Suunto 7

fejker

@DmitryKo @Luís-Pinto @NickK For me, I would (and am) use this as a daily watch, then use the S9 for SkiMo and long exercises. I think 8-10h GPS from the S7 is possible. Although 12 is the specification we’re not quite there yet. I did a 5.5h run last weekend and was able to use the watch the entire day without charging. Why would
I do this, screen is amazing and maps are great. Now to get SA to have multi watch support.

Cool story bro, nice to hear that you can afford to think about spending over $1k on sport watches. Most people don’t and most people aren’t prepared to pay $500 for a smart/half-sport watch.

All this smells like another repeated Spartan launch … your watch will get better over time, except it actually won’t do it fast enough and you will pay a premium to Suunto to be their test crash dummy.
Honestly, it looks like a good watch, but as many have said before me, not for the athletes - where is the external sensor support (cycling power/cadence meters, HR belts, …) and the same story without sport mode customisation as with the Spartans at the start … no thank you, not falling for that one again.
Besides that, cramming in an outdated power hungry SOC, coupled with a power hungry display and I am sure no software voodoo can save this thing from being battery drained in less than a day with smart features on and training for an hour.
I hope they sell a lot of these to the instagram chicks so they can make something better next year. Oh wait, instagram chicks use iPhones, I totally forgot.

@fejker said in Suunto 7:

Besides that, cramming in an outdated power hungry SOC, coupled with a power hungry display and I am sure no software voodoo can save this thing from being battery drained in less than a day with smart features on and training for an hour.

I don’t know if anyone noticed this particular paragraph from Suunto 7 guide which shows just how much power hungry the display and CPU is:

Taking a new route? The Suunto 7 can keep going for up to 7 hours during outdoor training with GPS and maps, assuming the watch map is on for 10 seconds once every 3 minutes.

So think about this. 10 seconds once every 3 minutes is just over 5% of time. So using map on S7 just 5% of the time almost halves the battery life while using GPS. That means - forget about really following a navigation route with this watch. You’d have to constantly go out of navigation screen to save the battery and the watch would still be dead much sooner.

@silentvoyager I think it has been established already this watch is clearly not for people who need more than 5-8 hours of GPS, maps, music, etc. And let’s face it: that would still be a vast majority of the population.

Brad_Olwin

@fejker To be perfectly honest, I did not have to pay for the S7 since I am testing but…the preproduction units may not be hardware bug free. The production units may have hardware changes based on testing. With that aside, I tested the S5 and liked the watch but I would not purchase it. I purchased my S9 when they were announced and so it is 1.5y old. Since the S9 is ideal for what I need, after a couple of years I could be in the market for a new watch and have long considered an Apple Watch (my entire family besides me has one). I have seen how workouts are done no the AW and just not willing to spend the $, especially since exporting data is clunky at best and battery life is an issue. However, the S7 I would consider to complement my S9 as I would make good use of the mapping features. The S7 is good enough for any athlete that does not want to exercise for more than 7-10h at one time, is willing to charge every day to 1.5 days and does not need complex intervals, etc. It has all of the sports options the S series has but no sport mode customization. Frankly, the screens are well thought out and the running, trail running, running interval and ski tour screens are good for me.

Brad_Olwin

@silentvoyager The map page is always active, it is the breadcrumb screen. I have used it several times for navigating while traveling, running where I have never been before. The battery is consumed at a higher rate when on the maps page but you don’t need it all of the time. For me it has not been an issue using for navigation on 2h to 3h runs in new places. I was in Copenhagen and got lost running, the maps were fantastic and allowed me to figure out where my hotel was. I also used the maps to change my route on the fly as I could see trails that I had not paid attention to when trying to plan a route for my S9.

fejker

@Brad_Olwin you are trying too hard to sell this thing, achieves quite the opposite effect.
I get it that you have been testing this thing for Suunto, but that just makes you biased and not thinking clearly as you are on the “new toy high”.

jw cou

@fejker and in my opinion you try too hard to criticise this watch you haven’t tried, that no one forces you to buy, and somehow manage at the same time to insult those who are tempted by this new concept (for Suunto)

fejker

@jean-william-cousin said in Suunto 7:

@fejker and in my opinion you try to hard to criticise this watch you haven’t tried, that no one forces you to buy, and somehow insult those who are tempted by this new concept (for Suunto)

Don’t get me wrong, I want this watch to be good, but so far I have seen nothing but a Spartan fiasco reprise. Disappointed customer here trying to help Suunto build a better watch and ecosystem and get my money’s worth.

@fejker said in Suunto 7:

@Brad_Olwin you are trying too hard to sell this thing, achieves quite the opposite effect.

Likewise, looks like you are too disappointed Suunto hasn’t delivered S7 exactly per your spec. Well, maybe they noticed Apple Watch and Fitbit Versa are selling in millions and S9 isn’t.

We can argue implementation details and price points, but let’s agree on a basic premise: there are tens of millions of people out there who want a smartwatch with premium materials and design that’s not your utilitarian blank square and who are only moderately active, hitting the road and/or gym every now and then. They don’t have heart rate belts, footpods, or dedicated sports watches. Nor do they care about these. This is a product for them!

Will they pay $499? Time will tell! Most basic current Apple Watch starts at $399, but pick a stainless steel case – and you are looking at $699. Want a 44mm screen? How about $749? And don’t even get me started on titanium or ceramic cases, or premium bands… You’d be blowing past $1500 in no time!

Besides that, cramming in an outdated power hungry SOC, coupled with a power hungry display

They have Qualcomm 3100, which is still current. 3300 is promised, but has it been delivered to anybody? As per the AMOLED display, again. It’s obviously for somebody who wants a sharp bright screen like Apple Watch, and not 100 hours of battery life. To each his own.

