The AMOLED display looks great thanks to its high-definition resolution.
Overall build quality is very good, though, with robust components that will stand the test of time.
If you’re more into performance tracking, then the Race S is up there with the best.
There are an abundance of strap options, including Black, Powder Grey, and Powder Pink.
All strap options cost the same.
The watch is available in the US, UK, and AUS.
It is not only larger but also has a longer battery life.
With seven different strap colors available, there are no shortage of ways to customise the watch.
We’ll come back to the strap in a minute but let’s focus first on the watch itself.
The first thing I was struck by was how chunky this watch is.
The 45mm diameter provides a fantastic display size with enough real-estate to display all your vital metrics.
The overall dimensions make it very similar to the Garmin Forerunner 265, which is similarly bulky.
It houses an AMOLED display with a 466 x 466 pixel resolution.
As a result, all of the on-screen graphics look super sharp with no sign of any pixelation.
The build quality of both the watch and the strap are second to none.
In fact, I was never concerned about doing so, such was the quality of the components.
A crown-style button is great to have but I don’t think Suunto has nailed the engineering of it.
I actually ended up ditching it in favour of swiping.
As with all smartwatches, the sensor is on the back.
The strap not only looks great but is extremely comfortable.
Most importantly, it wipes clean, an essential for athletes who sweat a lot.
All in, I’ve really enjoyed wearing the watch.
It’s comfortable, makes a statement, and functions incredibly well.
At this price, the design competes with even the best that Garmin has produced.
It shows you where you’re located and gives you updates on what you’re about to encounter.
In that regard, you’ll always feel prepared.
You’ll have no worries about getting lost thanks to support for all types of sections.
Features include heart rate sensing, an altimeter, and a gyroscope.
These accurately track your movements and provide feedback on how you’re getting on.
Whatever exercise you’re doing, the watch can capture your data accurately every time.
I had no problems with any GPS signal dropouts, even when sweaty or wet.
In general, I was very impressed with the speed of readouts and the accuracy of them.
Sleep tracking monitors your sleep quality while also feeding back if your sleep patterns might be affecting your performance.
It also offers features that will appeal to those who just want it to integrate with their smartphone.
The watch is compatible with both Android and Apple phones, although I only tested it with an iPhone.
In conclusion, the Suunto Race S is a smartwatch that is focused primarily on athletes.
All of the tracking abilities provide the necessary data for mid-exercise updates and post-exercise reports.
Downloading the Suunto app and pairing the watch was equally straight-forward.
I was up and running, pardon the pun, in no time at all.
Then it was time to get exercising.
The first thing I did was jump on my bicycle to test the GPS and tracking functionality.
Once I was outside, the watch picked up GPS quickly and easily.
The Suunto app provides even more data for you to drill down into how you are performing.
The app is really well designed with a good layout that is easily navigated.
I especially love the maps of routes travelled and graphs providing health data.
It also provides some reporting so you’re free to improve on your performances each time.
The touchscreen responsiveness is good and I had little problem moving around the menus.
The swipe gesture was able to handle moving up and down long lists without any fuss.
The responsiveness was even fine while sweating or when I had just gotten out of the swimming pool.
The battery life delivers great performance too.
Tracking exercise with GPS enabled had an expected effect on battery life.
Should I buy the Suunto Race S?
It’s also bright enough to use in the midday sun.
You want unbelievable battery lifeWith light use, this watch will last around two to three weeks.
Even with heavy use, you’ll still get several days' life out of it.
It offers a Double-Tap gesture, all-day battery life, and excellent health features.
Read our fullApple Watch Series 9 review.
Still worth a look if you’re free to find it at discount.
The pairing process was simple and straightforward, and I loved the app.
