Suunto 9 Peak Pro | Full review and details of the new Suunto platform

The Suunto 9 Peak Pro represents for Suunto more than just a relaunch of the range with a little more autonomy or new straps.

What pod we can see from the outside is identical to the Suunto 9 Peak we already knew, sharing the same screen and casing as the original model. But internally everything has changed. New processor much faster, new satellite chipset, new pulse sensor, new user interface, twice the autonomy, functions such as power from the wrist, new functions SuuntoPlus ... that is, more than what the first impression may seem.

This new Suunto 9 Peak Pro is the first device to be manufactured under the Suunto 9 Peak Pro umbrella. new owner of Suunto, Liesheng. It will function as a bridge between what was the old Suunto and the Suunto that will arrive in the near future.

I have been testing the watch since before its presentation, first with the beta software and since the official release date (October 25) with the final firmware. In this time I have had the opportunity to try it, use it, test it and compare it with other models I have been working with.

First of all, I would like to remind you that in these tests there is no consideration of any kind from the manufacturers, so all my opinions are totally free. So if you like the work I do in these tests and you want to collaborate with the website, you can do so by purchasing through the published links. And don't forget to join the Telegram channel I post a lot of bargains there on a regular basis, thanks for your support!

News Suunto 9 Peak Pro

As usual, the first thing to do is to set out the complete list of new products in an easy and simple way, so that you can get to know them at a quick glance.

• New processor, much faster than before
• New satellite chipset from Sony
• Reception of all satellite constellations simultaneously (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou)
• New Suunto proprietary optical sensor, but with the same LifeQ algorithm
• Same size, 43mm diameter with a little more thickness at 10.8mm (instead of 10.6mm).
• Slightly heavier. From 62 to 64 grams for the steel version and from 52 to 55 grams for the titanium version.
• Sapphire glass lens (same as Suunto 9 Peak)
• Same 1.2″ touch screen, 240×240 pixel resolution (same as Suunto 9 Peak)
• Automatic display illumination with illumination sensor (same as Suunto 9 Peak)
• Autonomy in watch mode: up to 30 days (14 days in Suunto 9 Peak)
• Autonomy in smartwatch mode: up to 21 days (7 days in Suunto 9 Peak)
• Autonomy with 1-second GPS recording: up to 40 hours (25 hours in Suunto 9 Peak)
• Customizable battery modes that allow to offer autonomies up to 300h (170h maximum in Suunto 9 Peak)
• Fast charging. From 0% to 100% in 1 hour, 2 hours of training with 10 minutes of charging.

All this in terms of hardware and its possibilities, but the software also brings a few new features.

On the way, it has also lost some "functions". For example battery modes. It is no longer available the Ultra mode in which it makes GPS records every 2 minutes and in Endurance mode FusedTrack is no longer used because although with lower quality, the GPS in this mode continues to be at 1s.

Suunto says that the logic behind this is that there is now a much longer autonomy, so it makes no sense to keep restrictive modes if the 40 or 70 hours of its most durable modes are more than enough for 99.9% of users. And there is no lack of reason.

But we still have the Tour mode for long days of hiking, which is now capable of up to 300 hours.

In any case, do you want to see what comes with the watch and some details of the "unboxing"? Well, here is the video.

 

Basic aspects and operation

If you put a Suunto 9 Peak next to a Pro on a table, you won't know which is the new model. The strap may change, but you have to have a very trained eye to appreciate that difference. Now, if you turn it over you'll start to see those changes because in addition to seeing the Pro lettering you'll see the new sensor and two data connection points for service, which were not present before.

The sensor changes slightly, which is now manufactured by Suunto, but the algorithm remains the same as in the 9 Peak. However that will change in the near future also with its own algorithm.

Nor does the size change, which remains 43mm in diameter. Only the thickness and weight change slightly, with 0.2mm and 2 grams more respectively. The battery is the same, these changes are due to the difference in the board which is obviously completely redesigned.

