Compare Garmin Forerunner 255S vs Suunto Vertical 2

P1 Garmin Forerunner 255S
P2 Suunto Vertical 2

Comparison Takeaways

Garmin Forerunner 255S

Where It Has the Edge

  • onboard music storage is 3.7 vs 1.1. Onboard music is a useful feature with storage for offline audio, but setup and loading can be slow...
  • contactless payments is 3.8 vs 1.2. Garmin Pay and NFC are supported and useful, but reviewers note Garmin’s payment system lacks the polish or...
  • size options is 4.7 vs 2.8. Size options are a standout benefit because the 255S gives smaller wrists a serious multisport watch without losing...
  • smartwatch features is 4.0 vs 2.3. Smartwatch features are useful but intentionally basic, prioritizing training over app-rich Apple, Google or Samsung-style smartwatch polish.

Suunto Vertical 2

Where It Has the Edge

  • touchscreen responsiveness is 3.8 vs 1.0. Touchscreen responsiveness is mostly good, but reviewers noted occasional lag, wet-screen confusion, or preference for physical controls in...
  • third-party app support is 4.4 vs 2.5. Third-party support is a bright spot for a performance watch, with repeated mentions of Strava, TrainingPeaks, Komoot, SuuntoPlus,...
  • charging convenience is 4.5 vs 3.2. Charging convenience is much improved thanks to a stronger magnetic USB-C charger, with reviewers repeatedly saying it stays...
  • style and design is 4.4 vs 3.5. Style and design were praised more than typical rugged watches, with reviewers calling it sleek, refined, futuristic, and...
Average score
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.0
Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.8
activity auto-detection
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
No score yet
Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.5

Evidence for automatic activity handling is limited; the clearest support is commute logging for walking or cycling rather than broad automatic workout detection.

app ecosystem
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.5

Connect IQ adds watch faces, data fields and apps, but reviewers describe the ecosystem as useful rather than Apple-level and sometimes limited.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.6

The app ecosystem is serviceable and can connect with health/training platforms, but multiple reviewers explicitly said it is not as deep or rich as Garmin's.

band quality
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.4

Reviewers consistently liked the silicone strap, calling it comfortable, adjustable, exercise-ready and tough enough for regular training use.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.0

Band quality is mostly positive, especially softness, stretch, and comfort, though one reviewer disliked the stock band and another noted initial stiffness.

battery life
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.4

Battery life is a major strength, commonly landing around a week or more, though music, GPS and oxygen monitoring can reduce it.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.7

Battery life is the headline strength, with nearly every reviewer praising long smartwatch runtime, strong GPS endurance, and unusually good AMOLED stamina.

blood oxygen tracking
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.0

Blood oxygen tracking is present for sleep or daytime monitoring, but reviews treat it as one metric among many rather than a standout feature.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.0

Blood oxygen tracking is present and repeatedly mentioned as part of the health suite, with one reviewer noting more stable readings from the redesigned sensor.

Bluetooth connectivity
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.9

Bluetooth headphone pairing is generally workable and music-friendly, though one long-term user found headphone pairing slow and frustrating.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.0

Bluetooth support is useful for headphones, turn prompts, and music control, but the evidence is narrower than for core fitness features.

brightness
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.0

Brightness control is handled through physical buttons and fits the watch’s practical, low-key outdoor design.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.7

Brightness was strongly praised, with multiple reviewers highlighting the 2,000-nit AMOLED screen and strong lighting performance, despite one complaint about dim indoor behavior.

build quality
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.1

Build quality is generally solid for a lightweight polymer watch, with durable long-term impressions but some concern about scratch-prone Gorilla Glass.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.4

Build quality is rugged and premium, with reviewers citing solid metal construction, sapphire protection, and little concern about normal outdoor knocks.

button controls
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.2

The five-button layout is repeatedly praised for workouts, water use and avoiding accidental touches, even if it requires adjustment.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.0

