Suunto Vertical vs Garmin Fenix 7: Things to Know
By Naila Syifa
Updated May 2024
If you're looking for a premium multisport GPS watch, the Suunto Vertical and Garmin Fenix 7 are two top contenders. Both watches offer advanced features for tracking a wide range of sports and activities, but there are some key differences to consider when deciding between the two. Before you decide which one to buy, here are the things you should know!
Key Takeaways
Garmin Fenix 7 has more detailed on-watch training data and health features compared to Suunto Vertical. Suunto Vertical offers free offline maps, while Fenix 7 only offers this in the more expensive variants. Fenix 7, however, provides ski and golf-specific maps that the Vertical lacks, as well as surf-ready features and a range of safety and tracking features.
Suunto Vertical
Outdoor Adventure Watch
✓ Health & Training Features
✓ Free Offline Maps
✓ Multi-GNSS Support
✓ Solar Charging Options
Garmin Fenix 7 Series
Premium Fitness and Outdoor Watch
✓ Health & Training Features
✓ Road & Trail, Ski Resort, Golf Course Maps
✓ Safety & Tracking Features
✓ Solar Charging Options
#1 Price
Garmin Fenix 7
Suunto Vertical is generally more affordable than the Garmin Fenix 7. It costs US$629 for the standard model with a stainless steel bezel, US$699 for the steel solar model, and US$839 for the titanium solar model.
Garmin Fenix 7 Series offers more variants to choose from. You can choose between different sizes, solar charging capabilities, standard/pro features, and lens materials like Corning Gorilla Glass or Sapphire. The price starts from US$649 for the most affordable standard model and goes up to US$999 for the most expensive Fenix 7X Pro Sapphire Solar model.
Read also: Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar
#2 Design & Display
Suunto Vertical
Suunto Vertical and Garmin Fenix 7 are similar in that they both feature a circular design and a touchscreen display for easy navigation and interaction. They are also water-resistant to 100 meters, allowing them to be worn while swimming or during other water activities without risk of damage. Additionally, both watches are constructed from durable materials to withstand the rigors of regular use and outdoor adventures.
Despite their similarities, there are some notable differences between the Suunto Vertical and the Garmin Fenix 7. The Suunto Vertical has a consistent 49 mm case size, 1.4" display size, and 280 x 280 display resolution across all models in its product line.
In contrast, the Garmin Fenix 7 Series offers more size and display options to suit different needs and preferences. It is available in 7S, 7, and 7X size variants. The 7S has a 42 mm case, 1.2" display, and 240 x 240 resolution. The standard 7 has a 47 mm case, 1.3" display, and 260 x 260 resolution. Meanwhile, the largest 7X model has a 51 mm case, 1.4" display, and 280 x 280 resolution.
#3 Health & Wellness Features
Sleep Tracking of Garmin Fenix 7
Garmin Fenix 7 series offers some health features that the Suunto Vertical doesn't, such as an ECG app in the Pro model and women's health tracking. However, when it comes to key health metrics like wrist-based heart rate, blood oxygen, stress level, and sleep tracking, both watches offer comparable functionality.
The sleep tracking analysis of the Fenix 7, however, is more comprehensive than that of the Suunto Vertical. Other than sleep score and duration, you can view detailed information on sleep stages, including Light, REM, and Deep, whereas in the Suunto Vertical, you can only see your total deep sleep duration without a detailed breakdown of the stages. In addition, the Fenix 7 also detects daytime naps, so you can track your rest and recovery more accurately throughout the day.
Suunto Vertical vs Garmin Fenix 7
Garmin Fenix 7 features the popular Body Battery Energy Monitoring feature, which uses physical activity data, rest, and stress data to estimate your energy levels throughout the day. Suunto has a similar feature called Resource, which also takes into account your activity, stress, and sleep to provide insights into your energy levels.
However, Garmin's Body Battery provides a more detailed and intuitive visualization of your energy levels over time. You can exactly see what time of the day your energy levels peak or dip based on your activities and rest. You can even see the graph both with or without the stress factor.
Suunto's Resource feature, on the other hand, only provides an overall trend and percentage of your energy levels.
#4 Sports & Training Features
Suunto Vertical
Both watches come with a range of built-in sports apps that cover a wide variety of activities, from running and cycling to swimming, hiking, triathlon, and more. Different activities have different metrics and insights, so you can track your performance and progress more effectively based on the specific demands of each sport.
A range of planning, training, and analysis features are also available on both watches. However, compared to the Fenix 7, the on-watch training data in Suunto Vertical is more limited. You can only view the weekly training load, total duration, and recovery time. For other more detailed metrics, you'll have to see from the Suunto app.