Perhaps, before we get all upset at Suunto for not deliverying our personal dream device, we should ask what Suunto is trying to accomplish with this device? And who’s its intended audience? Otherwise, criticizing Suunto for bright screen of S7 because you personally don’t want it is like picking an issue with DM5 excessive waterproofing because you don’t scuba dive.

fejker

@NickK 3100 is 2016 tech based on 28 nm. Clearly not the best time to adopt this SOC as the new SOC is right around the corner.

As for Apple watch, totally different crowd, we are talking Suunto here. And yes, I want this watch to sell good, so Suunto has enough resources to build something better.

@fejker said in Suunto 7:

@NickK 3100 is 2016 tech based on 28 nm. Clearly not the best time to adopt this SOC as the new SOC is right around the corner.

The keyword is around the corner, right? Because it’s not here. Which means if Suunto waited for 3300 to be delivered and then spent a good 6 months+ it usually takes to incorporate a new SoC into a product, you’d see S7 in its current raw form for the holiday season of 2020 at best. More likely in 2021. In the meantime, the company would continue to lose sales in the most profitable segment.

As for Apple watch, totally different crowd, we are talking Suunto here.

The one Suunto that’s fighting for dear life? That Suunto? The one that now competes with $300 ultra watches from COROS and other Chinese copycats? The good thing about Apple Watch is that it’s tied to iOS. And iOS isn’t in majority even in the US and Europe. With Fitbit gone, Suunto may see an opening for a primarily Android-bound smartwatch, with great design and more serious than usual sports chops.

Then next year, when 3300 is out and is baked into WearOS, they will reboot S3 as cheaper $300 and S7 as improved $500 smartwatch-based units.

And yes, I want this watch to sell good, so Suunto has enough resources to build something better.

Then get your wallet out and repeat after me: “I want S7, I deserve S7, I’m so totally buying S7”…

fejker

@NickK nope, currently my SSU still looks better than this stiff piece of plastic and gorilla glass with a metal ring.

@fejker said in Suunto 7:

@NickK nope, currently my SSU still looks better than this stiff piece of plastic and gorilla glass with a metal ring.

Wrong frame of reference me thinks. How does S7 looks compared to Apple Watch? Fitbit Versa? Samsung Active?

fejker

@NickK my answer was to your hypnotising smiley at the end.
In my eyes (Android user here), the Apple watch is heaps better for an iPhone user, and the S7 is quite OK for an average Android user. Fitbit I haven’t tried, Samsung’s offering is also quite good for an average user.
So until Suunto gets their software side of things (including SuuntoApp) up to snuff, the only thing that can possibly save them is aggressive marketing - which right now they are doing quite well.

Shrek3k

The price is really too high, IMHO. Otherwise, in case I would be looking for a true non-Apple Smartwatch with a focus on sports (which I am not!) it would the S7.
I have been surprised by Suunto, and I am little sceptical and hope that (personal) resources are not overstretched, otherwise now I have to admit: a bold move, but a good one!
So: I wish you all the best Suunto, and as soon as all (and some more) of the current Suunto 9 features can be found in a true smartwatch I am going to get it.

MiniForklift

@fejker What do you see as the issues or limitations with the current Suunto app? As of right now I’m a S9B user and I find the app pretty good. I was using a Forerunner 235 a while back and IMHO the Suunto app is better than Garmin’s, it’s easy to read and navigate and for me it has more than enough info to analyse. The only thing I would like to see is the ability to install new updates for the watch through the app, rather than having to plug it into my laptop

fejker

@MiniForklift this is not the topic to discuss the shortcomings of SA. I will just say that Movescount (web) offered more than you can imagine. And I agree, Garmin’s offerings are even poorer.

@fejker said in Suunto 7:

In my eyes (Android user here), the Apple watch is heaps better for an iPhone user, and the S7 is quite OK for an average Android user.

I have both iPhone and Android. Have used Apple Watch on and off since it was introduced until Series 4. Yesterday I got out my dusty Android phone and even dustier LG Watch Sport, just to see how I can handle WearOS smartwatch side of things. Because if it stinks, why buy S7, right?

Apple Watch may be better, but certainly not heaps better. WearOS tiles are cleaner than a similar concept WatchOS abandoned. Notifications are better in the latest WearOS. Interaction is better: you can actually type or flow-type your responses on Android smartwatch instead of doodling them letter by letter. Even Assistant seems to be better if this type of thing lifts your boat. I like variety of designs and form factors on Android side too.

App selection isn’t there, sure! because a) Google really dropped the ball on wrestling hardware out of Qualcomm and providing features and SDK and b) Google never aggressively promoted wearable development. This will change. Google clearly doesn’t want to cede wearables to Apple.

Add stuff that Suunto brings to the table, and in my eyes we have a very interesting device and a potential winner down the road, especially if delivered and priced in tiers.

fejker

@NickK I wholeheartedly hope you are right, BUT Suunto is at a huge test with this platform right now. If they flop again, it will not bode well.
I am certainly not the target crowd for this type of device and most of the people I know also won’t be interested in it, especially not at this price. That said, the next such hybrid device with fixes they bring to the market might - if priced reasonably.
Think about it as SSU launch = S7 launch and S9B = Future Android Wear device launch. Basically we need a steroided S7 with software fixes.

MiniForklift

@fejker I was disappointed that Movescount wasn’t able to be used alongside the app, I agree that it was very good.
So to go back on track, I’d possibly look at getting a S7 maybe later in the year. Any bugs might have been addressed by then, you would think they’d be a few improvements made and the price might have come down a bit. Would be quite nice to have as a secondary, everyday watch