GPS Running Watches / Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) vs Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm)
Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) vs Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm)
Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel)
The AMOLED that finally posts MIP-class multiband battery — 65 hours, free world maps.
Wins overall by 0.6 points
Quick Verdict
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) takes this by a clear 0.6 points. The AMOLED that finally posts MIP-class multiband battery — 65 hours, free world maps. The Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) and Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) are both current-generation GPS Running Watch models, and the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) is $199 cheaper than the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) ($399.99 vs $599). On Navigation & Maps, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) leads (8.6 vs 7.2/10) — real routable offline topographic maps versus a breadcrumb line, plus how painful it is to get maps onto the watch.. On GPS Accuracy, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) leads (8.8 vs 7.8/10) — trace quality in cities and under tree cover — multiband L1+L5 hardware plus what independent testers measured in the real world.. On Heart Rate, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) leads (7.6 vs 6.8/10) — optical wrist accuracy during intervals and burst efforts, and whether the watch pairs with ANT+ and/or Bluetooth chest straps as a fix.. Overall, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores 8.2/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.6/10 for the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) | Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599.00 | $399.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Display | 1.5-in 466x466 LTPO AMOLED, ~2,000 nits, sapphire lens, optional always-on | 1.5-in AMOLED, up to 3,000 nits, sapphire crystal lens, optional always-on |
| Smartwatch Battery ( days) | 20 | 25✓ |
| Always-On Display Cost | Suunto does not publish a separate always-on smartwatch number; DC Rainmaker measured about 50 h of real use with dual-frequency, always-on display and navigation all running against a 65 h claim | Amazfit's 25-day figure is typical use; heavy use is rated 10 days and one reviewer measured about 18 days alongside 14 h of accurate GPS. Amazfit does not publish a separate always-on display figure. |
| Battery, Single-Band GPS ( h) | 75 | 85✓ |
| Battery, Multiband GPS ( h) | 65✓ | 38 |
| GNSS Bands | Dual-band L1+L5 Sony chipset. Four published tiers: 65 h Performance (dual-band), 75 h Endurance (single-band all systems), 110 h Ultra (single-band, wrist HR off) and 250 h Tour (GPS only, 2-minute logging). | Dual-band (L1+L5) circularly-polarised GNSS. The 85 h headline is the power-saving GPS mode; the accurate dual-band mode is 37-38 h on the 48 mm and about 29 h on the 44 mm. |
| Onboard Maps | Free worldwide offline maps in 32 GB, downloadable over Wi-Fi without pre-loading, with turn-by-turn (which must be enabled manually for third-party routes) and automatic climb guidance. Practically limited to roughly 10-12 stored routes despite the 32 GB. | Free offline contour maps with turn-by-turn, POI search, round-trip routing and auto-rerouting — but you must select and download each map region inside the Zepp phone app and transfer it across. Android Police called the process 'messy and time-consuming' with vague instructions. |
| Music Storage | None. No on-device storage and no streaming; Bluetooth headphones are supported for turn prompts only. | Onboard storage for sideloaded MP3 files played to Bluetooth headphones. No Spotify and no streaming services. |
| Training Platform & Subscription | Suunto app is free with no subscription tier; analytics are Suunto's own | The Zepp app and core training/recovery metrics are free. Zepp Aura, the AI sleep and coaching layer, is a paid subscription; the training data itself is not gated behind it. |
| External Sensor Support | Bluetooth with multiple simultaneous saved sensor pairings — no ANT+ | Bluetooth only — no ANT+. BLE chest straps and Stryd pods pair through Zepp OS. |
| Data Export | Free .FIT export and automatic sync to Strava, TrainingPeaks, Komoot and 300+ partner apps | Free sync to Strava, adidas Running, Apple Health and Google Health Connect, plus a TrainingPeaks Zepp OS app; .FIT export via the Zepp app |
| Warranty | 24 months | 12 months |
| Colors | All Black | Black |
Category Scores
GPS Accuracy
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) leads clearly here, 8.8 against 7.8 — a 1.0-point margin on trace quality in cities and under tree cover — multiband L1+L5 hardware plus what independent testers measured in the real world.. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery Honesty
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) leads clearly here, 8.2 against 7.6 — a 0.6-point margin on how much of the headline battery claim survives the mode you would actually train in: all-systems plus multiband, always-on display, music playing. The number on the box is almost always the slowest, least accurate mode.. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Training & Recovery
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) leads clearly here, 7.4 against 6.8 — a 0.6-point margin on depth of load, readiness and recovery analysis, and how much of it is free rather than gated behind a subscription or an extra chest strap.. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Heart Rate
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) leads clearly here, 7.6 against 6.8 — a 0.8-point margin on optical wrist accuracy during intervals and burst efforts, and whether the watch pairs with ANT+ and/or Bluetooth chest straps as a fix.. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Display
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) and Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) are level here, at 9.4/10 each. brightness, resolution and daylight readability, weighing AMOLED sharpness against MIP's always-on-for-free behaviour. is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Build & Comfort
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.4 — a 0.6-point margin on case materials, lens (sapphire vs glass), weight on the wrist and durability ratings.. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) is marginally ahead, 9.0 to 8.6. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if what the watch delivers per dollar against everything else in the comparison at the moment of purchase. is your priority.
