Wearable technology isn’t enough to track steps and heartbeats anymore. In today’s world, and looking forward to tomorrow, the technology has to do a lot more than being a fashionable pedometer. Sunnto and Garmin are names at the top of the wearable technology list.
If you have been doing your research on these monitors, you may have heard of the Fenix 5 from Garmin and the Spartan from Suunto. Unfortunately, each of these names refers to a series and not a specific model.
The Garmin Fenix 5 series includes the 5, 5s and 5x while the Sunnto Spartan series has the Sport and Ultra versions. To further complicate the matters, the Garmin Fenix 5 and Fenix 5s come in regular glass and sapphire glass and the Spartan Ultra comes in Copper and Titanium versions.
This article will cover the basics of the models (and touch on the differences in the model variations), so you can get a better gauge of the best choice for you and your fitness needs.
Table of Contents
Differences between the Garmin and Suunto
Both of these two fitness trackers have a lot of features and there are differences between the two. These differences include:
- The Fenix 5 has 5 buttons around the face used for navigation where the Spartan has 3 buttons.
- The Suunto models have touchscreen interfaces that the Garmin models don’t.
- Garmin Fenix 5 models use Elevate (company name) wrist heart rate technology. The Spartans require you to purchase the Ultra model or an optional chest strap to track heart rate.
- Garmin uses a gyroscope for more accurate GPS tracking. The Suunto doesn’t use a gyroscope.
- Garmin Fenix 5 models include topographic maps that Suunto doesn’t have.
- While both models track steps and calorie burn, the Garmin also tracks many other activities.
Similarities between the Garmin and Suunto
While there are a lot of differences, there are also quite a few similarities. These commonalities include:
- Both trackers have Bluetooth and sync with Android devices.
- Each model has vibrating alerts from text and phone calls.
- Both the Garmin and Suunto have accelerometers.
- You can sync both devices through wireless means as well as USB connections.
- You will find a battery level indicator on both models.
Comparison Table
Here is a side by side comparison of the two versions. For relative comparison (due to multiple models) the chart will compare the Garmin Fenix 5 and the Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR.
| Garmin Fenix 5 | Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR | |
| Size | 47 x 47 x 15.5mm | 50 x 50 x 13.8mm |
| Weight | 85 grams | 74 grams |
| Build Material | Stainless Steel, Silicone | Steel Bezel, Silicone |
| Battery | Lithium-ion | Lithium-ion |
| Battery life | Up to 14 days (depending on GPS mode) | Up to 15 days |
| Recharge (Type/Time) | USB/3 hours | USB/2 hours |
| Waterproof | No | Yes |
| Water resistant | Sweat, Splash, Rain | Yes |
| Display | OLED | OLED |
| Color Options | 12 | 7 |
| Sapphire Glass | Optional | Yes |
| Steps | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes |
| Floors | Yes | No |
| Activity | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep | Yes | No |
| Heart Rate | Yes | Yes |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| VO2Max | No | No |
| Stress and Recovery | No | No |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Smartphone Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic Rep Count | No | No |
| Guided Breathing | No | No |
| Sensors | Heart rate monitor, 3-axis accelerometer, altimeter, vibration alert, gyroscope, GLOSNASS GPS | Heart rate monitor, 3 axis-accelerometer, altimeter, vibration alert |
| Price | Check on Amazon | Check on Amazon |
Comparing the Garmin Fenix 5 to the Suunto Spartan Sport
Let’s examine the two fitness tracking watches in a more detailed breakdown of their more important aspects.
The Design of the Wrist-Wearing Fashion Trackers is Eye-Catching
One of the most noticeable features of these trackers is their initial appearance. The faces are large and the silicone bands come in a wide variety of colors. Both models use buttons around the face for menu navigation as well.
The Fenix 5 uses five buttons for navigation and menu selection (hence the “5” in the name). The Spartan uses three buttons. However, the high-resolution display of the Suunto Spartan is touch-enabled, so you can also swipe and tap your selections.
