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Finnish sports watch manufacturer Suunto is launching the Race 3S, a compact GPS watch designed for endurance athletes. The watch weighs 56 grams with a silicone strap. The Race 3S continues the Race series launched in 2023, bringing its full range of features to a smaller format. However, due to the small display, the navigation features are not suitable for all sports. The Suunto Race 3S costs 499 euros. It is a compact successor to the Suunto Race 2.
Battery life of the Suunto Race 3S
According to Suunto’s official specifications, the Race 3S lasts for up to 38 hours in dual-band GPS mode. According to the manufacturer, this is 40 per cent longer than the Suunto Race S. Position accuracy is maintained throughout the entire battery life. In everyday mode, a single battery charge lasts for up to 12 days. Additional battery modes extend the runtime even further. This means training runs and competitions can be tracked right up to the finish line without having to carry the charger.
Housing and display
The 46 mm case features a titanium bezel and sapphire crystal. These materials are designed to withstand rocks, undergrowth and repeated impacts. The 1.32-inch LTPS Hybrid AMOLED display reaches 2,000 nits at a resolution of 466 × 466 pixels. The brightness is more than three times that of the Race S’s display. This ensures that pace, distance and navigation information remain legible even in midday sun or in the dark.
Suunto Race 3S sensors
The optical heart rate sensor features six LEDs and four photodetectors behind a curved 2.5D sensor glass. Measurements are designed to remain accurate even when the arm is moving, or in the presence of sweat or cold conditions. ZoneSense can be used with a paired Suunto heart rate chest strap. This feature determines the actual training intensity directly from the body’s response.
Navigation and maps
Position tracking works even under dense foliage, in gorges, in the forest and on winding roads. The free offline maps for the whole world show contour lines and place names. The maps are downloaded directly to the watch and run entirely on the device, with no subscription required. The Race 3S offers 64 GB of internal storage for maps, routes, training data and offline music. The offline music feature will be available via an over-the-air software update after the product’s launch.
Trail running features on the Suunto Race 3S
Climb Guidance shows in real time whether the next section is an ascent or a descent. This allows you to pace yourself proactively. If you know that an ascent follows a downhill section, you can conserve your energy accordingly. In future, the Race Planner will create a personalised pacing plan based on the route, weather conditions and your personal race goal. On race day, the feature will provide real-time guidance to help you maintain your pace. The Race Planner will be introduced with a future update to the Suunto app and firmware.
Suunto AI Coach
The Race 3S marks the launch of the Suunto AI Coach, a paid, AI-powered, dialogue-based coaching feature within the Suunto app. The AI Coach uses your own Suunto data to provide insights and recommendations. Users can ask the AI Coach any question about their training. The answers are context-specific and, if desired, supplemented with graphs, tables, maps and next steps. The AI Coach creates structured workouts, training plans and routes. Workouts and routes can be saved in the Suunto app and synchronised with the watch. Anyone who buys a Race 3S, pairs it with the Suunto app and activates it by 31 December 2026 will receive three months’ free access to the Suunto AI Coach.
Sport modes and memory
Over 100 sport modes cover running, cycling, swimming, strength training and multisport. The 64 GB internal storage offers plenty of space for large amounts of data. The watch is available in Orchid, Feather and Black.
Kristian Bauer
Editor