At a Glance: Quick Ratings
Heart Rate Functions
Fitness / Sport Features
Ease of Use
Battery Life
Where To Get It
A Deep Dive Into The Suunto Ambit3 Peak
Update > In October 2021 Suunto released their new Suunto Spartan Ultra GPS multisport / outdoor adventure watch. If you want the latest and greatest offering from Suunto, then please check the review of this Spartan Ultra here.
Please note. I still hold this Ambit3 Peak in very high esteem and would recommend it to anyone looking for a competent GPS sports adventure watch with Bluetooth connection to iOs & Android smartphones.
However, there are loads of new features like improved rest and recovery analysis, recovery time view on watch post training, 80 plus pre-installed sports modes and personal bests ….
The Suunto Ambit3 Peak is a highly competent GPS sports watch for multisport endurance athletes and adventure racers. Available in Black and Sapphire the Suunto Ambit 3 Peak has been reviewed by Tristan Haskins aka CardioCritic
Video Review
OUTDOOR AND MULTISPORT
- 30h battery with 5 sec-GPS accuracy (1 min-accuracy: 200h)
- Route navigation and track back
- Compass
- Altitude (FusedAltiTM)
- Weather information
- Heart rate in swimming**
- Activity based recovery time
- Speed, pace and distance
- Bike power support (Bluetooth Smart)
- Multiple sports in one log
- Movescount training programs on the watch
- Extended feature set through Suunto Apps
- Languages: EN, CS, DA, DE, ES, FI, FR, IT, JA, KO, NL, NO, PL, PT, RU, SV, ZH
For availability information, check www.suunto.com/software-updates
CONNECTIVITY
- Upload and share your moves instantly*
- Customize your watch on the go*
- Time and GPS satellite data up to date on the go*
- Use your phone as second watch display* (Add an extended battery pack for your smartphone to support even longer adventures.)
- See calls, messages and push notifications on the watch*
ENRICH, RELIVE AND SHARE
- Take photos during your Move showing your current speed, distance, and more*
- Create a Suunto Movie of your Move with 3D map, key metrics and images*
- Share your experience instantly to your social media networks*
*with the Suunto Movescount App
**with Suunto Smart Sensor
Note! The Ambit3 watches are Bluetooth Smart compatible, not compatible with ANT+™ (e.g. Suunto ANT PODs, Suunto Dual or Suunto ANT belt)
Full Technical Specification
GENERAL
| Water resistance | 100 m (according to ISO 6425) |
|---|---|
| Battery life in time mode | 30 days |
| Battery type | rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Firmware upgradable | Yes |
| Time, date | Yes |
| Alarm clock | 1 daily alarm |
| Dual time | Yes |
| GPS timekeeping | Yes |
| Countdown timer | Yes |
| Stopwatch timer | Yes |
| UI languages | EN, CS, DA, DE, ES, FI, FR, IT, JA, KO, NL, NO, PL, PT, RU, SV, ZH For availability information check www.suunto.com/software-updates |
| Backlight | LED |
| Configurable backlight | brightness / mode |
| Button lock | customizable |
| Invert display | Yes |
| Display type | matrix |
| Display resolution | 128 x 128 |
| Battery indicator | percentage / icon |
| Metric and imperial units | Yes |
SUUNTO APPS
| Compatible with Suunto Apps | Yes |
|---|---|
| Max. nr. of apps per sport mode | 5 |
| Logging of app specific metrics | Yes |
| Most recommended apps by activity | Yes |
| Create own metrics with advanced formulas | Yes |
| Chrono, GPS, HR, weather and altitude data | Yes |
| Running, cycling, swimming data | Yes |
| Rich math functions, if/then-logic, sound, backlight, etc. | Yes |
COMPASS
| Digital compass | Yes |
|---|---|
| Tilt compensation | full |
| Direction scale | degrees / mils |
| Needle | north indicator |
| Bearing lock with orienting indicator | Yes |
| Compass accuracy | 5° |
| Compass resolution | 1° |
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
| Operating temperature | -20° C to +60° C / -5° F to +140° F |
|---|---|
| Storage temperature | -30° C to +60° C / -22° F to +140° F |
CONNECTIVITY
