Suunto has spent the last couple of years climbing out of the “nice but behind Garmin” corner, and the new Race 3S is its most confident step yet. The compact titanium GPS watch went on sale on October 15, 2026 in the UK and Europe, with the US and Canada following on October 29. It brings a much brighter screen, a bigger battery and a better heart rate sensor, and it asks for a lot more money than the Race S it follows.
Early reviews are already in, and they agree on more than you might expect. Here is what changed, how the 3S compares with the Race S, and who should actually spend $599 on it.
Quick take
The Suunto Race 3S is a 56 gram titanium GPS watch with a 1.32-inch, 2,000-nit AMOLED display, sapphire glass, 64GB of storage and free worldwide offline maps. Suunto rates it at up to 38 hours of dual-band GPS. It costs $599 / €499 / £435, about $250 more than the Race S. Reviewers praise the new heart rate sensor and GPS accuracy, but several call the price a stretch.
Suunto Race 3S at a Glance
| Spec | Suunto Race 3S |
|---|---|
| Release | October 15, 2026 (UK and Europe), October 29 (US and Canada) |
| Price | $599 / €499 / £435 |
| Display | 1.32 inch AMOLED, up to 2,000 nits |
| Build | Titanium bezel, sapphire crystal, 56g with strap (38g watch head) |
| Storage | 64GB, free global offline maps |
| Battery (rated) | Up to 38 hours dual-band GPS, about 32 hours with always-on display, up to 12 days smartwatch mode |
| Heart rate sensor | Six LEDs and four photodiodes |
| Colors | Titanium Orchid, Titanium Feather, Titanium Black |
| Strap | 22 mm silicone in the box, fits 125 to 175 mm wrists |
Specs and prices as reported from Suunto’s launch and coverage by The 5K Runner, Gadgets & Wearables, Notebookcheck, Tour Magazin and Active.com. Battery figures are Suunto’s own ratings. Some outlets list slightly different case measurements, so check Suunto’s product page before ordering a strap.
What Is Actually New
The Race 3S keeps the compact shape that made the Race S popular with smaller wrists, then upgrades almost everything around it. The screen is the headline change. Suunto says it peaks at 2,000 nits, more than three times the 600 nits of the Race S, which matters on a bright trail where dim AMOLED panels turn into mirrors.
Under the glass sits the Apollo 510 processor and a larger battery. Suunto says capacity is 46% higher than the Race S, thanks to a silicon-carbon anode, and that is how it gets to 38 hours of dual-band GPS without growing much in size. The optical heart rate sensor also gets a hardware refresh, moving from four LEDs and two photodiodes to six LEDs and four photodiodes.
Maps, Routes and the AI Coach
Navigation is where Suunto has been quietly strong, and the 3S leans on it. Worldwide offline maps are free and there is no subscription for them. The watch stores up to 200 routes, compared with just 15 on the Race S at launch, and it adds a map layer menu plus tide forecasts for anyone who runs or paddles near a coast.
Running dynamics are now calculated from the watch’s own sensors, where the Race S needed an external STRYD pod. Offline music support is also part of the pitch, with MP3 or WAV files copied to the watch and played over Bluetooth headphones. Coverage disagrees on timing, though. Some outlets say it works at launch, others say it arrives in an update, and Suunto has no streaming service support either way.
Then there is the AI Coach, a dialogue-based coaching feature in the Suunto app. It is a paid service. Buyers who pair and activate the watch in the app by December 31, 2026 get three months free, which means you should decide before the trial ends whether the coaching is worth a recurring fee. If you are trying to avoid ongoing costs, our guide to the best smartwatch with no subscription is worth a read first. The core watch, including the maps, works without paying anything extra.
