How is the 9PP positioned with the new arrival of the RaceS?

HansLeo

@enriqueescoms Yeah, that’s truly incredible!

By the way, the S9PP as an “entry-level” watch is awesome for newbies; it got all the features, and to me when I use it still gives me some Ambit 3 Peak vibes in terms of performance and ruggedness

wurzlsepp

@enriqueescoms said in How is the 9PP positioned with the new arrival of the RaceS?:

So as I think, Race S come to kill our 9PP´s

I won’t let it be killed that easily the MIP screen and thus the long screen-on-time of the 9PP is literally the only thing that makes it better than my smartphone.
Instead of the Race S, i could just use my phone with a screen even more vibrant

krakra

@wurzlsepp on s9pp i would miss maps personally

A Former User

@enriqueescoms said in How is the 9PP positioned with the new arrival of the RaceS?:

It is significant to see that just over a year ago (may 2023) the 9PP was little less than the flagship, the top of the range at Suunto. And in that small space of time, it has become practically an entry-level range.

I imagine that this speaks very well of the effort that Suunto has made in recent months.

True. The 9PP was a gem and I hope the RS will be a worthy follower. Time will tell.

enriqueescoms

@HansLeo said in How is the 9PP positioned with the new arrival of the RaceS?:

@enriqueescoms Yeah, that’s truly incredible!

By the way, the S9PP as an “entry-level” watch is awesome for newbies; it got all the features, and to me when I use it still gives me some Ambit 3 Peak vibes in terms of performance and ruggedness

Absolutely

fv4500

Haven’t seen DC Rainmaker’s video on the Race S until today, and frankly speaking I love my 9PP more than ever after I heard that he’s getting more like 3-ish days of battery life with always-on display in the Race S, here:

With my 12-ish days with almost daily training, the 9PP is in another galaxy, really.

Still loving the new Race S , Suunto did a very nice job.

raceaddict

@fv4500 yeah, it’s currently the drawback of Amoled but as even AOD is still a sort of power saving mode, I think it’s best to leave it off and you have up to 9days of battery life w/o any exercice. Not bad for the size.

A Former User

@fv4500 it would be interesting to know if DCR had the latest (production) fw when he did the review and/or did the testing, several patches may have been released in between

Just found out the answer I was looking for:

raceaddict

@Hari-Seldon for sure, but 3/4 days aod w/ 1h of training per day seems to align with 5 days w/o as indicated by Suunto. Other reviewers talked about a week of battery life with some training in gesture mode, also in line with the 9 days w/o given by Suunto.
All seems coherent. It is in the ballpark of Epix pro 42mm, and with a battery life during exercise two or three times better, so still very competitive.

isazi

@raceaddict for me is also around a full week, without AOD but with outdoor activities.

Łukasz Szmigiel · S9PP 2.40.38

MIP Small
9PP

MIP Large
Vertical

AMOLED Small
Race S

AMOLED Large
Race

Also, 9PP being more of a proof of concept in terms of new hardware and software in the nearly identical body as 9P (I think it should be rather called 9P v2 or mark II, etc.)

wurzlsepp

@krakra well true, personal preference. I am hoping for the improved turn-by-turn notifications instead (coming with the next update a little, as i heard?🥳).
All the Garmin people i know even have reroutable maps, but as soon as we get lost they get out their smartphone as well just more convenient on a bigger screen …

Łukasz Szmigiel · S9PP 2.40.38

@wurzlsepp I wouldn’t trust OSM for automatic routing somewhere in the outdoors without seeing a bigger picture first.

There are places well mapped and with accurate data, and others where it’s so-so at best.

Tieutieu

@Łukasz-Szmigiel exactly my thoughts ! Knowing how to read a map and being able to draw his own route is the best way imho.

TrailEyes

I have a Q&A with Suunto that’s in the editing phase and publishing next week, but I’ll offer up a sneak peek here, since one of the questions I asked them specifically pertains to this thread:

**Me: What does the launch of the Race S mean for the 9 Peak Pro, which was technically the first watch launched with Suunto’s modern UI, even if it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the Vertical and Race lineup?

Suunto:** "The 9PP right now retails for $349, which is the same price point that the Race S is sliding in at. So it’ll soon get a price adjustment. We are still figuring out exactly how aggressive that price adjustment will be for this market.

"We have to look at what our building material costs are on something like that. And we have to remember that once upon a time, that was a $600 watch. So we’re getting closer and closer to it no longer being a profitable franchise. It’s still in the line because it’s on essentially the same operating system as the Vertical and Race, but it is the only watch in our current lineup that’s still single band. So that’s something to keep in mind too.

“Race S is more or less designed to replace it and modernize it. But with the 9 Peak Pro being a MIP display, it may still have a place in the line through the end of the year or even longer. There’s just a matter of whether it can be engineered now with some new supply chain options that we have and can it be sold profitably at a price point that’s in the mid-$200s? If so, then maybe it has a new place to live for at least a little while longer, so that there is another MIP option in the lineup besides just Vertical.”

krakra

@TrailEyes thank you for insights

raceaddict

@TrailEyes Thanks. Very interesting. As good as S9pp materials are I thought they had already reached their floor price.

Tieutieu

@raceaddict Considering how low was the S9b titanium at the end of is merchand life, I’m not surprised.
It also confirmes that Suunto commercial strategy has changed :

from “low volume” with almost only high grade products
to
strong range with also very attractive products to regain market places and bet on volume sales

IMHO the range is now very interesting and rationnal, providing products for every customer : from top products made in finland that will satisfy suunto historic target to top spect/price ratio product. Clever !

raceaddict

@Tieutieu Yes but S9B was with old components. Not so much for S9PP sharing the same platform as all the other watches of the range.
But aside from a strategy change and I agree with you on this, it could be also the results of the restart of price war after years of components shortage.

far-blue

I think Suunto do still need a product in their range that’s around the €240 - €275 price. Whether the 9PP can be sold at this price is questionable but regardless of whether it’s the 9PP or another new model I think it’s important for Suunto for 2 related reasons.

I’m specifically thinking of the entry level runner and the new-to-suunto mid-level runner.

While Suunto isn’t going to be competitive on features against Garmin your entry level runner - park run enthusiast, local running club newbie etc. - doesn’t want all the features, might be intimidated by it all and just wants a watch they feel is approachable. Suunto is perfectly placed here.

The new-to-suunto runner is more likely to know a bit about the features they want but looks at garmin’s prices and needs a sit down due to shock. Garmin has attempted to mitigate this with the Forerunner 165 but there are basic features lacking and the step up in price to the 265 or even the 255 is eye-watering.

Both these types of runner are likely to look at Coros, Amazfit etc. for around the €220 mark and then realise that the Apple Watch SE is only a little more - but then the battery life isn’t great. But there’s a mental barrier for many people stepping up into the €300+ price range. So I think the ~€260 price point is a space Suunto should try and occupy to encourage new users to the Suunto community. This is where the 5P used to sit.