Suunto 5 Peak 2022 Review

A quick overview

Earlier this month, Suunto introduced the Suunto 5 Peak. This is a slimmer and more appealing version of their earlier Suunto 5 multisport GPS watch. Essentially, this is a follow-up to the Suunto 9 Peak. In terms of improving the watch’s outer appearance while adding a smattering of new software and hardware capabilities.

suunto 5 peak on background of man looking out across lake

For the most part, the Suunto 5 series is a low-cost entry point into more expensive multisport watches. This is one of the series’ primary selling points. The Suunto 9 series, for example, has nearly all of the same software features as the Suunto 9. However, it lacks a barometric altimeter and a touchscreen. As well as a shorter but still substantial battery life — up to 100 hours of GPS recording time, according to Suunto.

Pros

Its aesthetics stand out on a smart sports watch. In fact, it’s comfortable to wear around the clock (pun intended)
Happily, it has many sports profiles and typical features
As well as comprehensive customisation options such as zones, alerts, power management profiles, several metrics per screen, numerous lap types and more
Suunto Plus ‘apps’ and third-party link-ups are available for a broad variety of sports, including triathlon and jogging, among others.
GPS and optical heart rate sensors are accurtate
Sleep, exercise, and stress are all recorded fairly accurately
Sensors such as chest straps, power metres, cadence/speed sensors, and STRYD are all compatible with the software.
Menus that are straightforward and generally simple to operate, as well as displays that are easily legible
The GPS battery lasts for 100 hours when in tour mode.

Cons

No emergency assistance tech
The screen is stuck in 2019
The control of music playback is done through the use of a music app, which is fiddly and requires a smartphone
Maps can only be accessed through the app, with breadcrumb pathways provided on the watch as an alternative
Although there is no official workout coaching, training ideas are personalised to your daily preparedness

In what ways does the new Suunto 5 Peak differ from its predecessors?

Suunto announced an Outdoors/Adventure/Extreme-Sport/Multi-Sport watch that is aesthetically separate from what came before. The name “Suunto 5 Peak” may be confusing, and you may feel it is a minor modification to the Suunto 5 from 2019. But this is not the case. The feature set is strikingly similar to the 9 Peak, which costs twice as much.

In addition to a barometric altimeter and associated altimetry functions, the 9 Peak also includes an advanced magnetic compass. Plus as a variety of meteorological features.

A compact format adventure/triathlon watch, the Suunto 5 Peak is a popular choice among consumers not only because of its more refined appearance but its reasonable pricing.

The Suunto Ambit 3 grew into the Spartan Trainer, then into the Suunto 5, and finally into the 5 Peak, which is now available. Despite their similar appearance, there are four unique offerings with comparable price tags. The final three watches demonstrate Suunto’s ability to modify another watch in their lineup to create a competitively priced mid-priced alternative.

Suunto 9 Peak Differences

There are some important distinctions between the Suunto 5 Peak and Suunto 9 Peak:

Water resistance up to 30 metres (versus 100m for Suunto 9 Peak)
Although reduced GPS utilisation can result in an impressive 100-hour battery life in ‘tour’ mode (compared to 25 hours for 9 Peak), 20 hours of GPS recording time is still required (versus 25h for 9 Peak).
The 5 Peak does not have the compass, weather features, blood oxygen metre, or barometric altimeter found on the 9 Peak.
The 5 Peak can be seen of as a less expensive version of the 9 Peak, with a less-premium outer case and three less navigational sensors.

Suunto 9 Peak Similarities

Equally, there are several significant similarities:

In terms of significant sports and navigation elements, the 9 Peak and 5 Peak are extremely comparable in terms of quality
The standard replaceable straps are 22m in length
The overall aesthetic is comparable
The same menus and the same application

Briefly put, the 5 Peak is a lightweight and compact watch that has all of the software capabilities of the rest of its range (Snap to Route, Suunto Plus, and so on), but with a few compromises to make it a more inexpensive model. Like:

It lacks storm warnings and correct altitude data will be impossible to get without the use of a barometric altimeter
Reduction in the size of the screen compared to the 9 Peak
There is no fast charging available
A plastic lens is utilised in place of sapphire crystal glass in this design
There is no touch screen on this device
An automated display startup is not possible due to the lack of a lighting sensor
As a result of the lack of a modern optical pulse sensor it has lower accuracy, no oxygen saturation estimation compared to the 9 Peak

Suunto 5 Peak features

The same software powers this watch as other Suunto watches. As a result, it offers more than 80 sport and multisport modes, Bluetooth connectivity to external sensors, and compatibility with a wide range of third-party programs (such as Strava, TrainingPeaks, and Komoot), among other features.

Regarding that subject, if you’ve been using a Suunto watch from the Spartan series, you’ll be highly familiar with the features and the way the information is displayed.

Suunto 5 Peak Range — Image Credit: Suunto

Suunto 5 Peak design

The Suunto 5 Peak has an exterior design with a stainless steel bezel and is comparable to the Suunto 9 Peak in terms of features and qualities.

The Suunto 5 Peak is significantly smaller, measuring 43 x 43 x 12.9 mm in dimensions. In fact, it is the lightest product that Suunto (or any smartwatch brand) has ever produced at only 39g. Making it 41% smaller than its predecessor.

The display has an unusual plastic lens, which is thought to be beneficial in terms of weight reduction (and price). The screen has a diameter of 1.1 inches and a resolution of 218 by 218 pixels.

You’ll receive a silicone strap with a 22mm width with this watch. This is a standard strap size that allows you to use it with various other options.

There are 4 distinct colors to choose from:

A green case with a black bezel
Anthracite
Gray with a black strap
Gray with a strap made of recycled materials in a variety of colours such as anthracite with an orange strap

Battery life

Self-sufficiency can be maintained for up to 10 days in normal watch mode. Although when used as a watch, the battery life can last for up to 7 days on a single charge.

It is possible to squeeze more than 20 hours out of it if you’re using GPS mode.

Alternatively, battery modes can be customized to provide up to 40 hours or 100 hours, depending on your needs.

Suunto 5 Peak – Activity Tracker for Everyday Use

On the software front, one thing to compliment Suunto is that it has not reduced functionality even though it is not a premium model.

Apart from this, as soon as it hit the market, the Suunto 9 Peak was equipped with new Suunto Plus capabilities, such as the Snap to Route function, and Suunto updated their older watches to include the same capabilities.

The Suunto 5 Peak can do the same features as other higher-end Suunto models as long as the hardware supports them. The absence of features such as a barometric altimeter or other hardware will obviously prevent the pod from taking advantage of such functions, but those for which it is equipped will not be a problem.

For example, it incorporates all SuuntoPlus features, including the latest ones such as Ghost Runner and Burner and the incredibly exciting Snap to Route feature.

GPS

As you’d expect, route navigation is one of the valuable possibilities available to you. And the navigation supplied is sufficient for most purposes.

The GPS antenna on the strap side of the Suunto 9 Peak has been replaced with the same GNSS chipset as the Suunto 9 Peak. Satellite navigation systems such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and Beidou are all interoperable with one another.

The information displayed on the screen is represented graphically. Furthermore, generating routes using the Suunto App and heat maps is a simple and straightforward process.

Suunto 5 Peak: Pricing, and availability

The Suunto 5 Peak became available for purchase from select retailers, including Suunto direct, in certain countries, on February 1. It costs just under $300.

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