We thought it was fair to try to assist those of you attempting to select which watch could be ideal for you as the popularity of GPS watches among serious sports, both amateurs and pros, continues to grow.
In this post, we’ve chosen to look at two premium GPS watches, each of which offers the user more than simply a straightforward tracker. The Suunto Ambit3 and the Garmin Fenix 3 will be contrasted. Our objective in conducting this review is to be objective. Give you as much information as possible, lay out each watch’s case, and let you choose which one best meets your requirements.
Both watches could hardly be described as inexpensive, but given that they are among of the best-reviewed GPS watches on the market, this is understandable. offering even the most accomplished sportsmen an astonishing variety of features.
Whether you’re participating in triathlons or ultra marathons, we’re confident that purchasing one of these tools will provide you an advantage. So without further ado, let’s begin.
The Suunto Ambit 3 Vs the Garmin Fenix 3
The Suunto Ambit 3 and the Garmin Fenix 3 both appear to have a tonne of cool features and outstanding functionality at first glance of the packaging, at least on the surface. The greatest and worst aspects of each watch will be compared in this article, along with how the features might be useful.
The Garmin Fenix 3
Pros
Robust Build and Durable Frame: It should go without saying that if you’re looking for a GPS watch, you’ll be wearing it while engaging in physical activity, therefore it must be made of durable materials. This Garmin GPS watch won’t malfunction right away. Something regarding the Garmin Fenix 3 that you need to be aware of. It was built using incredibly durable materials. You can immediately see the attention to detail that went into the sturdy design.
Battery Life: Battery longevity must be a priority, in my opinion. You should budget between 10 and 15 hours as a minimum. With a 20-hour GPS runtime, this battery is quite outstanding. I require an app that can run for 50 hours in ultra-track mode.
Cross Sport Tracking: The fact that this phone is easily compatible with a variety of sports, including rowing, hiking, skiing, cycling, swimming, and jogging, is one of its most striking qualities.
Built-in Vibration: If receiving warnings by vibration is something that appeals to you, you’re not alone. This feature is pre-built into the Garmin Fenix 3. For interval training, many athletes find it to be highly beneficial.
Ant+Compatibility: This useful technology, which is comparable to Bluetooth in many ways, is growing in acceptance among manufacturers of fitness monitoring devices. It enables gadgets to link to other devices like smartphones, sports watches, and cycling computers as well as other monitoring software and hardware like heart rate monitors.
Goal Setting: If you want to beat personal records and reach certain training objectives, the device will let you track and access specific accomplishments. This outstanding feature gives folks a great opportunity to stay motivated. Additionally, it makes the Garmin Fenix stand out from the Suunto Ambit 3, which lacks this feature.
Phone Locator: No matter how diligent you are, everyone has occasionally lost their phone. You won’t need to worry about it with this GPS watch because it will allow you to monitor and find your phone.
Receive Notifications: This GPS watch can alert you whenever you get a message or miss a call. You can choose to have it vibrate or make a sound.
Swim Stroke Counter: With the help of the watch’s built-in arm movement sensor, you can track your swimming strokes.
Stopwatch: For a sporting equipment, this may seem a little too obvious, yet this GPS watch features one.
Online Portal Access: You may easily update your tracking information on this portal by uploading it from either your computer or your smartphone. The reports and graphs that are produced using this data can then be utilised to show your progress.
A World Time Setting: The ability of your GPS watch to automatically adjust to whatever time zone you’re in may be handy as people lead more nomadic lives and travel is becoming more common.
Cons
The Price: The fact that this technology is pricey and that many individuals find this to be off-putting cannot be avoided. You do, however, get what you paid for if you’re seeking for a GPS watch with lots of features.
A Little On The Bulky Side: This watch could seem a little bulky depending on your size. I have a rather athletic physique, so the size of this watch didn’t bother me at all; in fact, I actually liked it. But from what I’ve read, some people have complained that the watch is too bulky and heavy to wear comfortably. I gave it to my girlfriend, who is considerably lighter than I am, but she flatly refused to wear the watch while working out since it was too big and heavy.