The screen is the same. 1.2″ in diameter, tactile and with sapphire crystal. The buttons are also the same, three on the right side of generous size and with a very clear and characteristic click.

The Suunto 9 Peak Pro has been widely criticized for its "excessive screen bezel". But the reality is that this is simply an aesthetic effect. It is not that the frame is small, which it is not, but by the design that Suunto has used it seems that it is larger than it really is.

But the numbers do not lie. I do not deny that it may look like a huge black band, but that is already at the aesthetic discretion of each one (personally, I would prefer to have some inscription on screen that hides it), but far from having a bezel "insultingly large" I come to show you that not only is a wrong statement, but in fact the Suunto 9 Peak Pro (and the 9 Peak obviously) is one of those with a smaller bezel.

But it is not necessary to measure all the watches, it is very easy to get all the measurements through the manufacturer's data if we take into account the diameter of the watch, subtract the size of the screen and divide by two.

• Suunto 9 Peak Pro - 6,25mm
• Garmin Forerunner 955 - 6,75mm
• Garmin Forerunner 255 - 6,30mm
• Garmin Forerunner 255S - 6,75mm
• Garmin Fenix 7 - 7mm
• Garmin Fenix 7S - 5,75mm
• Garmin Fenix 7X - 7.75mm
• VERTIX 2 CHOROS - 7,40mm
• Polar Pacer Pro - 7,25mm
• Polar Grit X Pro - 8,25mm
• Polar Vantage V2 - 8,25mm

As you can see, the Suunto 9 Peak Pro is far from being the watch with the largest bezel. Far from it, the truth is that it is the one with the smallest bezel, only behind the Garmin Fenix 7S.

It is true that one thing is the size of the bezel and another thing what it really represents in the total of the watch. Here smaller watches are disadvantaged, while larger watches disguise their screen bezel more. We can look at the ratio of bezel to screen, or how much of the watch's surface area is the edge of the screen.

Nor is it among the worst (which in this case are the Polars). The smaller Garmins with good display (255, 245 and Fenix 7S) stand out positively.

Without going any further, the APEX 2 CHORUS which was announced a few weeks later has exactly the same measurements (43mm diameter and 1.2″ screen) and no one has criticized its screen frame. It is due to its design, with a bezel that reduces its size and an internal silkscreened frame.

Leaving aside the aesthetics and numbers, I will now talk about the new user interface, which is now completely redesigned. It is still a Suunto, but now things are no longer in the same place.

Starting from the main screen of the watch, scrolling upwards we find all the sport profiles, both the predefined ones (more than 95) and the ones we configure through the application.

If we scroll down we will find the options, settings, alarms, etc. And from left to right the widgets.

Where there is a big difference is in the scrolling speed. The new processor is noticeable in autonomy and especially in speed. But the best way to see this user interface is in video, so I leave you below with a detailed review of the entire watch menu, almost like a complete user guide.

But I insist, in all that is the overall look and feel nothing has changed. Same buttons, same feel (very good), same screen... it's the same as the previous model for better and for worse.

And the limitation regarding the use of external sensors is also present.

The Suunto 9 Peak Pro, like its predecessor models, allows the use of all these Bluetooth sensors (ANT+ is not available):

• Heart rate
• Power (running and cycling)
• Speed and/or cadence
• Pedometer

That is, it is compatible with virtually any type of external sensor that uses Bluetooth, the vast majority today. The problem is that the way the implementation is made, it only allows one sensor of each type, and if we connect a new one it will discard the previous one. This can be extremely inconvenient.

It is not something that affects the vast majority, in the end it is usual to have only one external pulse sensor. But if we go to cycling it is much more normal to have several bikes, and each one can have its speed and cadence sensor, or its potentiometer.

This year Suunto finally included it in its models, first by allowing the download of scheduled workouts in TrainingPeaks and then by creating them in the Suunto App itself.

