Photo: Suunto
We break down what we love about the new multisport GPS watch, Suunto 9, that now comes with an incredible battery life.
Tatler Asia
The different battery modes (Photo: Suunto)
Above The different battery modes (Photo: Suunto)

Longer and smarter battery

This is quite simply Suunto 9’s biggest bragging right. Depending on the modes, it promises anywhere from 25 hours to 120 hours of battery life, which is fantastic for those long treks in the woods. There are three battery modes – Performance, Endurance and Ultra – to match your workout needs.

One of the best things is that the watch also sends automatic alerts when juice is running low, reminding you to recharge before the next activity. But that’s not all; should the battery run low during an activity, the watch automatically suggests a different battery mode to conserve power, thus enabling you to complete your workout without losing the last leg of the chronograph data.

Also see: 7 best fitness apps in 2018

Tatler Asia
A sporty exterior (Photo: Suunto)
Above A sporty exterior (Photo: Suunto)

The great design

Sporty with just the right amount of heft, Suunto 9 boasts a sizable 50mm diameter touchscreen. The stainless steel bezel has a more muscular appearance than the Suunto Ultra while the buttons are bigger. The silicon strap has grooves for easier adjustment on the wrist, and it feels comfortable even when it comes into contact with sweat and grime.

There are also several watch faces to choose from, in analog and digital styles. You will have fun switching from one to the other until you find the dial that suits you best. As for colour options, the watch comes in black or white.

As durability is a major concern for a sports watch like this, the folk at Suunto have assured that the watch has been tested for thousands of hours in the lab and in real life, putting it through various situations like drop, freeze and thaw, as well as humidity.

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Tatler Asia
Suunto 9 offers a number of watch face options (Photo: Suunto)
Above Suunto 9 offers a number of watch face options (Photo: Suunto)

The fantastic array of functions

In addition to tracking your steps and the number of calories you have burnt, there are no less than 80 pre-defined sport modes to choose from. Almost every imaginable sport is here, from swimming to Pilates, so all you have to do is set to the right mode in order to track relevant data. 

In addtion, its GPS function is bolstered with Suunto's trademarked FusedTrack's algorithm that combines GPS and motion sensor data. What this means is that it has the ability to record GPS tracks without the GPS.

The watch is not just practical for active sessions; it tracks sleep patterns too. And in light of the recent Typhoon Mangkhut, it is also equipped with a Storm Alarm that alerts you to take cover when the air pressure drops 4 hPa or more during a 3-hour period.

Check out: Montblanc merges traditional watchmaking with wearable technology

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