Suunto smartwatches strengthen their case as Garmin alternatives

We have covered Suunto products several times in the past. The company primarily targets ambitious athletes and is therefore less widely known among casual users. Nevertheless, Suunto smartwatches offer a feature set comparable to Garmin wearables, including support for offline maps stored directly on the device.

Suunto has now released software version 2.56.18, delivering the Q2 update for the Suunto Vertical 2 (on Amazon) and Race 2 (on Amazon). While the rollout started today, the company notes that distribution is staged, so the update may take some time to reach all users. The extensive changelog introduces both new features and a range of quality-of-life improvements. While simplified pairing via QR code is likely less relevant for existing users, the enhanced map functionality stands out: offline maps can now display the names of streets, peaks, and bodies of water, and map views are easier to manage.

Additionally, the update introduces a new tide widget, refines distance tracking for greater accuracy, and improves GPS track quality. The watches can now store up to 200 routes, and synchronization with SuuntoPlus has been sped up.