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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerSuunto Race vs Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
The Suunto Race is the premium option here, but the Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) brings some flagship features that make it compelling. Both watches have impressive battery life at 40 hours, but the Pixel offers NFC payments and call functionality, which the Suunto lacks. In real-world use, the Suunto's vibrant 1.43” AMOLED display shines with sapphire crystal durability, but the Pixel's Actua 360 display, with 3,000 nits of peak brightness, is brighter and has thinner bezels. If you're considering an upgrade in 2026, the added features of the Pixel might just tip the scales in its favor for everyday functionality.
⚖️ Weight: 2.93 oz vs 1.29 oz💽 Storage: 16 GB vs 32 GB🏷️ Battery Life: both 40h (max GPS)
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Suunto Race
★4.2
(297)•Amazon
Compatibility:Android and iOS (via Suunto app)
Operating System:Suunto UI
Case Size:49mm (49 x 49 x 13.3 mm / 1.93 x 1.93 x 0.52 in)
Case Material:Bezel: Stainless Steel; Case: Glass fiber reinforced polyamide; Glass: Sapphire crystal; Strap: Silicone
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Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
★4.5
(405)•Amazon
Compatibility:Android 11.0 or later (Google account required); not compatible with iOS
Operating System:Wear OS 6.0 (pre-installed)
Case Size:45mm (45.0 x 45.0 x 12.3 mm)
Case Material:100% recycled aluminum case; Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Suunto Race
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Suunto Race
1.43 in
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
1.4 in (Actua 360 domed design)
Resolution
Suunto Race
466 x 466 pixels (1,000 nits brightness)
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
456 x 456 pixels (320 ppi)
Performance1 specs
Storage
Suunto Race
16 GB (Steel model) / 32 GB (Titanium model)
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
32GB eMMC flashWinner
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Suunto Race
Up to 26 days (Daily Mode); Up to 12 days (Daily HR + AOD); 40 hours (Performance Training / Dual-band GNSS)
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
455 mAh; Up to 40 hours with Always-On Display; Up to 72 hours in Battery Saver mode
Design2 specs
Weight
Suunto Race
83 g / 2.93 oz (Steel model)
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
36.7 g (without band)Winner
Water Resistance
Suunto Race
100 m (10 ATM)
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
5 ATM (50 meters)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Suunto Race
Suunto UI
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
Wear OS 6.0 (pre-installed)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Suunto Race
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (for map downloads)
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
Bluetooth 6.0; Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 2.4GHz/5GHz; NFC; Ultra-Wideband (UWB); LTE version available
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Suunto Race vs Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
Suunto Race
★4.2(297)Amazon
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
★4.5(405)Amazon
| Criterion | Suunto Race | Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.2(297)Amazon | ★4.5(405)Amazon |
Compatibility | Android and iOS (via Suunto app) | Android 11.0 or later (Google account required); not compatible with iOS |
Operating System | Suunto UI | Wear OS 6.0 (pre-installed) |
Case Size | 49mm (49 x 49 x 13.3 mm / 1.93 x 1.93 x 0.52 in) | 45mm (45.0 x 45.0 x 12.3 mm) |
Case Material | Bezel: Stainless Steel; Case: Glass fiber reinforced polyamide; Glass: Sapphire crystal; Strap: Silicone | 100% recycled aluminum case; Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
Display Type | AMOLED touchscreen (High definition, always-on capable) | Actua 360 AMOLED LTPO (1-60Hz) with 15% thinner bezels |
Display Size | 1.43 in | 1.4 in (Actua 360 domed design) |
Resolution | 466 x 466 pixels (1,000 nits brightness) | 456 x 456 pixels (320 ppi) |
Always On Display | Yes | Yes (Up to 3,000 nits peak brightness, 1 nit minimum) |
Water Resistance | 100 m (10 ATM) | 5 ATM (50 meters) |
