Suunto, a renowned name in the world of sports watches, recently unveiled its latest gem – the “Suunto Race.” With this premium addition, it promises an array of impressive features to allure every fitness enthusiast.
But let’s not forget about the Suunto 9 Baro GPS watch. It’s been a staple in the market for a few years and now comes at almost half the price of the Race. So, you might find yourself at a crossroads.
Do you splurge on the high-end Suunto Race or save some bucks with the equally efficient Suunto 9 Baro?
If this conundrum sounds familiar, fear not. I’m here to dissect each watch’s offerings and help you make an informed choice. Ready? Let’s dive in.
Suunto Race vs Suunto 9 Baro: Price & Avilablity
As already mentioned, the Suunto Race carries a heftier price tag in comparison to the Suunto 9 Baro. Delving deeper into the specifics, the Race is available with two bezel variants – stainless steel and titanium.
The stainless steel version comes with a price tag of $449/£389/449 Euros. If you’re eyeing the titanium Race, you’d need to shell out a bit more, costing $549/£479/549 Euros.
In contrast, the Suunto 9 Baro is currently up for grabs at a discounted rate, retailing for just $239 in the US. This price differentiation indeed plays a pivotal role when weighing the two against each other.
Where to Buy?
| Model | Best Deal |
|---|---|
| Suunto Race | View on Suunto |
| Suunto 9 Baro | View on Amazon |
Suunto Race vs Suunto 9 Baro: Specs Comparison
| Product | Suunto Race | Suunto 9 Baro |
|---|---|---|
| Design & Material | Shape: Circular Body: Stainless Steel/Titanium Strap: Silicone, Nylon | Shape: Circular Body: Glass fibre-reinforced polyamide Strap: silicone |
| Display | 1.43-inch AMOLED | 1.34 inch Matrix |
| Resolution | 466 x 466 pixels | 320 x 300 pixels |
| Dimension | 49 x 49 x 13.3 mm | 50 x 50 x 16.8 mm |
| Weight | 69 g | 81 grams |
| Sensors | Heart rate sensor Optical pulse oximeter, barometric altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass | Altimeter, Accelerometer, Heart Rate Monitor, Blood Oxygen |
| GPS | GPS (L1 + L5 Dual Frequency), GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BEIDOU |
| NFC | No | No |
| Speaker | No | No |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| Water Resistance | 100 meters | 100 m |
| OS | Suunto OS | Suunto OS |
| Battery | In time mode: 26 days With 24/7 tracking & notifications: 12 days Training mode with GPS: 40h / 50h / 70h / 120h | 7 days |
| Price | Starting at $449 | $239 |
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Suunto Race vs Suunto 9 Baro: In-Depth Review
Design & Display
The Suunto Race is clearly engineered with performance sports in mind, borrowing some design inspiration from its outdoor-focused counterpart, the Vertical. Sporting either a stainless steel or a lighter titanium bezel, the Race offers a sleeker design than its predecessors.
The highlight here is the 1.43-inch AMOLED touchscreen, boasting a crisp 460 x 460 resolution, rivaling many smartwatches in terms of size, clarity, and vibrancy. There are three physical buttons on one side of the case, and at the back, you’ll find an optical heart rate sensor.
The Suunto 9 Baro showcases resilience with its glass fiber reinforced polyamide case, stainless steel bezel, and a protective sapphire glass screen. Its 1.4-inch Matrix LCD display offers clear visibility, especially during outdoor activities.
Features
The Race’s software has seen significant advancements with a revamped user interface, aiming for more intuitive and fluid interactions.
The widget stream, just a swipe away from the main screen, offers quick access to notifications, health monitoring, and altimeter data.
The Race impresses with its dual-band GPS chipset and detailed mapping, further enhanced by the vivid AMOLED display.
One can also personalize the watch screen for specific races and access altitude graphs for their routes. Suunto introduces AI-powered coaching, focusing on heart rate variability (HRV) for insights into recovery needs.
The Race also integrates with the Suunto Plus Store for added functionalities.
Suunto 9 Baro, this watch is a thorough fitness tracker, boasting over 80 sports modes, complete sleep cycle tracking, and heart rate monitoring.
With its built-in GPS, it’s ready for any outdoor adventure. The Suunto app complements the watch, making fitness goal management a breeze.
Its inbuilt GPS facilitates comprehensive outdoor activity tracking, enhanced with features like offline maps.
Battery Life
In terms of battery life, Race offers more. Suunto’s ambition was a 14-day battery life, but it settled at 12 days, extending up to 26 days in a basic mode. The top GPS accuracy mode boasts 40 hours, which, though less than the Vertical, still outshines many competitors.
An impressive feat, the 9 Baro offers up to 120 hours of continuous GPS tracking, ensuring longevity even during extended activities.
Suunto Race vs Suunto 9 Baro: Which should you buy?
Buy Suunto Race if…
- You’re looking for a more modern design with performance sports in mind, inspired by the Vertical.
- You prefer an AMOLED touchscreen display with a high resolution of 460 x 460 that rivals many smartwatches.
- You appreciate having a more streamlined interface with the revamped software for quicker and more intuitive interactions.
- You want the latest advancements in GPS and detailed mapping capabilities on a colorful display.
- Personalizing your watch screen for specific races and viewing altitude graphs are important for your activities.
- AI-powered coaching and insights into recovery through heart rate variability (HRV) measurements are essential for your training routine.
- Integration with the Suunto Plus Store for added functionalities is a priority.
- You’re willing to pay a premium for the latest features and the titanium or stainless steel build.
Buy Suunto 9 Baro if…
- You’re looking for a more rugged design
- A Matrix LCD display that offers clear visibility during outdoor activities is sufficient for your needs.
- You only need basic fitness tracking.
- You’re on a budget and would appreciate a more value-for-money option, especially given the current discounted rate.
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