The FCC confirms it is a chest strap

When we first reported on the Suunto SHRM2, the device had appeared in Singapore’s IMDA database. That listing described it as a Bluetooth heart rate monitor, but did not say whether Suunto was working on a conventional chest strap or something worn elsewhere on the body.

The FCC documents now settle that question. Suunto describes SHRM2 as a heart rate belt in the testing material, while the regulatory information is printed on a circular battery cover similar to the one used by its current chest sensor.

The label confirms a replaceable CR2032 battery. Suunto’s existing Smart Heart Rate Belt uses a smaller CR2025 cell and has an official battery life estimate of around 500 hours.

A CR2032 has more capacity, so longer battery life looks likely. The filing does not provide an official runtime, though, and battery efficiency will also depend on the new electronics and how often the sensor stores or transmits data.

Water resistance is rated at 30 metres, or 100 feet. That matches Suunto’s current belt and makes swimming support likely.

Bluetooth details and an earlier processor clue

SHRM2 uses Bluetooth Low Energy across the standard 2402 to 2480 MHz frequency range. Testing covers both 1 Mbps and 2 Mbps modes, suggesting Suunto has moved to a more recent Bluetooth platform.

The documents do not mention ANT+. That may mean the new belt will remain Bluetooth-only, but the public filing is not detailed enough to rule out additional wireless modes before the full manual appears.

There is also no confirmation of simultaneous Bluetooth connections. Support for two or more connections would allow the belt to send heart rate to a Suunto watch and another device, such as gym equipment or a training app, at the same time.

An earlier clue from Nordic Semiconductor’s developer forum pointed to the nRF54L15 processor. References to SHRM2 appeared in software build paths linked to the chip, although the filing has not confirmed that it sits inside the device.

What remains unknown

The external photos, internal photos and user manual remain confidential until January 19, 2027. That date does not necessarily point to the launch, as Suunto can release the documents earlier when it announces the product.

Suunto has already shown how quickly one of these regulatory discoveries can turn into a finished product. The Suunto Core 2 appeared in FCC documents before launching this week, so SHRM2 may also be further along than the confidential filing dates suggest.

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The update starts rolling out globally today and is free for existing users. It applies across Ultrahuman’s wider ecosystem, including the Ring AIR and Ring PRO, the M1 and M2 Live glucose monitoring services, Blood Vision and the Ultrahuman Home.

The app now focuses on what to do next

UltraSphere sits at the centre of the redesigned home screen. It turns health data into more than 60 suggested actions based on sleep, recovery, HRV, movement, stress, skin temperature, cycle phase and glucose readings.

These can include getting outside for morning light, taking a short walk during an afternoon energy dip, cutting off caffeine or beginning an evening wind-down routine. The recommendations can also adjust for location, weather, circadian timing and different routines, including shift work, parenthood and frequent travel.

The company’s Jade AI health assistant now gets its own tab. It connects information from across Ultrahuman’s devices and services rather than treating ring, glucose and blood test data as separate streams.

The redesign also moves longer-term measurements such as UltraAge, Pulse Age, Blood Age and Brain Age into a dedicated Longevity tab. Meanwhile, the new Windows view places time-sensitive information, including caffeine timing and circadian phases, onto a single daily timeline.

More insights now work offline

Emerald moves more analysis onto the phone, allowing sleep, recovery and movement scores to calculate without an internet connection. Live heart rate, stress, steps and UltraSphere recommendations can also remain available while offline.

This should be useful during flights, travel and time spent in areas with poor reception. It also means more of the app remains functional without a continuous connection to Ultrahuman’s servers.

Sleep Screener brings sleep duration, temperature, respiratory information, rhythm data and the Ultrahuman Smart Alarm into one nightly view. AFib Detection, where supported, also sits here after previously launching through Ultrahuman’s PowerPlugs platform.

Workout tracking gets an upgrade

Ultrahuman says it has also rebuilt workout tracking for Ring AIR and Ring PRO, with improved automatic detection, activity tagging and heart rate algorithms. This is an area worth watching, as workout heart rate was one of the weaker points in my Ultrahuman Ring AIR review.

The VO₂ Max algorithm has also been revised. Ultrahuman says it tested the estimate against CPET laboratory results from more than 100 athletes, with readings falling within 5 mL/kg/min of the lab measurement.

Emerald’s main change is a cleaner way of presenting Ultrahuman’s existing data and services. The redesigned interface and offline processing should make the app easier to use, while the new heart rate and VO₂ Max claims will need testing once the update reaches more users.