Garmin Fenix 7, on the other hand, offers a more comprehensive suite of training features and data right on the watch, including training status, training load, training effect, recovery time, and more. You can even get daily workout suggestions to prepare for your next race or event.
Garmin Fenix 7
For some activities, Garmin Fenix 7 also offers better activity-specific features than the Suunto Vertical. For example, on-screen workout animations are supported for yoga, pilates, cardio, and strength, so you can easily follow the exercises right on your wrist.
For golf, Garmin Autoshot automatically detects your shots along the fairway for post-game analysis. The Fenix 7 is also surf-ready, with support Surfline Sessions feature, tides data, and more.
In addition, Garmin Fenix 7 has an advantage with its safety and tracking features unavailable in the Suunto Vertical. This includes incident detection, assistance, livetrack, and live event sharing, all of which enable your family and friends to stay connected and informed about your location and status during your activities, including emergencies or unexpected events.
#5 Maps & Navigational Features
Suunto Vertical
Both GPS watches use multi-GNSS support for accurate positioning and navigation. While both models support GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo, the Vertical supports two additional satellite systems unavailable in the Fenix 7, including QZSS and BeiDou, for even more reliable coverage.
Suunto Vertical also has an advantage with its free offline maps, which you can download directly to the watch without additional costs. In contrast, Garmin Fenix 7 Series only offers built-in road and trail maps in some of its more expensive models, like the Fenix 7 Pro Solar or the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar. The standard Garmin Fenix 7 doesn't come with built-in road and train maps, you need to purchase it separately.
However, Garmin Fenix 7 Series offers sports-specific maps, including SkiView maps for worldwide ski resorts and Golf Course maps for over 42,000 golf courses around the world. Unlike the road and trail maps, these two are included in all Fenix 7 models at no additional cost. Suunto Vertical, on the other hand, doesn't offer similar mapping features.
#6 Smartwatch Features
Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar
Suunto Vertical and Garmin Fenix 7 are equipped with a range of daily features available on most smartwatches in the market, such as smart notifications, music controls, time and date functions, and more.
Suunto Vertical has a built-in flashlight that can be valuable in low-light conditions or emergencies. The Fenix 7 Series also offers this feature, but only in some of the more expensive variants. In addition, Suunto Vertical allows you to switch between light and dark modes to optimize the display for different lighting conditions.
Garmin Fenix 7 also has some distinctive features that the Vertical lacks, including Garmin Pay, a contactless payment method that allows you to make purchases directly from your watch. It also offers Jet Lag Adviser, which provides personalized guidance to help you adjust to new time zones and minimize the effects of jet lag during your travels.
#7 Battery Life
Suunto Vertical
Suunto Vertical and Garmin Fenix 7 smartwatches offer impressive battery life, allowing for extended use between charges. Both models also come with solar variants, which offer solar charging capability for even longer battery life under direct sunlight.
Suunto Vertical can last up to 60 hours in GPS mode, which is extended to 85 hours with solar charging. When used solely in time mode, the Suunto Vertical can last an impressive 60 days, or up to a full year with solar charging.
The battery life on the Garmin Fenix 7 Series varies depending on the specific model. The standard Fenix 7 offers up to 57 hours in GPS mode and 57 days in battery-saver smartwatch mode. The top-of-the-line Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar edition provides even longer battery life, with up to 89 hours in GPS mode (extendable to 122 hours with solar) and 90 days in battery saver smartwatch mode (up to 1 year with solar charging).
Suunto Vertical vs Garmin Fenix 7 Series
Final Thoughts
Garmin Fenix 7
Both Suunto Vertical and Garmin Fenix 7 are excellent choices for those seeking a premium multisport GPS watch. They offer advanced features, durable designs, and impressive battery life to support your active lifestyle.
If you prioritize affordability and free offline maps, the Suunto Vertical may be the better choice for you. It also offers a built-in flashlight and support for additional satellite systems for reliable navigation.
On the other hand, if you value more comprehensive health and training features, the Garmin Fenix 7 Series may be more suitable. It also offers built-in ski resort and golf course maps, as well as contactless payment and a unique jet lag guidance feature.
If you like to read more on smartwatches, check out our other relevant guides here:
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Suunto 9 Peak Pro vs Garmin Fenix 7
Suunto 9 Peak vs Peak Pro
Suunto 9 Baro vs Peak Pro
Suunto Race vs Vertical
Suunto Core vs Core Alpha
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