This affordable, lightweight watch is all you need for running

I was reintroduced to Suunto last year with the fabulous Suunto Race GPS sports watch, and I have enjoyed months of running, rowing, biking, walking, and living with that flagship watch. The new Suunto Run provides a more focused experience at a very affordable sub-$250 price point with a size and weight that will appeal to just about everyone.

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The Suunto Run is optimized for runners and is available in Black, Frost (white), Lime, and Coral, with the Lime one available for testing on my wrist. Running is one of my prime activities, so I appreciate the elegance of the Suunto Run with its minimalist design and user interface. While the watch is focused on running, 34 sports modes are supported with run-specific modes for activities such as marathon running and track running, where laps around the track are accurately recorded.

A 22mm quick-release strap is included with the Suunto Run, but you can find thousands of other 22mm bands to use with your watch as well. The included fabric strap is perfect for running, with the ability to flex while remaining secure and allowing you to sweat comfortably. The 36 grams total weight, including the textile strap, means that you can barely even feel the watch on your wrist, and this level of comfort also makes it a watch you can wear to bed to track your sleep and recovery with ease.

Despite its light weight and small size, the watch provides at least a week of battery life with the always-on display turned off. The lift-to-wake function works well, and you may even see up to 12 days with light use. With all GNSS options enabled and in dual-band mode, the watch provides up to 20 hours of tracking so you can take on just about any challenge with the Suunto Run. A proprietary charging puck comes with the watch.

Three physical buttons on the right side of the display work with the touchscreen to provide a simple user interface. The top-right button takes you to your last activity. You can press the button once, confirm you want to perform the same activity, and then press it again to get going. A press of the center, rotating-crown button brings you to your list of recent activities so that you can get right into your preferred exercise mode quickly and efficiently.

Customization of your various activities is supported right on the watch with interval training, duration goals, and even a ghost-runner mode so you can quickly check if you are ahead or behind the imaginary runner helping motivate you to achieve your goals. Support for five GNSS options is available, and the Suunto Run has proven to match closely with flagship watches that cost three to five times as much.

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Although the watch is small and light, a brilliant 1.32-inch AMOLED display with a high resolution of 466 x 466 pixels is provided behind Gorilla Glass. The bezel is stainless steel, with a fiber-reinforced polymer case material and a 46mm diameter. The watch is 50-meter water resistant, so you can wear it in every condition you would run in.

Heart rate accuracy matches closely with other watches and, unlike some recent smartwatches from Samsung and OnePlus, you can connect external heart rate monitors. Running power is also supported and is a good measure for effort if you prefer that option over heart rate.

The Suunto Run is an affordable watch, but one compromise compared to other Suunto options is that the watch does not support the SuuntoPlus application library. There is plenty of customization in the various exercise modes, widgets, and included apps. Apps you can find by rotating the digital crown include weather, sleep, flashlight, media player (MP3s downloaded and stored in the 4GB internal storage), breathe, alarm clock, and more.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Suunto Run is clearly an option to consider if you enjoy running and are looking for an affordable and comfortable sports watch to help guide your training, track your running, and measure your recovery and progress. The Suunto smartphone application is powerful, with an AI-based Suunto Coach function to help you achieve your fitness and health goals. 

What are the tariffs in the US?

The recent US tariffs on imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India aim to boost domestic manufacturing but are likely to drive up prices on consumer electronics. Products like smartphones, laptops, and TVs may become more expensive as companies rethink global supply chains and weigh the cost of shifting production.

Also: Tariff war has tech buyers wondering what’s next. Here’s what we know

Fitness devices, which are predominantly manufactured in these regions, are now subject to tariffs as high as 54% on Chinese imports and 46% on Vietnamese goods. As a result, consumers may see price increases of approximately 20% on these items. 

Manufacturers are exploring options like relocating production to countries with lower tariffs, but such shifts are complex and may not provide immediate relief. In the short term, shoppers should anticipate higher costs for headphones and wearables due to these trade policies.