| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Suunto |
| Type | GPS multisport and trail running watch |
| Series | Race |
| Model number | OW265 |
| Released | 15 October 2026 (UK, Europe, China). 29 October 2026 (North America, Asia-Pacific) |
| Price at launch | GBP 435 / USD 599 / EUR 499 |
| Predecessor | Suunto Race S |
| Successor | Not yet announced. See Release Radar. |
| Sizes | 46mm |
| Sport modes | More than 100 |
| Colours | Orchid, Feather, Black |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Jump to: Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Comparisons | Further reading
Expert opinion
Suunto Race 3S is the small-wrist size of the flagship in the Race series, and it corrects the main hardware weaknesses of Race S. Dual-band GPS battery life rises from 30 to 45 hours, the display is more than three times brighter, sapphire replaces Gorilla Glass, and titanium is standard.
The processor is the Apollo 510 from Race 2, and the small watch adds new heart rate and GNSS/GPS hardware. Run 2 uses the same hardware we see here and tested well for both heart rate and GPS. The Race 3S heart rate module has the same LED and photodetector count as Race 2, whose sensor underreported during hard efforts. Race 3S accuracy is pending testing.
Navigation is the strongest part of the feature set, with free worldwide offline maps, contour lines, place names and Climb Guidance. Three advertised features arrive after launch: Race Planner, offline music and NFC. Suunto AI Coach is a paid service with three months included. Against Garmin, the watch clearly wins on battery life and map pricing, and trails on sensor support, safety features, and music services.
Suunto Race 3S
Titanium bezel, sapphire glass, 1.32" AMOLED (2,000 nits), 45h dual-band GPS.
What’s new versus Suunto Race S
Hardware
- Dual-band GPS battery life of up to 45 hours, up from 30
- 2,000-nit LTPS hybrid AMOLED display, up from 600 nits
- Sapphire crystal lens, replacing Gorilla Glass
- Titanium bezel on every version
- Apollo 510 processor for faster maps and menus
- New optical heart rate module with six LEDs and four photodetectors behind 2.5D curved glass
- 64GB storage, up from 32GB
- Silicon-carbon anode battery
Software
- Suunto AI Coach, with three months included
- Offline maps with contour lines and place names
- Race Planner, arriving in a later update
- Offline music, arriving in a later update
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Size | 1.32 inch |
| Type | LTPS hybrid AMOLED |
| Resolution | 466 x 466 pixels |
| Brightness | Up to 2,000 nits |
| Lens | Sapphire crystal |
| Touchscreen | Yes, plus a digital crown and two side buttons |
| Physical | |
| Case size | 46 x 46 x 11.4mm |
| Weight | 38g (watch head), 56g with silicone strap |
| Case material | Titanium bezel, glass-fibre-reinforced polyamide case |
| Strap | Silicone, 22mm |
| Wrist fit | 125 to 175mm |
| Water rating | 5 ATM (50m) |
| Operating temperature | -20C to +55C |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GPS | Dual-band L1 + L5, GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou/QZSS, four systems at once, up to 32 satellites |
| Heart rate | Optical, six LEDs and four photodetectors behind 2.5D curved glass |
| Other sensors | Altimeter, compass (5-degree accuracy, 1-degree resolution), thermometer |
| Processor | Ambiq Apollo 510 |
| Connectivity and storage | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Storage | 64GB for maps and music |
| Music | Offline music, arriving in a software update after launch |
| Onboard maps | Yes, free worldwide offline maps with contour lines and place names |
| NFC | Arriving after launch |
| Cellular | No |
Battery life
| Mode | Battery life |
|---|---|
| Daily use, smartwatch mode | Up to 12 days |
| Training, all systems, dual-band | Up to 45 hours (40 with always-on display) |
| Training, all systems, single-band | Up to 55 hours (50 with always-on display) |
| Training, power-saving GPS modes | Up to 150 hours |
Battery modes: Performance, Endurance, Ultra, and Tour. Dual-band recording is 45 hours for Race 3S against 30 hours for Race S.
Features
Navigation
- Free worldwide offline maps, downloaded to the watch, with contour lines and place names
- Climb Guidance, showing the next climb or descent on a loaded route
- Race Planner, a pacing plan built from route, weather and goal time (arriving in a later update)
Training
- Suunto AI Coach, a paid conversational coach in the Suunto app, with three months included when the watch is activated by 31 December 2026
- ZoneSense real-time intensity from heart rate variability, with a Suunto heart rate belt
- EnergySense live effort tracking
- Training zones by heart rate, pace and power
- More than 100 sport modes, including running, cycling, swimming, gym and multisport
- SuuntoPlus sport apps and guides
Daily
- Offline music (arriving in a later update)
- NFC (arriving after launch)
- Over-the-air software updates
- Sync to Strava, TrainingPeaks and other platforms
Suunto Race 3S
Titanium bezel, sapphire glass, 1.32" AMOLED (2,000 nits), 45h dual-band GPS.
Comparisons and upgrade guides
- Suunto Race 3S vs Race S, everything that changed
- Suunto Race 3S vs Race 2 vs Run 2, which Suunto to buy
- Suunto Race 3S vs Garmin Forerunner 570 and 970
- Suunto Race 3S vs COROS Apex 4
Further reading
- Suunto Race 3S launch, price, availability and first thoughts
- Suunto AI Coach, what it does and what it costs
- Suunto Race S review, the predecessor
- Suunto GPS watches guide
- Suunto specifications index
Related watches
Looking at alternatives to Race 3S?
- Predecessor: Suunto Race S, cheaper, with a dimmer screen, Gorilla Glass and 30 hours of dual-band GPS.
- Also consider: Suunto Race 2 for a larger 1.5-inch screen and 55 hours of dual-band GPS, COROS Apex 4 for 24 days of daily battery life, or Garmin Forerunner 970 for the widest training feature set.
