Wear Radar

Polar Grit XvsSuunto Race

Polar Grit X
Buy/Wait:bad

Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming

Best for: Trail runners, hikers, and outdoor athletes who want Polar's analytics with significantly longer battery life than the Vantage V3. The titanium case and sapphire glass make it suitable for technical terrain where watch durability matters.

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Suunto Race
Buy/Wait:good

Early in release cycle

Best for: Competitive road and trail runners who want Suunto's precise multi-band GPS tracking and a vivid AMOLED display in a lighter, thinner package. A strong alternative to Garmin for athletes who prefer Suunto's clean interface and ecosystem.

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Polar Grit XSuunto Race
TierSports GPSSports GPS
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
Battery40 days16 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
Health sensorshr, spo2, hrv, running powerhr, spo2, hrv, training load
ReleasedApr 11, 2024Aug 27, 2025
Cycle length873 days848 days
Cycle advicebadgood
Deals advicegoodneutral
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Why buy each?

Polar Grit X

40-day battery for trail and ultra runners

Five times the battery of the Vantage V3 — enough for week-long mountain stages or ultramarathons without charging access.

Hill splitter auto-detection

Automatically segments your run by uphill and downhill sections, calculating pace and power for each — essential for mountain race training.

Wrist running power at mid-range price

Running power without a chest strap or foot pod — Polar's key differentiator versus Garmin at this price tier.

Suunto Race

Significantly improved heart rate accuracy

The redesigned optical HR sensor on Race 2 delivers far more reliable readings during high-intensity sessions — a notable weak point of the original Race that has been addressed.

Dual-frequency GPS at 55h

Dual-frequency L1+L5 multi-constellation GPS for sub-meter precision in urban areas and dense forests, with 55 continuous GPS hours on a single charge.

1.5" AMOLED, thinner and lighter

The display grows to 1.5" at 2000 nits while the case slims to 12.5mm and drops to 76g — more readable in sunlight and easier to wear day-to-day than its predecessor.