What do you expect from the next update?

[dreamer_]

@Highlands said:

@Bogdan1921 Someone on Suunto telegram channel had posted a reply from Suunto support talking about future updates for V1.

The V1 has not been updated in 2026 yet and we are reaching September. Perhaps Suunto is releasing an update or two but it does not seem the V1 is receiving the support that the watch should still have. Which is a shame. The watch is not that old yet

[Highlands]

@dreamer_ I guess that’s exactly the context of the Suunto support reply.

Even though V2 is my main Suunto, hopefully Suunto brings all new V2 features to V1 that are hardware supported. I like V1 very much and I’ll keep it until Suunto releases a new MiP Vertical.

[dreamer_]

@Highlands said:

@dreamer_ I guess that’s exactly the context of the Suunto support reply.

Even though V2 is my main Suunto, hopefully Suunto brings all new V2 features to V1 that are hardware supported. I like V1 very much and I’ll keep it until Suunto releases a new MiP Vertical.

MIP, navigation and that I didn’t like the update policy of Suunto are the main reasons I’m now with the Fenix 8 (MIP). I’m finally skipping this generation until the V3.

I really hope Suunto releases a new MIP Vertical. That would help further differentiate the model from the Race 3; and now that Garmin has confirmed not only the Enduro 4 but also a Fenix ​​9 MIP—and given that Coros is seeing strong sales for the Apex 4 (MIP) and even Amazfit is set to release a watch featuring solar and MIP technology (confirmed via patents and release expected in the next days)—it seems the MIP market isn’t as niche as many YouTubers have tried to make us believe.

[Highlands]

@dreamer_ IMHO MiP watches amongst outdoor enthusiasts are preferred and amoled is a niche. Even though V2 screen works great for me and I like it very much, I certainly prefer MiP.
I guess Coros will come up with an MIP Vertix 4, so if Suunto decides to put an end to Verticals with MIP, they’ll lose sales.
The only thing I like better in my Garmin are maps and navigation. But Fenix series prices have gone through the freaking roof and I’m not sure whether I’d buy another Garmin again. Their devices are way too overpriced and I don’t need the Mickey Mouse metrics they feed me. Besides, my verticals have better GPS and elevation tracking than my Fenix. I have grown to trust Garmin less and less.

[dreamer_]

@Highlands 100% agree.
About Garmin, they have several stupid things like the smart recording that affect to accuracy and that should be avoided in settings.
My Fenix 8, at least where I live and in my trail runs in forest, is very accurate with both GNSS and altimeter. Very similar numbers as the V2 (and in fact my F8 altimeter seems marginally better). But, in my opinion, Garmin’s navigation, is still more accurate in almost everything (but the compass and the zooming in maps, where Suunto is better)

[Highlands]

@dreamer_ Hard to believe that smart recording still exist even in 8/8 pro series. This is the first thing I change on a new Garmin. For me, Suunto FusedAlti does better job than Garmin’s way of measuring altitude.

[duffman19]

Smart Recording is just a way to reduce file size by logging data only when it changes. So if your heart rate remains steady at 150 bpm for 5 seconds, it’ll only write one data point instead of 5. It has no effect on GNSS accuracy, distance, or any other statistics. Activities with Smart Recording will look identical to those with every second recording, just with fewer data points and a slightly smaller file size.

I tested the two settings awhile back and found that even with smart recording, GNSS points were still recorded every second. I assume this is because the precision is such that each reading is always going to be slightly different. The only real compression I could see was in the other stats like HR, pace, and elevation.

Even so, I still turn on “every second” recording, because why not?

[sky-runner]

@Highlands said:

IMHO MiP watches amongst outdoor enthusiasts are preferred and amoled is a niche

MIP has a worse contrast especially when paired with sapphire crystal. With age, eyes lose ability to clearly see low contrast details. I always preferred MIP but now I have switched to AMOLED and will never go back to MIP.

In my opinion MIP will become fully obsolete in a few years when microLED technology matures. MicroLED will provide high contrast and high resolution combined with higher efficiency approaching efficiency of MIP. And unlike AMOLED, microLED doesn’t have a problem with burn-in.

Also, nobody produces MIP displays anymore because there is very little demand for it. With sparse supply, the cost is higher. There maybe one or two producers of small round MIP displays remaining. That’s why it is being phased out by Garmin and other brands.

[sky-runner]

@stromdiddily said:

definitely some stuff to iron out around navigations last update…I couldn’t be more on route

And looking at your image, trail labels too. I don’t understand how this has been released and people at Suunto thought this was an acceptable solution. Even though, your image is enlarged, trail name is still very difficult to read because of how it is rendered with low contrast right on top of the trail. And on the small watch screen, it is borderline impossible to read - we’ve had a tread about that. I hope this gets addressed too.

And by the way, Garmin has no issue showing trail names at lower zoom levels. Suunto shows label only at the two highest zoom levels that I personally never use because they cover ridiculously small radius.

[Highlands]

@sky-runner I use both V1&V2 and find the V1 legibility is excellent. I’m not young at all. As of now, for me the only advantage of amoled is when I use the maps.
The first microLED has turned out to be a flop because the technology isn’t ready yet but kudos to Garmin for giving a try. Let’s wait and see what the future will bring. Who knows what will be the next new thing in terms of new screens technology.
I remember one post of @pavel.samokha where he write that amoled is easier for programming. Moreover, there used to be only two Japanese companies that made MiP and at the time of his post one of them was out of business.
Obviously, from a business strategy POV isn’t very wise to rely on only one supplier and the companies have already begun the transition to amoled.
Amoled might be better for some users in the outdoor community but I still believe that most folks there still prefer the MiP.

[Highlands]

@duffman19 Because when one’s watch does have 32 GB of memory I do prefer “every second”. Even my ancient Instinct 1 which has significantly less memory is ok with being set on every second.

[sky-runner]

@Highlands said:

I use both V1&V2 and find the V1 legibility is excellent

I don’t know about Vertical V1, but I had sapphire Fenix 6X and Fenix 7X, and both were difficult to read during winter months when running in a forest. In the open with sunny sky, it wasn’t a problem. 7X was significantly worse than 6X perhaps because of the added solar charging layer and the touch layer. To my eyes, the map often looked like a blur - I struggled to see any small details except the main route. AMOLED screens are much more readable.

[Highlands]

@sky-runner I still use 7XSS, definitely blurrier than my previous 6X Sapphire. But still no problem reading it. Personally, I’d prefer the monochrome screen of Instinct if it was technology-wise possible to put usable maps on it. I don’t need flashy, colorful screens on my wrist. But I understand that some minority of the outdoor community might be better off with amoled on their wrists.

[2b2bff]

@sky-runner said:

7X was significantly worse than 6X perhaps because of the added solar charging layer and the touch layer.

I was shocked to find that as I wanted to update the Fenix 6S Pro to a 7 Pro. I thought it would be a no brainer… That screen made me buy an Epix Pro in the end…