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Enduro 4 now has a codename

We compared the main APK from Garmin Connect 5.27 with the base APK contained inside the older version. The most useful entry is product 5179, which Garmin categorises under fitness, outdoor, golf and wellness. Version 5.27 associates that product number with the internal codename GOBI.

That number is not new by itself. Our previous Garmin Connect 5.26 teardown found an Enduro 4 reference tied to the same internal ID, 5179. The difference is that the direct Enduro 4 name does not appear in the new version. Instead, Garmin now lists 5179 as GOBI, giving us a likely development codename for the watch.

The connection is fairly clean. Garmin used 4575 as the internal product ID for Enduro 3, and the company appears to be preparing Garmin Connect to recognise its successor under 5179.

The number cannot be converted into Garmin’s eventual retail part number or website product ID. Those sit in separate databases, so 5179 is mainly useful as a search key for future firmware files, support pages, image servers and Connect IQ records.

Eight more devices appear

The same registry update introduces eight other product entries. These are BRISTLECONE under product 5169, MARGAY_CARACAL under 5161, BENGAL_SIBERIAN under 5162, PANTHER under 5164, TORR_SNARF under 5143, LEAH_CHEETARA under 5144, WILYCUB_PANTHRO under 5145 and Rogers under 5193.

All except Rogers carry the same fitness, outdoor, golf and wellness categories as GOBI. That combination is normally associated with Garmin watches that support a broad mix of sports, outdoor navigation and health features, rather than simple activity trackers.

The naming pattern is difficult to ignore. Six of the entries use feline references and appear to form two groups of three. Products 5143, 5144 and 5145 use names linked to ThunderCats characters, while products 5161, 5162 and 5164 use real cat breeds or species.

One possible explanation is that these six entries belong to the future Fenix 9 family. Garmin commonly releases its Fenix watches in three case sizes, while also separating AMOLED and MicroLED models into different internal product records. Two groups of three could therefore represent three sizes across two display or charging configurations.

That remains speculation, as the APK does not mention Fenix 9 by name. The matching categories, coordinated codenames and closely grouped product numbers do suggest the six devices belong to one wider hardware programme rather than six unrelated watches.

BRISTLECONE appears separate from the feline group, although its outdoor-focused categories suggest another capable Garmin watch. Rogers is the odd one out, as Garmin assigns it only fitness and wellness categories, which could point to a simpler wearable or accessory.

Software changes are also included

Garmin Connect 5.27 is not only about new hardware records. The update also adds the new Garmin Connect Essentials section, which lets users place selected health and training stats at the top of the Home screen.

Garmin has also reworked parts of the device setup process, with new flows for primary wearable selection, sleep schedules, Wi-Fi, backups and firmware updates. There are further changes around Garmin Coach, including expanded triathlon support, along with smaller updates to Pulse Ox reports, workout syncing and activity screens.

APK teardown note

This article is based on an APK teardown. Code found inside an app can reveal features or devices that are under development, but there is no guarantee they will appear in a future public release.

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CIRQA tracks heart rate continuously, but during a workout the free Garmin Connect screen appears to show only average heart rate, not your current live reading. To see live heart-rate data in the workout interface, Garmin wants users to pay for Connect+.

A basic number goes missing

The issue was highlighted by DC Rainmaker during his early testing of CIRQA. Start an activity through Garmin Connect without a subscription and the app gives you elapsed time and average heart rate, but not the live number most people would actually want to check during exercise.

That is a strange restriction for a $199 screenless heart-rate band. The phone effectively becomes the display, particularly during gym sessions, indoor cycling, strength workouts or runs where someone wants to stay inside a target heart-rate range.

Garmin has already built the fuller Live Activity interface. Connect+ adds a heart-rate graph, heart-rate zones and guided workout content, all of which make more sense as paid extras. Hiding the basic current reading is much harder to explain.

Garmin’s wording adds to the confusion

The situation gets more awkward because Garmin says users can see basic activity data in Garmin Connect, including current heart rate and time. On the same product page, the company describes live graphs and heart-rate-zone information as Connect+ features.

That wording suggests the live number should remain free while the graph and zone visualisations sit behind the subscription. Based on the early testing and discussion from CIRQA owners, that does not seem to be how the app currently behaves.

It is not clear whether this is a launch bug, unfinished software or a deliberate Connect+ restriction. Garmin needs to clarify it because the current experience does not match the way the feature is described.

