I've been testing the Suunto Race 2 for the past few weeks, and I can confidently say this is the update that Suunto fans have been waiting for. The original Suunto Race had incredible GPS tracking and mapping capabilities, but the optical heart rate sensor was its Achilles heel. Suunto clearly listened to the feedback, and the Race 2 addresses that and so much more.
Design & Build
The Race 2 keeps the same 49mm case diameter as its predecessor, but it's now thinner (12.5mm vs 13.3mm) and lighter. The stainless steel version comes in at 76g, while the titanium model is just 65g - that's a significant reduction from the original's 83g. I really appreciate the thinner profile because it sits better on the wrist during activities and slides under sleeve cuffs much easier.
The display has grown from 1.43 inches to 1.5 inches, but the resolution stays at 466x466 pixels. What changed is the brightness - now hitting 2,000 nits at peak, compared to just 600 nits before. In direct sunlight, this thing is incredibly easy to read. The sapphire crystal glass remains standard, which is great for scratch resistance.
One design change I'm mixed on: the original Race had these beautiful ridged bezels that gave it an elegant, industrial look. The Race 2 is much more minimalistic, looking almost identical to the smaller Race S. It's still a good-looking watch, but I do miss that distinctive bezel design from the original.
The new magnetic charging cable is a welcome improvement. The old charger was finicky and would sometimes not make proper contact. This new one snaps in securely and charges reliably.
Heart Rate Sensor - The Big Fix
This is the story of the Race 2. Suunto completely redesigned the optical heart rate sensor, moving from a single LED cluster to six LEDs with four large light receivers. The difference is night and day.
In my testing, the Race 2 stayed much closer to my chest strap than the original Race ever did. For running, it tracked within a few beats per minute throughout most workouts. There were occasionally some initial calibration issues in the first minute or two, but after that, it locked on and performed well. This is a massive improvement over the original Race, which often drifted significantly during high-intensity efforts.
For cycling, the results were even better - nearly perfect in most of my indoor and outdoor rides. Even during weight training and HIIT sessions, where optical sensors typically struggle, the Race 2 performed admirably. It's not quite as good as a chest strap, but it's gotten much closer.
GPS Accuracy
Suunto has always excelled at GPS tracking, and the Race 2 continues that tradition. It uses dual-band GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS) and the results were excellent in my testing. On trail runs, the track followed my actual path closely, with sharp corners and clean transitions.
In New York City, one of the hardest environments for GPS, the Race 2 performed well overall, though I did notice slightly more deviation compared to some competitors in the tightest urban canyons. For most users in typical conditions, GPS accuracy won't be a concern - it's rock solid.
The battery life claims are impressive: up to 55 hours in dual-band GPS mode, 65 hours in single-band, and up to 200 hours in power-save mode. As a smartwatch, you're looking at around 12-18 days depending on usage. With always-on display and regular training, I got about 10 days, which is solid for an AMOLED watch.
Software & Features
The Race 2 runs Suunto's familiar interface with a touchscreen and three buttons (including a digital crown). The new processor - twice as fast according to Suunto - makes a noticeable difference. The UI feels snappy, maps scroll smoothly, and there's none of the lag that sometimes plagued the original Race.
The watch supports over 115 sports modes, including 22 new ones. You get offline topo maps with 32GB of storage, breadcrumb navigation, route guidance, and climb profiling. The maps show roads and trails but lack street labels and points of interest - that's something competitors like Garmin do better.
One area where Suunto falls short is smartwatch features. There's no NFC for contactless payments, no offline music storage, and no speaker for voice feedback (though it can connect to Bluetooth headphones for audio cues). The palm-to-sleep gesture that works on Garmin watches isn't here either - if you cover the display in a dark room, it stays illuminated. These feel like missed opportunities at this price point.
Training features include body resources (similar to Garmin's Body Battery), recovery time, training load, and the Suunto Coach pacing guidance. The new multi-sensor pairing is finally here - you can now pair multiple sensors of the same type, like two different heart rate monitors for different activities.
Battery Life
Here's the breakdown for GPS battery life:
- Performance mode (dual-band): Up to 55 hours
- Endurance mode: Up to 65 hours
- Ultra mode: Up to 90 hours
- Tour mode: Up to 200 hours
In daily smartwatch use with always-on display and regular training, I averaged about 10 days between charges. Without AOD, you could push closer to 18 days. For a bright AMOLED watch with these specs, that's competitive.
The Verdict
The Suunto Race 2 is the upgrade that the original Race needed. The heart rate sensor is vastly improved, the display is brighter and larger, the body is thinner and lighter, and the interface is snappier. If you owned the original Race and were holding back because of heart rate concerns, this is your reason to upgrade.
Who's it for? Serious athletes who want excellent GPS tracking, long battery life, and accurate heart rate monitoring without the bulk of a Fenix. The Race 2 is a proper sports watch that prioritizes performance over smartwatch features.
Who should skip it? If you need NFC payments, offline music, or the most advanced training metrics, look at Garmin or Coros. And if the $499 price feels steep, the Race S at $349 still offers 90% of the features in a smaller package - just with less accurate heart rate tracking.
For me, the Race 2 hits the sweet spot. It's not perfect - I'd love to see better smartwatch integration and that bezel design back - but when it comes to core sports tracking, Suunto has delivered.
Best for: Trail runners, cyclists, and multisport athletes who want exceptional GPS accuracy, great battery life, and finally, trustworthy heart rate data.
What do you think - is the Race 2 the upgrade Suunto needed, or is the price getting too close to Garmin territory? Let me know in the comments!