Suunto 9From real comments

Verdict distilled from 37 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment28%
PROS 28%
CONS 72%

Rank based on 37 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want multi-day battery life for ultras and long expeditions
  • You prioritize rugged build quality and a well-regarded companion app over smartwatch extras
  • You mainly need core training and outdoor metrics rather than payments or music

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need consistently accurate wrist heart rate for interval or tempo training
  • You want reliable customer support if something malfunctions
  • You depend on flawless Strava syncing and modern, customizable watch faces

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

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1Premium
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Exceptional battery lifeRugged, durable build with sapphire glassImproved maps and touchscreen navigationHigh price makes upgrading hard to justifyInconsistent screen visibility on some solar unitsHeart rate sensor bugs
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Exceptional battery life
Rugged, durable build with sapphire glass
Improved maps and touchscreen navigation
High price makes upgrading hard to justify
Inconsistent screen visibility on some solar units
Heart rate sensor bugs
2Mid
Apple Watch Series 5
Always-on displayMeaningful upgrade from older Apple WatchesSolid battery life for an always-on watchNot worth upgrading from Series 4Feels fragile without a caseNeeds nightly charging with always-on enabled
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Always-on display
Meaningful upgrade from older Apple Watches
Solid battery life for an always-on watch
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Feels fragile without a case
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Amazfit Balance
Impressive Battery LifeVersatile Fitness Tracking FeaturesGorgeous AMOLED DisplayPrice ConcernsScreen Smudging and ScratchesIssues with Body Composition Measurement
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Impressive Battery Life
Versatile Fitness Tracking Features
Gorgeous AMOLED Display
Price Concerns
Screen Smudging and Scratches
Issues with Body Composition Measurement
Best value
4Mid
Amazfit Active 2
Excellent Value for PriceGood Heart Rate TrackingLong Battery LifeInconsistent Heart Rate TrackingLimited Storage CapacitySoftware Bugs and Glitches
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Excellent Value for Price
Good Heart Rate Tracking
Long Battery Life
Inconsistent Heart Rate Tracking
Limited Storage Capacity
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5Budget
Amazfit Bip 6
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Impressive Battery Life
Great Price-to-Quality Ratio
Lightweight and Comfortable Design
Limited Storage Capacity
Inaccurate Sleep Tracking
Fragile Screen
6Premium
Suunto 9 Baro
Excellent battery life for ultras
Suunto 9 Baro
Excellent battery life for ultras
7Budget
Amazfit Band 7
Long Battery LifeAccurate Heart Rate MonitoringBuilt-in Alexa FunctionalityBattery Life DiscrepanciesInaccurate Tracking for Some ActivitiesStrap Durability Issues
Amazfit Band 7
Long Battery Life
Accurate Heart Rate Monitoring
Built-in Alexa Functionality
Battery Life Discrepancies
Inaccurate Tracking for Some Activities
Strap Durability Issues
8Premium
Garmin Fenix 7S
Excellent battery lifeGreat fit for smaller wristsStrong outdoor sunlight visibilityDim or hard-to-read sapphire displayBulky or heavy feelHigh price for display quality received
Garmin Fenix 7S
Excellent battery life
Great fit for smaller wrists
Strong outdoor sunlight visibility
Dim or hard-to-read sapphire display
Bulky or heavy feel
High price for display quality received
9Mid
Garmin Fenix 5
Long-term durabilityGreat value for featuresRugged build qualityHeart rate sensor accuracyIndoor display visibility only averageReliability concerns in comparison to newer models
Garmin Fenix 5
Long-term durability
Great value for features
Rugged build quality
Heart rate sensor accuracy
Indoor display visibility only average
Reliability concerns in comparison to newer models
10Premium
Garmin Fenix 6X
Long battery lifeScratch-proof sapphire glassDetailed sports and training dataHigh priceInconsistent sleep and body battery trackingSapphire screen brightness/visibility concerns
Garmin Fenix 6X
Long battery life
Scratch-proof sapphire glass
Detailed sports and training data
High price
Inconsistent sleep and body battery tracking
Sapphire screen brightness/visibility concerns
You are here
31Premium
Suunto 9
Long battery lifeReliable navigation in the fieldWell-liked companion appInconsistent GPS and altitude trackingUnreliable heart rate accuracyApp and Strava syncing problems
Suunto 9
Long battery life
Reliable navigation in the field
Well-liked companion app
Inconsistent GPS and altitude tracking
Unreliable heart rate accuracy
App and Strava syncing problems

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Battery life and rugged navigation are the Suunto 9's biggest strengths. Users completed a 141km ultra and a 100-miler with over 20% battery left, and one reviewer praised the low power draw as a reliable kayak-trip backup after an Apple Watch died mid-course. During the UTMB, navigation tracked excellently with no issues. Owners also highlight the tank-like build quality and an app that some call one of the best parts of the whole experience.

Heart rate and GPS accuracy vary widely between users. Multiple owners describe the wrist HR sensor as pretty unreliable, spiking to 190bpm during easy runs or working only about 10% of the time, pushing some to chest straps. GPS complaints include a terrible-tracking Ironman swim and bike leg, an 800m elevation error after months of use, and altitude data only recording in the most battery-hungry GPS mode, frustrating hikers who need reliable ascent and descent figures.

Software, syncing and customer support are recurring pain points. Reviewers call the operating system obsolete, with static, non-customizable watch faces and missing gesture controls. Strava syncing has misread pace data and, in one case, refused to export a GPS track entirely. Multiple users say Suunto's customer service does not care about problems, with one waiting on hold for an hour before being disconnected, and others reporting barometer faults or watches suddenly draining 35% battery per day.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?