Suunto Race 3S: One-minute review
Suunto has been pretty great over the last few years at delivering mid-to-premium smartwatch options, but if there was one miss, it was the Suunto Race series. As we pointed out in 2024 , the Suunto Race S felt premium in terms of its design despite being cheaper than many of its rivals, but the heart rate tracking left a lot to be desired. It was followed by a Race 2, with no smaller ‘2s’ model. With Suunto announcing a new model, the Race 3S, though, we expected big things. What we got, however, was almost the inverse of the Race and Race 2: The price is up (way up), and while there are some neat improvements ranging from “nice to have” to catching up with rivals, its fitness tracking is, thankfully, much better. And at this price, it really needed to be. Whereas its predecessor launched at $449, this model is $150 more. In a market that’s already crowded with excellent budget and mid-range smartwatches and fitness trackers, it feels a little like Suunto has overshot its category somewhat. Suunto Race 3S: Specifications
Component
Suunto Race 3S
Price
$599 / £435 / AU$999
Weight
56g
Case/bezel
Titanium
Display
1. 32-inch AMOLED display
GPS
Dual-band GPS
Battery life
Up to 12 days
Connection
Bluetooth
Water resistant? 50m

Suunto Race 3S: Price and availability
Starts at $599 / £435 / AUS$999
Much pricier than the prior Race S model
Available in three color options
Available in three colors of Titanium, the Suunto Race 3S will set you back considerably more than its predecessors, somewhat undoing the charm of the last model. It’s not the most expensive smartwatch around, but that puts it close to Garmin’s Forerunner 570 and a whole $200 more than an Apple Watch Series 12. My review unit is the pink-hued ‘Orchid’ colorway, but there’s also a black version (handily called ‘Black’), as well as a grayish ‘Feather’. Value score: 2/5
Suunto Race 3S: Design

(Image credit: Future / Lloyd Coombes) Display is nice and easy to read
Digital crown and button combo is easy to learn
Titanium and sapphire crystal
If you were wondering where the extra budget has gone in the Suunto Race 3S, then it’d be fair to say some of it has been lavished on the exterior. The watch comes with a titanium bezel like the Garmin Fenix 9, with a very slight lip over the AMOLED display. Will it survive a sharp rock on your next trail run? I’m not at liberty to hurl it in the name of science, but the Sapphire Crystal glass will definitely protect against just about anything else. On the underside, you’ll find a reworked heart sensor (more on that later), and I’m pleased to see the Race 3S continue with the more traditional “pin” design for installing the straps. They’re the usual polymer fare here, but the colored strips are a nice touch that give it a little more personality. On the side, you’ll find two navigation buttons and a digital crown, while you can prod at the screen with your digits, too. All in all, navigating is really easy to pick up, so if this is your first smartwatch, there’s a good chance you can hit the ground, well, running. Design Score: 4/5
Suunto Race 3S: Features
A step up from its predecessor in almost every aspect
Tougher, faster, and larger storage
We’ll get to performance shortly, but much of what Suunto has put in the Race 3S feels like natural extensions from the prior model, and helps it keep pace (pun intended) with its rivals — if not actually outstripping them. The processor is faster, but it’s not as if you’re running third-party apps that can really push it to its limits (Suunto doesn’t support them), and the whole thing has dropped 4g in weight to be a little more comfortable (although I’m unsure you’d notice it much)…