Getting Started
How do I turn it on and off?
To turn the watch on, press and hold the middle button for about five seconds until the screen lights up. To turn it off, press and hold the middle button from the watch face, then go to Settings > General > Power Off.
How do the buttons work?
The watch has three buttons. Press the middle button (the crown) to confirm, enter, or go back, and rotate it to scroll through pages. The upper button changes function depending on the screen you're on. A short press of the lower button steps back, and a long press returns you to the watch face.
How do I change the watch face?
From the watch face, press and hold the middle button, then go to Settings > Customize to switch between the faces already on your watch. You can download more through the Suunto app.
How do I set the time and date?
When the watch is connected to the Suunto app, it syncs the time from your phone automatically. To set it by hand, go to Settings > General > Time/Date, where you can choose a 12 or 24-hour format, your time zone, and the date format.
Hardware & Design
What is it made of?
The bezel and case-back are titanium, and the lens is sapphire crystal, which rates 9 on the Mosh scale for scratch resistance. The case is a high-performance polymer, and it comes with a 22 mm quick-release silicone strap that you can swap out yourself.
What are the display specs?
The display is a 1.32-inch LTPO AMOLED at 466x466, with up to 2,000 nits of brightness so it stays readable outdoors, and it's full colour.
How big is it, and how much does it weigh?
Race 3S is 46 mm across and weighs around 56 g with the silicone strap. The titanium build keeps it tough without making it heavy.
Water resistance for swimming / diving?
Water resistant is up to 5 ATM, so it's fine for swimming, everyday water exposure, and snorkelling, though it isn't built for scuba diving. Rinse it with fresh water after swimming or any contact with salt water, and keep it out of saunas and hot baths.
Does it have a flashlight?
The AMOLED screen doubles as an emergency flashlight. Open the Control Center and turn on the torch, and the screen switches to full-brightness white. It's handy in a pinch, but it drains the battery quickly if you leave it on.
Battery & Battery Life
How long does the battery last?
In daily use the battery lasts around 10 days. With dual-frequency multi-constellation GPS it runs for about 45 hours, and single-frequency GPS or Battery Saver extends that further, with Expedition mode lasting longer still. Real-world battery life depends on how you use the watch.
Fast charging support and full charge time?
Yes. Ten minutes on the charger gives you about 10 hours of dual-frequency GPS, and a full charge takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. We recommend a 5V/1A or higher USB charger.
Is there a battery-saver mode?
During an activity, you can switch to single-frequency GPS or Expedition mode to make the battery last longer. For everyday use, turning off the always-on display, lowering the brightness, and limiting notifications all help. When the battery runs low, the watch prompts you to switch on Battery Saver automatically.
GPS & Navigation
Which satellite systems does it support?
It uses dual-frequency, five-constellation GNSS, covering GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS. The dual L1 and L5 bands cut down on the signal errors you get around tall buildings, so your position stays more accurate and stable.
Offline maps with or without subscription?
Yes, and they're free. You get global offline maps (exclude sanctioned countries and regions) with contour lines, place names, roads, and water features, with no subscription. There's 64 GB of storage for map data, and you download the regions you need through the Suunto app at no cost.
Route navigation supported? How to import?
Yes. Create a route in the Suunto app or import a GPX or KML file, then sync it to the watch. As you navigate, it shows your position, your track, the distance remaining, and your ETA, and alerts you if you drift off route.
What is Climb Guidance?
When you're following a route, Climb Guidance automatically shows the distance, ascent, average grade, and steepest grade of each climb ahead. Knowing that in advance makes it much easier to pace your effort, which is a real help on trail runs and in the mountains.
What is Race Planner?
Race Planner works out suggested pacing for each segment and an estimated finish time, based on the route's elevation profile, the weather, and your current fitness. The idea is to help you pace sensibly on race day so you don't burn out early.
Compass, barometer, storm alerts included?
Yes. It has a built-in compass along with barometric and temperature sensors, and it shows your altitude (from either the barometer or GPS), the pressure trend, and the temperature. If the pressure drops sharply, it sets off a storm alarm automatically. Calibrate the compass regularly and keep it away from sources of magnetic interference.
