Suunto Race 3S review: better tracking, but a much higher price

What the Race 3S changes

Suunto has launched the Race 3S, a new sports smartwatch that TechRadar reviewed on 12 November 2026. The site describes it as technically competent and stylish, but priced above what its bracket should allow.

The watch is a big step up from its predecessors. The earlier Race S was well built but had weak heart rate tracking, and the Race 2 that followed had no smaller version. The Race 3S fixes the tracking problem, but the price has risen sharply.

Price and availability

According to TechRadar, the Race 3S costs $150 more than the previous Race S, which launched at $449. It comes in three titanium colour options: Orchid, Black and Feather.

That price puts it close to Garmin's Forerunner 570 and $200 above an Apple Watch Series 12. TechRadar argues Suunto has overshot its category in a market already full of strong budget and mid-range watches.

Design and hardware

The extra money has gone partly into the build. The Race 3S has a titanium bezel with a slight lip over the AMOLED display, plus sapphire crystal glass for scratch protection. On the side sit two buttons and a digital crown, which TechRadar found easy to learn.

The watch is 4g lighter than before and keeps a traditional pin strap design, with coloured strips adding some personality. Onboard storage has doubled from 32GB to 64GB, useful for offline MP3 music, though TechRadar questions whether a smaller storage option could have lowered the price. There are no streaming services and no NFC contactless payments.

Tracking and battery life

Heart rate tracking is the headline improvement. TechRadar reports the new optical sensor, which uses more sensors than before, stayed in near lockstep with an Apple Watch Series 11 worn on the other wrist during testing.

Battery life holds up despite a brighter screen. TechRadar measured around 12 days of general smartwatch use, and roughly 35 hours with the always-on display and multi-band GPS active during exercise. The reviewer tested the watch while walking, swimming and in the gym, in both rural areas and central London.

New software features

Suunto has added an AI coaching subscription feature, following a trend across most wearable brands apart from Apple and Samsung. It uses natural language questions and answers, so users can ask for a summary of their training week or compare fitness month on month.

It sits alongside the existing Suunto Coach and can build fitness plans on demand. TechRadar also notes an MCP feature, which would let tools such as Claude or Cursor access health data. The site's verdict is that Suunto is closing the gap with rivals, but buyers must decide how much the accurate heart rate tracking is worth at this price.