This sleek stylish outdoor accessory couldn't possibly be hardy enough for the rough and tumble world of outdoor pursuits, could it? Suunto insists it is, so we've been trying out the Finnish brand's 9 Peak Pro.
You've got to marvel at the current levels of microtechnology. This Suunto 9 Peak Pro smartwatch is just over 1cm thick and 4cm wide. Yet within its tiny shell lies enough software to accurately track you almost anywhere on the planet, plus your sleep, heart rate, and a legion of other things besides.
I know microtechnology is all around us but holding the 9 Peak Pro in my hand for the first time I was more acutely aware of it than ever. However, the admiration soon morphed into curiosity and suspicion as I wondered if this thing was all show and no go. Over the last few weeks, I've been finding out whether or not this is the case.
Features and design
The 9 Peak Pro currently sits as the cherry on top of the Suunto smartwatch cake. To become the Finnish brand's champion watch, it promises super accurate GPS tracking thanks to satellite coverage beaming in from GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, and BEIDOU. But the 9 Peak Pro also hosts a swarm of features accessed through a fresh new interface.
If you've ever had a Casio G-Shock watch or something similar, the 9 Peak Pro will come as another kind of shock. Stylistically, it's in total contrast to those chunky, Jeep Wrangler-style watches and is so sleek and minimalist by comparison. It's even noticeably thinner than the Garmin Fenix 7S. And to top off the aesthetic success of the 9 Peak Pro, it's available in a handful of different colours and over 20 strap options.
The aforementioned interface is both button and touchscreen operated, and of course connects via Bluetooth to the Suunto app. But you can sync the Suunto app with about a million other sports apps too.
In terms of construction, the 9 Peak Pro is waterproof to a 100m depth and has sapphire crystal glass and a stainless steel bezel. Or for some extra money you can get a titanium bezel. It's all tested to (US) military standards to back up the toughness claims.
Performance
My other half commented how good the Suunto looked on my wrist and I agreed. But I'll admit I was sceptical about the 9 Peak Pro as a tough multisport watch. However, my scepticism was proven to be nothing more than a passing first impression.
Over the weeks of testing, I haven't been careful with this watch. It's kissed branches, hugged rocks, and accidentally headbutted a door frame. The 9 Peak Pro was totally unphased by its encounters with nature, and the door frame came off second best. I also had a good chance to test its ability to handle cold weather. Suunto states the 9 Peak Pro's low operating temperature is -20° C. I was in Poland during testing, where I had a -15° C day. Happily, the watch was unaffected. It wasn't sluggish and operated as normal.
Speaking of which, how exactly does the 9 Peak Pro operate? In the past, we criticised the older Suunto 9 Peak for its sub-par usability compared to its rivals. The new interface is a revelation. It's clear and intuitive.
Dozens of sports modes are accessed by a swipe up or one button press from a (customisable) watch face. And your most recent sports are at the front of the list. From watch face to starting a sport can be done in three clicks. Swipe left or right and you scroll through a collection of common features including heart rate, media connectivity, and compass (from which you can also get your location).
Suunto's app is arguably the best smartwatch app. Average ratings on Play Store suggest otherwise but I maintain that it's very good. This is largely due to its layout. Like the watch, the app is laid out in a pleasing and simple way that allows you to access everything you want because it's just where you'd expect it to be. It does, however, take longer to sync than Garmin's app.
I found the battery life to be decent and representative of what's claimed, but not class-leading. Something like the Coros Apex 2 Pro or a solar Garmin is superior in that department.
Sustainability
The 9 Peak Pro is made in Finland and carries some eco credentials to help ease your consumer conscience. Renewable energy powers the factory where it's made, for example. Suunto have also calculated the carbon footprint of each 9 Peak Pro watch (7.5kg CO2e) over its lifespan. The company then offsets those emissions through a Tree-Nation reforestation project.
Price and competition
Naturally, the most obvious rival to Suunto is Garmin. Of its substantial range of offerings, Garmin's Fenix 7S would be the closest competitor. The Fenix 7S is considerably more expensive than the 9 Peak Pro, frankly and it's hard to justify.
Both act with equal competence as your data analyst and training coach. There are a couple of extras on the Garmin, including contactless payment, but they hardly compensate for the extra cost. And as I pointed out before, I think the Suunto app is better than Garmin Connect.
One desirable option the Fenix 7S has over the Suunto is the availability of a solar edition.
Although the 9 Peak Pro is better value than its Garmin rival, it's still expensive. Therefore, the only people who benefit from it are those who will actually use its features. There's little point using the sports and tracking features every so often. The 9 Peak Pro needs to be on your wrist, monitoring you 24/7 if you're to use this watch properly. In for a penny, in for a pound.
Verdict
Suunto have done a superb job with the 9 Peak Pro. It's one of the very few smartwatches that looks as good as it performs. It's quite James Bond-ish in that respect.
Garmin is often the go-to brand for this sort of device. That's somewhat fair enough, but I'd recommend the 9 Peak Pro as your first port of call if you're on the hunt for a sports smartwatch.
Features 5/5 | Performance 5/5 | Value 4/5 | Sustainability 4/5
Overall score: 90%
Pros: Excellent layout, looks awesome, better value than Garmin rival, great app
Cons: App is a little slow to sync
Dimensions 43 x 43 x 10.8mm | Weight 64g (Titanium 55g) | Materials stainless steel (or titanium) bezel, sapphire crystal glass | Screen size 30.5mm | Battery life 21 days (24/7 tracking and mobile notifications)
www.suunto.com
www.suunto.com