Suunto Race 3S Review: Upgraded Heart Rate and Build Compromised by Steep $599 Price
In his hands-on testing, DC Rainmaker finds that the $599 Suunto Race 3S delivers significantly improved optical heart rate tracking, dependable GNSS accuracy, and upgraded titanium and sapphire materials. However, the reviewer highlights notable shortcomings, including a steep price hike over the previous generation, noticeable widget lag, and offline music limited to manual MP3 cable transfers without streaming support. Furthermore, its 2,000-nit display trails newer rivals, and Suunto has yet to announce subscription pricing for its AI Coach following the initial three-month trial.
Published on Savlume: · Content updated: · Source published:
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AI brief
From the source report
The Suunto Race 3S may be worth considering if you want a compact sports watch with offline MP3 playback, longer stated GPS and smartwatch battery life than the Race S, and an optical heart-rate sensor the reviewer found substantially improved in testing. The source author’s main reservation is the $599 retail price, which they consider difficult to justify given the scale of the changes.
Best suited for Runners and other multisport users seeking a small-form-factor watch with maps, navigation, offline MP3 playback, and the added training features described in the review.
Highlights
The reviewer found the new optical heart-rate sensor a major improvement over the Race S sensor, including strong results across the reviewed runs and ride.
The article lists 38 hours of dual-frequency GPS time and 12 days of smartwatch daily battery life, compared with 30 hours and 9 days for the Race S.
Offline MP3 playback and 64GB of storage may suit buyers who want to load owned music files onto the watch; the article notes this does not include streaming services.
The reviewer reports the display was viewable in bright sun and shade, and says route navigation and workout data worked as expected.
Before you buy
The article reports a $599 USD retail price and the author's concern that the hardware changes do not justify the increase over the Race S.
Offline music playback requires transferring MP3 files by USB; the article says streaming services such as Spotify are not supported.
Race 3S users get 3 months of Suunto AI Coach, but the article says the eventual subscription price has not been announced.
The reviewer reports occasional lag in widgets, black tiles during map zooming, and aggressive display dimming; they also note there is no physical LED flashlight.
Product facts & conditions
Model / variant
Suunto Race 3S
Written by AI from the source report, not a hands-on test. Read source ↗
Media review
Review findings & buying advice
Based on DC Rainmaker ↗. AI-assisted summary of the source; not a Savlume hands-on test.
The reviewer praises the Race 3S's improved optical heart-rate sensor and describes its GPS results as generally good, but concludes that the $599 price is hard to justify for the extent of the upgrades.
Who it may suit Runners and multisport users interested in a small-form-factor watch with maps, navigation, and offline MP3 playback.
What the source liked
The reviewer found the optical heart-rate sensor performed very well across tested runs and a gravel ride, and called it a major improvement over the Race S.
The reviewer reports generally good GPS results across runs and rides, with most units close together in the comparisons.
The reviewer found the display viewable in sunny and shaded conditions.
Trade-offs & limitations
The reviewer says the $599 price is difficult to justify compared with the Race S and the scale of the changes.
The reviewer observed widget lag and black tiles while zooming maps.
Offline music playback supports transferred MP3 files, not streaming services; the reviewer also notes the missing physical LED flashlight.
Source testing context The author says they used the watch over several weeks and tested heart rate, GPS, battery, elevation, and use across activities including runs and a gravel ride.
The linked video is provided by the original creator. This summary uses the available source text; no independent viewing or testing is claimed.
Questions this review helps answer
Does the watch support music streaming services?
No. The article says offline playback requires transferring MP3 files by USB and that streaming services are not supported.
How did the reviewer assess the new optical heart-rate sensor?
The reviewer tested it across several runs and a gravel ride and described its performance as very good overall and a major improvement over the Race S sensor.
What is included with Suunto AI Coach?
The article says Race 3S users get 3 months free, but the eventual subscription price had not been announced.
At a glance
Product
Suunto Race 3S
Model / variant
Suunto Race 3S
Price comparison
The article compares the $599 USD retail price with the Suunto Race S launch price of $349 USD, and says the Race 3S price is more than a 70% increase. This is the source author's comparison, not a verified price history.
What to watch out for
Subscription
Suunto AI Coach includes 3 months free for Race 3S users; the article says the eventual subscription price has not been announced.
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