Suunto recently showed off their new smartwatch called “Suunto Race“. It looks great and has a bright AMOLED screen that makes things pop. 

Some folks, though, like the simpler screens that use less battery, which is something Garmin watches, like their Instinct 2 series, are known for. Even more, the Garmin watch is a bit cheaper than the Suunto Race. 

If you’re thinking of buying a new GPS sports watch and are looking at these two, this article is just for you. I’m going to compare the Suunto Race vs Garmin Instinct 2 to help you pick the best one. 

Let’s get started!

Suunto vs Garmin Instinct 2: Price & Availability

When it comes to cost and getting your hands on one of these watches, here’s what you need to know:

The Suunto Race comes in two versions based on the bezel material: stainless steel and titanium. The stainless steel Suunto Race is tagged at $449 / £389 / 449 Euros. If you’re aiming for the titanium version, be prepared to spend a bit more – it’s priced at $549 / £479 / 549 Euros.

On the other hand, the Garmin Instinct 2 series has a range of prices. The standard model, which doesn’t have solar capabilities, is set at $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549. 

But if you’re looking for the cream of the crop, the Instinct 2 Solar Tactical Edition is the one for you. This top-tier model will set you back $499.99 / £429.99 / AU$749.

Where to Buy?

Suunto Race vs Garmin Instinct 2: Specs Comparison

Suunto Race vs Garmin Instinct 2: Design & Display

When looking at the Suunto Race and the Garmin Instinct 2, the first thing you’ll notice is their different looks. Let’s dive into the design and display details of these watches.

The Suunto Race is all about sleekness, sporting a more refined look thanks to its premium materials. It’s clear that Suunto took a page from their outdoor-focused Vertical watch when designing the Race. Whether you choose the stainless steel or titanium version, the Race presents a touch of elegance that is both visually pleasing and lightweight.

On the flip side, the Garmin Instinct 2 wears its heart on its sleeve, or rather its design. It boldly embraces a rugged appearance, built with a sturdy plastic body that promises durability. Unlike the touchscreen-centric Race, the Instinct 2 relies on five dedicated buttons for navigation. Despite the lack of a touchscreen, navigating its menus is a breeze, especially with the little screen in the top right corner guiding users.

Diving into their displays, the Suunto Race boasts an AMOLED touchscreen that is vivid and sharp. With its 1.43-inch size and 460 x 460 resolution, it mirrors the quality you’d expect from top-tier smartwatches. This is a game-changer for Suunto, marking their foray into blending sports functionality with vibrant displays. 

The Garmin Instinct 2, however, takes a different approach. Its monochrome memory-in-pixel (MiP) display might not offer the vibrancy of the Race, but it has its merits. While it’s not touch-sensitive, its basic design is power-efficient and the added secondary screen is a nifty touch for quick stats.

Suunto Race vs Garmin Instinct 2: Health & Fitness Tracking

When diving into health and fitness tracking, both the Suunto Race and Garmin Instinct 2 offer a suite of features to help users optimize their training and monitor their health. Here’s a breakdown of what each watch brings to the table:

Starting with the Suunto Race, it boasts an onboard GPS that tracks your speed and route during outdoor activities. Navigating its software has been made simpler and more intuitive, with easy access to sports profiles for activity tracking. Drawing from its predecessor, the Vertical, the Race utilizes a dual-band GPS chipset known for its reliability and efficient battery consumption. Additionally, it offers full mapping support, enhanced with vibrant colors that provide details like contour lines, enhancing the visual experience.

One of the standout features of the Suunto Race is its customizability. Users can design their watch screens specifically for races, ensuring that they always have access to the data that matters most to them. Also, with the integration of altitude graphs, users can view the uphill and downhill segments of their routes.

On the health front, Suunto has embraced AI technology. It introduces a coaching mode that, like its competitors Garmin and Polar, relies on heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. These insights help users understand their recovery needs. The watch monitors HRV during sleep, and after 14 days, it establishes an HRV range for the user. While this feature shares similarities with Garmin’s HRV Status, the latter’s Training Readiness feature, driven by HRV, seems a bit more user-friendly at a glance.

Switching gears to the Garmin Instinct 2, it brings a comprehensive package for fitness enthusiasts. It offers features like performance condition ratings and a race predictor, estimating run times for various distances ranging from 5k to marathons. As users increase their fitness, these predicted times adjust accordingly. The Instinct 2 also introduces TracBack, a feature that helps users navigate back to their starting point, making it ideal for explorers. For those keen on elevation details, the watch provides elevation profiles and calculates the total ascent and descent.

