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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 16, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerSuunto Race vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Suunto Race vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: which is the right fit? We cover performance, value, and use cases to make the call easier.
Ratings: 4.2★ vs 4.5★
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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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Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
★4.5
(6,385)•Amazon
Compatibility:Android 11.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM; Samsung Galaxy phone required for Energy Score, ECG, Sleep Apnea, and IHRN features
Operating System:Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch)
Case Size:44mm (44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7 mm) or 40mm (40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7 mm)
Case Material:Armor Aluminum 2 case; Sapphire Crystal glass
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Comparison: Suunto Race vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Suunto Race
★4.2(297)Amazon
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
★4.5(6,385)Amazon
| Criterion | Suunto Race | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.2(297)Amazon | ★4.5(6,385)Amazon |
Compatibility | Android and iOS (via Suunto app) | Android 11.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM; Samsung Galaxy phone required for Energy Score, ECG, Sleep Apnea, and IHRN features |
Operating System | Suunto UI | Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch) |
Case Size | 49mm (49 x 49 x 13.3 mm / 1.93 x 1.93 x 0.52 in) | 44mm (44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7 mm) or 40mm (40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7 mm) |
Case Material | Bezel: Stainless Steel; Case: Glass fiber reinforced polyamide; Glass: Sapphire crystal; Strap: Silicone | Armor Aluminum 2 case; Sapphire Crystal glass |
Display Type | AMOLED touchscreen (High definition, always-on capable) | Super AMOLED; Always-On Display; Peak brightness 2000 nits |
Display Size | 1.43 in | 1.5 in (44mm) / 1.3 in (40mm) |
Resolution | 466 x 466 pixels (1,000 nits brightness) | 480 x 480 pixels (44mm); 432 x 432 pixels (40mm) |
Always On Display | Yes | Yes |
Water Resistance | 100 m (10 ATM) | 5 ATM + IP68 (water resistant up to 50 meters for 10 min) |
Durability | MIL-STD-810H tested; Operating temp: -20°C to +55°C (-5°F to +130°F) | MIL-STD-810H certified; Dust tight (IP68) |
GPS | Dual-band GNSS (L1 + L5); GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BEIDOU | Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5); Glonass; Beidou; Galileo |
Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (for map downloads) | LTE (optional); Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz; Bluetooth 5.3; NFC |
NFC Payments | No (Not supported) | Samsung Wallet / Google Wallet |
Sensors | Optical heart rate; blood oxygen (SpO2); barometric altimeter; digital compass; accelerometer; gyroscope | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal + Electrical Heart + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis); Temperature sensor; Accelerometer; Barometer; Gyro sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Light sensor |
Health Features | HRV measurement (Sleep & Daily); 24/7 heart rate; sleep tracking (stages & quality); blood oxygen; stress and recovery status | Energy Score; Sleep Apnea detection (FDA authorized); AGEs Index; Body Composition (BIA); ECG; Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification; Cycle Tracking with skin temperature; Sleep coaching |
Workout Modes | 95+ sport modes; Suunto Coach (AI-based training load & recovery); offline maps; route navigation; race time estimates | Advanced Run Coaching; Race (compete against past results); Track Back; Custom Interval Training; Swimming (Pool & Open Water); Cycling; Hiking; Circuit Training; and 100+ others via Samsung Health |
Storage | 16 GB (Steel model) / 32 GB (Titanium model) | 32GB |
Speaker Mic | No (No built-in speaker or microphone) | Speaker; Microphone |
Calls | No (Notification alerts only) | Yes (LTE standalone or via paired phone) |
Battery | Up to 26 days (Daily Mode); Up to 12 days (Daily HR + AOD); 40 hours (Performance Training / Dual-band GNSS) | 425 mAh (44mm) / 300 mAh (40mm); Up to 40 hours (AOD off); Up to 30 hours (AOD on) |
Charging | Suunto magnetic fast charger (USB-A) | Fast Wireless Charging (WPC Inductive); 0-45% in approx. 30 mins |
Weight | 83 g / 2.93 oz (Steel model) | 33.8 g (44mm) / 28.8 g (40mm) (Body only) |