Both of the models’ bands are normal watch-style clasping with notches and an anchor for selectable wrist size. Though, you should be alerted that each of the variations (Fenix 5, 5s and 5x and Spartan Sport and Ultra) all have a different band circumference.
Don’t let that detract you from getting the one you want though, as all of the bands are replaceable.
The Garmin display is large, with multiple colors and display features. The resolution isn’t as high as it is on the Sunnto, but it is still a brightly lit panel that you can see in direct sunlight without much glare.
The five buttons around the face allow you to scroll through the menus and notifications as well as make selections, adjust times and numbers and input different information. You cannot type or have access to a keyboard through the display though, so responding to texts and calls is not an available feature.
The Suunto display is only slightly smaller than that of the Fenix models, but it does have a slightly better resolution. You will notice that the Suunto models have three buttons used for navigation and selection through the feature menus.
If you want to swipe and tap instead, you can do so. The touchscreen display allows for tap, double tap and swiping up and down or left and right. You will be able to access all the menus and make selections through these actions.
Just note that if the display is wet (if you are swimming or working out in the rain, for example), the touch display can be unresponsive. In these instances, you can use the buttons on the side of the face to make your selections.
I should also point out that all of the Sunnto models come with sapphire glass, which is virtually scratch and crackproof. The Garmin models also have a sapphire option (it will be listed as the name, such as: Garmin Fenix 5 Sapphire).
If you do not select the sapphire option, the Garmin will have standard glass instead. This one upgrade, alone, is worth the cost.
Of course style is a personal preference, but in my opinion (un-humbled) the Garmin Fenix 5 has the better overall appearance.
Bottom Line: This round is a tie. As style will be in the eye of the wearer, it is up to you to decide which one looks better, though the Garmin trackers do offer more features in style.
The Battery Life Is Actually Quite Impressive, Mostly
To explain the battery life, I will have to break it down by model and features. There are several modes to choose from and each one will carry with it a different battery life expectancy.
To keep this as simple as I can, I will explain the battery life of the Garmin Fenix 5 and the Suunto Spartan Wrist HR (because let’s face it, the Spartan Ultra is not worth your time or money).
The Fenix models have three modes to choose from. The first mode is called Smart Mode. This will be the mode that you should run in most of the time. It will do its job without draining the battery. For example, there won’t be any active GPS. Unless you need to know where you are or where you have been (such as during a run), you don’t really need the pinpoint GPS active.
This mode will also only check your heart rate when you choose to see it, further saving the battery. It will still track your steps, distance, calories, etc. In this mode, you can expect the Fenix 5 to last up to 14 days.
This, of course, will depend on how often you check it, activating the display, cycling through menus and the like.
The second mode is more battery intensive. Known as UltraTrac mode, this will enable all features, always. GPS will be on, the heart rate will be constantly monitored, and all other features will be active.
Obviously, this will drain the battery pretty fast. When in UltraTrac mode, you can expect up to 24 hours of battery life. However, since you need to sleep sometime, you can charge while sleeping and never notice the battery being dead.
The final mode is the same: UltraTrac but without the heart rate monitor. By eliminating the heart rate constant monitoring the battery will last up to 60 hours (though this will decrease every time you activate the heart rate to check it).
The Suunto Spartan Sport is no different regarding multiple modes. Selecting the right mode will determine, overall, how long the battery will last.
The default mode is called Time Mode. Here, the GPS will be disabled, and the steps and calories will continue to be counted. The screen will shut off and you will need to tap or use the button to turn it back on.
In this mode, you will get about 10 full days out of the battery. As with the Garmin, this will depend on how often you have it activated and how many times you check your heart rate.
The next two modes limit the GPS to 1-second interval checks. You won’t have an accurate location, but you will be able to use the tracker longer. With Full Power Mode and 1 second GPS enabled, you will get about 10 full hours. A far cry from the 10 days, but the screen will be brighter and all tracking will be functional.
You can also use Power Saving Mode with a 1 second GPS. This mode will add about six hours to the battery giving you a total of 16 hours per charge.
