Suunto Vertical 2 vs Garmin Enduro 3
The Garmin Enduro 3 is the better watch on paper: it lasts longer on GPS (5 days), lasts longer (36 days) and has a sunlight-readable MIP screen. Pick the Suunto Vertical 2 only if it matters to you that it has an AMOLED screen.
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Key differences
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Battery life
Garmin Enduro 3 wins
The Garmin Enduro 3 lasts up to 36 days against 20 days.
-
GPS
Evenly matched
Both have built-in GPS with similar features.
-
Display
Suunto Vertical 2 wins
The Suunto Vertical 2 has an AMOLED screen against MIP.
-
Health
Evenly matched
Much the same health sensors.
-
Weight
Garmin Enduro 3 wins
The Garmin Enduro 3 is lighter: 57 g against 87 g.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Suunto Vertical 2 if…
- You want a vivid, phone-like screen: it has AMOLED-class colour and contrast.
- You want maps and stats easy to read: it has the bigger screen.
- You want it to slide under a sleeve: it's 13.5 mm thick.
Choose the Garmin Enduro 3 if…
- You do long runs, rides or hikes: it's rated for 5 days with GPS.
- You hate charging: it's rated for up to 36 days in smartwatch mode.
- You train outdoors in bright sun: its MIP-style screen stays readable and saves battery.
- You wear it to bed or have small wrists: it weighs 57 g.
Full spec comparison
The Garmin Enduro 3 leads on battery life; 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 Vertical 2 | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Suunto | Garmin |
| Series | Vertical | Enduro |
| Replaces | Suunto Vertical | — |
| Versions | Steel, Titanium | — |
| Colours | Canyon | — |
Platform & apps
Both work with the same phones and software.
| Spec | Suunto Vertical 2 | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Suunto | Garmin |
| Works with | — | iPhone and Android |
| Storage | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| App store | Yes | Yes |
Display
The Suunto Vertical 2 is ahead on the display.
The Suunto Vertical 2 has a bright, colourful AMOLED screen; the Garmin Enduro 3 uses MIP, easy to read in sunlight and light on the battery. The Suunto Vertical 2 has an AMOLED screen and has a bigger screen, while the Garmin Enduro 3 has a sunlight-readable MIP screen.
| Spec | Suunto Vertical 2 | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | AMOLED | MIP |
| Display name | LTPO AMOLED | — |
| Screen size | 1.5 in | 1.4 in |
| Resolution | 466 x 466 | 280 x 280 |
| Colour display | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | Yes | — |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touchscreen, buttons | touchscreen |
Design & durability
Each watch has its strengths on size and durability.
The Suunto Vertical 2 is slimmer, while the Garmin Enduro 3 is lighter.
| Spec | Suunto Vertical 2 | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Case sizes | 48.6 mm | 51 mm |
| Case shape | — | Round |
| Dimensions | 48.6 x 48.6 x 13.5 mm | 51 x 51 x 15.7 mm |
| Thickness | 13.5 mm | 15.7 mm |
| Weight (case) | 87 g | 57 g |
| Weight with band | — | 63 g |
| Case material | Glass fibre reinforced polyamide | fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Bezel material | Stainless steel | titanium |
| Lens | Sapphire crystal | Power Sapphire |
| Band material | silicone | ultra light-weight elastic nylon hook & loop |
| Band width | 22 mm | 26 mm |
| Band fitting | — | QuickFit 26 mm |
| Fits wrists | 125-175 mm | 127-225 mm |
| Water resistance | 10 ATM | 10 ATM |
| Operating temperature | -20 to 55 °C | — |
Battery
The Garmin Enduro 3 is ahead on battery life.
It lasts longer on GPS (5 days) and lasts longer (36 days), and the Suunto Vertical 2 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Suunto Vertical 2 | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (smartwatch mode) | 20 days | 36 days |
| Battery (GPS) | — | 5 days |
| Battery (multi-band GPS) | 2.7 days | 2.5 days |
| All battery modes | Smartwatch: 20 days; Battery saver: 40 days; Multi-band GPS: 2.7 days; All satellite systems: 3.1 days; Battery saver: 10.4 days | Smartwatch: 36 days; Battery saver: 92 days; GPS: 5 days; All satellite systems: 3.3 days; Multi-band GPS: 2.5 days; GPS: 22 hours; Max battery GPS: 8.8 days; Max battery GPS: 77 days |
| Solar charging | — | Yes |
| Battery type | rechargeable lithium-ion | Lithium ion |
| Charging | — | proprietary-plug |
GPS & navigation
Both have built-in GPS with similar capabilities.
| Spec | Suunto Vertical 2 | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| GPS | Built-in | Built-in |
| Multi-band GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Satellite systems | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou |
| Automatic GNSS mode | — | Yes |
| Maps | Downloadable maps | Preloaded maps |
| Navigation features | waypoints, climb planner, course import | back-to-start, round-trip routing, climb planner, waypoints, course import |
| Golf courses | — | 43,000 |
| Ski maps | — | Yes |
Health & sensors
The Garmin Enduro 3 is ahead on health tracking.
It tracks sleep in more depth, and the Suunto Vertical 2 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Suunto Vertical 2 | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | optical HR, SpO2, barometer, compass, thermometer, depth | optical HR, SpO2, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, compass, ambient light, thermometer |
| Heart-rate sensor | — | Garmin Elevate |
| Heart-rate tracking | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| ECG | — | Yes |
| High/low heart-rate alerts | — | Yes |
| Heart-rate variability | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Skin temperature | — | Yes |
| Respiration rate | — | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Sleep stages | Sleep coaching |
| Stress tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Energy score | Daily resource level | Body Battery |
| Readiness score | — | Training Readiness |
| Cycle tracking | — | Yes |
Safety
Both offer much the same safety features.
| Spec | Suunto Vertical 2 | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency SOS | — | Via phone |
| Incident detection | — | Yes |
| Live tracking | — | Yes |
Training
The Garmin Enduro 3 is ahead on training features.
It has more training metrics, and the Suunto Vertical 2 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Suunto Vertical 2 | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Sport profiles | 115 | — |
| Auto activity detection | — | Yes |
| Triathlon / multisport | Yes | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Pool and open water | Pool and open water |
| Underwater heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| Training metrics | VO2 max, training load, training effect, recovery time, lactate threshold | VO2 max, training load, training effect, recovery time, race predictor, endurance score, lactate threshold, HRV status |
| Adaptive coaching | Yes | Yes |
| Running dynamics | — | Yes |
| Wrist running power | Yes | Yes |
| Strength rep counting | — | Yes |
| Heart-rate broadcast | — | Yes |
| External sensors | Bluetooth HR strap, foot pod, speed/cadence, power meter | ANT+, power meter, foot pod, speed/cadence, bike radar/lights (Varia), HR strap (HRM-Tri, HRM-Swim, HRM-Pro, HRM-Pro Plus), golf club tracking (CT10/CT1) |
| Smart trainer control | — | Yes |
Smart features
Both offer much the same smart features.
| Spec | Suunto Vertical 2 | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Message replies | Android | Android |
| Voice assistant | — | maker voice |
| Contactless payments | — | Yes |
| Payment service | — | Garmin Pay |
| Music storage | — | Yes |
| Find my phone | — | Yes |
| Find my watch | — | Yes |
| Flashlight | Yes | Yes |
Diving, golf & more
Neither has a specialist edge here.
| Spec | Suunto Vertical 2 | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist modes | — | golf, tactical, marine, ski |
| Diving | Depth gauge | — |
| Max dive depth | 10 m | — |