Suunto has just unveiled its newest gem: the Suunto Race smartwatch, brimming with cutting-edge features that have tech enthusiasts buzzing.

Not to be outdone, a few months back, Coros introduced us to their Pace 3 smartwatch, touting some notable innovations of its own.

A quick glance at the price tags, and you’ll spot that the Suunto Race is notably steeper, commanding almost twice the price of the Pace 3.

If you’re scouting the market for a fresh sports watch, chances are, these two are on your radar. 

But the pressing question remains: which gives more bang for your buck?

Dive into this article as we pit the Suunto Race against the Coros Pace 3, breaking down their specs to guide you to your perfect match.

Suunto Race vs Coros Pace 3: Price & Avilablity

When it comes to price and availability, both these sports watches have made their mark on the market, but at different price points.

The Suunto Race is already up for grabs. Those eyeing the Stainless Steel version will find it priced at $449 or £389. If Titanium is more your style, then be prepared to shell out a bit more, as it’s priced at $549 or £479. Along with the watch, Suunto doesn’t disappoint accessory enthusiasts. They’ve unveiled a collection of Suunto-branded straps, available in four dynamic colors. If you’re looking to spruce up your Suunto Race, these bands can be yours for £49 each.

Meanwhile, the Coros Pace 3 has established its presence globally. In the US, it comes with a price tag of $229, while in the UK, it’s available for £219. For those down under in Australia, the watch is priced at AU$399.

Suunto Race vs Coros Pace 3: Specs Comparison

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Suunto Race vs Coros Pace 3: Design & Build Quality

In terms of design & build, Suunto Race feels like a luxury car – polished, sleek, and feature-packed, the Coros Pace 3 is more of a reliable sedan – functional, straightforward, and built for purpose.

The Suunto Race screams precision and performance right from the first glance. Drawing inspiration from the Vertical watch, its case – available in both stainless steel and titanium – exudes an air of sophistication. Titanium, especially, adds a touch of lightweight elegance. In comparison, the Coros Pace 3 embraces minimalism. Its white polymer case combined with a mineral glass LCD screen feels utilitarian, a straightforward tool for runners.

When it comes to the display, the Race stands out with its vibrant AMOLED touchscreen. This 1.43-inch display, boasting a 460 x 460 resolution, promises clarity and dynamism that could rival many high-end smartwatches. On the other side, the Pace 3, although bright in most conditions, might not dazzle you under direct sunlight. It does its job but doesn’t have the panache of an OLED or the uniqueness of Garmin’s MIP display.

The button configuration is another point of departure. The Race opts for three tactile buttons, including a rotative crown, offering a sense of tactile feedback. The Pace 3, in contrast, leans into simplicity. A button and an Apple-style digital crown streamline navigation, making it user-friendly, even for those who might be new to smartwatches.

Straps play a crucial role in personalizing a watch, and both brands seem to acknowledge that. Suunto introduces playful silicone straps, while Coros gives wearers a choice between silicon and nylon. The latter’s nylon strap, comfortable for workouts, has a sporty feel, perhaps too much so for daily wear for some.

Suunto Race vs Coros Pace 3: Features

Suunto Race and Coros Pace 3 are both GPS sports watches that offer various health and fitness tracking features, but they have some differences in terms of software and features. 

Here’s a breakdown of their key features and performance:

Suunto Race:

• Suunto Race has a revamped user interface compared to previous Suunto watches, aiming to provide a smoother and faster user experience.
• The new UI layout includes widgets for notifications, health monitoring, sleep tracking, altimeter, barometric data, and supported sports profiles, making it more intuitive to navigate.
• It features a dual-band GPS chipset for accurate location tracking and full mapping support with color-coded contour lines.
• Suunto allows users to design custom watch screens for races and provides altitude graphs to display uphill and downhill sections of routes.
• The watch utilizes AI for coaching and heart rate variability (HRV) measurements to offer insights into recovery needs.
• Suunto Plus Store offers additional apps and features, similar to Garmin’s Connect IQ Store.
• It supports smartwatch features like notifications and music controls.

Coros Pace 3:

• Coros Pace 3 offers advanced heart rate metrics, including HRV during sleep and BPM measurements at regular intervals throughout the day.
• It calculates aerobic and anaerobic power, heart rate zones, cadence, stride, elevation, and distance during workouts.
• Sleep tracking is available, but it does not provide advice on improving sleep quality.
• Fitness tests can be taken, and there’s a “running fitness” widget that provides a score based on your recent runs.
• It lacks music control features and app-based music playback but offers music storage.
• Coros Pace 3 is primarily focused on training and lacks extensive smart features. It supports call and text notifications but does not have third-party app widgets or interfaces.

Suunto Race vs Coros Pace 3: Battery Life

Battery life is a pivotal aspect when considering sports watches, especially for those who rely on them during extensive workouts or throughout the day. Here, we juxtapose the battery performances of the Suunto Race and the Coros Pace 3.

When discussions veered towards the Suunto Race‘s battery life, the company remained a bit cagey. Initially, they hoped for the battery to stretch up to 14 days. However, the finalized figure settled at 12 days with an extended 26 days in the basic time mode. The ambiguity lies in whether this statistic considers the “always-on” screen feature. But one thing stands clear – this AMOLED sports watch isn’t one that fizzles out in just a couple of days. As for GPS usage, in its highest accuracy mode, the Race offers 40 hours. While this falls short of the 60-85 hours promised by the Vertical, it towers over the 19 hours provided by the Garmin Forerunner 965 in its multiband mode.

In contrast, Coros Pace 3 stands as a testament to the brand’s prowess in battery performance. Don’t let its diminutive stature fool you; the watch can go up to 24 days in standard mode and provides 38 hours when solely using GPS. But, like all devices, intense usage does drain it faster. If you engage its sleep-tracking feature, the battery endurance reduces to 18 days. The GPS functionality also takes a hit, offering 15 hours in multi-band mode and 25 hours with all systems firing. Interestingly, the optical HR monitor reads every 10 minutes by default during non-workout times, differentiating it from most sports watches which offer real-time readings.

Suunto Race vs Coros Pace 3: Which Should You Buy?

Buy Suunto Race if:

• You prioritize design sophistication and elegance and don’t mind spending a bit extra for a luxurious feel. The titanium and stainless steel options can be a deciding factor.
• A vibrant AMOLED touchscreen with a high resolution is important to you.
• You appreciate intuitive navigation and want three tactile buttons, including a rotative crown.
• Customization is essential. With Suunto-branded straps in various colors, and the ability to design custom watch screens, you can truly make the watch your own.
• You are looking for comprehensive smartwatch features, such as notifications, music controls, and a store for additional apps and features.

Buy Coros Pace 3 if:

• You’re looking for a budget-friendly option without compromising on essential features.
• You prefer a minimalistic and functional design.
• Battery life is crucial for you. With up to 24 days in standard mode and 38 hours in GPS mode, it’s impressive.
• You are primarily focused on training metrics and insights without the need for extensive smart features.
• Real-time heart rate readings are not a priority. The Pace 3 reads heart rate every 10 minutes by default during non-workout times.

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