This new addition to the Suunto Race family brings significant improvements on the Race S: a brighter LTPS Hybrid AMOLED display, longer battery life, an upgraded optical heart rate sensor, more storage capacity and smart features that link your training sessions to the Suunto app.
Whether you’re preparing for your next running race or enjoy exploring new mountain trails, the Suunto Race 3S is designed to accompany you both during and outside your training sessions.
Suunto Race 3S: key updates
Suunto’s new sports watch brings significant improvements to the aspects that most influence the training experience.
Here are some of its key features:
- 1.32-inch AMOLED display: LTPS Hybrid technology, 466 x 466-pixel resolution and up to 2,000 nits of brightness.
- Dual-band L1+L5 GPS: accurate tracking with support for different satellite constellations.
- Up to 38 hours’ GPS battery life: when using the dual-band high-precision mode.
- New 12-channel optical sensor: designed to improve wrist-based heart rate monitoring.
- 64 GB of storage: space for offline maps and music.
- Global offline maps: view the terrain and follow your routes without relying on an internet connection.
- Suunto Coach and Suunto AI Coach: tools for planning workouts, interpreting data and guiding your training.
- Compact design and premium materials: 45 mm case, sapphire crystal and titanium components.
All this in a watch designed to offer advanced features without the need for an oversized case.
Compact design, premium materials and comfort
One of the main attractions of the Suunto Race 3S is its balance between size, comfort and technology. With a 45 mm case and a thickness of approximately 11.4 mm, it offers an advanced sports watch in a design intended to accompany you during training sessions and throughout the rest of the day.
Its design retains the identity of the Suunto Race range, whilst incorporating materials and details that enhance its premium finish.
These include sapphire crystal, which offers high scratch resistance, and a titanium bezel and case back. It also features a new digital crown, designed to make it easier to navigate menus, view data and move around maps with greater precision.
The touchscreen is complemented by two physical buttons, a practical combination when you need to control the watch whilst exercising.
The 22 mm silicone straps complete a design intended to be comfortable on the wrist.
The Suunto Race 3S will be available in three finishes: Titanium Orchid, Titanium Feather and Titanium Black, so you can choose the style that best suits you.
AMOLED display and dual-band GPS: precision with every kilometre
The display and the positioning system are two of the features that have the greatest impact on the user experience with a GPS watch. In the Suunto Race 3S, both have been significantly upgraded.
A screen designed for outdoor training
Its 1.32-inch LTPS Hybrid AMOLED display reaches a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits and offers a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels.
What does this mean when you go for a run? Mainly, that you can clearly view information such as pace, distance, heart rate and elevation gain whilst training outdoors.
The LTPS Hybrid technology is also designed to optimise energy consumption, particularly when using the display in always-on mode.
It’s a useful feature for those who constantly check their metrics during a session, follow a route or need to review information whilst making their way up a mountain.
Dual-band GPS for better route tracking
The Suunto Race 3S features a Sony GNSS chip compatible with the dual L1+L5 bands and various satellite constellations, including GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS and NavIC.
Dual-band capability helps reduce errors caused by signal reflections, a phenomenon that can affect positioning in environments such as cities with tall buildings, dense forests or narrow valleys.
In practice, this helps to ensure more reliable route tracking and more accurate recording of distances and data for each training session.
For runners who compare their paces, analyse their sessions or prepare for a competition, having consistent GPS data is particularly important.
Autonomía del Suunto Race 3S: preparado para entrenamientos largos
Battery life is one of the key strengths of this new watch. Its silicon-carbon anode battery increases energy density and improves battery life without increasing the size of the case.
According to Suunto’s data, the Race 3S offers approximately 30 per cent longer battery life in dual-band GPS mode than the Race S.
These are the figures given for its different battery modes:
| Mode | GPS range |
|---|---|
| Performance: dual-band and all constellations | Up to 38 hours |
| Resistance: one band and all the constellations | Up to 45 hours |
| Ultra: a band and just GPS | Up to 74 hours |
In everyday use, the estimated battery life is up to 12 days, compared with the 9 days specified for the Race S. Actual results may vary depending on settings, sensor usage and the features enabled.
