Average score
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
3.9
Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.1
app ecosystem
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.4

Reviews describe a broad Suunto ecosystem, with an app store that had already caught up and roughly 200 partner apps extending features and data flows.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.0

Reviews mention a relatively large software marketplace and Connect IQ access for apps, widgets, and personalization.

band quality
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.5

The band is described as comfortable on skin, suggesting solid everyday strap quality.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
3.9

Band impressions are mixed: the included silicone strap is described as high quality, but one reviewer said the white band gets dirty easily.

battery life
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.9

Battery life is one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly calling it fantastic, exceptional, or unusually long-lasting.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.6

Battery life is a clear strength, with reviewers reporting long real-world endurance from multi-day always-on use to weeks between charges depending on settings and size.

blood oxygen tracking
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
3.7

Blood oxygen is present as a watch/app feature, but reviewers give only limited evaluation beyond its inclusion in the broader toolset.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.2

The watch includes wrist-based pulse-ox tracking for blood oxygen saturation, with reviews noting altitude and wellness uses.

Bluetooth connectivity
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.2

Bluetooth support covers common sport sensors and phone-linked functions like music control.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.2

Bluetooth support is well covered, including sensor pairing and accessory connectivity alongside Garmin’s broader smartwatch radios.

brightness
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.5

The improved backlight gets very bright, helping the display in darker conditions.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.7

Screen brightness is consistently praised, with reviewers calling it easy to see indoors, outdoors, and even on sunny days.

build quality
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.8

Reviewers describe the watch as luxurious yet rugged and even tank-like, pointing to strong build quality.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.8

Build quality is described as rugged and tank-like, with premium-feeling construction for a high-end sports watch.

button controls
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.4

The physical controls are easy to use, including with gloves, and the buttons are generally well-regarded.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.5

The physical controls are a strong point, with dedicated buttons, useful shortcuts, and a more satisfying click than some newer Garmin alternatives.

call handling
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
No score yet
Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
2.8

Phone integration is limited for calls on some setups, with one review noting you cannot respond to texts or calls in that configuration.

calorie tracking usefulness
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.2

One reviewer found the watch’s calorie-related training data more realistic than competing devices, making the readouts reasonably useful.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.0

Garmin Connect gives clear daily calorie totals, including base and active calories, making calorie data easy to review.

charging convenience
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.1

The magnetic charger is easy to align or attach, though it remains a dedicated charging solution.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
2.8

Charging is less convenient than open USB-C freedom because the watch still relies on Garmin’s proprietary charger.

charging speed
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
3.7

Charging speed feedback is mixed: one review saw a very fast recharge, while another reported fast-charging issues.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.5

Charging speed is improved and widely praised, with reviews citing fast top-ups and roughly an hour to reach full charge.

coaching features
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.1

Coaching tools are present through VO2 max estimation and Suunto Coach guidance, but they are framed as helpful rather than especially advanced.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.4

Training guidance is a strong area, with suggested workouts, customizable plans, race support, and coaching-oriented tools called out positively.

comfort
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.5

Comfort is a plus, with the band feeling good on skin and the watch avoiding an overly clunky feel.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.5

Comfort is better than the size suggests for at least some users, with one reviewer saying the watch is comfortable enough to mostly disappear on wrist.

companion app quality
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.5

The companion app is consistently praised for usability, organization, route planning, and depth of information.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
3.5

Garmin Connect is useful and feature-rich, but reviews also say some finer watch settings are still awkward to manage from the phone side.

contactless payments
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
1.0

One review explicitly notes that NFC payments are not included.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.2

Garmin Pay is treated as genuinely useful for runs and outdoor use, with reviewers saying it works in normal tap-to-pay situations.

cross-platform compatibility
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.1

Reviewers used it with iPhone/Komoot and also noted access to the app on tablet or macOS desktop.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
3.8

The watch works with both iOS and Android, but reviews note feature differences and a generally better experience on Android.

customization options
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.5

Users can customize pages, widgets, watch-face elements, and colors, giving the watch strong personalization options.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.4

Customization is extensive, with adjustable settings, customizable data pages, widgets, bands, and downloadable extras.

display quality
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.4

Reviewers describe the larger screen as easy to read and notably improved over older Suunto displays, especially for map use.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.8

The AMOLED display is one of the product’s standout strengths, repeatedly described as beautiful, vivid, and high resolution.

durability
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.8

Reviews point to strong durability through real-world wear and formal ruggedness claims.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.5

Durability is strong overall, with reports of the watch holding up well in long-term use and the sapphire crystal resisting visible damage.

ECG functionality
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
1.0

One review explicitly states that ECG functionality is missing.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.0

ECG support is part of the Pro story, with reviews noting the feature arrived via firmware on supported models.

fit
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
3.9

Fit is mixed-positive: the large case may take getting used to, but it does not feel especially chunky on wrist.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
3.7

Fit varies by wrist size, but the expanded case range helps; some reviewers found good fit on smaller wrists while others still found larger versions bulky.

fitness tracking accuracy
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.2

One reviewer says the overall training data looked more accurate than on competing watches.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.8

Overall fitness tracking accuracy is a major selling point, especially for GPS-based workouts and consistent distance tracking.

