Fitbit vs Suunto GPS Watches And Trackers: Which is Better?

One of the keys to success is seeing the progress you’re making so that you can celebrate your wins. This is true in every aspect of life but more so for your physical health. 

You can ensure better results by monitoring your progress and making course corrections when things aren’t working the right way. Many of us know the best way to do that is by investing in a good quality fitness tracker or smartwatch.

The market for these types of devices has exploded over the past decade. That means there is a wide range of options available to you. That means that it is more challenging to decide on the one that will be right for you.

To help you, we’ve decided to take two of the most popular and reputable brands and compare them side-by-side. So if you’re considering Fitbit or Suunto, then keep reading; we’re going to dive into all the features and benefits of each.

Fitbit: An In-Depth Look

No matter who you’re talking to, if you say the words fitness tracker , immediately a Fitbit comes into your mind. This brand has been around for the breadth of the boom and has become synonymous with high-performance products. 

Because of having this hold on the fitness tracker and GPS watch market, the company has developed tons of features that help with combat ability and versatility.

Best overall Fitbit fitness trackers and watches

Display

With years and years under their belt, Fitbit has a wide variety of models available from which to choose. Because of this, there isn’t a generic answer to what the displays are like because it depends on the model you’re looking at. However, all Fitbit displays are very user-friendly and well designed for readability.

Fitbit displays offer well-lit screens that are bright in regards to color. This is due to most of the models using an AMOLED display. The glass that protects this amazing screen is typically gorilla glass, elevating the durability of the watch face. 

GPS

When you’re looking at fitness trackers, GPS capability is essential. However, there are varying levels of GPS capability within the models available from Fitbit. They are all designed to be high-performance and as accurate as possible. When it comes to the systems themselves, you will have models with built-in GPS and those that run off of connected GPS.

The Fitbit watches are crafted with a built-in GPS on several models. Those with the Ionic Ore Sense will be able to take advantage of the high-grade GPS technology that uses the GLONASS satellite system. However, not all models (like the Charge 5) are outfitted with that system and instead use a connected GPS. 

Navigation

Navigation is one of the things that makes this brand’s devices so user-friendly. Not only through the interface but also through the use of external apps. The designers at Fitbit strive to deliver compatibility that optimizes the performance of their products. This is why maps and other features can be downloaded from reputable places like Google Maps and utilized for your fitness needs.

Monitoring

The whole point of you investing your hard-earned money in a GPS watch or fitness tracker is to be able to monitor certain aspects of your physical health. By doing this, you can ensure a higher level of results for your fitness goals. 

So the wide range of models are for monitoring capability when it comes to the standard stuff like daily steps and heart rate. But most were outfitted with a plethora of other options intended to help enhance your fitness journey.

Battery

Battery life is a crucial feature to pay attention to when you’re looking at investing in a GPS watch. After all, you don’t want to be out in the middle of nowhere enjoying your run and look down to find out that you have no idea where you are because your battery has died. 

Depending on the model, you’re going to have battery life for Fitbit (thanks to the use of a high-quality lithium-polymer battery), ranging from days to months. This, of course, depends on what features you’re using because if you use heavier features like GPS, it will reduce your battery life.

Suunto: An In-Depth Look

Suunto Is one of the most popular brands for GPS and fitness tracking watches. These watches are designed by a company based out of Finland. This company has spent years dedicating its design and research to perfecting the GPS systems in its products.

Best overall Suunto GPS Watches

Display

Of the crucial parts of creating a high-performance GPS watch is to allow your customers to customize their displays for their use. This company offers this in almost all its models, but it is more challenging than other companies. When looking to customize your display with this brand watch, you will have to utilize their proprietary app.

Many Suunto models are designed with premium-grade touchscreen technology, but the designs also include several traditional buttons. In order to protect those high-grade displays, the company uses multiple types of glass, including sapphire and gorilla. The glass used depends on the model, of course. 

GPS

Because they focus on ensuring that they install high-quality GPS technology in their watches, they offer some of the best capabilities. Their GPS Allows you to, much like other options, see real-time numbers so that you can celebrate at the moment. The GPS systems are designed to help maximize your fitness routines by offering high-quality maps with tons of details.

Suunto uses a mixture of both connected and built-in GPS technology systems. No matter which option your model is outfitted with, it uses a multi-satellite system that includes access to Galileo and GLONASS. The connected system uses the same satellite system but accesses it through connection to your smartphone.  

Navigation

Other than the GPS capabilities when it comes to navigation, things like the screen and map size play a part in the quality of the watch. You can easily find very detailed maps and download them with this company model. 

This includes the fact that they allow you to utilize breadcrumb wraps which offer even more detail than the standard maps you can download. The watches are outfitted with barometer and altimeter features to allow you to have more in-depth results.

Monitoring

Whether you buy a model that utilizes optical technology or one that has a heart rate belt, the monitoring systems included in these watches are excellent. On top of the fact you can monitor your heart rate, they are designed with the ability to watch a plethora of other features that you can utilize to become a healthier person.

Battery

No matter what type of technology you are utilizing, there is a battery life that has to be considered. When it comes to these watches, they are outfitted with the ability to choose a couple of different battery modes that will affect the overall life abuse per charge.

Regarding the actual battery, though, you are looking at a CR2032. This type of battery gives a long life cycle and can extend the ability to use your watch much longer. Some models like the Suunto 7 can offer a battery life of up to two days.  

Pros & Cons: Fitbit Versus Suunto

Having a good grip on the basic designs of each of these watches, including the features and benefits, will help you find the right option. For those looking for a more straightforward bullet-point list, we have created a pros and cons list for the watches we’ve been looking at.

Fitbit

Pros

• Designed to be user friendly whether you are using the app or the laptop website
• Capable of creating a social network by They connecting with friends and family for improved motivation and accountability
• Fitbit is compatible with various fitness apps, including MyFitnessPal and LoseIt!
• Outfitted with the ability to track your sleep for improved health overall
• The battery life of a Fitbit can last several days
• Most models are designed to be water-resistant

Cons

• Not designed to send reminders to get you moving
• Some find that the accuracy level of step counting is not as good as other options
• lacks the ability to create a plan within the application

Suunto

Pros

• Designed to offer the user three separate battery life modes
• Crafted with advanced features like barometric and altimeter measurement
• Map displays on the watch are pretty large
• Bonus features include things like being able to keep track of the weather
• Compatible with a wide range of apps and smart devices
• One can use maps offline for better navigation
• It comes with multiple battery life modes

Cons

• For those on a budget, the price tag might be a little too high
• Lacks some more advanced features of other fitness trackers on the market
• Customization of the display is only possible through the use of the app

FAQ on Fitbit vs Suunto

Though we went into much detail above about every aspect of these GPS watches, we know that we didn’t answer all the questions. So below, we’ve chosen a couple of the most common ones to clarify some issues that previous owners have reported.

Final Thoughts

No matter which of these two options you choose, you’re going to get a high-quality, high-performance fitness tracker and a GPS watch. Choosing which one is the right one for you depends on your preference and your needs. 

Things like budget and access to features have to be considered and can only be done by you. We hope that by taking this in-depth comparison look at Fitbit and Suunto, we have helped make the decision-making process a little easier.