| Watch customization | Wireless / USB cable |
|---|---|
| Compatible with Suunto Movescount App | Yes |
| Photos with watch data overlays | with Suunto Movescount App For availability information check www.suunto.com/software-updates |
| Data transfer | Wireless / USB cable |
| Connectivity (between devices) | Bluetooth Smart |
| Compatible with Movescount | Yes |
| Smartphone compatibility | iPhone, Android For compatibility information check www.suunto.com/software-updates |
| Phone notifications on the watch | with Suunto Movescount App For availability information check www.suunto.com/software-updates |
| Phone as secondary display of watch | with Suunto Movescount App For availability information check www.suunto.com/software-updates |
| Suunto Movies | with Suunto Movescount App For availability information check www.suunto.com/software-updates |
OUTDOOR FUNCTIONS
GPS TRACKING & NAVIGATION
| Satellite systems | GPS |
|---|---|
| GPS recording rate | 1, 5, 60 s |
| Battery life (GPS active) | 20, 30, 200 h For more information www.suunto.com/software-updates |
| Coordinate systems | WGS84 Hd.d° WGS84 Hd°m’ s.s” WGS84 Hd°m.m UTM MGRS British (BNG) Finnish (ETRS-TM35FIN) Finnish (KKJ) Irish (IG) Swedish (RT90) Swiss (CH1903) UTM NAD27 – Alaska UTM NAD27 – Conus UTM NAD83 New Zealand (NZTM2000) |
| Waypoint and visual route navigation | Yes |
| Max. nr. of Points of Interest (POIs) | 250 |
| Find back | Yes |
| Track back | Yes |
| Track logging, viewing and sharing * * available In Movescount.com | Yes |
| Route planning * * available In Movescount.com | Yes |
| Route points per route / POIs in watch | 1000 / 100 |
ALTIMETER
| Barometric altitude | Yes |
|---|---|
| GPS altitude | Yes |
| Combined GPS and barometric altitude (FusedAlti™) | Yes |
| Altitude graph | Yes |
| Total ascent/descent | air pressure based |
| Vertical speed | air pressure based |
| Altitude difference | yes** ** available as Suunto Apps |
| Log recording rate | 1, 10 s |
| Resolution | 1 m |
| Range | -500 – 9999 m |
WEATHER
| Sea level pressure | Yes |
|---|---|
| Seal level pressure graph | Yes |
| Weather trend indicator | Yes |
| Temperature | Yes |
| Temperature display range | -20° C to +60° C / -4° F to +140° F |
| Sunriset/sunset times | Yes |
| Automatic alti/baro profile | Yes |
| Storm alarm | Yes |
| Tide information | yes** |
| Pressure resolution | 1 hPa / 0.03 inHg |
| Temperature resolution | 1° |
| Max weather recording length | past 26 hours |
TRAINING/SPORTS FUNCTIONS
SPEED AND DISTANCE
| Distance based autolaps | Yes |
|---|---|
| Log recording rate | 1, 10 s |
| GPS Speed and distance | Integrated |
| Foot POD support | Bluetooth Smart |
| Bike POD support | Bluetooth Smart |
HEART RATE
| RR interval | Yes |
|---|---|
| Heart rate in beats per minute | Yes |
| Heart rate in % of max hr | Yes |
| Real-time average and max heart rate | Yes |
| Heart rate limits | Yes |
| Heart rate zones * * available In Movescount.com | Yes |
| EPOC & V02 max values * * available In Movescount.com | Yes |
| Heart rate graph in real time | Yes |
| Calories | Yes |
| Peak Training Effect | Yes |
| Recovery time | Yes |
| Real time EPOC | yes** ** available as Suunto Apps |
| Log recording rate | 1, 10 s |
| Records heart rate in swimming | yes, with Suunto Smart Sensor |
TRAINING, PLANNING & ANALYSIS
| Chrono | Yes |
|---|---|
| Laps | > 1000 |
| Autopause | Yes |
| Autoscrolling of exercise displays | Yes |
| Memory left indicator | Yes |
| Speed and heart rate-based guidance during exercise | Yes |
| Interval timers | Yes |
| Fitness test | yes** ** available as Suunto Apps |
| Training plans downloadable from Movescount | Yes |
| Log summary on the watch with lap details | Yes |
| Customizeable sport modes and displays | 10 modes / 8 displays per mode |
| Training analysis* * available In Movescount.com | Yes |
| Training logbook with story and image support * * available In Movescount.com | Yes |
| GPS track analysis* * available In Movescount.com | Yes |