GPS accuracy
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.8

GPS accuracy is a standout strength, with repeated praise for precise tracks and strong performance against major rivals.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.8

GPS performance is repeatedly described as excellent, with reviews highlighting reliable positioning, accurate routes, and class-leading results.

health tracking accuracy
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
No score yet
Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.2

Health tracking is generally viewed positively, with reviewers trusting the data more than before even if not every metric is treated as perfect.

heart rate accuracy
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
2.4

Optical heart-rate accuracy is a recurring weakness, especially for sports use, with under-reading and inconsistency noted.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.5

Heart-rate accuracy is broadly praised, especially against chest straps, though some reviews still note occasional limits in harder efforts.

materials quality
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.7

Titanium or steel construction and sapphire materials are repeatedly highlighted as premium touches.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
3.5

Material choices look functional and durable, but one review notes the polymer-heavy build is more tool-like than luxurious.

menu navigation
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.5

Menus are easy to navigate, with key items accessible rather than buried.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
2.8

Menu navigation can be demanding, with one reviewer saying deeper customization still involves too much fiddling.

music controls
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.0

The watch can control music playing from a connected phone.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.0

Music controls are available and useful, with support for controlling apps like Spotify and integrated music control features.

onboard music storage
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
1.0

Reviews clearly state that there is no onboard music storage or playback.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.4

Onboard storage is generous enough for music, with reviews pointing to 32GB capacity and local audio support.

operating system experience
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
3.8

The operating system is seen as usable and reasonably intuitive, though not especially impressive.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.0

The Garmin software experience is described as robust and feature-rich, though it still expects users to invest time learning it.

outdoor visibility
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.8

Outdoor readability is strong, with reviewers calling the screen or maps easy to read in bright sunlight.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.8

Outdoor visibility is excellent, with reviewers calling the screen easy to read in strong sun and varied light.

recovery insights
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.2

Recovery insights are present through recovery/energy features, and reviewers generally found that guidance useful.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.5

Recovery tools such as Recovery Time, Acute Load, and related guidance are repeatedly described as useful for planning training.

reliability
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
No score yet
Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.5

Long-term reliability is a clear positive, with reviewers describing the watch as dependable in day-to-day use.

safety features
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.1

Safety-relevant tools such as storm alerts, sunset or weather alerts, and ETA are positively mentioned.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.3

Safety-oriented tools get positive mentions, including flashlight visibility, strobe options, and location-sharing style features such as LiveTrack.

size options
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
1.8

Size choice is limited; reviewers note the lineup is essentially one-size.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.6

The three-size lineup is one of the headline upgrades, with multiple reviews praising the better fit options for smaller and larger wrists.

sleep tracking accuracy
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.5

Sleep tracking is usually described as accurate or close to real sleep and wake timing.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
3.6

Sleep tracking is seen as improved but not perfect, with some reviewers praising better results while others still question exact precision.

smartphone notifications
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.0

Smartphone notifications are present and generally work well, though one review notes limited emoji handling.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.2

Phone notifications are handled well, with reviews highlighting readable alerts and even good emoji support.

smartwatch features
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
3.2

Smartwatch features are present, but reviewers do not see them as especially complete versus more smartwatch-oriented rivals.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
3.7

Smartwatch basics are solid rather than dominant, covering notifications, music, payments, weather, and other everyday tools.

software smoothness
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
3.0

Software smoothness has improved, but lag remains a recurring complaint.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.1

General performance is good, but the watch is not universally seen as ultra-smooth; some reviewers praise stability while others note less polished animation or feel.

stress tracking
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.0

Stress is tracked through the resources system, which estimates energy levels using stress and recovery inputs.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.1

Stress tracking is part of the broader recovery picture and is used in Garmin’s readiness and Body Battery style insights.

style and design
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.7

Reviewers consistently like the styling, describing it as minimal, rugged, or well-designed.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.3

Design is widely praised for balancing rugged outdoor character with an attractive everyday look.

third-party app support
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.5

Third-party syncing and integration support is strong, especially with Strava, TrainingPeaks, and broader partner apps.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.0

Third-party support exists through Connect IQ and related downloads, giving users access to extra apps and add-ons.

touchscreen responsiveness
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
3.2

Touch interaction is usable but commonly described as laggy or slightly delayed.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.5

Touch response is strong, with reviewers saying the screen works well even in wet conditions and avoids over-sensitivity.

user interface
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.4

The user interface is generally intuitive and easy to learn, even if performance is not always snappy.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
3.3

The interface is powerful but mixed in usability: some reviewers find it intuitive enough, while others still call it confusing or busy.

value for money
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
3.7

Value is mixed: some reviewers call it a sound investment or relatively cheaper than rivals, while others question the price.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
3.8

Value is mixed: reviewers respect the hardware and long-term usefulness, but many still call the price high and note cheaper Garmin alternatives.

watch face quality
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
3.4

Watch-face options exist, but at least one reviewer still wanted better designs.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
No score yet
water resistance
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.0

Water resistance is solid for swimming and snorkelling use, though not pitched as a full diving watch.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.5

Water resistance is a strength, with repeated mentions of 100-meter or 10 ATM capability for swimming and even diving scenarios.

wellness insights
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.1

The watch offers wellness-oriented feedback such as VO2 max, fitness age, and training or recovery guidance.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.4

Wellness features such as HRV, Body Battery, Training Readiness, and similar guidance are frequently highlighted as useful.

Wi-Fi connectivity
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
4.1

Wi‑Fi enables map downloads, but it depends on network availability and can be slow or situational.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.0

Wi-Fi support is present for tasks like syncing and map downloads, adding convenience beyond Bluetooth-only workflows.

workout tracking variety
Product 1: Suunto Vertical
5.0

Workout variety is excellent, with 90-plus to 95 sport modes and specialty options mentioned.

Product 2: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.3

Workout and sport coverage is broad, with reviewers repeatedly pointing to a very large activity list and many sport profiles.