Button controls are a strong outdoor feature, especially with gloves, though several reviewers preferred a dial or wanted more consistent back-button behavior.

call handling
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.5

Call handling is basic: Android users can respond or reject calls through the watch, but it still relies heavily on the paired phone.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
2.2

Call handling is limited. Reviewers mention seeing, answering, or declining calls, but not full on-watch calling.

calorie tracking usefulness
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
No score yet
Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.4

Calorie data is available in daily and workout summaries, but usefulness is moderated by one reviewer's concern that calories were overestimated.

charging convenience
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.2

Charging is functional but not premium; Garmin’s common cable is convenient for Garmin owners, while the proprietary setup feels dated to one reviewer.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.5

Charging convenience is much improved thanks to a stronger magnetic USB-C charger, with reviewers repeatedly saying it stays attached and fixes older friction.

charging speed
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
No score yet
Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.5

Charging speed is acceptable rather than exceptional, with evidence around roughly 90 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes for a full or near-full charge.

coaching features
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.4

Coaching features are a clear strength, with Garmin Coach, suggested workouts, race tools and personal-trainer-like prompts repeatedly highlighted.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.1

Coaching features are meaningful, with Suunto Coach, AI-driven suggestions, and plans appearing in multiple reviews, but one reviewer found plan duration limitations.

comfort
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.6

Comfort is one of the strongest points, especially for sleep and long workouts, because the smaller case feels light and unobtrusive.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.4

Comfort is the main physical tradeoff: several reviewers found it wearable or surprisingly comfortable, but many also called it heavy, bulky, or chunky for sleep and daily wear.

companion app quality
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.7

Garmin Connect is useful and reliable for setup, syncing, visualization and customization, though music setup and app separation can confuse newcomers.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.0

The companion app is generally clean, useful, and increasingly complete, but it is not universally praised because some reviewers found it less engaging or less reliable in the background.

contactless payments
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.8

Garmin Pay and NFC are supported and useful, but reviewers note Garmin’s payment system lacks the polish or bank support of rivals.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
1.2

Contactless payment support is effectively absent; reviewers directly noted no tap-to-pay or wallet-style functionality.

cross-platform compatibility
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.5

The watch works across Android and iOS, with a consistent Garmin Connect experience, though Android gets better message response support.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
5.0

Cross-platform compatibility is directly supported by iOS and Android compatibility, though platform-specific smart features remain limited.

customization options
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.4

Customization is strong, covering workout data screens, watch faces, colors, app settings and per-activity tracking options.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.5

Customization is solid for data fields, shortcuts, sports modes, widgets, and watch faces, though some changes require the app or SuuntoPlus.

display quality
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.9

The MIP display is practical and readable rather than flashy, with reviewers trading away AMOLED vibrancy for battery life and outdoor usability.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.6

Display quality was one of the most consistent strengths: reviewers praised the AMOLED screen as bright, sharp, colorful, clear, and a major upgrade.

durability
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.4

Durability looks good in longer-term use, with reviewers reporting little wear, though the bezel and glass can still be scratch concerns.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.4

Durability is a strong point, with reviewers reporting scratch resistance, tough outdoor confidence, and only minor wear in some cases.

fit
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.7

Fit is excellent for smaller wrists, with the 41mm case repeatedly described as comfortable and well-sized.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.0

Fit is generally secure once dialed in, with reviewers praising wrist stability while also noting that fit matters for heart-rate accuracy on a larger watch.

fitness tracking accuracy
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.5

Fitness tracking is broadly accurate and analysis-rich, especially for endurance training, with some caveats around live heart-rate smoothing.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.3

Fitness tracking was generally trusted, especially when reviewers considered GPS and heart-rate data together, though the broader accuracy picture still depends on activity and fit.