Can it show sunrise and sunset times?
Yes. The watch uses your GPS location to show sunrise and sunset times, which makes it easy to plan your time outdoors.
Sports & Training
How many sport modes does it have?
There are more than 120 sport modes, covering running, trail running, cycling, swimming, hiking, mountaineering, triathlon, skiing, and paddleboarding, along with gym workouts and plenty more. You can also build your own custom modes.
Does it measure running and cycling power?
You get wrist-based running power straight from the watch, with no extra accessories needed. For precise figures you can also pair power meters over Bluetooth, including Stryd for running and cycling power meters, and the watch supports power zones.
Does it track running dynamics?
Yes, straight from the wrist. It captures metrics like cadence, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation.
Is there post-workout analysis?
Right after a session, the watch shows a summary with distance, time, pace, heart rate zones, calories, and elevation. For the deeper analysis, including graphs, laps, training effect, and recovery, open the Suunto app, which can also sync to Strava, and others.
Health Monitoring
Does it monitor heart rate, and is it accurate?
Yes. Wrist-based optical heart rate uses a new-generation sensor that's accurate for everyday wear and steady-effort exercise.
Does it monitor blood oxygen (SpO2)?
Yes, both on demand and during sleep. The readings are for reference only and aren't intended for medical diagnosis.
Does it track stress and recovery?
Yes. It reads your heart rate variability and heart rate to gauge your stress and recovery, and the recovery index in Training Zone helps you decide when to train and when to rest.
Which Bluetooth accessories work with it?
It works with standard Bluetooth LE accessories, including chest heart rate straps, speed and cadence sensors, power meters, Stryd, and running dynamics pods.
Storage & Music
How much storage does it have?
It has 64 GB, double the previous generation, which is enough room for a large library of offline maps and thousands of songs.
Can it play offline music?
Yes, and it's a first for the Race series. Transfer your MP3 or WAV files to the watch, pair a set of Bluetooth headphones, and you can listen while you train without your phone. Playlists are managed through the Suunto app. Offline Music available via an over-the-air software update following product launch. Availability timing is subject to official announcement.
How do I connect Bluetooth headphones?
Go to Settings > Connectivity > Bluetooth Headphones > Add new device, put your headphones in pairing mode, and select their name to connect.
Connectivity & App
How do I connect it to the Suunto app?
Download the Suunto app (iOS 17 or later, or Android 8 or later) and create an account or sign in. Choose Pair new device, make sure the watch is on with Bluetooth enabled, and follow the prompts to finish pairing.
What if syncing fails?
A few things to try: make sure Bluetooth is on and you're within about 10 meters; restart Bluetooth on your phone; force-restart the watch by holding the upper button for 20 seconds; unpair and pair again; and check that both the app and the watch firmware are up to date.
Does it show phone notifications?
Yes. Once it's connected to your phone, the watch shows incoming calls, texts, and app notifications.
OTA firmware updates supported?
Yes. When the watch is connected to the app, it tells you when new firmware is available, and you can also check by hand under Settings > About > Software update. Make sure the battery is well charged before you update.
Does it have an alarm, stopwatch, and timer?
Yes to all three. You can set multiple alarms, use the stopwatch with lap splits, and run a custom countdown timer.
Can it find my phone and control music?
Yes. You can ping your phone to make it ring, and control music playback on your phone, including play, pause, skipping tracks, and volume.
System & Maintenance
How do I factory reset it?
Go to Settings > General > Factory reset. A reset wipes all your data, so sync anything important to the app first.
Can I repair it myself?
No. Opening the watch yourself can let water in and cause damage, and using non-original parts or unauthorized repairs voids the warranty. If something's wrong, get in touch through suunto.com/support.
How do I clean and care for it?
Rinse the watch with fresh water after you use it, and use a mild soap if you've been sweating heavily. Keep it away from chemicals like sunscreen and insect repellent, dry the charging contacts before charging, check the strap now and then for wear, and don't wear it in saunas or hot baths.
