Compare Suunto Race 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025)

Workout auto-detection is broadly useful, with reviewers citing automatic workout detection and reliable walk detection, though manual starts remain better for some activities.

Reviewers saw a useful but not unlimited app ecosystem, with SuuntoPlus and third-party integrations adding training tools while app-slot limits and simplicity kept it short of Garmin-like depth.

The app ecosystem is a strength: reviewers mention many available apps, Google Play access, and expanded usefulness from the extra storage.

Band feedback was mixed: several reviewers liked the grippy stock silicone strap, while others disliked the pin/nub design or found the included band less refined.

Band feedback is mostly positive for comfort, stability, and easy removal, though one reviewer noted dirt collecting in the strap holes.

Battery life was one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly reporting multi-week smartwatch use or roughly 50-plus hours of high-accuracy GPS tracking.

Battery life is one of the clearest strengths, often described as the best in Samsung’s lineup, though heavy GPS or always-on use can reduce it.

Blood oxygen tracking is present through the optical sensor and sleep metrics, but reviewers mostly mentioned availability rather than deeply validating SpO2 accuracy.

Blood oxygen tracking is present across the health sensor set, but one long-term reviewer found SpO2 readings routinely low.

Bluetooth-related pairing was generally reliable, especially for power meters and external sensors, with multiple reviewers praising simple pairing and saved multi-sensor support.

Bluetooth support is present, including Bluetooth 5.3 mentions, but external sensor connections were criticized or described as unavailable.

Brightness was repeatedly praised, with the 2,000-nit AMOLED described as highly legible and unusually bright.

Brightness earns strong praise, with reviewers citing high nits, bright AMOLED output, and easy readability.

Build quality drew strong praise for the premium case, metal bezel/buttons, sapphire protection and overall robust construction.

Build quality is consistently praised through the rugged titanium case, durable chassis, and robust construction.

Button controls were usually praised for clickiness and responsiveness, though one reviewer had a temporary sticky power-button problem.

Button controls are mixed: reviewers like the Quick/action button and programmable shortcuts, but one long-term reviewer disliked accidental presses and limited workout button behavior.

Call handling is limited: reviewers repeatedly noted the lack of mic/speaker, with only headset-related voice/call pairing mentioned rather than watch-native calling.

Call handling is supported through Bluetooth calling, speaker/mic use, and smartwatch features for calls and texts.

Calorie tracking drew limited but negative evidence, with Live Science saying calorie estimates seemed too high.

Calorie tracking is included as part of the activity metrics, but the evidence is limited to feature availability rather than deep accuracy testing.

Charging convenience improved substantially thanks to a better magnetic connector and secure USB-C charging cable, though some reviewers still wanted charger standardization.

Charging is wireless and reasonably convenient, but one reviewer criticized the missing wall charging block.

Charging speed was a standout in the Trail & Kale review, which reported a full charge in under an hour and useful quick top-ups.

Charging speed gets limited but positive evidence, with one review reporting a full charge in about 95 minutes.

Coaching features are useful for endurance training through Suunto Coach, ZoneSense and TrainingPeaks concepts, but several reviewers found the presentation less polished or beginner-friendly.

Coaching features are a real addition, especially Running Coach, with reviewers describing personalized plans and guidance.

Comfort improved over earlier Suunto designs, helped by a thinner case, lighter feel and generally wearable strap.

Comfort depends on wrist and expectations: some reviewers found it comfortable, while others felt the weight or bulk.

Companion app quality was mixed: reviewers liked route planning, workout detail and recent streamlining, but some found it basic or noticed sync/data mismatches.

The companion app setup is useful but split, with health and smartwatch settings divided between Samsung Health and Galaxy Wearable.

Contactless payments are essentially absent, with multiple reviewers listing payments/NFC as missing smartwatch functionality.

Contactless payments are supported through Samsung Wallet or Samsung Pay shortcuts.

Cross-platform support is adequate because Suunto runs through iOS and Android apps, though no reviewer framed this as a standout advantage.

Cross-platform compatibility is limited: reviews say it works with Android but not iPhone, with the best experience tied to Samsung phones.

Customization is mixed: training screens, zones and widgets can be tailored, but watch-face, sport-mode and quick-menu customization drew complaints.

