Suunto Vertical 2 specifications and in-depth review

Suunto Vertical 2

Manufacturer: Suunto

The Suunto Vertical 2 is a feature-rich sports watch built for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who need reliable performance tracking in demanding conditions. It runs an always-on 1.5″ AMOLED display at 466 x 466 pixels and 439 ppi, housed in a 49 mm case with sapphire glass and a 22 mm replaceable band. At 74 g and 13.6 mm thick, it balances durability with wearability across extended activities.

The watch is rated to 10 ATM and 100 m waterproof depth, making it suitable for swimming and diving, and it supports stroke counting alongside multi-sport and automatic activity detection modes. Its sensor suite includes GPS with Galileo support, a heart rate monitor, pulse oximeter, barometer, gyroscope, compass, and a wind speed sensor. The 800 mAh rechargeable battery delivers up to 30 days in standard use, 75 hours with GPS active, or 500 hours in power save mode, and it supports wireless charging. Onboard storage reaches 32 GB, and the device supports map uploads alongside a full suite of health metrics including VO2 max, HRV tracking, and readiness scoring.

Pros
  • Sapphire glass display offers strong resistance to scratches and surface damage
  • Battery stretches to 500 hours in power save mode and 75 hours with GPS continuously active
  • 32 GB of onboard storage provides substantial space for maps and other data
  • Designed for diving with swim stroke counting and a 100 m waterproof rating
  • Comprehensive sensor suite includes a wind speed sensor, barometer, pulse oximeter, and gyroscope alongside GPS
  • The free, ad-free companion app covers a wide range of health and training tools including coaching, routes, and music playback
Cons
  • No Wi-Fi, NFC, ANT+, or cellular connectivity limits wireless functionality
  • Does not include a body temperature sensor, cadence sensor, or perspiration monitor despite the broad sensor lineup
  • No fall detection or irregular heart rate warnings, which some activity-focused users may expect
  • The band width is fixed at 22 mm with no external memory slot, limiting hardware expandability
  • Only a 1-year warranty period for a watch positioned in the sports and outdoor category
Who is this for?

This watch is well-suited to serious outdoor athletes and endurance enthusiasts who spend extended time in demanding environments. Its 100 m waterproof rating and diving-specific design make it a practical choice for swimmers, divers, and water sports participants, while the full sensor suite — covering barometer, wind speed, GPS with Galileo, and elevation tracking — serves trail runners, hikers, and mountaineers who need reliable environmental data. The 500-hour power save mode and 75-hour GPS battery life make it viable for multi-day expeditions without frequent recharging, and the sapphire glass display adds durability for rugged use. Users who want detailed health monitoring alongside outdoor performance data will also benefit from the HRV tracking, VO2 max, pulse oximeter, and readiness scoring built into the platform.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who rely on NFC for contactless payments or need cellular independence from a paired smartphone will find this watch lacking, as neither feature is available. It is also not well-matched to those who prioritize safety-oriented functions, since fall detection, irregular heart rate warnings, and fast or slow heart rate notifications are all absent. Golfers will find no sport-specific support here either. Additionally, users who require ANT+ compatibility for connecting to a wider ecosystem of third-party fitness accessories — such as cycling power meters or cadence sensors — will be limited by the absence of that protocol.

Design:

screen size 1.5"
Display type OLED/AMOLED
water resistance Waterproof
has branded damage-resistant glass
ATM rating 10 ATM
resolution 466 x 466 px
Watch band is replaceable
has a touch screen
weight 74 g
waterproof depth rating 100 m
Has sapphire glass display
thickness 13.6 mm
Always-On Display
height 49 mm
pixel density 439 ppi
maximum operating temperature 55 °C
lowest potential operating temperature -20 °C
Has a display
width 49 mm
width of band 22 mm
volume 32.6536 cm³

The Suunto Vertical 2 features a 1.5″ AMOLED always-on touchscreen with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels and a pixel density of 439 ppi, set within a 49 x 49 mm case that measures 13.6 mm thick and weighs 74 g. The display is protected by sapphire glass, though no branded damage-resistant glass coating is included. The watch is rated at 10 ATM with a waterproof depth of 100 m, and it operates across a temperature range of -20 °C to 55 °C. The 22 mm band is replaceable, and the overall volume of the unit comes to 32.65 cm³.

Sensors:

has GPS
Has a heart rate monitor
Monitors blood oxygenation levels
Has a barometer
has an accelerometer
has a compass
Has a temperature sensor
Has a cadence sensor
has a gyroscope
Has a wind speed sensor
Monitors perspiration

The Suunto Vertical 2 includes a comprehensive sensor array built around GPS, a heart rate monitor, and a pulse oximeter for location tracking, continuous heart rate measurement, and blood oxygenation monitoring. A barometer, accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass round out the motion and environmental sensing capabilities, while a wind speed sensor adds further outdoor utility. The watch does not include a body temperature sensor, cadence sensor, or perspiration monitor.

