Suunto Race S - This premium GPS smartwatch now comes in a smaller, lighter package

Suunto Race S - This premium GPS smartwatch now comes in a smaller, lighter package

That's why many great smartwatches, like the Apple Watch 9 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, come in a variety of sizes to accommodate a wide range of users.

Finnish smartwatch maker Suunto seems to be taking a page from its competitors with the new Suunto Race S, a more compact and lighter version of the brand's flagship Suunto Race GPS watch.

Suunto has not announced an official case size for the device, but we do know that the AMOLED screen is 1.32" versus the original model's 1.43", or 49mm. This would imply a case size of 40-42 mm for the Suunto Race S. Despite the smaller footprint, this new model has all the same bells and whistles as its big brother.

Here is everything you need to know about the Suunto Race S, including price, health features, smart features, battery life, and overall outlook.

The official price of the Suunto Race S in the U.S. is still unknown, but we do know that it will be available in the UK in a choice of six colors for £325. The MSRP in the U.S. will be between $400 and $450, putting it in direct competition with popular models such as the Garmin Forerunner 265. Availability is still unknown.

Like the original Suunto Race, the S will feature a heart rate sensor, onboard GPS with offline map support, sleep tracking for insight into sleep stages, menstrual health tracking, stress monitoring, and of course, comprehensive wellness and adventure tracking technology.

Suunto Race S also provides users with heart rate variability (HRV) details. Users can further choose from 95 sport modes, including common workouts such as yoga, trail running, swimming, and cycling, as well as multisports such as triathlon.

Battery life on the Suunto Race S should be excellent. In standard GPS tracking mode, you can expect up to 30 hours of runtime on a single charge. In tour mode, up to 5 days of GPS tracking is possible, but at the expense of heart rate data.

A 1.32-inch AMOLED screen protected by Gorilla Glass adorns the front of the Suunto Race 3. Like the larger version, it has a stainless steel case with physical buttons and a rotating digital crown on the side.

Suunto says the watch weighs less than the original Race smartwatch, but we don't know how much. The original weighs 83 grams, which is considerably heavier. By comparison, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 weighs about 61g.

There are six sporty styles to choose from, including white, blue and green, orange, tan, pink, and black.

Smart features are Suunto's forte, and the S is no different. Unlike the best Garmin watches, the Suunto Race S does not support NFC payments or offline music listening.

It can, however, receive notifications from a mirrored smartphone and control music via Bluetooth; the S also offers daily weather forecasts, an alarm function, and not much else by way of smart technology.

We were fans of the original Suunto Race watch, but had concerns about the accuracy of the heart rate sensor and the general lack of smart features.

Assuming Suunto has addressed the former, the Race S seems like a solid bet for those seeking a comfortable-to-wear device with long battery life, a bright, easy-to-read screen, rich sports profiles, and accurate GPS. Just don't expect to check your social profiles or buy croissants with it.

Of course, there are many tough competitors with similar features; the Garmin Forerunner 265 is one of the best running watches money can buy, and the next crop after the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch.

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