There is a workaround – kind of…

CIRQA can broadcast live heart rate to a compatible Garmin watch, Edge cycling computer or another supported device. That should work well for existing Garmin users who want to wear CIRQA during the day and use a separate device as their main training screen.

We touched on that ecosystem advantage in our Garmin CIRQA vs Fitbit Air comparison. It does not help someone who bought CIRQA specifically to avoid wearing a sports watch and expected Garmin Connect to provide the display during workouts.

Some might argue that a screenless tracker does not need live data. That misses the point. A screenless band does not remove the need for feedback, it simply moves that feedback to another screen.

When we first covered the early Garmin CIRQA listing, one of the obvious questions was how much Garmin would place behind Connect+. Most of the main health and recovery experience remains available without paying, which is good, but live workout heart rate is about as basic as exercise data gets.

Garmin could fix this neatly by keeping the current heart-rate number free and reserving graphs, zone breakdowns and guided sessions for Connect+. That would better match its product wording and make the subscription split much easier to understand.

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Zepp OS 6 reaches three Amazfit watches

The move to Zepp OS 6 is the main part of this update. It brings all three outdoor watches onto Zepp Health’s latest software platform, along with its revised interface, navigation changes and updated system features.

The screenshot shows firmware version 6.2.104.6 with a download size of 24.59MB. Version numbers and package sizes may vary slightly between models, but the feature list appears to be shared across the T-Rex 3, T-Rex 3 Pro and Ultra 2.

Zepp Health has focused its release notes on the new training functions rather than listing every visual change included with Zepp OS 6. Owners may therefore notice smaller interface adjustments once the installation is complete.

As usual, the rollout may not reach every account or region at the same time. The update can be checked manually through the device section of the Zepp app.

More training features move onto the watch

A new Training Calendar app allows users to view training plans created in the Zepp app directly on the watch. There is also a new Training Library entry inside the workout list, offering access to more built-in courses from the phone app.

HybridCharge can now be added to a workout data page. This lets users view their current HybridCharge status during an activity, rather than checking it only before or after training.

Workout records also gain support for linked equipment. Running shoes and other gear can be added in the Zepp app and then attached to individual activities, making it easier to track usage over time.

The Shortcut Key can now launch a designated workout directly. This should be handy for people who regularly start the same activity and do not want to scroll through the full workout menu each time.

A few smaller improvements

Zepp Health has adjusted the workout record page and expanded the personalisation options available within notification settings. The update also includes changes to Battery Saver, although the release notes do not explain exactly what has been altered.

iPhone users can now sync heart rate variability data to Apple Health after granting permission inside the Apple Health app. General bug fixes and stability improvements complete the update.

Zepp OS 6 is clearly the biggest change, but the added training features give owners a few practical reasons to install it straight away. Training Calendar, equipment tracking and live HybridCharge data should all prove useful for people who regularly train with the T-Rex 3, T-Rex 3 Pro or Ultra 2.

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Consistency counted more than total practice

The research looked at how regularly people completed biofeedback training with a Muse headband over one year. It compared those habits with results from 1,228 completions of a Stroop attention test.

The Stroop test shows users a colour word printed in a different colour. Someone might see the word red written in blue ink, for example, and must identify the ink colour rather than automatically reading the word.

That conflict creates a small delay in response time. Muse used this delay as a measure of cognitive control, which generally becomes slower as people get older.

Across every age group, people who trained in most weeks dealt with the conflicting information around 40 to 50 milliseconds faster than sporadic users. The amount of time spent training mattered less than how regularly they returned.

The most consistent users in their 60s and 70s recorded an average interference time of 192 milliseconds. Sporadic users in their 30s and 40s averaged 219 milliseconds.

That does not mean the older group had younger brains in a medical sense. It does suggest that regular users performed better on this particular task than much younger people who trained less consistently.

This does not prove Muse caused the difference

Muse describes the finding as an association rather than evidence that its headbands improve attention. People who stick to regular brain training may also sleep better, exercise more or have other habits that support cognitive performance.

Frequent users may also become more comfortable with the test itself. The analysis cannot fully separate those factors from the effects of using Muse.

Still, the scale of the at-home dataset makes the pattern interesting. The consistency advantage appeared across all of the age groups studied rather than emerging from a single small subgroup.

Brain age tracking is coming to the Muse app

The company also confirmed that it is bringing brain age tracking into its app. The feature uses resting EEG signals to estimate how old a person’s brain activity appears compared with their chronological age.