Activity tracking:

Has a route tracker
Tracks distance
Measures pace
Has trackback mode
Tracks your sleep
Has multi-sport mode
Detects activities automatically
Tracks elevation
Tracks steps taken
Provides sleep reports
Has exercise tagging
Has a stroke counter for swimming
Tracks calorie intake
Designed for diving
Designed for golf

The Suunto Vertical 2 covers a wide range of activity tracking functions, including route tracking, distance, pace, elevation, and step counting, alongside multi-sport mode and automatic activity detection for versatile use across different disciplines. It is designed for diving and includes a swim stroke counter, making it well-suited for water-based activities, though it does not offer golf-specific features. Sleep tracking is supported with dedicated sleep reports, and the watch also logs calorie intake and allows exercise tagging. Trackback mode enables navigation back along a recorded route, rounding out a thorough set of outdoor and fitness tracking capabilities.

Connectivity:

Is compatible with iOS
Is compatible with Android
supports Wi-Fi
has a cellular module
supports ANT+
has NFC

The Suunto Vertical 2 is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, allowing it to pair with smartphones across the two major mobile platforms. It does not support Wi-Fi, cellular connectivity, ANT+, or NFC, meaning wireless data transfer and contactless payment functions are not available on this model.

Battery:

battery power 800 mAh
battery life 30 days
battery life with GPS on 75 hours
battery life in training mode 90 hours
has wireless charging
Has a solar power battery
battery life in power save mode 500 hours
has a rechargeable battery
has a removable battery

The Suunto Vertical 2 is powered by an 800 mAh rechargeable battery that is not removable and does not support solar charging. It delivers up to 30 days of standard battery life, while power save mode extends this to 500 hours. With GPS active, the battery lasts up to 75 hours, and training mode offers up to 90 hours of use. Wireless charging is supported, removing the need for a physical charging cable.

Features:

has HRV tracking
measures VO2 max
measures resting heart rate
has fast/slow heart rate notifications
shows readiness level
Can upload maps
Has vibrating alerts
Has a stopwatch
Locates your phone
Has silent alarm
has irregular heart rate warnings
has fall detection
Has notifications
Acquires GPS faster
Has call control
Provides the sunrise/sunset time
internal storage 32GB
Can be used to answer calls
supports Galileo
Has smart alarm
Informs about the risk of thunderstorms
warranty period 1 years
has voice commands
Has a built-in camera remote control function

The Suunto Vertical 2 offers a broad set of health and convenience features, including HRV tracking, VO2 max measurement, and resting heart rate monitoring, along with a readiness and recovery indicator to help gauge daily preparedness. GPS acquisition is fast, and the watch supports Galileo satellite systems alongside map uploads and thunderstorm risk alerts, sunrise and sunset times, and 32 GB of internal storage. Wrist notifications, call control, vibrating alerts, a silent alarm, a stopwatch, and a phone-finding function cover everyday utility needs. The watch does not include fast or slow heart rate notifications, irregular heart rate warnings, fall detection, a smart alarm, voice commands, or a camera remote shutter, and it cannot be used to answer calls directly despite supporting call control. The warranty period is 1 year.

App & Software:

Provides activity reports
Has inactivity alerts
Counts how many calories you've burned
Has goal setting
Has achievements
Free app
Has exercise diary
Ad-free
Has weight tracking
Tracks water intake
Has coaching
Supports routes
Has music playback
Includes maps
Supports widgets
Can be personalised
Has barcode scanner on app

The companion app for the Suunto Vertical 2 is free and ad-free, and supports a wide range of tracking and planning tools including activity reports, an exercise diary, goal setting, calorie burn, weight tracking, water intake, and inactivity alerts. It includes maps, route support, coaching, music playback, and widgets, and can be personalised to suit individual preferences. Achievements are also supported to help mark progress over time. The app does not include a barcode scanner.

Miscellaneous:

has a battery level indicator
Is compatible with Windows
Has auto pause
Compatible with external heart rate monitors
Is compatible with Mac OS X
has an external memory slot
has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack

The Suunto Vertical 2 includes a battery level indicator and supports auto pause during activity tracking, along with compatibility with external heart rate monitors for users who prefer dedicated chest strap or accessory-based readings. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X systems. The watch does not have an external memory slot or a 3.5 mm audio jack.

Final Verdict

The Suunto Vertical 2 is a well-specified sports watch built around the needs of outdoor athletes and endurance-focused users who demand reliable tracking across challenging conditions. Its combination of sapphire glass, diving capability, a rich sensor suite, and exceptional battery endurance across multiple usage modes gives it a strong foundation for long-duration activities where accuracy and resilience matter. The free, ad-free companion app adds genuine depth on the software side, supporting everything from health monitoring to route navigation. While it lacks certain connectivity options and safety-oriented features that some users may expect, those gaps are unlikely to concern its core audience of trail runners, hikers, swimmers, and multi-sport athletes. For users whose priorities align with outdoor performance and extended autonomy, the Suunto Vertical 2 presents a thorough and capable package.

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