And now that I'm talking about the application, it must be said that after the disaster that was the move from Movescount to the Suunto App (in the future it will come in textbooks on how not to make a platform change), it has improved tremendously.

Both in training analysis, load tracking (with TrainingPeaks metrics, important if you are a regular user), utilities, creating navigation routes ... I sincerely believe it is the best application of all the competition. Fast, complete as well as intuitive and with all the necessary functions.

Getting here was very complex and Suunto users have lived many years somewhat beaten down, but the wait has been worth it and the application offers one of the best experiences in the market.

Suunto 9 Peak Pro, new products

I am going to touch specifically on some of the new features that have been included, to tell you later about the power estimation in the race a little more separately.

I will start with the processor + satellite chipset combination. This combo is the reason why the Suunto 9 Peak Pro has between double and triple the autonomy of the model from which it starts.

In its use as a smartwatch it allows you to go from 7 to 21 days of autonomy, and it does this by being much faster in everything. There is nothing like upgrading the platform to 2022 standards. This is thanks to the new processor.

The autonomy in activity recording increases from 25 hours to 40 hours. This is with GPS use at maximum quality, all the sensors, screen on, etc. That is, in the use we are going to make of the watch on a regular basis.

Suunto also uses a satellite reception chipset adapted to the 2022 standard. In fact the chipset even supports L1 and L5 multiband reception, but in the case of the 9 Peak Pro this feature is disabled. As I have been told, due to the size of the clock and not having space for the dual band antenna.

But what this chipset does allow is to use all satellite constellations simultaneously. Therefore, the pod watch will be able to receive GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS and Beidou signals; all of them at the same time. The number of satellites with which it triangulates is multiplied and therefore increases its accuracy. You will see these comparisons later, in its specific section as usual.

The charging connector has changed slightly, but keeping the same magnetic system as before.

Fast charging is also maintained, allowing the 100% to be charged in just 1 hour and to have 2 hours of autonomy to record workouts with just 10 minutes connected to the charger.

Updates also remain the same as in the Suunto 9 Peak. They are wireless, which means that it is no longer necessary to connect it to the computer to update it. Considering that more and more people no longer have a computer at home, this is a detail to be taken into account in the future.

The updates will arrive through the Suunto App and will be installed at night if there is enough charge in the watch, or once downloaded if we force it from the menu of the watch itself.

SuuntoPlus Devices and SuuntoPlus Guides

SuuntoPlus Devices and SuuntoPlus Guides are basically small applications that developers can prepare to integrate devices or functions into the SuuntoPT ecosystem.

It behaves as an option of SuuntoPlus, but what it allows is to connect to external devices. At the moment there is SuuntoPlus application for Stryd and for ActiveLook's Engo-1 and Engo-2 glasses.

What does SuuntoPlus devices allow? A complete communication with those external devices, allowing the function to be complete. It is the opening to third party developers of the Suunto ecosystem, so that it is possible to integrate devices of other brands quickly and easily for the user.

Currently there are two integrations that are already working. A good example is SuuntoPlus Devices for ENGO glasses. This is a pair of glasses with a mirrored display on the lens. The interesting part is that it is not an independent device with its own metrics, but thanks to this integration the information it will show us is that of the watch itself.

For the user, it is as simple as turning on the glasses (which are waiting for connection) and adding the ActiveLook option in SuuntoPlus. This application will search for the glasses and pair with them, to display all the data that is being recorded, such as pace, heart rate and even turn indications for navigation.

This is not the only existing integration, we also have application for Stryd. Yes, Stryd is supported natively, but only for power data. The SuuntoPlus application adds us an additional screen where pod we can see not only the power as in any data field, but also all other Stryd specific metrics such as ground contact time, vertical oscillation or leg spring stifness.

However one of the problems we had in previous models is still present in the Suunto 9 Peak Pro, and that is that we cannot use more than one pod function of SuuntoPlus simultaneously. I do not know if it will be something that will change in the future taking advantage of the more powerful processor, but for now there is no possibility of combining.

