Suunto vs Garmin – GPS Watch Running and Cycling

Ambit 3 vs Fenix 3 – gps watch running and cycling

If you’re currently researching to buy a gps watch for running and cycling, and you’ve narrowed it down to these two models then you’ll know that they are both top of their respective manufacturer’s offerings right now, so we’ve compiled our Suunto vs Garmin – Ambit 3 vs Fenix 3 Quick Comparison Chart. With so many features and specifications for running and cycling it can be difficult to compare like-for-like, so we’ve put together a quick comparison table to give a straightforward overview of how these two devices stack up against each other.

Suunto vs Garmin

There’s an age old rivalry between suunto vs garmin watches, and it’s often a case of identifying the features that are important to you rather than either device being far superior to the other. That being said, in this comparison we feel that the Garmin Fenix 3 wins by a clear margin. Suunto have missed a trick by not including ANT+ connectivity, and the physical design of the GPS antenna is more obtrusive than the Fenix 3, which looks sleek enough to wear in the office as well as out on your next adventure.

In terms of accuracy, having GLONASS alongside your GPS signal can give the Fenix 3 the edge when it comes to satellite pick up time and accuracy in difficult conditions such as under tree cover or running in cities surrounded by tall buildings.

A major advantage of the Fenix 3 is the fact that you can customise all of you data fields and displays to your exact needs, using only the watch controls. The Ambit 3 can’t. For us, this is a major difference and boosts the Fenix 3 even further into the lead.

Both of these watches have been around for a little while now so pricing has dropped significantly since their release RRP, meaning this is a great time to invest in one of these devices. You can check out the latest pricing on Amazon here:

Garmin Fenix 3 GPS Multisport Watch with Outdoor Navigation

Suunto Ambit 3 Sports Watch

	Garmin Fenix 3	Suunto Ambit 3 Peak
Price	RRP: £369.99 / $499 Check Amazon Price	RRP: £349.99 / $400 Check Amazon Price
Battery Life	16 hrs in standard GPS mode, 50 hrs UltraTrac	30h battery with 5 sec-GPS accuracy, 30 days in time mode
Weight	85g	89 g
GLONASS capable	Yes	No
Waterproof	100m	100m
Connectivity	USB, Bluetooth, Wifi, ANT+	USB, Wifi, Bluetooth Smart, (NOT compatible with ANT+)
Customisation	Watch Faces, Data Fields, Widgets, Apps. Can be customised using watch controls.	Yes but only when connected. Not customisable using watch controls.
Vibration Alerts	Yes	No
Screen	218 x 218 'colour' screen	128 x 128 Monochrome
Smartphone compatibility	iPhone, Android	iPhone, Android
Smartphone Notifications	Yes	Yes
Altimeter	Barometric altimeter	Barometric altitude
Compass	3-axis compass with auto calibration
Barometer	Yes	Yes
Daily Activity Tracker	Yes	Yes
Best For	running cycling swimming trail running indoor training cross country skiing triathlons hiking/hill-walking climbing Snowboading and skiing Fitness	running cycling swimming trail running triathlons hiking/hill-walking Fitness
Score	10/10	8/10
	Check the latest Garmin Fenix 3 pricing on Amazon	Check the latest Suunto Ambit 3 pricing on Amazon

Hope this quick comparison helps you in your choice of GPS Watch for Running and Cycling.

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