Core 2?

Alpha

A few initial observations after a two week’s use of the Suunto Core 2.

Pros:

More durable case
Better button response
Smoother-turning bezel
More visible (high-contrast) display
Two backlight colours (for night vision)
Bigest battery i hope Longer battery life

Cons:

Narrower strap (22 mm vs. 24 mm on the Core Alpha)
Quick-release pins (a more durable screw-lock strap is more suitable for a survival watch)
No water resistant ISO 6425 certification!!! (Core 1 yes!)
much shorter afterglow duration of the bezel markings than on the Core Alpha
still less accurate altimeter compared to, for example, the Suunto Traverse
on the Core Alpha, you can set pressure vs. altitude tracking to Manual or Auto; here, this is not possible
it is not possible (I haven’t worked out how) to display a barometric pressure graph on the main display, as on the Core Alpha
Declination can only be adjusted in 0.5° increments
NON-REPLACEABLE battery, just like on older Core models!!!

I’m very sorry to hear about the downgrading of these excellent all-round watches at such a great price.
I’m thinking of returning the Core 2.
There are too many compromises. Back to Core Alpha.

snow*

@Alpha just so you know, there’s an update for Core 2 to version 1.13.38; at least a friend of mine downloaded it a couple of days ago

André Faria

@Alpha NON-REPLACEABLE battery? according to the website it is still a cr2032, but now you need a tool and not a coin
https://www.suunto.com/fr-fr/Produits/Montres-de-sport/suunto-core2/suunto-core-2-all-black/

Alpha

It’s a shame that the update doesn’t address the non-user-replaceable battery, ISO certification (why did they include a “Dive” function on the main display when they only allow diving to a depth of 2 meters instead of 10, as with the Core 1?!), …

Alpha

@André-Faria It now contains a larger CR3032 battery, and you’ll need a Phillips-head screwdriver to replace the battery.

Alpha

@snow Thanks! I’ll check it out!

Elipsus

@Alpha
3 nitpicks about you cons :

The declination increment is 0.5° is more (really) than enough for precise orientation.
I did the math here :
https://forum.suunto.com/post/190237
The “non replaceable” is largely overblown, its replaceable with the single most present tool in any toolbox, a philips screwdriver
The core one only had a 30m rating according to the datasheet : https://www.suunto.com/Products/sports-watches/Suunto-Core/Suunto-Core-All-Black/ , thus wasn’t ISO6425, no ?

Alpha

@Elipsus

The declination here is currently 5.2°. So I’d like to set it precisely.
You’ll need a cross-head screwdriver; even though it’s a common tool, it’s not as easy to use in the field as the original Core screwdrivers.
About ISO certification here (authorized service centre):
https://www.suuntocz.cz/view.php?Page=Detail&Zbozi=32575&Menu=895&Produkt=Suunto-Core-Alpha-Stealth-SS050504000-Core
There is more information here than on suunto.com

Elipsus

@Alpha
yes I understand that you want it precisly, but it doesn’t matter (really, doesn’t matter at all, read my post), and its more useful if you can change it quikcly without having to spam a button.

About ISO, the wikipedia page :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diving_watch#ISO_6425_standard_for_diving_watches
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Resistant_mark

Specifically says that ISO 6425 is for Diving watches, starting at 100m

Quote :
ISO 6425 defines such watches as: A watch designed to withstand diving in water at depths of at least 100 m and possessing a system to control the time.

So no, a 30m rated watch like the Core 1, or a 50m rated like core 2 is NOT ISO 6425 compliant, it can’t be by the very definition of it
I think the service center is saying that the watch is tested “like the ISO 6425” in the way they test it a 125% of rated depth, but its not 6425

Alpha

@Elipsus
Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter. According to Suunto’s specifications, the Core 1 watch could be used at depths of up to 10 meters. You can even use the buttons underwater. This has been tested many times without damaging the watch.
Whereas, according to these specifications, the Core 2 can be used at depths of up to 2 meters only. So, it’s a hardware downgrade. This was confirmed in an email exchange with Suunto support.