There are also other new features in SuuntoPlus:

• Strava segments, no need to be Premium in the application (but no time comparison with the KOM).
• Cooper test
• FTP test for cycling
• Race finish time estimation for different distances (displayed in real time)
• Hydration and nutrition reminders for normal, hot and cold days

 

So you'll have to wait for the full review before I can tell you more details about all those features. Next I'll tell you briefly about the running power estimation.

Power estimation in the Suunto 9 Peak Pro

Suunto joins the running power estimation, being the latest manufacturer to add it to its watches. As is the case with Polar, COROS, Apple and recently also Garmin.

This makes podamos see the power in our training through the different power data fields that podamos use.

But more importantly, it is a metric that 1TP7We can use for everything else: target in structured workouts, graphs and power data at the end of training, etc.

As for the power data itself, you know what I have always told you. We can't determine who provides the most reliable data, because there is no standard to validate it. Each manufacturer weights the different metrics differently in their algorithm, and the power data from Suunto is going to be different from Stryd, Garmin, COROS or Polar. Not better, not worse, just different.

That is why the most important thing, at least at this moment, is that these data are constant over time. That 300W of Suunto is always representative of the effort needed to deliver that 300W. That that in Garmin or Stryd is 400W? That's not something to worry about, as long as we adapt our power zones based on the source of the data we're going to be using.

I don't want to expand too much here about running power, because for that I already made a rather extensive guide in the past with three different chapters: Chapter 1, chapter 2 and chapter 3.

But I guess what you do want to see is an example comparison. And since I knew that's what you were looking for, here it is.

In this graph you can see the comparison between the power of COROS, the Suunto 9 Peak Pro and the Stryd (paired with the Garmin Forerunner 955).

Overall and running flat, Stryd offers the highest power among these three watches, with Suunto slightly below and COROS at the bottom.

Both Stryd and Suunto have a fairly immediate response to changes in intensity, but in the case of COROS it remains fairly static at all times, at least running on the flat. Let's say that their data is more filtered, because there is a higher response when going uphill but there is much less variability.

If we had put Polar or Garmin on the same graph we would have higher data than what Stryd offers.

However, there is a problem in the case of Suunto, and that is that it continues to display data when we are stopped. Yes, the data is low, but if we are stopped the power is 0, there is not much to discuss here.

It may seem silly, but this can alter the averages at the end of the activity (and for example in trail I can think of many moments when 1TP7We may be stopped for whatever reason), but above all it detracts from the credibility of the metric.

Diving with Suunto 9 Peak Pro

Among the new features present in the Suunto 9 Peak Pro, the possibilities it offers with respect to diving are the ones that have gone most unnoticed. Hardly anything has been said about it, and depending on the type of user, it may be something that will tip the balance when deciding to buy another device.

There are two new activity profiles:

• Snorkel
• Mermaid diving

The special thing about these two profiles is that they can keep track of the dives you make both in time and depth (with a limit of 10m). To do this, Suunto uses the barometric altimeter, because in the end what the sensor is doing is measuring pressure. Therefore, depending on the registered pressure the watch can know perfectly well (and believe me, it does it quite accurately) at what depth we are.

It only registers up to 10 meters depth because in the end the sensor they use should be primarily for mountain use, registering altitude and atmospheric pressure changes for storm warning. The immersion function has to be secondary.

In terms of use, both profiles are the same, the only difference being that the snorkel profile has GPS enabled by default (although as with any other profile, it is possible to enable or disable it in either profile).

In any case, the use of GPS in this profile does not add much either, because to receive a signal you will have to take your hand out of the water for a few seconds every time you surface.

I have tested the function in the pool, activating the mermaid dive profile. I don't have pictures of what the watch shows on the screen, because if they see me showing up with a camera in the pool they would take me straight to the gallows, but I can tell you about it and use pictures from Suunto.