| Activity based recovery time | Yes |
| Sleep recovery test (Firstbeat™) For availability information check www.suunto.com/software-updatesnofollow | Yes |
| Quick recovery test (Firstbeat™) For availability information www.suunto.com/software-updates | Yes |
| Workout Planner For availability information check www.suunto.com/software-updates | with Suunto Movescount App For compatibility information check www.suunto.com/software-updatesn |
| Interval workout voice guidance For availability information check www.suunto.com/software-updates | with Suunto Movescount App For compatibility information www.suunto.com/software-updates |
| Activity monitoring | Yes |
| Compatible with online sports communities *Available in Movescount.com | Strava, TrainingPeaks, MapMyFtiness and others For availability information www.suunto.com/software-updates |
MULTISPORTS
| Change sport mode during exercise | Yes |
|---|---|
| Preconfigured multisport modes | Yes |
| Multisport exercise summary | Yes |
| Post-analysis of multisport exercise by sport * * available In Movescount.com | Yes |
RUNNING
| Running pace | Yes |
|---|---|
| Suunto FusedSpeed™ | Yes |
| Average pace in real time | Yes |
| Running cadence | Yes |
| Average stride length | yes** ** available as Suunto Apps |
| Ghost Runner | Yes |
| Marathon End-time Estimator | yes** ** available as Suunto Apps |
| Lap comparisons by kilometer/mile * * available In Movescount.com | Yes |
| Running Performance (Firstbeat™) For availability information check www.suunto.com/software-updates | Yes |
CYCLING
| Cycling speed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Average speed in real time | Yes |
| Multiple Bike POD support | Yes |
| Hill incline in real time | yes** ** available as Suunto Apps |
| Bike Power (W), average and maximum (with power sensor) | Bluetooth Smart |
| Bike Power 3s, 10s, 30s (with power sensor) | Yes |
| Bike Lap and Lap Maximum Power (with power sensor) | Yes |
| Power distribution & graphs * (with power sensor) * available In Movescount.com | Yes |
| Peak Power Curve for peak power outputs * (with power sensor) * available In Movescount.com | Yes |
| Normalized Power (Suunto Apps / TM by Training Peaks) | yes** ** available as Suunto Apps |
| Aerodynamic drag in real time (with power sensor) | yes** ** available as Suunto Apps |
| Cadence POD Support | Bluetooth Smart |
SWIMMING
| Pool swim pace and distance | Yes |
|---|---|
| Openwater swim pace and distance | Yes |
| Swimming time by pool length, lap, total | Yes |
| Swimming stroke rate, count and type | Yes |
| Swim styles detection with personal style teaching | Yes |
| Stroke efficiency (SWOLF) | Yes |
| Automatic intervals | Yes |
| Dynamic lap table with stroke, pace and duration * * available In Movescount.com | Yes |
| Records heart rate in swimming | yes, with Suunto Smart Sensor |
Review Summary
If you are confused by which Suunto Ambit is for you then, if budget’s not an issue, the answer to your question is this one. The Peak is very similar to the Ambit3 Sport with the addition of a barometric pressure sensor to give both altitude, air pressure and weather warnings. Available in ALL BLACK or CLASSY SAPPHIRE
The Ambit3 Peak has the same single log for multisport sessions, i.e. Swim, Bike and Run data all in ONE FILE. This really is about as good as it gets. Access to thousands of APPS from the Movescount.com website. Sport displays configurable via Smartphone connection. And best of all … a 30 hour GPS battery life !
The journey to your summit is what it’s all about – whether it’s a mountain or a personal best. The Suunto Ambit3 Peak is your ultimate GPS watch for sports and adventure. It guides you every step of the way, providing all you need to progress and stay safe on your quest. Connect your watch wirelessly to your smartphone and use the free Suunto Movescount App to adjust the watch on the go and visually enrich, relive and share your adventure. There is no better companion out there to make every move count.
