Suunto Race S GPS Watch Review: A Compact Multisport Watch for Performance-Focused Athletes
Overview
The Suunto Race S GPS Watch is a more compact version of the Suunto Race, designed for athletes who want premium performance tracking and navigation in a lighter, more streamlined package.
While it retains most of the core features of its larger counterpart, it makes some trade-offs, particularly in battery life and screen durability. Let’s break down what the Race S offers and whether it’s the right choice for you.
Design & Build Quality
Rating: 8/10
The Suunto Race S offers a smaller, more lightweight design, making it more comfortable for athletes with slimmer wrists or those who prefer a less bulky watch. It features a 1.43” AMOLED touchscreen with a Gorilla Glass display instead of the sapphire crystal found on the Suunto Race. While the Gorilla Glass is still highly durable, it’s slightly less scratch-resistant than sapphire.
The watch retains a stainless steel or titanium bezel, maintaining a premium look and feel. At approximately 53g (Titanium) or 83g (Steel), it’s noticeably lighter than the original Race, making it ideal for long training sessions and all-day wear.
GPS & Navigation
Rating: 8/10
Suunto continues to excel in navigation and GPS accuracy, equipping the Race S with dual-band GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou) for highly precise tracking in all environments. Navigation tools include:
- Turn-by-turn navigation
- Offline maps with contour lines
- Route planning via the Suunto app
Despite its smaller size, the Race S delivers the same high-performance navigation capabilities as the full-size Race, making it an excellent choice for trail runners, ultra athletes, and hikers.
Training & Performance Tracking
Rating: 9/10
The Suunto Race S retains the same training features as the original Race, making it a top-tier choice for data-driven athletes. Key features include:
- Heart Rate Variability (HRV) tracking for recovery monitoring
- Training Load & Recovery Analysis
- VO2 Max Estimation for performance benchmarking
- Running Power (Wrist-Based)
- Over 95 Sport Modes, including ultra running, cycling, swimming, and skiing
For runners and endurance athletes, the smaller and lighter form factor does not come at the cost of training tools. However, like the original Race, it lacks support for external running dynamics sensors, which may be a drawback for those who rely on advanced metrics.
Battery Life
Rating: 7/10
One of the main trade-offs in the Suunto Race S is the reduced battery life compared to its larger sibling. While still respectable, it offers:
- Up to 30 hours in full GNSS mode
- Up to 120 hours in low-power mode
- 9 days in smartwatch mode
For ultra-endurance athletes, this drop in battery life may be a concern, particularly when compared to the full-sized Race, which offers up to 30 hours in full GPS mode. However, for most training sessions and single-day events, the battery life remains sufficient.
Smart Features & Connectivity
Rating: 7/10
As with the original Race, the smartwatch features are basic but functional, including:
- Notifications for calls, messages, and app alerts
- Music controls (but no onboard music storage)
- Weather updates
- Sleep tracking
The lack of contactless payments and offline music storage continues to be a limitation, making the Race S more of a dedicated sports watch rather than a full-fledged smartwatch.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
✔ Compact and lightweight design ✔ High-resolution AMOLED display ✔ Accurate GPS with dual-band GNSS ✔ Offline maps and turn-by-turn navigation ✔ Comprehensive training and recovery features ✔ More affordable than the full-sized Suunto Race
Cons:
✖ Battery life is lower than the full-sized Suunto Race ✖ Gorilla Glass is less scratch-resistant than sapphire ✖ Lacks onboard music storage ✖ No contactless payments ✖ No option for rest button or resume later like Garmin and Coros GPS watches ✖ No option to change weather temp to Celsius, it only shows Fahrenheit
Final Verdict
Overall Rating: 8.6/10
The Suunto Race S is an excellent compact alternative to the Suunto Race, offering the same powerful navigation and training features in a smaller and lighter package.
The AMOLED display, dual-band GPS, and offline maps make it a strong competitor in the multisport watch market, especially for athletes who prioritize comfort and performance tracking.
However, the shorter battery life and Gorilla Glass display may be a drawback for ultra runners and adventurers who require the most durable and long-lasting options. If you can live with these trade-offs and want a high-performance watch that won’t weigh you down, the Race S is a fantastic choice.
Should You Buy It?
✅ Buy it if: You want a premium multisport GPS watch in a smaller, lighter design with excellent training tools and navigation.
❌ Skip it if: You need longer battery life, a sapphire screen, or smartwatch features like music storage and payments.
For those who want the power of the Suunto Race in a more compact, everyday-friendly format, the Race S delivers—without compromising on performance where it counts.
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