If a big, bulky and heavy sports watch isn’t your cup of tea, Suunto has a solution just for you. Introducing the Suunto 3 Fitness; a small sized, lightweight and thin sports watch. The Suunto 3 is a toned down version of its bigger sibling, the Suunto 9, although it made its debut before the Suunto 9.
The Suunto 3 features a smaller display with noticeably thicker bezels around it. On my first look at the watch, I immediately assumed it has a touchscreen display. Unfortunately, it is not. There are buttons surrounding the watch which is used to navigate through the watch.
Unike the Suunto 9, it only has 70 sports mode. Moreover, what are missing are the different battery modes for an optimized battery performance. Despite the lack of this feature, the Suunto 3 manages to last for at least a week without utilising the sports mode. In sports mode, it could last as long as 2 days. This is the mileage I could get without enabling the power saving mode in sports mode.
Another lacking feature of the Suunto 3 is a built-in GPS tracking system. GPS tracking is not possible if you’re going for an outdoor run with just the watch. Hence, you will need to have the Suunto App installed in your phone and connected to the Suunto 3. After successfully connecting to the app, you’ll have to carry the phone around for GPS to track. Furthermore, staying connected to the app also allows the watch to receive phone notifications.
At the bottom of the watch is where the heart rate sensors by Valencell and the pin connectors for charging. A vibrating motor is in the watch that responds to the push of buttons and notifications. The watch does come with water resistance of up to 30 meters.
The Suunto 3 comes with various different colours and the prices are influenced by the colour you choose. The white and gold version which I have here retails for RM1059 and has a starting price of RM899 for black, ocean and sakura colours. It may seem pricey for a watch without a built-in GPS which could be a turn off for many. However, if you’re going to need a watch for indoor activities, this could be the perfect watch for you.