Band Sizes | Fits wrist sizes 125–175 mm; standard 22 mm quick-release width | Fits 20mm standard bands (One Click system) |
Extras | Global offline outdoor maps (free); weather widgets; phone media controls; customizable watch faces; digital crown navigation | Exynos W1000 (3nm) Processor; Galaxy AI features (Smart Reply, Voice-to-Text summaries); Double Pinch gesture |
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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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Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Rating:★4.5(6,385)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 11.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM; Samsung Galaxy phone required for Energy Score, ECG, Sleep Apnea, and IHRN features
Operating System:Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch)
Case Size:44mm (44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7 mm) or 40mm (40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7 mm)
Case Material:Armor Aluminum 2 case; Sapphire Crystal glass
Display Type:Super AMOLED; Always-On Display; Peak brightness 2000 nits
Display Size:1.5 in (44mm) / 1.3 in (40mm)
Resolution:480 x 480 pixels (44mm); 432 x 432 pixels (40mm)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:5 ATM + IP68 (water resistant up to 50 meters for 10 min)
Durability:MIL-STD-810H certified; Dust tight (IP68)
GPS:Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5); Glonass; Beidou; Galileo
Connectivity:LTE (optional); Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz; Bluetooth 5.3; NFC
NFC Payments:Samsung Wallet / Google Wallet
Sensors:Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal + Electrical Heart + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis); Temperature sensor; Accelerometer; Barometer; Gyro sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Light sensor
Health Features:Energy Score; Sleep Apnea detection (FDA authorized); AGEs Index; Body Composition (BIA); ECG; Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification; Cycle Tracking with skin temperature; Sleep coaching
Workout Modes:Advanced Run Coaching; Race (compete against past results); Track Back; Custom Interval Training; Swimming (Pool & Open Water); Cycling; Hiking; Circuit Training; and 100+ others via Samsung Health
Storage:32GB
Speaker Mic:Speaker; Microphone
Calls:Yes (LTE standalone or via paired phone)
Battery:425 mAh (44mm) / 300 mAh (40mm); Up to 40 hours (AOD off); Up to 30 hours (AOD on)
Charging:Fast Wireless Charging (WPC Inductive); 0-45% in approx. 30 mins
Weight:33.8 g (44mm) / 28.8 g (40mm) (Body only)
Band Sizes:Fits 20mm standard bands (One Click system)
Extras:Exynos W1000 (3nm) Processor; Galaxy AI features (Smart Reply, Voice-to-Text summaries); Double Pinch gesture
✓ Pros:
- • Significantly faster performance with new 3nm Exynos W1000 chip
- • Dual-frequency GPS improves tracking accuracy in cities
- • New health metrics: Sleep Apnea, AGEs Index, and Energy Score
- • Double the storage (32GB) compared to Watch 6
- • Lightweight and comfortable Armor Aluminum design
✗ Cons:
- • Battery life remains roughly 1 day with heavy use (requires daily charging)
- • Advanced health features (ECG, Apnea) strictly require Samsung phones
- • Charging speed is decent but slower than some competitors
- • Design is virtually identical to the previous generation
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Which one is better?
Looking at user satisfaction (Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: 4.2★ vs Suunto Race: 4.5★), Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 pulls ahead. The gap is small—choose based on the priorities below.
Who should buy each?
Suunto Race excels at: Vibrant 1.43” AMOLED screen with sapphire crystal durability, Excellent battery life (up to 40 hours in max accuracy GPS mode)
Watch for: No NFC payments or music storage (music controls only)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 excels at: Significantly faster performance with new 3nm Exynos W1000 chip, Dual-frequency GPS improves tracking accuracy in cities
Watch for: Battery life remains roughly 1 day with heavy use (requires daily charging)
Conclusion
With the key differences outlined, the decision should be clearer. Both options deliver quality—choose the one that fits your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Suunto Race excels if you value vibrant 1.43” amoled screen with sapphire crystal durability. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is better if you prioritize significantly faster performance with new 3nm exynos w1000 chip. 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.
Affiliate disclosure
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