These activity profiles have three different screens.

The watch starts counting dives when you reach 1 meter depth, so simply swimming will not trigger the dive log. Each time you make a dive the Suunto 9 Peak Pro will record the maximum dive and the time spent submerged. The dive ends automatically when you return to the surface, with the second dive starting when you go below 1 meter again. That's precisely what I was testing in the pool, with very positive results.

6 dives made at a maximum distance of 2 meters. And as you can see in the graph, when I stayed at the bottom of the pool (which will indeed be that 2 meters deep, because I'm 1.93 and have about 4 or 5 fingers of water above when I touch the ground), it remains stable at that depth.

It has also perfectly detected the strokes when, at the end of the test, you were simply swimming. But since it did not go below 1 meter it did not count it as a dive, which is also what happens with the first "attempt".

On each of the pod dives I could see on the real-time clock how long I had been diving and the depth I was at. The response is quite fast, with very little delay in data display and detection.

Also podía go seeing the different dives that he was doing (the second screen shown above).

As I said at the beginning, a profile of use that for those who practice some kind of diving can suppose that you opt for this watch instead of any other model. It is true that it is limited to 10 meters of immersion (which I do not and will not reach, because I'm not used to it and I have the feeling of bursting my ears) and that there are specific diving watches that also have the possibility of other sports (but they are more expensive). But these are the kind of things that Suunto has to do to earn a niche in the market.

GPS and optical heart rate sensor

Both the satellite chipset and the optical pulse sensor are new in the Suunto 9 Peak Pro, so there is a lot to analyze.

Starting with the satellite chipset, it is the latest model from Sony. This chipset has three advantages:

• Very low energy consumption
• Possibility to use all satellite systems simultaneously
• Multiband support

The Suunto 9 Peak Pro takes advantage of the first two points, but does not allow the use of multiband reception. The reason given by Suunto is that the clock is too small to accommodate a dual antenna system, at least not to achieve the quality that meets Suunto standards for reliability.

Let's move on to the comparisons, but before that the usual "disclaimer" that I make in all reviews (so I cut and paste).

As with the optical sensor tests, the GPS comparisons are done in the same way: with the watches accompanying me on my regular workouts. Wearing both the Suunto 9 Peak Pro and other models, and checking where the problems appear.

I do not have any defined path to establish a score for the simple reason that there are other external factors that we should never forget. Things like clouds, leaves on the trees or simply the position of the satellite can alter the GPS results from one day to the next.

This is why I prefer to make this type of comparison instead of having a predefined route and assess it from this one.

As for the optical sensor, you should keep in mind that a wrist heart rate monitor does not work the same way on every body. We are all different, and if we add into the equation things like skin tone, tattoos, body hair... the difference from person to person can be quite large.

In my tests it is not that the spectrum of users is very broad: it is me, myself and I. So what works well for me might not do it for someone else, or it might be better.

But the most important thing to keep in mind is that you have to follow some guidelines to wear the sensor. It should be tight (but not cut off your circulation), enough to keep the watch from moving freely on your wrist, leaving a separation of approximately one finger from the wrist bone. By following these details you will ensure that you get the best results that your conditions can offer.

As the end of the year 2022 is full of news I have podido take the opportunity to make multiple comparisons between new devices, which allow me to use indifferently between several reviews published at this time. Efficient work!

I'll start with this monster of a comparison in which in addition to the Suunto 9 Peak Pro I'm wearing: COROS APEX 2, COROS APEX 2 Pro, Garmin Enduro 2 and Garmin Forerunner 955.

You can see at the top of the image the different modes configured in each of the watches. Enduro 2 and APEX 2 Pro with multiband, FR955 in Autoselect and APEX 2 and Suunto 9 Peak Pro -which do not have multiband- in the most accurate mode.

As for the conditions, it was a rather cloudy day and although it is not an area with too many trees, there are areas where they become a little more lush. So starting from such a cloudy day is already a difficulty for the reception, although the first impression is that all behaved quite well.

