV tracking, do-not-disturb, and Suunto coach integration. There are also more customizable widgets that help tailor easy-to-access information.

Not found on this model are features like music storage, contactless payment, and pairing multiple Bluetooth sensors. This may not be a dealbreaker for some users, but others may find it discouraging. While the screen is beautiful, it often compromises both battery life and performance, with the screen frequently throttling back to reduce power consumption. If you are searching for a user-friendly interface and high-end design, look no further, but this may not be the pick for buyers who are more feature-focused.

Simplicity is at the forefront with Race, focusing on the most used features in a GPS watch.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Wearability


The Suunto Race sports a 49mm case and a scroll wheel to navigate the menu systems. We wonder if this was done because the software can finally accommodate speedier menu systems and interaction. You still need to be deliberate with your button presses and scrolls on this model, but it's much improved.

We are fans of the AMOLED display, but as mentioned before, it often has drawbacks in other areas outside the screen display, mainly battery life and throttling of the watch face to a more minimal design even when set to always on. The external quality is excellent, with spotless machining and a solid feel. Without a doubt, Suunto continues to lead in build quality.

suunto race - suunto continues to provide excellent build quality; this is one of...
Suunto continues to provide excellent build quality; this is one of the best-looking watches we've tested.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Battery Life


We tested the Suunto Race under a wide range of conditions and activities, and we recorded 50 hours of GPS single-band tracking. Daily GPS and 24/7 health tracking gave us roughly 5-10 days. The most significant drain of the battery will be the AMOLED display. Luckily, this watch provides enough battery to last, which we prefer in a daily wearable. This model does a good job at providing multi-day life without breaking the bank. Ultra-athletes will feel confident about the performance of this watch, and daily users will be able to forgo needing to charge the model, leading to less loss of health tracking.

The AMOLED display, however, does have some downsides. To provide better battery life, it minimizes the clock display when not using the watch. Even using the always-on mode does not maintain your selected watch face. It displays once your wrist flips or button input is detected. While not a huge dealbreaker, it's nice to visually see your desired watch face even when not interacting with the watch. Additionally, the wrist movement is not customizable to sleep time. This often means that your watch inadvertently brightens when starting sleep. From a performance standpoint, an MIP display is preferable. Still, if you are after an AMOLED display with great battery life, the Suunto Race is a great option.

suunto race - we tested in various conditions and temperatures to verify the...
We tested in various conditions and temperatures to verify the Race's battery could withstand harsh environments.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Should You Buy the Suunto Race?


The Suunto Race is an excellent option for an AMOLED display with multi-day battery life. The Race has great build quality, which is to be expected from Suunto. If you value design and aesthetics, this could be a great option. For those who are focused most on performance and feature sets, there are better options out there.

What Other GPS Watches Should You Consider?


We'd recommend the Suunto Vertical for most users concerned with maximum battery life. It is quite a bit more expensive, but has a similar activity layout and data metrics to the Race, and both sport a similar screen size and 49mm case. The main difference between the two is the AMOLED vs MIP display. For users looking for a better battery life at a similar price point, we'd also recommend the Coros Apex Pro 2. If you desire an ultra-bright high-resolution screen and are less concerned with battery life, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a great option. If you are geared toward a more high-performance watch, check out the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Solar. While it is also more expensive, it has a great feature set, including multi-Bluetooth pairing.

suunto race - testing the sunnto race across many disciplines and terrains was a...
Testing the Sunnto Race across many disciplines and terrains was a blast; we hope this review made your decision-making process easier!
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Matthew Richardson