Suunto Core 2 FCC filing points to a proper outdoor watch revival

Suunto Core 2 just popped up in an FCC filing, and it looks like the old Core is making a comeback. The label shows a CR3032 replaceable battery, 100m water resistance, stainless steel and Bluetooth LE, which points to a proper outdoor tool watch with a bit of modern app support thrown in.

Suunto Core 2 shows up in certification documents

Suunto Core 2 now looks very real. We spotted an FCC filing for model OW245 which includes a product label that clearly carries the name “Suunto Core 2″. This is about as direct as these things get before an official announcement.

The filing describes the product as an outdoor watch under the Suunto brand. That lines up with what the Core name has always represented. This is not a general smartwatch line, or at least it has not been historically. Core has always been about outdoor basics, with altimeter, barometer, compass and weather tools at the centre of the experience.

The original Suunto Core dates back to 2007. It became one of the company’s best known non-GPS outdoor watches. It never chased modern smartwatch features, which was part of the appeal. You bought it because it did the outdoor watch thing without pretending to be a phone on your wrist.

That is why this filing is interesting. Suunto could have retired the name completely and left the rugged outdoor segment to watches such as Vertical and Race. Instead, the company appears to be preparing a proper follow-up to one of its most recognisable models.

The label tells us quite a bit

The FCC label gives away more than just the name. It shows water resistance of 100m, a CR3032 battery, stainless steel and the model number OW245. It also includes FCC, IC, CE, UKCA, EAC and KC markings, which points to a broader international launch rather than a tiny regional experiment.

The battery detail is probably the most important one. A CR3032 is a replaceable coin-cell battery, not a rechargeable lithium pack. That strongly suggests Core 2 is not trying to become a smaller Suunto Vertical or a full GPS sports watch.

That matters because it tells us something about the product philosophy. Suunto seems to be keeping the Core idea intact. Long battery life, low maintenance and outdoor functions appear to matter more here than apps, AMOLED screens and daily charging routines.

The 100m water resistance is another useful clue. Older Core models were not always seen as serious water watches, despite their outdoor credentials. A 100m rating would make Core 2 more capable around swimming, wet weather and rougher outdoor use.

The stainless steel marking also helps. It most likely refers to the caseback, based on the label design, although the filing does not confirm the full case material. Even so, it points to a more robust build than a simple plastic-only outdoor watch.

Bluetooth changes the formula

The RF report confirms Bluetooth LE in the 2402MHz to 2480MHz range. That is an important difference from the classic Core experience, which was essentially standalone and self-contained.

Bluetooth does not automatically mean a smartwatch. It probably means Suunto app pairing, settings sync, firmware updates and possibly some basic phone-linked features. It may also allow the watch to sync logs or outdoor data without turning into a full training watch.

A good comparison might be a modern Casio Pro Trek style product rather than a Garmin Fenix alternative. The value would sit in the mix of outdoor tools, replaceable battery and rugged design. Bluetooth would bring it into the current Suunto ecosystem without changing what the watch is for.

September could be the key date

According to the filing, the confidentiality period runs until September 2026. Once that period expires, more detail can become public unless Suunto extends confidentiality or launches the product before then.

Suunto has strong modern sports watches, but not everyone wants maps, training load, heart rate sensors, AMOLED screens or charging cables. Some people just want a tough outdoor watch that can sit in a drawer, go on a trip and still be ready.

This article originally appeared on Gadgets & Wearables, the first media outlet to report the story.

Source: FCC

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