Customization is strong across programmable buttons, widgets, tiles, colors, and watch-face data.

Display quality was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers praising the larger AMOLED screen, sharpness, clarity and map readability.

Display quality is a major strength, with repeated praise for the large, vibrant AMOLED display.

Durability was praised through scratch resistance, rugged materials and real-world accounts of the watch surviving bumps or extended trail use.

Durability is a standout, backed by titanium construction, MIL-STD claims, scratch protection, and reviewer reports of little damage.

ECG functionality is absent, with reviewers explicitly listing ECGs among missing smartwatch/health features.

ECG functionality is widely listed as part of the health feature set, though one review notes Samsung-phone pairing requirements for ECG and blood pressure.

Fit was generally good despite the 49mm case, especially with the thinner body, though some reviewers warned it remains large for smaller wrists.

Fit is polarizing: it can fit some larger wrists well, but reviewers also note the single 47mm size and large wrist footprint.

Fitness tracking accuracy was generally positive in one triathlon-focused review, but broader health metric issues kept the overall picture from being flawless.

Fitness tracking accuracy is generally good for everyday and running use, though scientific testing places it below the top alternatives.

GPS accuracy was mostly strong, especially in normal running and trail contexts, but several technical reviews noticed small errors in difficult locations.

GPS accuracy is good in several reviewer tests and supports dual-frequency GPS, but scientific testing found some route deviation.

Health tracking accuracy was mixed because GPS and some sleep metrics were acceptable, while steps, calories and high-intensity heart rate drew concerns.

Health tracking is feature-rich but mixed in accuracy, with strong sensor coverage offset by questionable antioxidant, HRV, and some sleep-stage findings.

Heart rate accuracy improved sharply over older Suunto models, with many reviewers calling it good enough, but a few still saw errors during intense or early-workout segments.

Heart-rate accuracy is strongest in running evidence, with one reviewer matching a Polar strap closely, while scientific testing calls it good rather than elite.

LTE connectivity is not available; reviewers explicitly listed cellular connectivity as absent.

LTE is a consistent advantage because it is standard or broadly available, though one reviewer notes carrier setup can cost extra.

Navigation support is useful through offline maps, Google Maps routing, and GPS widgets, but one reviewer notes no built-in maps on-watch.

Materials quality was consistently strong, with sapphire glass, stainless steel or titanium options and premium-feeling metal elements cited repeatedly.

Materials quality is strong, centered on titanium, sapphire/robust design references, and corrosion-resistant claims.

Menu navigation split reviewers: some found it easy once learned, while others called the sport menu and nested navigation clunky.

Menu navigation is mostly straightforward through swipes, app drawers, digital bezel haptics, and simple operation.

Music controls are present for controlling phone playback, but they do not compensate for the lack of onboard music.

Music features are useful for downloaded Spotify, streaming, media tiles, and larger storage for music.

Onboard music storage is missing, repeatedly called out as a limitation and even contrasted with cheaper Suunto models.

Onboard storage is a clear 2025 upgrade, repeatedly described as 64GB and useful for music, apps, and offline maps.

The operating system experience improved with faster processing and smoother scrolling, though the overall OS remains training-first rather than smartwatch-rich.

The operating system experience benefits from One UI 8/Wear OS updates, Gemini, Now Bar, and refreshed interface features.

Outdoor visibility was excellent, with multiple reviewers saying the screen stayed readable in bright sunlight and direct sun.

Outdoor visibility is excellent, with multiple reviewers saying the bright display remains readable in sunlight.

Pairing reliability was strong for sensors and routes, with reviewers praising simple pairing and new multiple-sensor saved pairings.

Pairing and setup reliability are positive where tested, with instant recognition and quick setup noted.

Recovery insights are present and sometimes useful, but reviewers disagreed on whether Suunto’s Resources and TrainingPeaks-style metrics are clear or accurate enough.

Recovery-style insights are mixed: vascular load interests some reviewers, while HRV and related metrics draw skepticism.

Reliability was mostly good, including no lag or crashes in one review, but the sticky button report prevents a perfect score.