Finally, you further slow the GPS tracking (which further increases the inaccuracy) with Power Saving Mode and 60 second GPS fixed rate. Instead of checking every second for your location, the GPS will only kick on every minute to learn your new position. As long as you don’t run too fast, you should be fine. Expect up to 60 hours in this mode.
Bottom Line: The Garmin Wins. The different modes are easier to deal with and your battery life is much better across the board.
Monitoring and Tracking Should be a Default Feature. Should Be.
The most important aspect of the fitness trackers is to, well… track. I am not sure why you would want to pay over 400 dollars for a pedometer, but I suppose some people do.
The Suunto Spartan is more of a miss than a hit in this department. I would have guessed that it tracked more fitness level items and had more options. Alas, it is just not able to.
We don’t speak of the Spartan Ultra. It doesn’t even have heart rate monitoring. You will have to spend money to purchase the heart rate belt if you want to track your heart rate with the Ultra. Why even bother?
The Spartan Sport, though, has heart rate monitoring built in, so at least that is a plus. You will also be able to track your steps, calories burned and distance.
If you are looking to track floors ascended or activity minutes you are out of luck. What you will end up doing, is using the Suunto mobile app. As the watch does actually track everything, it just doesn’t show you.
You can select which mode to use and what workout you are doing. It will track accordingly. For example, a walk, jog, run or being on a treadmill will have the Spartan Sport tracking you on:
- Time walked
- Calories burned
- Average pace
- Estimated distance
- Average speed
- Average heart rate
- Max heart rate
- Average Cadence
- Recovery time
As you can see, there is plenty of information. Suunto is also planning on sending out a firmware update to allow more of the tracking to be visible on the display without the use of the app.
Further, you can sync to any Bluetooth monitor (such as a heart rate belt) through the watch for more accurate readings.
The Garmin Fenix tracks everything as well. And a lot more than you would realize, including:
- Elevation
- Average Pace
- Maximum Pace
- Best Pace
- Aerobic and Anaerobic ratings
- Run cadence and average stride length
- Ambient temperature
- Graphs of the information.
All of these can be found using the Garmin app, and not on the device itself (though a lot of the categories are on the watch also). If that isn’t enough you can also use Garmin IQ to add other apps and information to your results, display and appearance.
When it comes to weight training, the Suunto Spartan falls short. Garmin more than picks up the slack though, tracking over 20 different aspects of your workout.
Like the Suunto, Garmin will also connect to external monitors through Bluetooth. Unlike the Suunto, You will be able to sync more than one monitor. You will also be able to use ANT+ monitors that you can’t use with the Suunto.
The use of ANT+ allows you also to track things like cycling and swimming.
Bottom Line: Garmin Fenix 5 wins. More tracking, better mobile app and thee use of ANT+ and multiple monitors keep Garmin ahead of Suunto.
Comments and Questions
If you have any questions, or own either device and want to let us know what you think, use the comments section below and fire away!
What I Like About the Garmin Fenix 5
- Mobile app or Dashboard is feature-rich and easy to use.
- ANT+ and Bluetooth monitor syncing.
- Extra long battery life.
What I Like About the Suunto Spartan Sport
- Sleek design with touch screen display.
- Mobile app is easy to use and pairs flawlessly with the tracker.
In Conclusion
Sport and fitness trackers are going to be around for a while. Constant improvements mean we will get better and better information from our workouts as time goes by.
As it stands right now, two of the most widely used and respected names in the sport and fitness tracking world are Garmin and Suunto.
If you are more of a jogger or cardio workout person and you enjoy the touchscreen capabilities, then the Suunto Spartan Sport is probably your best bet.
On the other hand, if you want a feature-rich tracker that allows for your input and has a mobile app that has more detailed information than you could ever want, the Garmin Fenix 5 is more up your alley.
Whatever model you choose you should be happy with your purchase. Both will track what you need (within reason) and are highly accurate. Just make sure you read the entire manual before just strapping on and getting to work.