Zooming 1TP7We can see some differences and some departure from the route, but overall good performance given the conditions. Here for example we have a small slip on the part of the COROS APEX 2 Pro, moving a little to the left of the actual route.

The same happens in this other point, once again it is the COROS APEX 2 Pro that once again separates itself from the rest of its peers in the comparison.

And at this point it is repeated at the turn of the top, although earlier it has been the Forerunner 955 that has had the small failure.

So far there is something that catches my attention, and that is that the APEX 2 Pro is the one that has been "out of the pot" more times. It is not something that worries me because they are minor deviations and do not affect too much, but it does seem strange that it happens in that watch that has the multiband activated, when the APEX 2 is in the mode of all satellites and I have not had to name it at any time. Curious at least.

This is probably the most complicated place of the whole training. The pace is very slow and the climb is quite steep, so the tracks are less straight. Here there is more separation as the 1 or 2 meter faults stand out more to the eye.

Here we see that the Enduro 2 has had some drifting problems, with the rest not being totally accurate either but more or less coinciding throughout.

I repeat, it is a complicated test because of the conditions and the pace, which is quite slow at all times.

As for the heart rate data of this training, quite stable at all times except for that moment that I point out with the circle. What happened there? Well, a moment of having chosen a path that I should not have chosen, trying to find a way out of where I had gotten myself ... and ending up taking a leap with a fall of more than a meter high to return to the route.

I guess when you saw this chart you thought...if it only has 2 wrists...how come there are so many HR charts? I wear the Enduro 2 on one wrist, the 9 Peak Pro on the other, the Verity Sense on one forearm and the 955 on the other paired with the HRM-Tri. Both CHOROS are simply worn on the hand to provide GPS data, the sensor was placed on the top of the hand in a place where I would never expect to have a good performance.

However they have been perfect almost all the time (except for the aforementioned jump). Obviously it's a constant intensity and it's the easiest part, but still the sensor location is very bad for recording data and they've done it perfectly.

Let's go with another workout, this time somewhat simpler in terms of fewer members in the comparison. Now a series workout, with constant changes in intensity. This time there are no CHORUS and no Verity Sense.

Except for the beginning of the training, where it is usual that there is a problem of registration by all sensors (optical or chest), during the rest of the training the Suunto 9 Peak Pro has behaved perfectly. Following at all times the same graph marked by the chest sensor paired to the FR955.

However, the Enduro 2 did have some problems, which are those indicated at the end of the training. Something that in the first intervals has not been noticed.

Let's go with the satellite charts. The configuration is the same, multiband for Enduro 2, Autoselect for Forerunner 955 and all satellites for the Suunto 9 Peak Pro.

From this training it should be noted that, at many points, there is a lot of repetition of the same route doing the intervals.

This is the beginning of the training, still warming up at a lighter pace. At this point you can see a small error on the part of the Enduro 2, something that did not happen with either of the other two watches.

But that has been the only point where there are differences on the part of the Enduro 2. At this point there are constant repeats of the route, without any problem in any of them beyond a small loss in the graph of the Forerunner 955.

During the rest of the training? Zero problems, repeating the route over and over again with total success by all three of us even on all the turns.

Let's go with another interval workout, now at longer tempo paces. Again with no problems whatsoever from the optical sensors on any of the watches I was wearing.

Here are two devices that have done things a little weird. Firstly the COROS APEX 2 which has some occasional drop out, but I'm not worried because I'm holding it in my hand and what it's reading is the top of the palm.

Then the Enduro 2 has had a moment of not recording anything, because the clock reset and I had to continue the activity again after it turned on.

As for the Suunto 9 Peak Pro... no problems to report.

But it wasn't the only day I had that problem with the Enduro 2, here's another example of a different day.

Again incidents with other devices, besides the Enduro 2 it seems that the Polar H10 sensor paired with the Garmin FR955 had some occasional problem, perhaps due to placement.

