Garmin Forerunner 965 vs Suunto Race vs Polar Vantage V3: Three runners pick the best sports watch

The Suunto Race, Polar Vantage V3 and Garmin Forerunner 965 are three of the best sports watches to come out in 2023, with all three of them sporting AMOLED displays and offering features like maps, extensive training analysis and accurate multi-band GPS.
Which is the best of the trio? In this video Mike, Kieran and Nick talk through which watch is the best in key areas like GPS and HR accuracy and battery life, and each give their verdict on which is the best overall pick for runners.
Check out our full reviews of all three watches:
Polar Vantage V3 Review from 3 Runners: • Polar Vantage V3 Revie...
Garmin Forerunner 965 Review: • Garmin Forerunner 965 ...
Suunto Race Review From 4 Runners: • Suunto Race Review Fro...
JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
00:00​​​​ - Intro
00:16 - Design Overview
03:03 - The Run Test
03:07 - Design
05:55 - GPS Accuracy
09:51 - HR Accuracy
13:11 - Maps & Navigation
17:43 - Battery Life
21:56 - Training Analysis
27:24 - Verdict
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[@sahabatyorofun6552]

I think, Suunto race is the beautiful design Smartwatch on this video. 🔥🔥💕💕

[@user-nn6uy7vn9s]

I've been using the Garmin 965 for some time now, I've found that it's very accurate on all features, display in sunlight is amazing, Thanks for your reviews

[@xandersolotano4676]

So happy to see suunto back in the game but I’d kill for a watch with all the features and wear os since we’ve seen new watches with the W5 getting four days of battery

[@southface06]

Nice informative review, thanks! But it would be valuable to also compare the customer support. I've had several Suunto watches (currently Vertical) and Suuntos customer support is horrible (i.e., nonexistent): no phone support, no support ticket system, just a support chat manned by people (or bots?) that have no clue about more serious problems.

[@CentaurMoe]

I really like your watch content, please consider adding chapters to these types of videos!

[@uldistucs]

I don't understand how can get such an inaccurate Suunto heart rate. I compared with the Polar H9 and my results were very close. Haven't tried intervals, but no wrist heart rate sensor works for them anyway. One more thing, I haven't heard from any reviewer about laggy Garmin Maps. Garmin and Polar are very laggy compared to Suunto.

[@CraigEggleton]

Polar and Suunto are in tricky spots. I think Suunto has carved out a nice niche and will continue to gain slight market shares. Every time I try to leave the Garmin ecosystem I am reeled back in because of a few features they offer. Mainly golf features and the OHR is very good compared to Suunto.

[@lloydfrancis9149]

These are the best watches from what I can see I'm not going above £600 😅 fantastic review facts

[@mikeb5613]

I have the polar v3 since it came out. The software is lacking, honestly I will likely revert to the Polar V2 until Polar fixes the well known problems with the V3. If they can’t, I will likely switch to the Garmin 965. Thanks.

[@joseantonioyereguiurmeneta8543]

I am a 62-year-old man with industrial responsibilities. I like hiking and 20 km routes. I would need a watch to help me with positioning and with usable maps. I would like to be connected, be able to answer the phone and play music. I like aesthetically sporty and amoled models. What three watches do you recommend? Budget no more than €500. Thank you

[@markdyer2580]

Picked up garmin 965 in black Friday sales for £495. Bargain. I have the 955 but worth the upgrade even though only difference is display. At my age being able to see the data is key!!

[@vitmokin]

I have a Suunto 9 Peak and I really miss a proper Virtual Pacemaker feature because you can't choose the exact pace you need before you've started the race. I've heard that the Garmin has such a feature. Has it been fixed in Suunto Race? Example: I want to run a 10k in 35 minutes so I specify the 3:30 tempo before the race and during the race I can see how much meters I am ahead or beyond the ghost runner.

[@greennorth7451]

I think there is a Ghostrunner app for Suunto under their SuuntoPlus apps that you can add to the watch from the phone. I haven’t used it but it shows up for me there.

[@h2oxtreme]

It has just been added to Suunto. You can configure it from the app, on Suunto Plus menu, it’s called Race Pacer.

[@ihekaa]

Have you checked the SuuntoPlus race pacer?

[@thani7963]

The Garmin is most stable in Al features, I’ve V3 still glitchy need a lot of updates.

[@marcussky]

We need Coros Apex 2 Pro added to this comparison!

[@dpbg]

I think the fact that it's not in the comparison...is your answer. 😅

[@suryasuharto9485]

after watch this video, i prefer stay with Garmin.

[@anthonyrampino7734]

Between the Suunto and the Garmin, which app and watch combo are the most user friendly?

[@uldistucs]

For me, Suunto is definitely user friendly. I have been using Garmin for 7 years. The application differs from the web. Lots of different sections to navigate. I don't use or watch most of them (like most users). I have been using Suunto for 1 week - everything is much simpler, more understandable, although there is also enough information.

[@anthonyrampino7734]

@@uldistucs thanks for the info. From what I’ve seen it looks like Suunto is less complicated. I do gym based workouts and hike/walk trails so I also like the idea of mapping/navagation on the watch.