GPS accuracy
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.2

GPS accuracy is a major strength thanks to multiband GNSS, though a few reviewers saw small variations or altitude inaccuracies in specific scenarios.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.6

Land-based GPS accuracy was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers calling it spot-on, near-perfect, or flawless; the main caveat was poorer open-water swim behavior in one test.

health tracking accuracy
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.8

Health tracking is useful but training-oriented; reviewers appreciated HRV and recovery metrics while noting it is not a full health wearable.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.8

General health metrics were treated as useful and mostly credible, but reviewers tied accuracy to specific metrics and noted edge cases around sleep, steps, calories, and heart-rate behavior.

heart rate accuracy
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.3

Heart-rate accuracy is generally strong for a wrist watch, often close to straps, but reviewers still recommend straps for the sharpest live accuracy.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.7

Heart-rate accuracy was improved over older Suuntos and often solid for steady running, hiking, and cycling, but several reviewers saw startup, interval, cadence-lock, or large-watch fit issues.

materials quality
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.0

Materials are typical Garmin Forerunner fare: lightweight polymer, Gorilla Glass and silicone, chosen more for sport practicality than luxury.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.3

Materials quality is high, with stainless steel or titanium, sapphire glass, and metal construction repeatedly highlighted.

menu navigation
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
2.9

Menu navigation is the clearest weakness, with several reviewers calling it complex or confusing despite button-control advantages.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.3

Menu navigation is improved but not perfect: reviewers liked the button flow and app structure but cited clunky flashlight access, route limits, and some unintuitive activity organization.

music controls
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.0

Music controls are present for phone audio, and the watch exposes quick music controls from the button interface.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.5

Music controls work for phone-based playback and Bluetooth-headphone control, but reviewers consistently position them as basic controls rather than full music features.

onboard music storage
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.7

Onboard music is a useful feature with storage for offline audio, but setup and loading can be slow or confusing for some users.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
1.1

Onboard music storage is a consistent weakness, with reviewers repeatedly stating that the watch cannot store music or run offline music services.

operating system experience
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.9

The operating system is familiar and capable, with one reviewer praising its ease while others note Garmin’s learning curve.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.0

The operating system feels smoother and more intuitive than older Vertical software, but reviewers still see Garmin as more complete.

outdoor visibility
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.7

Outdoor visibility is excellent because the MIP display remains readable in sunlight with very little glare.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.9

Outdoor visibility was excellent across the evidence, with reviewers repeatedly saying the screen stayed readable in sun, low light, bad weather, and direct sunlight.

pairing reliability
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.8

Pairing and acquisition are mostly reliable, especially GPS and Bluetooth headphones, but headphone pairing frustrated one user.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.5

Pairing and syncing reliability is mixed: one reviewer had no connection issues, another praised fast syncing, while another reported background refresh friction.

recovery insights
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.3

Recovery insights are a strong training feature, including HRV, Body Battery, Training Load and Morning Report-style readiness context.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.1

Recovery insights are a clear strength, with reviewers citing recovery time, resources, training stress, chronic load, and performance trends across the watch and app.

reliability
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.8

Reliability is supported by long-term updates and GPS stability, with Garmin’s longevity praised in follow-up use.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.6

Reliability is mostly positive for navigation and outdoor use, but there are caveats around map rendering, background sync, and setup friction.

safety features
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.5

Safety features exist through optional Garmin tools such as LiveTrack, though the reviews provide limited evaluation beyond availability.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.1

Safety features center on the LED flashlight, red mode, alerts, SOS-style patterns, offline maps, and find-back navigation, though true satellite SOS is missing.

size options
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.7

Size options are a standout benefit because the 255S gives smaller wrists a serious multisport watch without losing core training tools.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
2.8

Size options are limited. Reviewers repeatedly frame it as a large 49mm watch, with steel and titanium trims but little real case-size choice.

sleep tracking accuracy
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.8

Sleep tracking is viewed as useful and reasonably aligned with other devices, though not as deep as dedicated sleep-focused wearables.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.7

Sleep tracking drew mixed-positive comments: some reviewers found it accurate or improved, while others reported quirky stage or wake detection and noted the watch can feel large overnight.