Muse says its estimates typically land within around seven years of a person’s actual age. Earlier peer-reviewed research using Muse recordings found that the measurement can also move over time depending on factors such as sleep and recent rest.

In my review, I found the Muse S Athena to be an interesting option for people who want to go beyond basic meditation feedback. It adds detailed cognitive tracking and is the most logical home for features such as brain age.

The older Muse 2 remains the cheaper way into Muse’s EEG-guided meditation system. It lacks Athena’s broader cognitive features, but it still offers the core experience that produced the training data used in this analysis.

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Garmin has started rolling out a new Essentials section in Garmin Connect alongside today’s CIRQA launch, but it has not yet reached every phone. The good news is that anyone impatient can already switch it on through the Garmin Connect web dashboard and see exactly how it works.

The new section sits at the top of the Garmin Connect home screen and gives four recovery and health metrics their own large cards. These are Sleep Score, Body Battery, Training Readiness and HRV Status.

Each card shows the latest result without requiring much digging. Selecting one opens the corresponding page with the more detailed trends, explanations and historical data Garmin already provides elsewhere in Connect.

The mobile rollout is still uneven

Essentials is appearing with Garmin Connect version 5.27 on both Android and iOS, although availability appears to depend on whether the latest app release has reached your account and region. Once installed, the setting can be found under Settings and then Home Settings.

I checked both platforms in the UK, and version 5.27 was not yet available on either of them at the time of writing. That is fairly normal for a staged app rollout, but it means some users may see screenshots of Essentials before the update reaches their own phone.

There is no need to keep refreshing the app stores, though. The same layout has already appeared in Garmin Connect on the web, where it can be enabled immediately.

How to enable Garmin Connect Essentials on the web

Sign in to the Garmin Connect website and open Settings. Select Home Settings, then switch on the Essentials toggle near the top of the page.

Return to the home screen and the four new cards should appear above the existing In Focus section. There is also an Edit Essentials option for changing the stats displayed within the row.

Garmin CIRQA has no display, so nearly every useful interaction happens after opening Garmin Connect. It is probably why the company saw the need to display a few headline stats right at the outset.

Garmin officially launched CIRQA today as its first screenless smart band, with continuous health tracking, up to 10 days of battery life and no Garmin subscription required. It is similar to Whoop in looks, but has a physical button and multi-functional LED. Check out our overview on how it compares to the Fitbit Air.

Essentials is a small addition, but it gives the new device a more obvious landing point inside Garmin Connect. Mobile access should follow as version 5.27 spreads more widely, while the web dashboard provides an easy preview in the meantime.

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Kerr broke Hicham El Guerrouj’s 27-year-old record at the London Diamond League on July 18. His time was 0.47 seconds quicker than the 3:43.13 mark set in 1999, making him the first man to run a mile in under three minutes and 43 seconds.

The record was built on tiny margins

Kerr’s four laps came in 55.3, 55.8, 55.4 and 54.9 seconds. Every lap was under 56 seconds, only 0.9 seconds separated the slowest from the fastest, and the final circuit was the quickest of the lot.

The 200-metre splits were even tighter. They ranged from 27.4 to 27.9 seconds, so Kerr never drifted more than half a second away from his fastest segment across the entire race.

That consistency is the part of the data that really stands out. World records can look chaotic from trackside, particularly when pacemakers drop away and the athlete takes over, but Kerr’s numbers show very little panic. He stayed close to the required pace, then found enough for a slightly faster finish.

His average speed was just over 26 km/h. For comparison, a four-minute mile works out at around 24.1 km/h, so Kerr was moving almost 2 km/h faster than a barrier that still sounds absurdly quick to most runners.

Zepp Health says his cadence averaged 194 steps per minute and peaked at 200. Running power rose sharply at the start, settled in the mid-400-watt range, then increased again over the final 200 metres. The graph tells much the same story as the splits, with an aggressive opening, a controlled middle and a final lift.

Heart rate climbed from 123 bpm on the start line to 160 bpm soon after the gun, reaching a maximum of 188 bpm around 400 metres into the race. It then remained in the 180s as Kerr held the pace through the middle laps. The average at the end came in at 178 bmp.

Why Zepp Health has Kerr’s data

You might be wondering, why Zepp Health has Kerr’s data.

