Wear Radar

Fitbit VersavsSuunto Race

16d vs 6d
battery life
Suunto Race lasts longer
$349
price gap
Fitbit Versa cheaper
22g
lighter
Fitbit Versa
Fitbit Versa
Buy/Wait:bad

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

Full details →
Suunto Race
Buy/Wait:good

Early in release cycle

Full details →
Fitbit VersaSuunto Race
Pricing
Starting price$150$499
Subscriptionℹ️ Optional — $79/yr✓ None
Hardware
Weight38g60g
Water resistance50m100m
Battery6 days16 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
TierSmartwatchSports GPS
Buy timing
ReleasedSep 25, 2022Aug 27, 2025
Cycle advicebadgood
Deals advicegoodneutral
Next model

Health Sensors

Fitbit Versa only
1 exclusive sensor
EDA / StressSkin conductance sensor measuring stress responses
Both
3 shared
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Suunto Race only
1 exclusive sensor
Training LoadCumulative workout stress over time

Why buy each?

Fitbit Versa

Works with Android and iPhone

Rare for a smartwatch with real GPS and health sensors to work fully on both platforms — Versa 4 does.

Google Maps and Google Wallet on wrist

Turn-by-turn navigation and NFC payments without needing your phone in hand.

6-day battery and Fitbit health coaching

Sleep stages, daily readiness score, Active Zone Minutes, and SpO2 — all on a 6-day charge.

Suunto Race

Significantly improved heart rate accuracy

The redesigned optical HR sensor on Race 2 delivers far more reliable readings during high-intensity sessions — a notable weak point of the original Race that has been addressed.

Dual-frequency GPS at 55h

Dual-frequency L1+L5 multi-constellation GPS for sub-meter precision in urban areas and dense forests, with 55 continuous GPS hours on a single charge.

1.5" AMOLED, thinner and lighter

The display grows to 1.5" at 2000 nits while the case slims to 12.5mm and drops to 76g — more readable in sunlight and easier to wear day-to-day than its predecessor.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

For the budget
Fitbit Versa wins

$387 vs $499 over 3 years · no required subscription.

For battery life
Suunto Race wins

16 days vs 6 days battery.

For health depth
Fitbit Versa wins

4 sensors.

For daily comfort
Fitbit Versa wins

38g · no required subscription.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Versa-only sensors: EDA / Stress.
  2. Race-only sensors: Training Load.
  3. Weight. Versa is 22g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
  4. Water resistance. Race rates 100m vs 50m on Versa.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Versa is $349 cheaper upfront ($150 vs $499).
Pick the Fitbit Versa if…

Android or iPhone users who want a balanced smartwatch with solid Fitbit health tracking, multi-day battery, and a clean square watch design — without the premium price of a Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch.

Full details →
Pick the Suunto Race if…

Competitive road and trail runners who want Suunto's precise multi-band GPS tracking and a vivid AMOLED display in a lighter, thinner package. A strong alternative to Garmin for athletes who prefer Suunto's clean interface and ecosystem.

Full details →