This range of modes allows you to tailor power consumption to each activity. For training sessions requiring maximum positioning accuracy, Performance mode offers up to 38 hours. If you need to extend a mountain run or tackle a long-duration activity, you can switch to modes that prioritise battery life.
Furthermore, a full charge takes approximately one hour with the new charger.
Offline maps and navigation: explore without relying on your mobile
For those who enjoy trail running and discovering new routes, navigation is one of the most interesting features of the Suunto Race 3S.
The watch allows you to use free global offline maps, with information including street names, contour lines and points of interest. You can plan your routes and view the terrain directly from your wrist, even when you don’t have an internet connection.
Key navigation features include:
- Tracking of pre-planned routes.
- Turn-by-turn directions to let you know when to change direction.
- Navigation via points of interest.
- Compass and bearing navigation.
- Functions to retrace your steps.
- Elevation data and tools to analyse climbs.
- Weather data, barometric measurements and storm alerts.
Imagine you’re planning a trail run in an unfamiliar area. You can check the map, follow the route and review the elevation profile without having to constantly take your phone out of your pocket.
This combination of GPS, maps and outdoor tools makes the Suunto Race 3S an attractive option for mountain runners, hikers and athletes looking to explore with greater autonomy.
If you’re preparing for your next mountain challenge, you can also discover our selection of trail running gear at Running Emotion.
Training and recovery: learn from every session
Logging a training session is just the first step. To improve progressively, you also need to analyse the intensity of your effort, monitor your cumulative training load and know when to push harder and when it’s best to recover.
The Suunto Race 3S brings together a range of tools to help you better understand your athletic progress.
12-channel optical heart rate sensor
The new optical sensor uses 12 independent channels to monitor your heart rate from your wrist.
This measurement allows you to see how your body responds during exercise and analyse how the intensity changes throughout your sessions.
The accuracy of the reading may vary depending on the activity, the watch’s settings, movement and individual characteristics. For those who require specific measurements during demanding workouts, compatibility with external sensors is also important.
ZoneSense: gain a better understanding of the intensity of your workout
ZoneSense uses information relating to heart rate variability to help interpret exercise intensity in real time.
Rather than relying solely on pace or a fixed heart rate value, this tool provides additional information to help you understand how your body is responding to the exertion.
It can be particularly useful when the terrain, gradient or fatigue mean that maintaining a specific pace does not always represent the same level of physical exertion.
Suunto Coach: plan your workouts
Planning is essential when you have a specific goal, whether it’s improving your 10-kilometre time, preparing for a half-marathon or completing a trail run.
Suunto Coach gives you access to training programmes tailored to different goals, with weekly planning and daily sessions. The options available include strength training and interval sessions.
In this way, the Suunto watch and app can help you organise your sessions and maintain a training structure that’s consistent with your preparation.
Recovery, sleep and workloads
Improvement in sporting performance does not depend solely on how much you train, but also on how you process that effort.
The Suunto Race 3S combines various indicators to provide a more comprehensive view of your recovery status:
- Heart rate variability (HRV).
- Sleep quality and duration.
- Training load.
- Balance between load and recovery.
- Subjective perception of exertion.
- Fitness estimates, including VO₂ max.
Checking these metrics allows you to identify trends and put your feelings into context. They are not a substitute for how you actually feel, nor do they determine on their own whether you should train, but they can help you make more informed decisions.
EnergySense: get better at managing your bookings whilst running
In a race, maintaining your initial pace isn’t always the best strategy. Pacing becomes particularly important as the distance increases and fatigue sets in.
EnergySense is designed to provide an estimate of your remaining energy and the distance you could cover based on your energy level.
These figures can help you assess how well you are managing your effort and adjust your strategy during the activity. They are indicative estimates, not a direct measurement of your body’s energy reserves.
Suunto AI Coach: from data to decisions
The Suunto Race 3S expands the possibilities for training analysis through the Suunto app ecosystem and its AI-powered conversational experience, Suunto AI Coach.