The connection is not a random post-race tie-in. Kerr joined Amazfit as an elite athlete partner in February this year, with the Zepp Health-owned brand supplying wearables for his training, recovery and competition.

He has also been involved in the company’s performance testing work. Ahead of Project 222, Kerr used the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro and Helio Strap during training, while the Helio Ring tracked sleep and recovery as he prepared in an altitude-controlled bedroom.

That partnership explains why Zepp Health had access to detailed race data and why its devices were visible throughout the attempt. It also gives the company an obvious marketing win, although the published numbers are useful beyond the sponsorship story.

Kerr actually raced with a custom Cheetah 2 Pro featuring a 10-karat gold bezel, 84 lab-grown diamonds and “222” engraved on the clasp. The number referred to his target of running the mile in roughly 222 seconds, which he missed by only 0.66 seconds.

All in all, an impressive run. Kerr executed it perfectly from start to finish.

Source: Zepp Health

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Garmin launched CIRQA today, giving Fitbit Air a direct rival yet in the growing screen-less tracker category. Fitbit Air remains smaller, lighter and half the price, while CIRQA offers deeper training tools, longer battery life and tight integration with existing hardware.

Taking inspiration from Whoop, both devices collect health and activity data without putting another display on your wrist. Neither has built-in GPS, so outdoor routes depend on a connected phone, and both move most settings and data into their respective smartphone apps.

Those are the main similarities. What follows are the main differences.

Fitbit Air is smaller and lighter

Fitbit Air is the more discreet device. It weighs a mere 12 grams with its band, compared with 20 grams for CIRQA, and its narrower module should be easier to forget about during sleep and everyday wear.

That comfort was one of the strongest points in my Fitbit Air review. CIRQA is still compact compared with a Garmin watch, but its wider fabric band and larger module give it more of a Whoop-style appearance. In fact, it uses bands with 24mm width – larger than Whoop.

If you buy the Fitbit, it is a one-size-fits-all affair. With Garmin, you can choose between S/M and L/XL bands.

Both trackers can be worn away from the wrist. Garmin officially supports CIRQA on the upper arm and sells accessory bands for that, while I have also tested Fitbit Air on the wrist, ankle and upper arm, despite Google currently treating it as a wrist-based device. 

CIRQA has a physical button

CIRQA’s physical button gives the band several controls that Fitbit Air lacks. One press starts or stops a favourite activity selected in Garmin Connect, with vibration and LED feedback confirming the action. Only one activity can be assigned to the button, while other profiles still need to be launched through the app.

The button can also activate Bluetooth pairing and start or stop heart-rate broadcasting to a compatible Garmin watch or Edge computer. When an alarm goes off, a short press snoozes it and holding the button dismisses it. It can also stop the vibration triggered through Find My Band.

Fitbit Air has no physical controls. It relies on automatic activity detection and the Google Health app, which gives it a cleaner design but makes it more dependent on the phone.

Fitbit Air has more sensors

Fitbit Air has the slightly broader documented sensor package. Alongside optical heart-rate and SpO2 sensors, it includes an accelerometer, gyroscope and device temperature sensor for tracking skin-temperature variation.

Fitbit Air also supports passive irregular rhythm notifications. CIRQA does not provide this. Nor does it include ECG, so neither device provides an on-demand ECG reading from the band.

What CIRQA covers is continuous heart rate, stress, respiration, skin temperature and Pulse Ox. Garmin gets more value from combining its core sensor data with established metrics such as Body Battery, HRV Status and Sleep Coach.

CIRQA integrates more deeply with existing training hardware

This is CIRQA’s biggest advantage. It can serve as the Primary Wearable for sleep, steps and daily health data, while a Garmin watch or Edge remains the Primary Training Device for workouts, GPS and training analysis. 

CIRQA can also broadcast heart rate to compatible Garmin hardware. A cyclist could wear it on the upper arm and send live heart-rate data to an Edge computer, while a runner could use a Garmin watch for the workout and CIRQA for the rest of the day.

Fitbit Air works well as a passive second tracker, something I explored when wearing Fitbit Air alongside a Garmin. However, Google Health does not provide the same direct relationship between a passive band and dedicated training hardware.

CIRQA lasts longer between charges

Garmin quotes up to 10 days for CIRQA, compared with up to seven days for Fitbit Air. Both take around 90 minutes to charge fully, although Fitbit Air can recover roughly one day of battery life from a five-minute top-up.