Best For
Choose the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) if…
- • Navigation & Maps matters most to you — the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores 8.6/10 here (real routable offline topographic maps versus a breadcrumb line, plus how painful it is to get maps onto the watch.).
- • GPS Accuracy matters most to you — the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores 8.8/10 here (trace quality in cities and under tree cover — multiband L1+L5 hardware plus what independent testers measured in the real world.).
- • Heart Rate matters most to you — the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores 7.6/10 here (optical wrist accuracy during intervals and burst efforts, and whether the watch pairs with ANT+ and/or Bluetooth chest straps as a fix.).
- • Training & Recovery matters most to you — the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores 7.4/10 here (depth of load, readiness and recovery analysis, and how much of it is free rather than gated behind a subscription or an extra chest strap.).
- • Battery Honesty matters most to you — the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores 8.2/10 here (how much of the headline battery claim survives the mode you would actually train in: all-systems plus multiband, always-on display, music playing. The number on the box is almost always the slowest, least accurate mode.).
Choose the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $199 cheaper.
Pros & Cons
Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel)
Pros
- +65 h of dual-band GPS on an AMOLED watch — no other AMOLED here comes close in the accurate mode
- +Free worldwide offline maps in 32 GB, downloaded straight over Wi-Fi with no cable and no charge
- +A bright LTPO AMOLED behind sapphire, plus a bezel-integrated flashlight, for $599
- +DC Rainmaker rates GPS accuracy excellent across difficult terrain
Cons
- −87 g in the steel version reviewed here — the titanium at $699 saves 13 g
- −No music storage of any kind on a $599 watch
- −Only about 10-12 routes can be stored in practice despite 32 GB, and turn-by-turn needs manual enabling for imported routes
- −Real-world dual-frequency runtime with always-on and navigation running measured about 50 h, not 65 h
- −Bluetooth only — no ANT+ sensor support
Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm)
Pros
- +38 h of dual-band GPS and 25 days of typical use for $399.99 — Garmin charges $1,199.99 for 30 h of multiband
- +A 3,000-nit AMOLED behind sapphire with a titanium-alloy bezel at half the price of rivals with those materials
- +Free offline contour maps with genuine auto-rerouting, which even the $749.99 Forerunner 970 does not beat on price
- +10 ATM plus EN13319 freediving certification to 45 m, unusual at any price
Cons
- −Maps must be picked and downloaded region-by-region in the Zepp phone app then transferred — reviewers describe the process as messy and poorly documented
- −The 85 h battery headline is the power-saving GPS mode; the dual-band mode you would actually race on is 38 h
- −No ANT+ and no Spotify or any streaming service — sideloaded MP3 only
- −Zepp's software ecosystem and analytics are a clear step behind Garmin and COROS, and the app is cluttered
- −48 mm and chunky; reviewers found it too bulky for 24-hour wear
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) or Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Navigation & Maps, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) or the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm)?+
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores higher on Navigation & Maps (8.6/10 vs 7.2/10) — real routable offline topographic maps versus a breadcrumb line, plus how painful it is to get maps onto the watch..
Which is better for GPS Accuracy, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) or the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm)?+
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores higher on GPS Accuracy (8.8/10 vs 7.8/10) — trace quality in cities and under tree cover — multiband L1+L5 hardware plus what independent testers measured in the real world..
Which is better for Heart Rate, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) or the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm)?+
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores higher on Heart Rate (7.6/10 vs 6.8/10) — optical wrist accuracy during intervals and burst efforts, and whether the watch pairs with ANT+ and/or Bluetooth chest straps as a fix..
Which is better for Training & Recovery, the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) or the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm)?+
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) scores higher on Training & Recovery (7.4/10 vs 6.8/10) — depth of load, readiness and recovery analysis, and how much of it is free rather than gated behind a subscription or an extra chest strap..
Is the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) worth the price difference over the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm)?+
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) is the cheaper option at $399.99 versus $599. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Navigation & Maps.
What's the warranty on the Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) vs the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm)?+
The Suunto Vertical 2 (stainless steel) ships with a 24-month warranty; the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Garmin Forerunner 170 (43mm) — $299.99
Premium Option
COROS VERTIX 2S (50mm) — $699.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.