Durability | MIL-STD-810H tested; Operating temp: -20°C to +55°C (-5°F to +130°F) | IP68 dust and water resistance; Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
GPS | Dual-band GNSS (L1 + L5); GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BEIDOU | Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5); GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC |
Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (for map downloads) | Bluetooth 6.0; Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 2.4GHz/5GHz; NFC; Ultra-Wideband (UWB); LTE version available |
NFC Payments | No (Not supported) | Google Wallet |
Sensors | Optical heart rate; blood oxygen (SpO2); barometric altimeter; digital compass; accelerometer; gyroscope | Compass; Altimeter; Red/Infrared SpO2 sensors; Multipurpose electrical sensors (ECG); Multi-path optical heart rate sensor; 3-axis accelerometer; Gyroscope; Ambient light sensor; cEDA sensor (stress); Skin temperature sensor; Barometer; Magnetometer |
Health Features | HRV measurement (Sleep & Daily); 24/7 heart rate; sleep tracking (stages & quality); blood oxygen; stress and recovery status | Gemini-powered Health Coach; Sleep Apnea detection; Daily Readiness; Cardio Load; ECG app; High/low heart rate notifications; Stress management (cEDA); Skin temperature variation |
Workout Modes | 95+ sport modes; Suunto Coach (AI-based training load & recovery); offline maps; route navigation; race time estimates | 40+ exercise modes; Auto-workout detection; Custom runs; Real-time guidance; Pace training; Heart Zone training |
Storage | 16 GB (Steel model) / 32 GB (Titanium model) | 32GB eMMC flash |
Speaker Mic | No (No built-in speaker or microphone) | Built-in speaker (improved for Gemini); Microphone |
Calls | No (Notification alerts only) | Yes (via Bluetooth or standalone on LTE models) |
Battery | Up to 26 days (Daily Mode); Up to 12 days (Daily HR + AOD); 40 hours (Performance Training / Dual-band GNSS) | 455 mAh; Up to 40 hours with Always-On Display; Up to 72 hours in Battery Saver mode |
Charging | Suunto magnetic fast charger (USB-A) | Fast charging (50% in 15 min; 80% in 30 min; 100% in 60 min) via 5-pin magnetic dock |
Weight | 83 g / 2.93 oz (Steel model) | 36.7 g (without band) |
Band Sizes | Fits wrist sizes 125–175 mm; standard 22 mm quick-release width | Active Band included (Small: 150–185 mm; Large: 165–215 mm) |
Extras | Global offline outdoor maps (free); weather widgets; phone media controls; customizable watch faces; digital crown navigation | Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip; Cortex M55 co-processor; Satellite SOS (LTE only); Offline Google Maps; Safety Check; Fall Detection |
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Suunto Race
Rating:★4.2(297)Amazon
Compatibility:Android and iOS (via Suunto app)
Operating System:Suunto UI
Case Size:49mm (49 x 49 x 13.3 mm / 1.93 x 1.93 x 0.52 in)
Case Material:Bezel: Stainless Steel; Case: Glass fiber reinforced polyamide; Glass: Sapphire crystal; Strap: Silicone
Display Type:AMOLED touchscreen (High definition, always-on capable)
Display Size:1.43 in
Resolution:466 x 466 pixels (1,000 nits brightness)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:100 m (10 ATM)
Durability:MIL-STD-810H tested; Operating temp: -20°C to +55°C (-5°F to +130°F)
GPS:Dual-band GNSS (L1 + L5); GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BEIDOU
Connectivity:Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (for map downloads)
NFC Payments:No (Not supported)
Sensors:Optical heart rate; blood oxygen (SpO2); barometric altimeter; digital compass; accelerometer; gyroscope
Health Features:HRV measurement (Sleep & Daily); 24/7 heart rate; sleep tracking (stages & quality); blood oxygen; stress and recovery status
Workout Modes:95+ sport modes; Suunto Coach (AI-based training load & recovery); offline maps; route navigation; race time estimates
Storage:16 GB (Steel model) / 32 GB (Titanium model)
Speaker Mic:No (No built-in speaker or microphone)
Calls:No (Notification alerts only)
Battery:Up to 26 days (Daily Mode); Up to 12 days (Daily HR + AOD); 40 hours (Performance Training / Dual-band GNSS)
Charging:Suunto magnetic fast charger (USB-A)
Weight:83 g / 2.93 oz (Steel model)
Band Sizes:Fits wrist sizes 125–175 mm; standard 22 mm quick-release width
Extras:Global offline outdoor maps (free); weather widgets; phone media controls; customizable watch faces; digital crown navigation
✓ Pros:
- • Vibrant 1.43” AMOLED screen with sapphire crystal durability
