Suunto Run vs Suunto Race S
Both are good picks with different strengths. The Suunto Run lasts longer (12 days) and is lighter, while the Suunto Race S lasts longer on GPS (40 hours).
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Key differences
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Battery life
Suunto Run wins
The Suunto Run lasts up to 12 days against 9 days.
-
GPS
Evenly matched
Both have built-in GPS with similar features.
-
Display
Evenly matched
Both have AMOLED screens of a similar size.
-
Health
Evenly matched
Much the same health sensors.
-
Weight
Suunto Run wins
The Suunto Run is lighter: 36 g against 60 g.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Suunto Run if…
- You hate charging: it's rated for up to 12 days in smartwatch mode.
- You wear it to bed or have small wrists: it weighs 36 g.
- You work out with music: it stores songs on the watch.
Choose the Suunto Race S if…
- You do long runs, rides or hikes: it's rated for 40 hours with GPS.
- You load music or maps onto the watch: it has 32 GB.
- You do lots of different sports: it has 115+ profiles.
Full spec comparison
The Suunto Run leads on size and durability; elsewhere the two are closely matched.
Green cells with a ✓ mark the better spec in that row. Tick "Show differences only" to hide the rows where they match.
Overview
| Spec | Suunto Run | Suunto Race S |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Suunto | Suunto |
| Series | — | Race |
| Colours | Lime | All Black |
Platform & apps
Both work with the same phones and software.
| Spec | Suunto Run | Suunto Race S |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Suunto | Suunto |
| Storage | 4 GB | 32 GB |
Display
The screens are closely matched.
| Spec | Suunto Run | Suunto Race S |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Display name | — | High definition AMOLED screen |
| Screen size | — | 1.32 in |
| Resolution | 466 x 466 | 466 x 466 |
| Pixel density | 353 ppi | 499 ppi |
| Colour display | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touchscreen, crown | touchscreen, buttons, crown |
Design & durability
The Suunto Run is ahead on size and durability.
It is lighter, and the Suunto Race S doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Suunto Run | Suunto Race S |
|---|---|---|
| Case sizes | 46 mm | 45 mm |
| Dimensions | 46 x 46 x 11.5 mm | 45 x 45 x 11.4 mm |
| Thickness | 11.5 mm | 11.4 mm |
| Weight (case) | 36 g | 60 g |
| Case material | Glass fibre reinforced polyamide | Glass fibre reinforced polyamide |
| Bezel material | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Lens | Gorilla Glass | Gorilla Glass |
| Band material | Nylon textile | silicone |
| Band width | 22 mm | 22 mm |
| Fits wrists | 125-175 mm | 125-175 mm |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Operating temperature | -20 to 55 °C | -20 to 55 °C |
Battery
Each watch has its strengths on battery life.
The Suunto Run lasts longer (12 days), while the Suunto Race S lasts longer on GPS (40 hours).
| Spec | Suunto Run | Suunto Race S |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (smartwatch mode) | 12 days | 9 days |
| Battery (multi-band GPS) | 20 hours | 30 hours |
| All battery modes | Smartwatch: 12 days; Battery saver: 20 days; Multi-band GPS: 20 hours; All satellite systems: 30 hours; Battery saver: 40 hours | Smartwatch: 9 days; Battery saver: 13 days; Multi-band GPS: 30 hours; All satellite systems: 40 hours; Max battery GPS: 5 days |
| Battery type | Li-ion | rechargeable lithium-ion |
GPS & navigation
Both have built-in GPS with similar capabilities.
| Spec | Suunto Run | Suunto Race S |
|---|---|---|
| GPS | Built-in | Built-in |
| Multi-band GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Satellite systems | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou |
| Maps | Downloadable maps | Downloadable maps |
| Navigation features | waypoints, course import | Waypoint and visual route navigation, Breadcrumb trail in real time, Route planning with altitude profile, Point of Interest (POI) navigation, ETA (estimated time of arrival), remaining distance, bearing navigation |
Health & sensors
Both track much the same health data.
Heart rate, sleep and the extra sensors line up closely.
| Spec | Suunto Run | Suunto Race S |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | optical HR, SpO2, barometer, compass, thermometer | optical HR, SpO2, compass, barometer, thermometer |
| Heart-rate tracking | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Heart-rate variability | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Sleep stages | Sleep stages |
| Stress tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Energy score | Daily resource level | Daily resource level |
| Readiness score | Recovery Index | — |
| Cycle tracking | — | Yes |
Training
The Suunto Race S is ahead on training features.
It has more sport modes, and the Suunto Run doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Suunto Run | Suunto Race S |
|---|---|---|
| Sport profiles | 34 | 115 |
| Triathlon / multisport | Yes | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Pool and open water | Pool and open water |
| Underwater heart rate | — | Yes |
| Training metrics | VO2 max, training load, training effect, recovery time, race predictor, lactate threshold, HRV status | VO2 max, training load, training effect, recovery time, lactate threshold, HRV status |
| Adaptive coaching | — | Yes |
| Wrist running power | — | Yes |
| External sensors | Bluetooth HR strap, foot pod, power meter | Bluetooth HR strap, foot pod, speed/cadence, power meter |
Smart features
The Suunto Race S is ahead on smart features.
It has more storage (32 GB), and the Suunto Run doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Suunto Run | Suunto Race S |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Message replies | Android | Android |
| Music storage | Yes | — |
Diving, golf & more
Neither has a specialist edge here.
| Spec | Suunto Run | Suunto Race S |
|---|---|---|
| Diving | — | Depth gauge |
| Max dive depth | — | 10 m |