Suunto Vertical 2 lands with AMOLED screen and LED flashlight
Suunto has announced the Vertical 2. It features a 1.5-inch AMOLED display, upgraded optical heart rate sensor, dual-band GNSS, and an integrated LED flashlight. It goes on sale in the US on October 15, priced at $599 for the stainless steel model and $699 for titanium.
Suunto switches to AMOLED and upgrades the hardware
What most people will notice first is the shift with the Vertical 2 display. Suunto has swapped the MIP panel of its predecessor for a 1.5-inch AMOLED with 466 by 466 resolution and 2000 nits of peak brightness. The screen is sharper, more vibrant and easier to read in direct sunlight or low light. But that change comes with tradeoffs. AMOLED means no solar charging, and some users will miss the longer run times associated with MIP tech. It’s a shift that’s happening across many brands, though not everyone is going to love it.
Supporting that new display is a much faster processor and increased memory. Navigation and animations should feel snappier. Maps will load quicker and menus will respond more fluidly.
Suunto has also introduced a built-in flashlight with adjustable brightness, red light mode and emergency signaling. This, again, is something many brands are doing – including Garmin and Zepp Health. You don’t realise how useful a LED flashlight is until you’ve used it a few times.
Navigation, battery and training features get a lift
Battery life depends on usage but remains strong. You can expect up to 65 hours with dual-band GPS running, or 20 days in standard smartwatch mode. That’s with Always-On Display off. The numbers drop a bit with it on, but still hold up well for a large AMOLED watch. Dual-band GNSS works well in rough terrain or dense areas and the new mapping system includes free offline maps, climb guidance and route previews.
Training features are deeper this time. Suunto’s AI Coach creates adaptive plans based on your activity, goals and recovery. It adjusts automatically and tracks progress using metrics like Training Stress Score, Recovery Score and VO2 Max. The Recovery Score pulls together sleep, movement and heart rate to give a single view of how ready your body is. Cumulative Load helps users understand long-term strain, useful for multi-day efforts or longer training cycles.
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Sport coverage remains wide, with more than 115 modes built in. That includes trail running, climbing, swimming and everything in between. Elevation data is also more useful now thanks to integrated climb tracking and real-time ascent estimates.
New sensor brings improved heart rate accuracy
The redesigned optical heart rate sensor is another worthy change. The old one was solid but occasionally lagged during intervals or cold weather. Suunto says the new version is faster, more accurate and handles changes in pace better. That matters for people using wrist-based tracking during workouts or long treks. The watch also tracks blood oxygen saturation and uses that data to assist with altitude performance or general wellness.
Health tracking is fully integrated with 24/7 heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep staging, movement and calories all feeding into the recovery model. Alerts for unusually high heart rate during rest are also supported.
Build, options and availability
Suunto has kept the rugged build that defines the Vertical line. The 2 comes in stainless steel or titanium, both paired with sapphire glass for scratch resistance. It’s water-resistant to 100 meters and tested to survive heat, cold and humidity extremes. The titanium version is lighter and more premium, but both offer the same features and battery.
Colour choices for the stainless steel version include All Black, Arctic Gray, Canyon and Pine Green. The titanium variant comes in Titanium Black and Titanium Sage. Each model ships with two silicone straps in matching tones.
The Suunto Vertical 2 will be available on October 15 through the brand’s website and select US retailers.
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