As for the track of this training, you can perfectly appreciate the part where the Garmin has simply "disconnected".

While it is true that in the rest of the training there is nothing important to note, the three watches have worked perfectly. Perhaps only at this point did the Suunto 9 Peak Pro slip up a bit, running next to a fairly tall building.

The stretch below also has a lot of complications, and I usually have poor records. In this case, except for the moment noted above by the Suunto 9 Peak Pro, all three watches perfectly nail that stretch where you run through complicated area.

Change of dance partner. It is time to compare with the COROS APEX 2 and COROS APEX 2 Pro. In this case the APEX 2 has the same configuration as the Suunto 9 Peak Pro (all satellite systems) while in the case of the COROS APEX 2 Pro I have the multiband option activated.

Already from a distance, a strange failure of the Suunto 9 Peak Pro can be seen.

The source of the problem? The watch lost the signal while passing under a bridge, and didn't recover it until about 3 or 4 kilometers later. It is as if it had opened a space-time door and traveled through a black hole.

Further on you can see that exactly the same thing has happened also passing under another bridge, although here it has taken much less time to recover the signal.

After seeing this I contacted Suunto and they told me that it was something they had already noticed, and an update of the watch was being prepared to correct it. In fact, just as I am writing these lines I have received confirmation that the update had already been released, so the problem is fixed. Nevertheless, I think it is interesting to point this out.

Regarding the rest of the training, little more to say. Perhaps to emphasize that there has been hardly any difference between the tracks of the COROS APEX 2 Pro with multiband with respect to the APEX 2 and Suunto 9 Peak Pro and its modes of all satellite systems.

Regarding the optical pulse sensor, nothing to add either. Good performance by all members (the watches plus the Polar Verity Sense).

With respect to the COROS APEX 2, I had it in the palm of my hand, so those peaks that can be seen are due to that.

Back to the mountain, this outing lasted about three hours through areas of easy reception and others quite more complicated (lush forest, mountain, etc.).

The COROS APEX 2 here has slipped up a bit. This section is shared there and back, so I understand that the error has occurred just at the beginning of the activity. It is an error that is there, but it has simply meant a small shift to one side with no major significance.

This is the most complicated point of the entire route. We turn off the road to go down to a stream, tucked between fairly lush forest and stuck next to a vertical wall. The classic point that can complicate a lot the satellite reception.

The Suunto 9 Peak Pro has had a slightly worse time, but nothing particularly bad. The points marked with arrows correspond to times when I have stopped, and there is a bit of "ghosting" movement on the part of the Peak Pro. In the meantime both CHORUSes have had a very good response.

Remember that at this point was not yet available the Suunto update that improves the registration and tracks. It may be that after the update the track would have been better, or maybe not, even so given the conditions it seems reasonably good to me.

And with the new update of the Suunto 9 Peak Pro tracks, I think it is worth putting another different test. In this case I have not had the opportunity to go through any tunnel, but I have been assured that in this aspect is already corrected, as well as the improvement of the track. We see it below.

In this case, accompanying the test are the COROS APEX 2 Pro and the Polar Ignite 3. There was no slot available for the COROS APEX 2. In terms of configuration, the COROS APEX 2 Pro is in multiband, the Polar Ignite 3 in multiband and the Suunto 9 Peak Pro in all constellations.

This is always a complicated point, because I make 180º turns in a very small space. It is a footbridge over the highway, so the speed is not too high either.

The red track on the Ignite 3 gets quite lost, it looks more like it's signing a mortgage than recording where I'm going. The COROS APEX 2 Pro makes the correct ascent and descent, but at the top it is quite offset. Meanwhile the Suunto 9 Peak Pro shows a near perfect track at that point.

Later I finish the warm up and start with the series that played in that training (what you see on the left side). Until I get there, the three watches are generally good, taking into account that the Polar Ignite 3 goes on the right wrist and the other two on the left arm, so the separation is logical.