For cyclists, the Instinct 2 is a treasure trove. It covers an array of cycling modes, from road and mountain biking to e-biking and touring. It’s also compatible with devices like power meters and supports speed and cadence sensors.

Swimmers aren’t left behind either. The Instinct 2 tracks open water swimming metrics and offers features like drill logging, a rest timer, and auto rest. Impressively, it can even suggest pool workouts based on a user’s fitness level and past activities.

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Suunto Race vs Garmin Instinct 2: Smart Features

Both the Suunto Race and Garmin Instinct 2 come equipped with various smart features, making them more than just fitness trackers. Here’s a comparison of their intelligent offerings:

The Suunto Race and Garmin Instinct 2 both have a dual-band GPS system, ensuring precise tracking and navigation. In terms of added functionalities, the Race is paired with the Suunto Plus Store, which seems to be gearing towards an app-store feel, much like Garmin’s Connect IQ Store. This hints at Suunto’s aim to enhance user experience with more downloadable features and apps.

On the Race’s vibrant screen, users can easily access standard smartwatch features like notifications and music controls. These features make it a suitable companion for daily wear and not just during workouts. Furthermore, Suunto took a significant step by launching its first-ever bone-conduction headphones, the Suunto Wing. However, it’s worth noting that these headphones don’t have any unique compatibility features with the Race watch.

As for the interface, Suunto seems to have taken inspiration from Garmin. The Race’s new user interface allows users to access a variety of widgets with just a single swipe from the main watch screen. This easily accessible stream provides a quick glance at notifications, health monitoring stats, sleep data, and even specific environmental details like altimeter and barometric data.

On the other hand, the Garmin Instinct 2 is also designed for daily wear, proving its worth as a smartwatch by displaying smartphone messages and alerting users to incoming calls right on their wrist. Beyond these basic smart features, it offers additional customization. Users can personalize their watch by downloading apps and unique watch faces through the Garmin Connect IQ platform.

Suunto Race vs Garmin Instinct 2: Battery Life

When it comes to lasting power, Garmin’s Instinct 2 generally holds the edge over Suunto Race, primarily due to its energy-efficient display.

Starting with the Suunto Race, and its battery performance was a topic of anticipation. Initially, Suunto hinted at ambitions of stretching the Race’s battery life to 14 days. However, the final result is a commendable 12 days under regular use, with the potential to extend up to 26 days in a basic time mode. There’s ambiguity on whether these figures account for the always-on display feature. One aspect that does stand out is the GPS battery life. In its highest accuracy setting, it maxes out at 40 hours, which, although reduced from the 60-85 hours seen in the Vertical, is still impressive, especially when contrasted with the 19 hours offered by the Garmin Forerunner 965 in a similar mode.

Shifting to Garmin’s Instinct 2, its solar models promise more extended battery durations, contingent on a couple of hours of sunlight exposure daily. In fact, for individuals like lifeguards who are primarily outdoors, Garmin suggests an almost infinite battery lifespan. But it’s worth noting, that heavy-duty features such as GPS, music playback, and SpO2 tracking will understandably take a toll on battery longevity.

For a clearer picture, let’s break down Garmin’s battery performance across different models and modes:

Suunto Race vs Garmin Instinct 2: Which Should You Buy?

Deciding between the Suunto Race and Garmin Instinct 2? Here are some recommendations to help you make the best choice based on their distinct features.

Buy Suunto Race if:

• Vibrant Display: You value a sharp and vivid AMOLED touchscreen.
• Sleek Design: You prefer a refined look, opting for either stainless steel or titanium materials.
• App Integration: You’re interested in accessing the Suunto Plus Store for apps and features.
• Customizability: You appreciate the ability to customize your watch display for specific activities.
• In-depth Tracking: You are looking for advanced features like altitude graphs and a coaching mode based on heart rate variability.

Buy Garmin Instinct 2 if:

• Budget-Friendly: You’re looking for a more affordable option.
• Durability: You appreciate a rugged design and a sturdy build.
• Battery Life: You prioritize longer battery duration and energy-efficient displays.
• Navigation & Cycling Features: You value features like TracBack and the wide array of cycling modes.
• Pool Workouts: You’re a swimmer and would benefit from tailored pool workout suggestions.

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