It goes beyond simply displaying statistics. The aim is to help you understand what your data means and how you can use it to plan your next training sessions.
Suunto AI Coach can analyse information such as your sessions, activity history, sleep, recovery, training load and routes to provide contextualised guidance.
How can this help you?
Understand your progress. You can view training and wellbeing trends without having to manually review all your records.
Prepare for your next goal. The tool allows you to request guidance and training plans tailored to your goals and the available information.
Plan new outings. It also includes route generation and information on places of interest, making it easier to plan outdoor activities.
The advantage lies in linking the data generated by the watch to a tool that helps you interpret it and turn it into practical decisions.
The availability of certain features may depend on their roll-out and the terms of service. The 2026 launch promotion includes three months’ free access to Suunto AI Coach with the Race 3S, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
Music without your mobile and 64 GB of storage
The Suunto Race 3S is also designed to accompany you in your daily routine and reduce the need to carry your phone during your training sessions.
Its 64 GB of storage allows you to save offline maps and music for use without an internet connection. According to the estimate provided in the product documentation, this capacity is equivalent to around 16,000 MP3 songs, depending on the file size.
If you like running to music, this allows you to prepare your playlists before you set off and enjoy your sessions without relying on an internet connection. Offline playback requires compatible content to be stored on the device in advance.
The watch also features dual-band Wi-Fi 6, compatible with 2.4 and 5 GHz networks, to facilitate connections, map downloads and updates.
Who is the Suunto Race 3S designed for?
The Suunto Race 3S is designed for athletes looking for an advanced GPS watch, with excellent training and navigation tools, in a compact format.
Here are some of the situations in which its features can make all the difference.
For road runners. Dual-band GPS, heart rate monitoring, training metrics and pace tools help you analyse your sessions and set race goals.
For trail runners. Offline maps, navigation, elevation data and different battery modes are particularly useful when training in the mountains or tackling long routes.
For those preparing for a competition. Planning, training load tracking and recovery metrics allow you to monitor your progress throughout the weeks of preparation.
For multisport athletes. The watch offers over 100 sport modes, with options for activities such as cycling, swimming, strength training and various outdoor disciplines.
If you’re looking for a simple watch just to check your distance and time, you may not need to make use of all these features. However, if you enjoy analysing your training sessions, planning goals and exploring new routes, the Race 3S brings together tools that can support you throughout the entire process.
Price and availability of the Suunto Race 3S
The Suunto Race 3S has a recommended retail price of €499 and is due to be launched on the 15th of October 2026.
It will be available in three finishes: Titanium Orchid, Titanium Feather and Titanium Black.
Its combination of dual-band GPS, offline maps, battery life, advanced sensors and training tools makes it the perfect choice for those who want to get the most out of every session, whether on the road or in the mountains.
Do you want to find out exactly how it can enhance your training?
Discover the Suunto Race 3S at Running Emotion and find the watch that will accompany you on your next challenge.
Suunto Race 3S: FAQ
How much does the Suunto Race 3S cost?
The recommended retail price of the Suunto Race 3S is €499. It is due to be launched on the 15th of October 2026.
How long does the battery in the Suunto Race 3S last?
The battery life is up to 38 hours with dual-band GPS and all constellations in maximum accuracy mode. It also offers up to 45 hours in single-band mode and up to 74 hours in Ultra mode, which uses a single band and GPS only. In everyday use, the estimated battery life is up to 12 days.
Does the Suunto Race 3S have offline maps?
Yes. It allows you to use free offline global maps, featuring information such as street names, contour lines and points of interest. It also includes tools for following routes and retracing your steps.
Can you listen to music without carrying your phone?
Yes. Its 64 GB of storage allows you to save compatible music for offline playback, as well as to store offline maps. The music must be transferred to the device beforehand.
What does Suunto AI Coach offer?
Suunto AI Coach is a conversational feature built into the Suunto app that helps you interpret your training and wellbeing data, review trends and get guidance on planning your next sessions. The features available may vary depending on the service rollout.