Reliability is mostly acceptable but not flawless, with one review noting brief display interruptions and another calling performance not horrible rather than perfect.

Safety-related evidence centered on a weakness: the app lacks automatic hiding of start/end locations, which one reviewer described as a safety issue.

Safety features include fall detection, emergency siren references, sleep apnea alerts, and related health/safety setup options.

Size options are limited around the large 49mm Race 2 case, though reviewers pointed smaller-wrist users toward the Race S or other models.

Size options are limited by the single large 47mm format, though the band can fit a range of wrists and the screen size appeals to some users.

Sleep tracking accuracy was mixed, with some reviewers praising sleep timing or naps while others reported missed wake-ups or inconsistent sleep duration.

Sleep tracking is useful and improving, but reviewers disagree on sleep stages and awake-time accuracy.

Smartphone notifications are basic: the watch can mirror notifications, but replies and interaction are limited.

Smartphone notifications are well supported, with reviewers noting detailed notification views and suggested replies.

Smartwatch features are intentionally basic, with repeated notes that music, payments, calls, voice tools and deeper integrations are absent.

Smartwatch features are broad, including LTE, calls, texts, Gemini, Now Bar, storage, and Samsung’s full watch software stack.

Software smoothness improved notably thanks to faster processing, with reviewers describing snappy widgets, faster animations and reduced lag.

Software smoothness is generally good, with smooth app launches and more functional One UI behavior, despite occasional reliability caveats.

Step counting accuracy was a weakness in the two reviews that discussed it, especially compared with Garmin and Oura/Whoop data.

Step counting is positive in basic walking tests, but one reviewer notes accuracy drops when arms are not swinging.

Stress tracking is mainly via HRV/wellness metrics and was mentioned as useful, though not deeply validated.

Stress tracking is included in Samsung’s health sensor set, though the reviews provide feature evidence more than accuracy testing.

Style and design were widely praised, with reviewers calling the watch sleek, elegant, premium and good-looking.

Style is divisive: some reviewers like the rugged, colorful, stylish look, while others find it bulky or not pretty.

Third-party app support is useful through SuuntoPlus and integrations, but mapping app limitations such as no labels kept the support from feeling complete.

Third-party app support is solid through Google Play, fitness apps such as Strava and Map My Run, and a growing Wear OS app selection.

Touchscreen responsiveness was mixed: the touch interface is modern, but one reviewer found it too sensitive to sleeves or rain.

Touchscreen responsiveness and gesture operation are described as intentional and straightforward in the long-term review evidence.

The user interface split reviewers, with some finding it logical and others calling it clunky, basic or hard to learn.

The user interface is improved and functional, though some reviewers dislike parts of the visual layout.

Value for money remained strong versus Garmin rivals, though the higher Race 2 price made older Suunto models appealing for bargain hunters.

Value for money is the main weak point because reviewers repeatedly question the high price and minimal 2025 hardware changes.

Voice assistant quality is effectively nonexistent because reviewers listed smart assistants and mic/speaker tools as missing.

Voice assistant quality is a strength with Gemini, which reviewers describe as convenient, useful, and directly available on the wrist.

Watch face quality is acceptable but limited, with light customization and fewer third-party choices than rivals.

Watch faces are a strength, with reviewers praising quantity, customization, and Samsung’s polished face designs.

Water resistance is strong, with 10ATM/100m support repeatedly mentioned for swimming and rugged use.

Water resistance is a strong feature, with reviews citing 5ATM/10ATM ratings, IP68 claims, and pool/rain/snow use.

Wellness insights are useful for Resources, sleep, HRV and fitness progress, but several reviewers wanted clearer or less optimistic interpretations.

Wellness insights are useful but uneven: sleep coaching and vascular load get interest, while energy score and antioxidant index receive skepticism.

Wi-Fi connectivity works for map downloads, but reviewers repeatedly found map transfer slow or dependent on network/charging conditions.

Wi-Fi support is present across connectivity mentions, including LTE/Wi-Fi model references.

Workout tracking variety is excellent, with reviewers repeatedly citing over 115 sport modes and broad coverage for running, cycling, swimming and niche sports.

Workout variety is strong, with reviewers citing many tracked activities, multisport/triathlon capability, and broad exercise lists.