- Omni-directional EXO stainless steel antenna, with GPS/GLONASS satellite reception, has the ability to track in more challenging environments than GPS alone
- Fitness training features like VO2 Max and Recovery Advisor (when used with a heart rate monitor)
- Outdoor navigation features like 3-axis compass, altimeter and barometer, TracBack and Sight’n Go
- Battery life: up to 20 hours in GPS training mode; up to 6 weeks in watch mode
The Suunto Ambit3
Pros
Very Comfortable Design: Contrary to the Garmin Fenix 3, most individuals find the Suunto Ambit 3 to be very comfortable to wear. Because the design is so good, you hardly even notice it on your wrist.
Extremely Accurate GPS: The fact that this GPS watch tracks quite precisely is one of its main advantages. This should come as standard in a GPS watch, but regrettably, that is not always the case.
A Choice of Different Modes: You can select from a variety of modes, like swimming in a pool, jogging, hiking, cycling, and swimming in open water, to mention a few.
Receive Notifications: The Suunto Ambit 3 works similarly to the Garmin Fenix 3 in that it lets you get notifications for calls or messages.
Swim Stroke Counter: Additionally, this device contains an integrated arm movement sensor that will allow you to track your swimming strokes.
Thunderstorm Warning System: The Garmin Fenix 3 does not have access to this feature. A built-in thunderstorm alert function is available on the Suunto Ambit 3. This can be a useful feature if you enjoy outdoor activities.
Cons
The Screen’s Low Resolution: The lesser resolution screen this GPS watch gives is its most discouraging feature. having a low resolution, which makes it harder to read outside in the sunshine.
Lack of Vibration Alerts: Its lack of vibrating alerts is another important characteristic that sets it apart from the Garmin Fenix 3.
- Suunto Ambit3 peak delivers stable and accurate altitude and weather information with full navigation in a robust casting
- Includes built in altimeter, barometer, compass and GPS with 100 meter water resistance
- One of the most competitive battery hours in the market, 200 hours with 1 minute accuracy. Case material: Polyamide
- Connect Ambit3 peak to your smartphone for syncing your activities, customizing on the go and seeing calls and notifications on the watch
- Add Photos in movement and create a Suunto Movie with the highlights of your adventure to share with your friends
What Features Do The Suunto Ambit 3 and The Garmin Fenix 3 Have In Common?
Both of these timepieces are regarded as being at the premium end of the GPS watch spectrum. It can be difficult to choose between them, therefore it’s critical to evaluate what characteristics they share. Both GPS watches offer GPS tracking that enables you to monitor most activities, such as your runs and walks. Both include suitable phone apps that let you examine your training in more depth and even include a map.
Both timepieces offer a cross-sports platform that supports sports including cycling, jogging, and swimming. They become especially well-liked among competitive triathletes as a result. Additionally, they have navigation, compasses, barometric altimeters, and weather tracking in common.
What Are The Key Differences Between The Suunto Ambit 3 and The Garmin Fenix 3
They are similar in many fundamental ways, therefore identifying their key distinctions will probably be necessary to tell them apart. The available screen resolution is the obvious distinction between the two watches. Particularly in comparison to the Gambit Fenix 3, the Suunto Ambit 3’s screen has a reduced quality, offering a resolution of only 128 x 128 pixels. However, the Fenix 3’s 218 by 218-pixel screen makes it considerably more appropriate for outdoor activities. This makes reading in direct sunlight much simpler.
When comparing battery lives, it probably triumphs since it uses a lower-resolution screen. The 20 hours of GPS mode and 50 hours of auto-tracking method provided by the Fenix 3 may seem remarkable when compared to other models. However, it is nothing compared to the incredible 200 hours of GPS mode life that the Ambit 3 offers. Even though this might not be a major issue for many, it’s still impressive.
Fenix 3 has a minor advantage when it comes to user-friendliness. Both watches are excellent, but the Ambit 3 does make connecting to the phone a little bit more difficult. Only Bluetooth and USB communication are supported. The Fenix 3 supports Bluetooth, USB, and WiFi connections.
In Conclusion
The choice between the Suunto Ambit 3 and the Garmin Fenix 3 will likely come down to personal opinion because both are excellent gadgets. Both have great features that will be beneficial to anyone attempting to keep track of their workouts. We appreciate you taking the time to read this review, and we hope you find it helpful.
