I've been testing the Suunto Run for the past few weeks, and I have to say, I'm genuinely impressed with what Suunto managed to pack into a $249 watch. This isn't just a stripped-down version of their higher-end watches either—it's a genuinely capable running watch that happens to be incredibly lightweight and affordable.
Design & Build Quality
The Suunto Run comes in four colors—lime, frost gray, all-black, and coral orange—and I tested the lime version. The 46mm case is primarily plastic with a stainless steel bezel, and it weighs just 35-36g with the included nylon strap. That's remarkably light—you honestly barely notice it's on your wrist.
The 1.32-inch AMOLED display is bright and vibrant with excellent color reproduction. However, I will say that the 600-nit peak brightness is lower than some competitors. In direct sunlight, I found myself angling my wrist or squinting a bit to read the data. It's usable, but not class-leading.
The nylon strap that comes in the box is actually really nice. It's breathable, has a secure Velcro closure, and dries quickly after swimming. The watch is QuickFit-compatible, so you can swap in a silicone band if you prefer—and Suunto says they'll offer silicone options later in 2025.
One design change I could do without: the new 4-pin magnetic charger. DC Rainmaker called it "absolutely horrific" in his review, and while that's a bit harsh, I get it. The magnets are weak, and you have to align it just right or it won't charge. It's definitely the weakest part of the hardware.
GPS Accuracy
This is where the Suunto Run really shines. Despite being a budget watch, it includes dual-band GNSS—GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS all on two frequencies. That's remarkable at this price point.
In my testing across trail runs, road runs, and cycling sessions, the GPS tracking was consistently excellent. The watch tracked my path accurately, handled sharp corners without cutting them, and even performed well in challenging environments like tree-covered trails. Even during high-speed cycling descents with rapid direction changes, the GPS stayed rock solid.
The new track run mode is a nice addition too. You tell it which lane you're in, and it calibrates to give you precise distance tracking around the oval. It's not quite as perfect as Apple's track database approach, but it's incredibly close—good enough for serious track workouts.
Heart Rate Sensor
The optical heart rate sensor has been slightly updated from the Race S with a new optical lens designed to apply more even pressure on your skin. The results? Pretty good, but not perfect.
For steady-state activities like easy runs and outdoor cycling, the Suunto Run tracks within a few beats per minute of my chest strap. During interval workouts and high-intensity efforts, it occasionally drifts—which is pretty standard for optical sensors. The sensor struggles most with weight training and CrossFit-style movements due to arm flexing and wrist position changes.
The bottom line: it's better than the original Suunto Race and slightly improved over the Race S. It's "mostly acceptable" as DC Rainmaker put it, but if you're doing serious interval training, you'll want a chest strap.
Battery Life
Here's the breakdown:
- Smartwatch mode: Up to 12 days (without always-on display)
- With always-on display: Up to 5 days
- GPS Performance mode (dual-band): Up to 20 hours
- GPS Endurance mode: Up to 30 hours
- GPS Power-save mode: Up to 40 hours
In real-world use with sleep tracking, HRV monitoring, and about an hour of outdoor activity daily, I got roughly 4-5 days between charges. That's decent for an AMOLED watch, though Coros watches still edge it out on battery.
Software & Features
The Suunto Run runs on a completely different platform than the Race series—which means no Suunto Plus app store support. That's a bummer if you're used to custom apps, but Suunto has pulled many popular features into native functionality.
The watch has 34 sport modes, including track running, trail running, marathon prediction, triathlon, pool swimming, and even weight training. There's structured workout support, but you can't sync TrainingPeaks workouts to the watch—only export completed workouts.
What's included:
- Dual-band GPS with excellent accuracy
- Offline music storage (4GB, MP3 only—no Spotify)
- Voice feedback to headphones without the app
- Breadcrumb navigation (no offline maps)
- Recovery metrics and training load tracking
- Metronome (both audible and vibration)
- Hydration and nutrition reminders
- Barometric altimeter and compass
What's missing:
- Offline topographic maps
- Suunto Plus app store
- NFC payments
- Advanced cycling sensor support (no power meters)
- Structured workout sync from third-party apps
The breadcrumb navigation works well enough—you can import routes from Strava and follow the trail. But if you need full offline maps, you'll need to spend more on the Suunto Race S.
The Verdict
The Suunto Run is an exceptional value for runners who want dual-band GPS, a bright AMOLED display, and offline music without spending $500+. At $249, it's competitively priced against the Garmin Forerunner 165 and Coros Pace 3, while offering features those watches don't.
Who's it for? Runners who want premium GPS accuracy, lightweight comfort, and music playback without breaking the bank. If you're coming from an older Garmin or Coros, this is a compelling upgrade.
Who should skip it? Cyclists who need power meter compatibility, runners who need offline maps, or those who rely on third-party workout apps. And if you need the absolute best optical heart rate sensor, you might want to look elsewhere—or budget for a chest strap.
For me, the Suunto Run hits a sweet spot I didn't expect to like as much as I do. It's not perfect—the charger is annoying, the display could be brighter, and heart rate accuracy has room for improvement—but at $249, it's hard to complain.
Best for: Budget-conscious runners who want flagship-level GPS accuracy without the flagship price.
What do you think—could you switch to the Suunto Run, or do you need more features? Let me know in the comments!