Suunto vs Fitbit – No matter what type of sports watch or fitness tracker you are looking for there are so many different ones available in the market that trying to find the one that is most suited to your requirements can be more than a little daunting. If you already have a wearable and are looking for a replacement, then you will at least know which features you like, which you don’t and maybe any that you would like in a new purchase. However, if you are looking to purchase your first wearable, then you will probably want to do some research to ensure that you purchase something that will give you all of the functions that you need.
When it comes to wearables, there are plenty of names that you will probably be familiar with and maybe some that are less familiar, but that produce equally fantastic sports watches and trackers. Two such brands are Suunto and Fitbit. They both make great fitness watches and trackers, so let’s take a look at how some of their models stack up against each other.
Who are Suunto and Fitbit
Finish company Suunto has been around since its humble beginnings in 1936 when the brand began life as a company manufacturing compasses. While they still manufacture a range of compasses, they have also added a range of lifestyle and sports watches to their name and are very well thought of in the field.
Fitbit is an American giant in the field of fitness trackers. The company was purchased by Google in 2019 and looks set for even bigger things in the future. As a company, Fitbit has won numerous awards within the fitness industry and offers a wide selection of wearable to customers ranging from the more basic tracker to more sophisticated fitness watches.
How do you choose the right wearable?
When it comes to choosing the right wearable for your needs, don’t panic. There are plenty of fantastic models available on the market from both Suunto and Fitbit. Ultimately, whichever brand you do decide to go with you will be purchasing a really good fitness watch. There is a range of features available with both brands. What you should decide is exactly what it is you want to be able to achieve with your fitness watch. Some of the things that you might want to look at when you compare the two brands are the display, how it tracks activities, and what different modes it has. Something that is becoming increasingly more important for many people when choosing a fitness watch is the app that runs alongside it. As we become increasingly reliant on technology to give us all of the data we are looking for, we want something that does it all but is still user-friendly. You might want to look at how it syncs any data from your watch and how it records it and displays it for you. One thing that you will find is that both brands will offer a wide range of fitness watches that not only suit a range of requirements but are also available in different prices brackets; so there really is something to suit every pocket.
You may already have a watch you are looking to replace. Whether you want an upgrade or merely a new watch that offers you more features then you may already have a make in mind that you are happy with, it will at least give you a starting point. It is, of course, you don’t like the brand that you already have then it might be time to consider a change.
Do Suunto and Fitbit Offer Incident Detection?
Suunto and Fitbit are both leaders in the smartwatch industry. With watches and wearables that feature accurate tracking metrics and sophisticated smartwatch services, there are many fans loyal to the watches from these brands. But, how do these brands measure up in terms of safety sensors?
How Does Incident Detection Work?
If a watch uses incident detection software, it will be able to work out if you’ve taken a fall via its sensitive movement monitors. Many smartwatches use accelerometers and cadence sensors to monitor your movement. If these detect a fall or hard impact, an alert will appear alongside a loud alarm sound. Watches often also come with SOS emergency call features. Like the incident assistance, this service lets you make emergency calls from your wrist. Read more about Fitbit Incident detection here.
Do These Brands Offer Incident Detection And Assistance?
More and more smartwatches are including fall detection and incident sensors on their watches now. This modern feature is now expected by smartwatch fans, however, when it comes to Suunto and Fitbit products many are left disappointed. To our surprise, these two brands are yet to implement fall detection software into their wearables.
We’ve tested the large majority of Fitbit and Suunto watches and we’re always impressed by their fitness features, but we do feel like it’s time for these brands to step up and add emergency contacts and incident detection. Other brands such as Apple, Garmin, and Samsung have embraced this technology, so for Suunto and Fitbit to compete we hope to see added incident detection on their next releases.
Apps
If you love the tech behind your gadgets, then apps will probably play a huge role in your choice of wearable. Let’s start by saying that both companies have great apps working behind their wearables, with certainly enough tracking and statistics to satisfy anyone interested in seeing everything in figures.
The Fitbit app offers the option to track distance, calories burnt, steps taken and provides users with great activity reports. It can be used in conjunction with an external heart rate monitor in order to give accurate heart data. There is access included to an online portal, and it also has music playback which can be very popular for the lone exerciser. If you want extra motivation, it can also provide you with achievements so you can push yourself to do more.
The Suunto app does none of the standard tracking you would expect, steps, distance, etc. but it does have a route tracker, geotagging, and supports a variety of routes. It can be used to track sleep as well, which can be very handy if you want to see how effectively you are sleeping. It appeals to a wider audience as it supports over 10 different languages, and it also has a higher rating on Google Play than the Fitbit for music.
Both brands offer an app that is free for users, has no Ads, and is compatible with Android.
- If you are looking for a tracker that offer you all the basics, then the Fitbit Versa 3 has everything that you could need. If, however, you are looking for something that can also track your route then the Suunto Ambit 3 Run is probably more what you are looking for.
Battery life
When it comes to wearables, battery life can vary dramatically from one brand to another and even from one model to another within the same brand. While charging your battery may not be a huge issue, it can represent something of an inconvenience if it happens when you want to go out.
Both the Fitbit Versa and the Ionic only have a 4-day battery life which means if you are going away, you will almost certainly have to take your charger with you. The Fitbit Charge 5 offers a slightly better battery life at up to 7 days. By comparison, the Suunto range offers a little longer when it comes to battery life with an average of 10 days from both the Garmin Vivoactive 3,4 and the Suunto Spartan Sport. If you are looking for something a little more from your battery life, then the Suunto 9 has a feature that allows you to change to a different mode when battery life is running out.
- Any of the Suunto range offers a better battery life, but for innovation, it has to be the Suunto 9.
Display
A clear display is a must when it comes to a fitness wearable. You want something that you can take a quick glance at while continuing with your exercise. At first glance, there is one big difference between the two brands. Fitbit models have a more rectangular face with easy to read digital display. The 1.34-inch screen of the Versa 3 offers a very clear, at a glance, view of your data. It also provides a really good screen resolution.
Suunto wearables, on the other hand, have a round face, and while this does give them a more “sports watch” look, it also means that the screen size appears smaller which can make it a little harder to read while on the move. There is no denying however that models like the Suunto Ambit3 Peak, while possibly having a smaller display certainly make up for it in looks.
- The Fitbit models offer a simple, elegant style to their display that makes data very easy to read. The Versa has a solid display that is imposing. However, if you are looking for something a little more slimline, then the Charge 5 offers the same clarity but with a narrower band and display.
Conclusion
Again, your final choice when selecting a wearable really will come down to exactly what you are looking to get from it. For the more serious exercise fanatic, Suunto offers a wider range with more useful features that can help you train better. From the Suunto Traverse Alpha with its complete outdoor capability to the Suunto 7 with its sports and lifestyle solutions.
If, however, you are looking for something to track your steps and help with lifestyle improvements, then you really cannot go wrong with a Fitbit. They offer all of the tracking features that you might want on a daily basis that can help you to up your exercise, watch what you eat, or just see how active you actually are. The Inspire is a great choice for a fitness tracker. However, if you are looking for something with more features, the Versa 3 could be the best choice.
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Last Updated on January 8, 2022
A highly motivated all-around writing professional with experience in writing about modern technology. Joanne writes for Superwatches for over 2 years now. Joanne specializes in product comparisons and reviews for us and we truly appreciate the quality of her work.
Lives in Congleton, UK.