Suunto Race 3S Review: High-End Sports Watch for Smaller Wrists at $599
Tom's Guide reviewed the Suunto Race 3S, a $599 GPS sports watch tailored for smaller wrists featuring a titanium bezel, sapphire crystal, and a 2,000-nit AMOLED display. The reviewer highlighted its comfortable lightweight design, dependable multi-band GPS, and noticeably improved heart rate tracking during testing. However, the evaluation found its steep price tough to justify against cheaper rivals, while noting drawbacks like occasional digital dial latency and non-editable default sport modes.
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 smaller sports watch with premium materials, detailed mapping, and long GPS battery life: the reviewer found its GPS tracks accurate and its heart-rate readings generally close to a chest strap. The reviewer also says the $599 U.S. price makes it hard to recommend over cheaper alternatives, so it may suit buyers who specifically value its compact premium design and feature set more than lower cost or simpler training analysis.
Best suited for Runners or multisport users seeking a 46mm sports watch with a titanium bezel, sapphire crystal, offline maps, multi-band GPS, and a compact form factor.
Highlights
The reviewer found GPS tracks and pace and distance statistics accurate in multi-band mode during side-by-side testing, which may matter to buyers who prioritize route and workout tracking.
The reviewer found heart-rate readings generally close to a chest strap across runs and other workouts, though occasional spikes and cold-start delays occurred.
In the reviewer's testing, the watch lasted five to six days with high-brightness always-on display use and daily GPS runs.
Its 64GB storage supports downloadable maps; the reviewer found maps clear and route syncing straightforward.
Before you buy
The reviewer considers the $599 U.S. price high compared with cheaper alternatives.
The reviewer found the training analysis acronym-heavy and says default sports modes cannot be customized; custom modes are limited to three customizable screens.
The reviewer reports occasional heart-rate spikes and short delays locking onto readings in cold weather.
Offline music is limited to files transferred to the watch; the source says it does not connect to streaming services, and the watch lacks NFC payments.
Product facts & conditions
Model / variant
Race 3S
Written by AI from the source report, not a hands-on test. Read source ↗
Media review
Review findings & buying advice
Based on Tom’s Guide ↗. AI-assisted summary of the source; not a Savlume hands-on test.
The Tom's Guide reviewer calls the Suunto Race 3S a very good smaller sports watch that mostly works well, but says its high price makes it difficult to recommend over less expensive rivals.
Who it may suit Buyers looking for a smaller sports watch with premium materials, multi-band GPS, downloadable maps, and long GPS battery life.
What the source liked
The reviewer found GPS tracks, pace, and distance accurate in multi-band mode during side-by-side testing.
The reviewer found heart-rate readings generally close to a chest strap across runs and other workouts.
The reviewer found the display bright and readable in sunshine and the watch comfortable to wear during testing.
Trade-offs & limitations
The reviewer says the $599 U.S. price is high compared with less expensive alternatives.
Training analysis can be difficult to interpret, and default sports modes cannot be customized.
The optical heart-rate sensor sometimes produced erroneous spikes or took a minute or two to settle in cold conditions.
Source testing context The reviewer describes side-by-side GPS comparisons with other watches, heart-rate comparisons against a chest strap during runs and other workouts, and battery testing with high brightness, the always-on display, and daily GPS runs.
Questions this review helps answer
How long did the battery last in the reviewer's daily-use test?
Five to six days with high brightness and the always-on display while running daily with GPS.
Does the watch provide routable maps?
No. The review says its maps are non-routable.
Can it play music from streaming services?
No. The source says music files can be transferred to the watch, but it does not link to streaming services.
The source reports a $599 U.S. price and compares it with the Suunto Race S titanium model's $449 launch price, the Suunto Run 2 at $349, and the Coros Pace 4 Pro at $449. These are source-stated prices, not evidence of typical selling prices.
Availability
United States price stated; U.K. price also reported.
Deadline (as stated)
before 31 December 2026
What to watch out for
Subscription
Suunto AI Coach is a paid service; Race 3S buyers can register for three free months before December 31, 2026.
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