Suunto AMOLED GPS Watches Compared: Race S vs Race 2 vs Vertical 2

If you’re looking at Suunto’s latest AMOLED GPS watches and wondering what actually separates the Race S, Race 2 and Vertical 2, this video gives a clear, practical comparison based on real-world use at GPS Training.

All three watches are proper adventure GPS watches, not just fitness trackers. They’re designed for outdoor navigation, ultra running, hiking, cycling and multi-sport use, while still covering everyday health and fitness tracking.

Each of these x 3 watches has an amazing AMOLED screen.

An AMOLED screen (like on the newer Suunto Race, Race 2 and Vertical 2) is a bright, high-contrast, full-colour display where each pixel is self-lit, giving you vivid colours, sharp maps and excellent clarity indoors and outdoors, but it uses more power when the screen is active.

A MIP screen (Memory-in-Pixel), used on older or ultra-endurance GPS watches, is reflective rather than backlit, so it’s incredibly power-efficient and easy to read in direct sunlight, but it looks duller, less detailed and far less “modern” than AMOLED.

In practical terms, AMOLED is much nicer to look at and better for maps and everyday use, while MIP still wins if you are looking for maximum battery life on multi-day expeditions.

What All Three Suunto AMOLED Watches Have in Common

Whichever model you choose, you get a very strong shared feature set:

- Bright AMOLED touchscreen with full button control for outdoor use

- Free offline colour maps downloadable via the Suunto app

- Easy GPX route import and on-watch navigation

- Off-route alerts and clear route line display

- Climb guidance and elevation profiles

- Electronic compass and barometric altimeter

- Optical heart rate sensor, HRV, VO2 max and blood oxygen

- Over 115 sports modes (including triathlon with auto-transition)

- Weather data, sunrise/sunset, temperature and storm alerts

- Full health tracking: steps, sleep, calories and stress

- British National Grid support for OS-style grid references

In short: from a navigation and sports tracking point of view, they all do the same core job extremely well.

Key Differences Between the Suunto Race S, Race 2 and Vertical 2

1) Screen Size and Brightness

Suunto Race S (both Stainless Steel and Titanium)
- 1.32" AMOLED
- 1,000 nits brightness
- Gorilla Glass
- Slimmest and lightest option
Suunto Race 2 (both Stainless Steel and Titanium)
- 1.5" AMOLED
- 2,000 nits brightness
- Sapphire crystal
- Newer LTPO AMOLED (more power-efficient, faster refresh rate)
Suunto Vertical 2 (both Stainless Steel and Titanium)
- 1.5" AMOLED
- 2,000 nits brightness
- Sapphire crystal
- Same LTPO AMOLED tech as Race 2

If screen clarity in bright sunlight matters most, the Race 2 and Vertical 2 clearly lead.

2) Size, Weight and Build

Suunto Race S
- 45 mm case
- 53 g (titanium) / 60 g (steel)
- Best choice for smaller wrists or anyone wanting a lighter watch
Suunto Race 2
- 49 mm case
- 65 g (titanium) / 76 g (steel)
- Bigger screen and battery without going overly chunky
Suunto Vertical 2
- 49 mm case
- 74 g (titanium) / 87 g (steel)
- Heaviest, but also the most rugged and longest-lasting

Titanium versions are lighter and tougher than steel, with a more matte finish.

3) Battery Life (The Big Decider for Most People)

Smartwatch Mode

Race S: up to 9 days
Race 2: up to 18 days
Vertical 2: up to 20 days

GPS – All Systems Multiband (highest accuracy + full colour maps)

Race S: up to 30 hours
Race 2: up to 55 hours
Vertical 2: up to 65 hours

GPS – All Systems Single Band (longer battery, route line only)

Race S: up to 40 hours
Race 2: up to 65 hours
Vertical 2: up to 75 hours

For ultra events, multi-day hikes or very long days out, the Vertical 2 is the clear battery winner.

For most runners and walkers, the Race 2 is the sweet spot.

4) Flashlight Feature

All three have a torch mode, but it works differently:

Race S & Race 2
- Uses the screen at full brightness
- Handy for finding kit in a rucksack or moving around in the dark
Vertical 2
- Physical LED torch built into the case
- Adjustable brightness levels
- Red light mode
- Much more practical for real night use

If you like the idea of a built-in torch you’ll genuinely use, the Vertical 2 stands out.

5) Controls: Scroll Wheel vs Buttons

Race S & Race 2
- Touchscreen + scroll wheel
- Scroll wheel is excellent for zooming maps and moving through menus
Vertical 2
- Touchscreen + buttons only
- Zooming and menu navigation done with up/down buttons

This mostly comes down to personal preference. Many people prefer the scroll wheel for map use.

Which Suunto AMOLED Watch Should You Choose?

Choose the Race S if:

You want the lightest and slimmest Suunto AMOLED watch
You have a smaller wrist
You still want full navigation and mapping features
You don’t need ultra-long battery life

Choose the Race 2 if:

You want the best all-rounder
You want the brightest screen and longer battery than the Race S
You like the scroll wheel control
You want sapphire glass and LTPO AMOLED tech
You’re doing longer runs, hikes or endurance events

Choose the Vertical 2 if:

Battery life is your top priority
You want the built-in LED torch
You prefer a more rugged design
You regularly do ultras, multi-day hikes or expeditions

Why Buy Your Suunto Watch from GPS Training?

When you buy a Suunto watch from GPS Training, you don’t just get the hardware.

You also get:

Access to step-by-step training videos
Help with sending routes to your watch
Guidance on navigation, mapping and settings
Telephone and email support from a real UK-based team
Ongoing help as firmware updates roll out

In my view, that support massively shortens the learning curve and is well worth having, especially if you plan to use the navigation features properly rather than just recording activities.

Want to find out more about these great x 3 watches

- Suunto Race S (both Stainless Steel and Titanium)

- Suunto Race 2 (both Stainless Steel and Titanium)

- Suunto Vertical 2 (both Stainless Steel and Titanium)