During the intervals the performance is correct for all. Except for two of the repeats where the Polar Ignite 3 goes off the correct track, but both COROS APEX 2 Pro and Suunto 9 Peak Pro are quite reliable repeating the same track over and over again.

As for barometric altimeter recording, here is a training series on a slope. I don't want you to look at the differences in whether one starts from more or less altitude (because I haven't done any initial calibration), but when they go up and when they go down.

I have marked four of these repeated climbs. You can see how in the graphs of the Garmin Enduro 2 and Suunto 9 Peak Pro there is a small dip before continuing the climb, and the same on the way down. The clocks have registered that perfectly. The cyclocomputer... not so much.

So again a positive point for both watches, and something to note on the debit side of the Garmin Edge 830 which is the one I had with me that day. Quite a bit slower when it comes to reacting to small differences in climbs and descents.

Shall we move to a steady rise? Here the three devices are a perfect match. The watches are the same: Garmin Enduro 2 and Suunto 9 Peak Pro, but the cyclocomputer is a Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT 2.

I'm looking forward to testing the Suunto 9 Peak Pro in open water. I have not had good experiences with Suunto in the past, but at the end of November it is not too appetizing to go swimming in the sea. Especially after solving the problem of not recovering the signal after loss that occurred in the tunnels, as this is what happens when we put our hand in the water while swimming.

In any case, the satellite reception performance of the Suunto 9 Peak Pro is very consistent. In fact it does not seem that the absence of multiband is detrimental to it, because in fact I have had better results than watches that do have it such as the Polar Ignite 3 or the COROS APEX 2 Pro.

There are only a few times that I have had to draw attention to the tracks marked by the Suunto, even in tests before I received the improved tracks in the latest firmware version.

For Suunto the magic is not in the multiband (which I am sure they will offer in the future, when there will be a bigger watch with this same platform), but in the simultaneous use of all satellite constellations: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou.

Regarding the optical pulse sensor, no objections. The final firmware version has corrected all the problems I had when I was testing the watch still in its pre-release version, and it has given me good graphs in both normal workouts and interval workouts.

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Opinion Suunto 9 Peak Pro

The Suunto 9 Peak Pro is a much bigger change for the brand than it may first appear. Don't be fooled by the continuity of aesthetics, what's inside is a significant change and signifies the first step in a new era for Suunto.

Of course, this platform renewal is something that the user will see in a while, because right now there is little that can be "felt" in terms of news. But to have these new features and new functions it was necessary to have a base on which poder could evolve for the future. And that is what this new Suunto 9 Peak Pro means.

It's probably not going to be a best seller for Suunto, but it is a necessary step that they have had to take leaving behind the old hardware (which I remind you, is inherited from the Spartan era). It is a transition between Amer Sports' Suunto and Liesheng's Suunto.

The foundations for a new generation are in place. A good application after years of development, openness to third parties through SuuntoPlus integrations (something that only Garmin has in a similar way with ConnectIQ) and now a new, more powerful and reliable platform.

The Suunto 9 Peak Pro is a good base. Satellite reception is good, even though it doesn't have multiband, and the battery life (especially when used as a watch) is outstanding. I have had no problems with the optical pulse sensor and the interface is much, much smoother than it was before.

It's all due to the new GNSS chipset, new optical sensor, new processor and increased memory. These are things that once the watch is on the market you can't modify, but around what you can build.

For example the new dive profiles. This is the kind of thing that Suunto should work on adding. Of course it doesn't replace a dive specific watch (nor does Suunto want to, for that they already have specific products), but it does add new usage profiles for someone like me who doesn't dive, but may enjoy it sporadically in the summer while spending a few days at the beach.

And last but not least, to highlight Suunto's efforts to be consistent with the environment.. Manufactured with renewable energies and with only 7.5kg of CO2 during the whole life of the product.

And with that... thanks for reading!