Review Suunto Vertical 2 – AMOLED
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The Suunto Vertical 2 marks a major turning point for Suunto - and arguably for the entire outdoor GPS watch market. With the move from a traditional MIP display to AMOLED, Suunto has taken a bold step, but crucially, they’ve done it without sacrificing battery life. In fact, in many real-world scenarios, the Vertical 2 now leads the pack.
- Suunto Vertical 2 Steel - Amoled
- Suunto Vertical 2 Titanium - Amoled
This in-depth review looks at what genuinely matters to walkers, hikers, ultra runners and endurance athletes: battery life, navigation, screen visibility, GPS accuracy and real-world usability.
AMOLED Display… Without the Battery Penalty
One of the biggest talking points in any Review of the Suunto Vertical 2 is the screen.
Suunto has effectively ended its future MIP display development for sports watches, switching fully to AMOLED — a move many users have wanted, but feared would kill battery life. That hasn’t happened.
- Dual-frequency GPS battery life: up to 65 hours
- Single band: up to 75 hours
- Tour mode: up to 250 hours
- Daily smartwatch use: around 20 days
In real-world testing, including a near 15-hour, 70km hike with navigation and Always-On Display enabled, battery drain sat at roughly 2% per hour — extremely impressive for an AMOLED watch.
In simple terms: battery anxiety is no longer a reason to avoid AMOLED.
Built-In Flashlight – A Genuinely Useful Addition
The LED flashlight is more than a gimmick and one of the standout upgrades over the Vertical 1 and Suunto Race 2.
You get:
- White light (4 brightness levels)
- Red light mode (excellent for night use)
- SOS flashing mode
- Breathing / pulsing mode
- Alert flashing mode
The flashlight is accessed via a dedicated button, making it quick to use in the dark — ideal for:
- Early morning starts
- Night nav
- Campsites and bivvies
- Emergencies
While some UI quirks remain (likely fixable via software updates), the hardware implementation is excellent and puts Suunto firmly back into competition with Garmin’s top-end models.
Navigation & Mapping – Still a Suunto Strength
For outdoor users, navigation matters more than flashy metrics — and Suunto continues to deliver here.
Key highlights:
- Excellent breadcrumb and route navigation
- Clear elevation profiles
- Improved climb guidance, showing:
Distance to summit
Remaining ascent
Number of climbs left on route
For long mountain days, this is genuinely useful information rather than data for data’s sake.
Map downloads can now be done without the charging cable, which sounds minor — until you forget your cable the night before a trip.
GPS Accuracy – Excellent on Land, Mixed in Water
Land-based GPS performance remains excellent, even in difficult terrain:
- Accurate tracking near cliffs and steep valleys
- Strong consistency against Garmin and Apple Watch Ultra comparisons
- Elevation accuracy within a few metres over long days
Open water swimming remains a weak point — not unusual for Suunto - but for walkers, runners, hikers and cyclists, GPS performance is spot-on.
Optical Heart Rate – Vastly Improved
Older Suunto watches struggled badly with wrist-based heart rate. That’s no longer the case.
The new sensor (shared with the Suunto Race series) is:
- Stable during steady efforts
- Accurate during tempo runs
- Suitable for most training scenarios
It won’t replace a chest strap for interval work, but it’s now properly usable, which wasn’t always true of earlier models.
Buttons vs Digital Crown – A Win for Outdoor Use
The Vertical 2 sticks with three physical buttons, rather than a digital crown.
From an outdoor perspective, this is a win:
- Easier with gloves
- More reliable in wet weather
- Better during fast movement or rough terrain
For navigation and sport use, buttons remain superior — and it’s good to see Suunto sticking to that philosophy.
Suunto Vertical 2 vs Suunto Race 2 – What’s the Difference?
These watches share much of their internal tech, but the Vertical 2 justifies its higher price with clear hardware upgrades:
Vertical 2 advantages:
- Built-in LED flashlight
- Longer GPS battery life
- More metal in the case and lugs
- Thicker, more rugged build
- Longer daily smartwatch battery
If battery life and durability matter most - the Vertical 2 is the better outdoor tool.
Final Verdict – Who Is the Suunto Vertical 2 For?
If you’re searching for a Review of the Suunto Vertical 2 to decide whether it’s right for you, here’s the honest take:
This watch is ideal for:
- Long-distance walkers
- Ultra runners
- Mountain hikers
- Endurance cyclists
- Anyone who wants maximum battery life without sacrificing screen quality
Suunto has delivered what many users have been asking for: the best AMOLED battery life currently available, combined with strong navigation and practical outdoor features.
It’s not the cheapest watch on the market - but it’s one of the most sensible high-end outdoor watches you can buy right now.
- Suunto Vertical 2 Steel - Amoled
- Suunto Vertical 2 Titanium - Amoled
At Outdoor GPS Shop, we specialise in outdoor GPS watches chosen for real-world use - not marketing hype.
If you want advice on whether the Suunto Vertical 2 is right for your activities, we’re always happy to help.