- • Excellent battery life (up to 40 hours in max accuracy GPS mode)
- • Free global offline maps with intuitive digital crown zooming
- • Dual-band GNSS provides highly accurate tracking in difficult terrain
- • Military-grade (MIL-STD-810H) durability
✗ Cons:
- • No NFC payments or music storage (music controls only)
- • No built-in speaker or microphone for calls
- • 49mm case size is bulky for smaller wrists
- • Steel version is noticeably heavier (83g) than the Titanium model (69g)
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Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
Rating:★4.5(405)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 11.0 or later (Google account required); not compatible with iOS
Operating System:Wear OS 6.0 (pre-installed)
Case Size:45mm (45.0 x 45.0 x 12.3 mm)
Case Material:100% recycled aluminum case; Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Display Type:Actua 360 AMOLED LTPO (1-60Hz) with 15% thinner bezels
Display Size:1.4 in (Actua 360 domed design)
Resolution:456 x 456 pixels (320 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes (Up to 3,000 nits peak brightness, 1 nit minimum)
Water Resistance:5 ATM (50 meters)
Durability:IP68 dust and water resistance; Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5
GPS:Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5); GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC
Connectivity:Bluetooth 6.0; Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 2.4GHz/5GHz; NFC; Ultra-Wideband (UWB); LTE version available
NFC Payments:Google Wallet
Sensors:Compass; Altimeter; Red/Infrared SpO2 sensors; Multipurpose electrical sensors (ECG); Multi-path optical heart rate sensor; 3-axis accelerometer; Gyroscope; Ambient light sensor; cEDA sensor (stress); Skin temperature sensor; Barometer; Magnetometer
Health Features:Gemini-powered Health Coach; Sleep Apnea detection; Daily Readiness; Cardio Load; ECG app; High/low heart rate notifications; Stress management (cEDA); Skin temperature variation
Workout Modes:40+ exercise modes; Auto-workout detection; Custom runs; Real-time guidance; Pace training; Heart Zone training
Storage:32GB eMMC flash
Speaker Mic:Built-in speaker (improved for Gemini); Microphone
Calls:Yes (via Bluetooth or standalone on LTE models)
Battery:455 mAh; Up to 40 hours with Always-On Display; Up to 72 hours in Battery Saver mode
Charging:Fast charging (50% in 15 min; 80% in 30 min; 100% in 60 min) via 5-pin magnetic dock
Weight:36.7 g (without band)
Band Sizes:Active Band included (Small: 150–185 mm; Large: 165–215 mm)
Extras:Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip; Cortex M55 co-processor; Satellite SOS (LTE only); Offline Google Maps; Safety Check; Fall Detection
✓ Pros:
- • Battery life significantly improved to 40 hours with AOD enabled
- • Brighter Actua 360 display (3,000 nits) with thinner bezels
- • Faster charging (0-50% in just 15 minutes)
- • New Satellite SOS feature for emergency communication (LTE models)
✗ Cons:
- • Design remains largely unchanged (still uses Gorilla Glass 5)
- • Requires Android 11.0+ (no iOS support)
- • Case thickness (12.3mm) is substantial compared to competitors
- • Satellite SOS requires an active LTE plan/carrier support
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Which one is better?
The Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) is the better buy for most people - its NFC support and call capabilities crush the Suunto Race. That said, grab the Suunto if you want superior durability and GPS tracking - it's 2.93oz compared to Pixel's 1.29oz.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Suunto Race if: you need rugged durability for outdoor adventures, want superior GPS tracking, or prefer offline map access. (2.93 oz weight, 16 GB storage)
Choose the Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) if: you want NFC payments for easy transactions, need a watch for calls, or prefer a vibrant display for daily use. (1.29 oz weight, 32 GB storage)
Conclusion
Suunto Race and Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Suunto Race excels if you value vibrant 1.43” amoled screen with sapphire crystal durability. Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) is better if you prioritize battery life significantly improved to 40 hours with aod enabled. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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