The difference is useful, but not enormous. Features such connected GPS and prolonged heart-rate broadcasting will reduce CIRQA’s real-world result, while Fitbit Air already proved easy to keep charged during my testing.

Fitbit Air costs half as much

Neither device will break the bank. Fitbit Air starts at $99.99, while CIRQA costs $199.99. The extra $100 from buys CIRQA’s physical button, longer battery life, official upper-arm option and much deeper ecosystem integration. It does not buy a broader sensor package, a display or built-in GPS.

There is an optional subscription for the Fitbit, but you will be just fine without it. Most of the important stuff is free including core health, sleep and activity tracking.

Garmin also has an optional Connect+ subscription in the app which you do not really need. Most of the features work without this, except Workout and Training Plans, live activity, manual lap during activities and meditation. Which is great for those that want to use CIRQA as a second device to pair with their primary Garmin watch.

If you do opt for a subscription, Connect+ will set you back $69 per year, compared with $99 per year for Fitbit Premium. But, as mentioned, you don’t really need either.

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The Core formula stays intact

The original Suunto Core launched in 2007 and became one of the company’s most recognisable outdoor watches. It offered environmental data and basic navigation tools without the colour maps, heart rate sensor and charging routine that come with a modern GPS watch.

Core 2 does not abandon that approach. It remains an outdoor tool watch rather than a smaller Suunto Vertical or Race, with a user-replaceable battery and a display designed to show essential information without demanding much attention.

We first uncovered Suunto Core 2 through an FCC filing in April. The documents revealed the OW245 model number, Bluetooth, a replaceable CR3032 battery and 100-metre water resistance well before Suunto confirmed the watch.

A second Core 2 certification appeared in June, showing the same OW245 model moving through another regional approval database. At that point, it was already clear that Suunto was preparing a proper successor rather than simply refreshing the colour options of the original.

A brighter screen and much better water resistance

Core 2 has a 1.3-inch LED dot-matrix display protected by Gorilla Glass. Suunto says the screen is 40% brighter than the original Core display, while raise-to-wake lighting should make it easier to check quickly in changing conditions.

The backlight can switch between red and green. These options reduce glare and help preserve night vision, which could prove useful during camping, fishing and early-morning hikes.

The watch measures 49mm across and 14.8mm thick, so Suunto has not tried to disguise its outdoor-tool origins. It weighs 56.5 grams and comes with a replaceable 22mm silicone strap.

Water resistance increases from 3 ATM on the original Core to 10 ATM on Core 2. That is a nice upgrade for a watch aimed at people who may wear it through wet outdoor conditions.

Suunto has also added Gorilla Glass protection, a reinforced composite case and larger physical buttons. The buttons should be easier to operate while wearing gloves, which makes more sense here than a touchscreen would.

Updated outdoor sensors lead the feature list

Core 2 uses a revised altimeter, barometer and compass system. Suunto says it has improved sensor processing to produce more stable altitude and pressure readings, although we will need to test that claim outside before judging how noticeable the difference is.

Automatic pressure filtering aims to reduce false storm warnings. The storm alarm continues to monitor rapid changes in barometric pressure and warns the wearer when conditions may be deteriorating.

The offline magnetic compass includes bearing lock and does not need a phone connection. Core 2 also tracks real-time altitude, ascent, descent, sunrise and sunset times, along with moon phases and daily steps.

Moon-phase information is one of the new additions. It could be useful when planning night hikes, camping trips or fishing sessions, while step tracking gives the watch a modest everyday activity feature without turning it into a full fitness tracker.

There is no onboard GPS, optical heart rate sensor or colour mapping. Core 2 is therefore unlikely to replace a dedicated sports watch, but that is not what Suunto appears to be trying to do.

Bluetooth without the usual smartwatch clutter

Bluetooth connects Core 2 to the Suunto app for automatic time synchronisation, step-data transfers and over-the-air firmware updates. Suunto has kept the connected features fairly limited, with no suggestion that the watch will display notifications or run apps.

The replaceable CR3032 battery lasts for up to 15 months. The original model offered around 12 months, so the new watch extends battery life a bit.

Suunto Core 2 is available globally from today on the company’s website. It costs $199 in the US, €199 in Europe and £155 in the UK. We expect to have the device in for testing and will publish our full hands-on review soon.

Suunto Core 2 vs the original Core

Core 2 keeps the same 49mm case size and basic ABC watch concept, but most of the practical hardware has moved forward. The biggest changes are the brighter display, stronger water resistance, longer battery life and Bluetooth support.

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