The Suunto Vertical 2 represents a major evolution in Suunto's adventure watch lineup. Released in October 2025, this flagship adventure watch brings a stunning 1.5" AMOLED display, built-in LED flashlight, and the best battery life we've seen on an AMOLED adventure watch. Starting at $599 for the stainless steel version ($699 for titanium), it competes directly with the Garmin Fenix 8 series, Coros Apex 4, and Polar Vantage V3.
But how does it really perform? We gathered reviews from five of the most respected voices in the GPS watch community to give you the complete picture.
Design and Display
The Vertical 2 features a 1.5" LTPO AMOLED touchscreen display that's incredibly bright — up to 2,000 nits according to multiple experts. This is a massive upgrade from the original Vertical's MIP display.
"This display is fantastic in just about any lighting condition. You could be in direct sunlight at off angles and the worst case scenario with the sun shining down over your shoulder and you can still read what's going on." — Dave Dillon, Chase The Summit
The watch is slightly larger than the Race 2 at 49mm case size and 13.3mm thick, weighing in at 86g (steel) or 74g (titanium). Unlike the Race 2's rotating crown, the Vertical 2 uses three large physical buttons — a design choice Suunto made for reliability with gloves or wet conditions.
Battery Life: The Real Story
This is where the Vertical 2 truly shines. Despite the power-hungry AMOLED display, Suunto has managed to deliver exceptional battery performance:
- Daily smartwatch use: Up to 20 days
- GPS performance mode: Up to 60 hours (dual-band GPS, always-on display)
- Endurance mode: Up to 75 hours
"The best AMOLED battery life in the market. Period." — Ray Maker, DCRainmaker
DCRainmaker put this to the test during a 70km, 15-hour hike and estimates he got about 50 hours of GPS tracking — calling it "super impressive."
However, there's one trade-off: unlike the original Vertical, there's no solar charging option on the Vertical 2.
Heart Rate Accuracy
The heart rate sensor has been updated to match the Race 2, but the results are mixed:
- Indoor cycling: Excellent (correlation of 1.00 per Quantified Scientist)
- Running: Mixed (two out of three runs good, one had issues)
- Outdoor cycling: Mediocre on some testers
"The heart rate tracking results are somewhat mixed. I would say for indoor cycling, at least for that one session did really well on me. For running, two out of three were pretty good, but one wasn't great. And for outdoor cycling, it just didn't do well on me." — Rob ter Horst, Quantified Scientist
Multiple experts recommend pairing a chest strap for the most reliable heart rate tracking during high-intensity activities.
GPS Accuracy
This is one area where the Vertical 2 excels consistently:
"GPS accuracy is quite good. Comparing it side by side with my Fenix 8 and other test devices, things are looking really good in that department." — Dave Dillon, Chase The Summit
The watch uses dual-frequency (multi-band) GPS for maximum accuracy.
LED Flashlight: A Game-Changer?
The built-in LED flashlight is unique to the Vertical 2 (the Race 2 doesn't have it). It's useful for everyday tasks like finding keys in the dark or navigating a dark hotel room.
"The flashlight is simply awesome." — Des Yap, DesFit
However, some experts note the implementation is a bit clunky:
"To turn the flashlight off, I push the middle button. The light turns off, but I don't go back to my watch face. I'm stuck in this menu state. I wish I could just long press that top button to make the flashlight turn on mid-activity." — Dave Dillon, Chase The Summit
The flashlight casts a wide, diffused beam — not as bright as the Garmin Fenix 8, but useful nonetheless.
Sleep Tracking
If sleep tracking is your priority, the Vertical 2 won't impress:
"Sleep stage tracking just isn't the strong point of the Suunto brand... it's mediocre, in line with competitors like Garmin and Polar." — Rob ter Horst, Quantified Scientist
Deep sleep accuracy was around 50% in testing — not terrible, but not great either.
What Experts Are Saying
The Positives
- Best-in-class AMOLED battery life
- Bright, beautiful AMOLED display
- Excellent GPS accuracy
- Useful LED flashlight
- Premium build quality
- Free offline maps
The Negatives
- Heart rate sensor can be inconsistent
- Sleep tracking is mediocre
- No rotating crown (buttons only)
- Flashlight UI needs refinement
- No solar charging option
- Pricey ($599-699)
The Verdict
After synthesizing reviews from five experts, here's the consensus: the Suunto Vertical 2 is an excellent adventure watch that's particularly well-suited for ultra-endurance athletes and outdoor adventurers who prioritize battery life and GPS accuracy.
"I was initially disappointed when I heard about the Vertical 2, but after wearing it for a month I was proven wrong — I'm now pretty impressed and believe it could be the new benchmark for AMOLED watches in terms of battery life." — Matt LeGrand
Best for: Outdoor adventurers, hikers, trail runners, and anyone who wants the best battery life on an AMOLED adventure watch.
Consider alternatives if: Heart rate accuracy is critical for your training, you prefer a rotating crown for navigation, or you want the best sleep tracking (Garmin or Apple Watch may be better).
Buy now: Suunto Vertical 2 on Amazon
This review synthesizes opinions from DCRainmaker, DesFit, Chase The Summit, Quantified Scientist, and Matt LeGrand.