[@eelisluomala5887]

Forerunner 265 is still more expensive than Suunto race all black so why don't compare it with that?

[@TheRiseofKorolev]

265 is the same price as Suunto Race Steel at $450, but it's in a different category. It doesn't have navigation or additional advanced fitness features all these three have.

[@eelisluomala5887]

@@TheRiseofKorolev i’ve been thinking between suunto race, garmin fr 265 and polar vv2 because they are at the same price range. So i guess suunto is the best of these🤔

[@Roshi986]

Garmin is mercedes between those watches.

[@GabriOutdoorAdventures]

I got the 965, i reccomand a chest strap like the polar h10 or the Garmin hrm pro plus, the hr of the 965 is not the best coming from an Apple Watch

[@niccologuglielmo7317]

Got the Suunto Race switching from Garmin 935. Love it so far, Garmin is so overpriced and gimmicky for what it provides at that price point.

[@ihekaa]

How do you find it? I can’t find reviews after the recent updates and this one is not really encouraging 😅

[@niccologuglielmo7317]

@@ihekaa 1 battery lasted 19 days logging ~1hr of activity almost every day in performance mode 2 hr not great but I’m buying a strap anyway 3 lag much improved compared to what they reviewed with the software update and honestly I prefer battery life over Apple Watch responsiveness 4 super comfortable with the sport band! I would advise against their textile band it was very uncomfortable 5 maps take long to download but I left it overnight on the first day and downloaded my region 6 love the design Very happy so far

[@nexelg]

Garmin randomly shuts down and go the triangle 🔺️ of death.

[@ultrarunnerEST]

Is Garmins interface made for kids with all those color animations? It's horrible? 😂 Can you turn it off?

[@vpnconsult]

Garmin or Nothing. The other 2 are close, but no winners.

[@Neilveg]

This wrist based HR on the Garmin 965 is miles out compared to the Polar Grit that I switched from. The Garmin is also miles behind Apple on wrist based HR. Get real guys. Who wears a strap 24/7 ? The Garmin recovery features are worthless if not wearing a strap. The things the Garmin wins on is battery life and GPS. Seems to be a lot of hype around Garmin 😢

[@scharphi]

I've had different experiences. I have used every single apple watch (except the SE's) since series 3 as well as Forerunner 935, 945, 965, Fenix 6 & 7 and for me there was no real difference in terms of heart rate accuracy. During runs there was a higher risk of cadence locks on the apple watch and Fenix compared to the Forerunners but for day to day use measurements where more or less identical. I even used the Ultra and the Fenix 7 in parallel for two weeks to check if there are different results.

[@NikvdB]

Wrist based HR on the Polar Grit has been horrendous for me, compared to the Forerunner 965 that I’m currently using

[@Neilveg]

@@scharphi On the Garmin fr965 I noticed my wrist based HR had gone to 190 BPM on a steady run. I stopped running but the HR remained at 190 BPM so I paused the watch and the HR slowly came down. I had been getting higher than usual readings on this watch but put it down to a recent illness and a short stay in hospital. I got my Polar strap out and my HR on my next 2 steady runs averaged 121 -125 BPM. My resting HR and running HR has always been low since I started measuring it in 1990. Running hard in a 5k my HR is around 150BPM and my heart is not going to suddenly hit 190 BPM unless there is something seriously wrong with the watch or my heart. Garmin 965 has brilliant battery life and probably the best GPS, is lightweight and comfortable but will need to wear a HRM Strap to get decent stats from it. The 965 and other Garmin watches are heavily marketed as giving useful stats for recovery purposes which will be flawed because of the poor wrist based HR as who wears a HRM strap 24/7 ?

[@TheRiseofKorolev]

It is always best to have a heart rate strap no matter the watch. The recovery metrics do not get impacted since wrist-based measurements are sufficient for slower heart rate data.

[@Neilveg]

⁠@@TheRiseofKorolevof course the recovery stats are seriously voided with the poor performance of the Garmin wrist sensor. Using a strap is not good on the 965 as the chest sensors need to be moistened which is difficult in the cold weather as they dry up very quickly. You need a Polar Verity sense arm band to get accurate HR on the 965 all year round. I know this as I have both HR monitors. Forgot any of the training analysis on Garmin or Polar as it’s all hyped up nonsense. Recovery is based on many factors and most have nothing to do with anything that can be tracked on a watch 😃

[@jeffreytillack4709]

Was always going to be the Garmin. Always is. Video's are so predictable. Why bother making them.

[@mfcxmfcx5085]

It is not Garmin's fault that the competition did not develop. In fact, it is only now that Suunto and Polar have become active, why? Suunto was sold to a Chinese company, and it reactivated, and Polar scored big financial losses + staff layoffs recently.

[@jeffreytillack4709]

@@mfcxmfcx5085 Garmin have 10,000 staff, Suunto have 800. Massive budget difference too. The Suunto has a far better build quality, better GPS and a more sustainable ethos. I do have Garmin's as well but they're over priced for what you get.