Race 3S vs Race S
| Feature | Race S | Race 3S |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $349 / £299 | $599 / £435 |
| Peak brightness | 600 nits | 2,000 nits |
| Battery capacity | Baseline | 46% larger |
| Heart rate sensor | 4 LEDs, 2 photodiodes | 6 LEDs, 4 photodiodes |
| Stored routes | 15 at launch | 200 |
| Running dynamics | Needs STRYD | Built in |
| AI Coach | No | Yes (paid after trial) |
Based on Suunto’s own Race 3S vs Race S comparison and The 5K Runner’s breakdown. The Race S has since received software updates that narrow some gaps.
What Reviewers Say So Far
The first wave of reviews is positive on hardware and cautious on value. DC Rainmaker titled his review “A Pricey Upgrade” and called the new heart rate sensor “really darn good”, including on hilly runs with descents where optical sensors often struggle. He also noted that the watch feels laggier than the older Race S despite the faster processor.
Tom’s Guide praised the watch for smaller wrists and found heart rate accuracy considerably better than the Race S, but reported occasional erroneous spikes and a minute or two of delay at the start of cold-weather outdoor runs. It also points out that better-value options exist. Geeky Gadgets was the least enthusiastic, praising dual-band GPS accuracy while calling heart rate tracking mixed during dynamic activity and deep sleep. Road Trail Run saw solid heart rate results on a cold trail run.
So the pattern is clear: GPS is good, the sensor is much improved if not perfect, and the interface lag is the thing to watch. All of this is launch-window testing. Long-term battery and AI Coach results are not in yet.
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
At $599, the 3S lands in a crowded part of the market. Garmin’s mid-range running watches and Coros’s value-focused models both fight for the same buyer. If battery per dollar is your priority, the Coros Pace 4 Pro is the obvious comparison, since it also pairs a titanium case with long GPS endurance. For a wider look at what the category offers, our roundup of the best GPS smartwatch in 2026 shows where Suunto fits.
Where the 3S has a real edge is size and weight. At 56 grams with the strap and a case built for slimmer wrists, it is one of the few feature-rich titanium GPS watches that does not feel like wearing a paperweight. That makes it a natural fit for smaller wrists and for long days on the trail, which is also the territory covered in our best smartwatch for hiking guide.
What it does well
- ✓ Very bright 2,000-nit AMOLED
- ✓ Up to 38 hours of dual-band GPS
- ✓ Free worldwide offline maps
- ✓ Light, compact titanium and sapphire build
- ✓ Much better heart rate sensor than the Race S
Where it falls short
- ✕ $250 more than the Race S
- ✕ AI Coach becomes a paid service
- ~ Reports of interface lag
- ~ Mixed heart rate results in some tests
- ~ No music streaming
Who Should Buy the Race 3S?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Suunto Race 3S cost?
It costs $599 in the US, €499 in Europe and £435 in the UK.
When can I buy the Suunto Race 3S?
It went on sale on October 15, 2026 in the UK and Europe. The US and Canada follow on October 29, 2026, and US pre-orders reportedly include a free textile strap through that date.
How long does the Race 3S battery last?
Suunto rates it at up to 38 hours of dual-band GPS, about 32 hours with the always-on display, and up to 12 days in smartwatch mode.
Does the Suunto AI Coach cost extra?
Yes. It is a paid service, with three months free for buyers who activate the watch in the Suunto app by December 31, 2026.
Are the offline maps free?
Yes. Worldwide offline maps are included with no subscription.
Final Verdict
The Bottom Line
The Race 3S is the best compact Suunto yet, with a gorgeous screen, genuinely long GPS battery life and free maps. It is also a pricey step up from the Race S, and early reports of lag and uneven heart rate results mean it is not a no-brainer. If you want a light titanium trail watch and can live with $599, it is easy to like. Everyone else can wait for more long-term testing.
Featured image: Pexels. Illustrative stock photo, not the Suunto Race 3S.
About this article: GeekBlog covers U.S. technology news, AI, phones, smartwatches and gaming. Every story is written and checked under our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake or have a story tip? Contact our editors.