smartphone notifications
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.1

Smartphone notifications work well for basic alerts and quick replies, especially on Android, but remain constrained by the small non-touch screen.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
2.8

Notifications are functional but basic: several reviewers called them read-only or limited, though another found them reliable for calls, messages, and app alerts.

smartwatch features
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.0

Smartwatch features are useful but intentionally basic, prioritizing training over app-rich Apple, Google or Samsung-style smartwatch polish.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
2.3

Smartwatch functionality is intentionally stripped back, with reviewers emphasizing the absence of richer lifestyle features and framing it as an outdoor tool.

software smoothness
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
No score yet
Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.4

Software smoothness was widely praised, with repeated comments about faster menus, snappier performance, smoother animations, and a much improved interface.

step counting accuracy
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.3

Step counting appears accurate in the reviewer evidence, including a near-spot-on manual step check.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.4

Step tracking is supported and visible in daily stats, but evidence is mixed because one reviewer specifically reported frequent step overcounting.

stress tracking
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.0

Stress tracking is available as part of the broader health suite, with reviewers presenting it as a daily wellness metric.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.0

Stress-related tracking appears through ZoneSense, HRV, TSB, and Training Stress Score rather than a simple lifestyle stress widget, making it more training-focused.

style and design
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.5

Style is utilitarian rather than flashy, but reviewers consider it acceptable for everyday wear if you choose muted colors.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.4

Style and design were praised more than typical rugged watches, with reviewers calling it sleek, refined, futuristic, and good-looking despite its size.

third-party app support
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
2.5

Third-party app support exists through Connect IQ, Strava, Komoot and music apps, but reviewers describe it as limited versus mainstream smartwatches.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.4

Third-party support is a bright spot for a performance watch, with repeated mentions of Strava, TrainingPeaks, Komoot, SuuntoPlus, and partner integrations.

touchscreen responsiveness
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
1.0

Touchscreen responsiveness scores poorly because the watch has no touchscreen; reviewers mostly frame that as a deliberate sport-watch tradeoff.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.8

Touchscreen responsiveness is mostly good, but reviewers noted occasional lag, wet-screen confusion, or preference for physical controls in hard conditions.

user interface
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.6

The interface is powerful but polarizing: some find it easy once learned, while newcomers can find it dense or confusing.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.8

The interface is readable and visually organized, with good use of color and fonts, but the touch-first logic and dense training terminology can require adjustment.

value for money
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.4

Value is strong for runners and multisport users, especially given multiband GPS, battery life and training depth at a midrange price.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.0

Value is favorable versus Garmin and other premium rivals, but reviewers still questioned the high titanium price and overlap with the cheaper Race 2.

watch face quality
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.3

Watch face support is good through built-in faces and Connect IQ, with reviewers noting customization and many free options.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.3

Watch face feedback is mixed: reviewers liked customization and data, but the dimmed AMOLED state drew criticism for readability.

water resistance
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.5

Water resistance is strong for swimming, rain and shower use, and physical buttons are an advantage around water.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.5

Water resistance is well supported, with reviewers citing 100-meter resistance, pool use, swimming, snorkeling, and comfort taking it into water.

wellness insights
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.2

Wellness insights such as Morning Report, Body Battery and general wellbeing metrics are useful companions to the training focus.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.1

Wellness insights are useful and easy to digest, especially resources, body-energy-style feedback, sleep, HRV, and training trends, though the ecosystem stays leaner than Garmin.

Wi-Fi connectivity
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
No score yet
Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
3.5

Wi-Fi is mainly relevant to maps and sync features; reviewers found it necessary and useful, though map downloads or setup could be fiddly.

workout tracking variety
Product 1: Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.6

Workout variety is extensive, spanning running, cycling, swimming, hiking, yoga, triathlon and dozens of app-manageable workout types.

Product 2: Suunto Vertical 2
4.7

Workout coverage was a major point of agreement: reviewers repeatedly cited 100-plus, 115-plus, or even 150-plus activity modes.