is a system update coming ?
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@jamie-bg it’s probably a better to compare the Garmin Venu (1st gen) to the VA4, as they are the same watch with the screen being the main differentiator.
The official figures for the Venu are
5 days in smartwatch mode (no gps) with screen off.
3 days in smartwatch mode (no gps) with screen always on.
6hrs of gps
(my lass has a Venu and these figures are pretty accurate)the VA4 is
8 days in smartwatch mode (no gps)
6hrs of gpsThe screen clearly does have an impact, but not as much as we would think.
If I use my own S7 for comparison, using it with screen always on, vs raise to wake (with power saver tilt) is a negligable difference.
I think the big difference comes when using the watch in full power mode it causes the SoC to fire up which in turn drinks the battery.
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@olymay - Still think its the screen. Can’t see how it can’t be if a watch goes from 2 days with AOD on to 5/11 days with it off. Anything going on in the background will still be going on. That will not change.
Just like a phone - keep you screen on you get 5/6 hours - allow the screen to time out you get around 24 hrs.The watches without AMOLED/LCD screen have same if not more processing going on in the background (Fenix etc), yet still have longer screen time/overall battery life.
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@jamie-bg we are running the risk of splitting hairs here
we keep comparing the battery life of AMOLED screens with the display always on or off. It’s a shame we can’t do the same with the transflective screens. I know it would be less of a hit, but it would still be interesting to see.
An AMOLED is always going to use more power than a transflective screen. But as the AMOLED is lit, would it be as much of a gulf if the transflective were also permanently lit?
I also think part of it is due to the AMOLED screen having more colours and higher resolution needing more processing power to operate.
However, one final comparison if I may…
A Suunto 7 with AoD off, tilt to wake off, etc. essentially in smartwatch mode but with as many power saving options on as possible. Should get you an easy 2 days, but not much more.
A Garmin VA4 will get 7-8 days.
WearOS is a power hungry OS and the current generation SD SoC is not power efficient.
I am homing that both of these factors change in the near future, as well as better battery tech over the next few years.
I think seeing a proper smartwatch with 5+ days of battery life is not unrealistic (although, I thought the same about smartphones a few years back
)Suunto 7 Graphite Copper
Suunto App Beta (Android - Pixel 6 Pro) -
@olymay said in is a system update coming ?:
Suunto do listen and they do respond. For example, the issue of external sensors was explained by not wanting to affect battery life. Which judging the impact of using Bluetooth headphones with the watch, is a serious hit.
Yes, I would like to have the option. But Suunto have made their decision and explained it.In that respect, it’s a bit ironic that Suunto is promoting doing activities like running while listening to Spotify with offline music on the Suunto 7.
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@olymay
A Garmin VA4 will get 7-8 days (generous probably 4-6 more realstic based on what I have seen and been told).
Venu 2 will get 2-3 days with AOD on.
They are running virtually the same software. So surely if a AMOLED doesn’t draw that much power, with same software, same battery size - surely the Venu 2 should get per the VA4 7-8 (4-6) days?It doesn’t so what is the main differnce - the screens!
I don’t deny that wear os is power hungry, and that is why we don’t see the same AOD off times i.e. GW4/Suunto 7 etc i.e. 2/3 days AOD on and up to 3/4 with it off i.e. not much difference. Yet the V2 difference is startling - 2/3 days goes up to 11 days with AOD off. So based on that yes I would agree with you that wear os is way more power hungry than garmin.
But again this just further reinforces my thoery on the screens being the major power drain. Especially as I know of no AMOLED wrist wearable that goes beyond 3 days. Fitbit can get past it, but only with AOD off, and can do up 6 days with AOD off.
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@jamie-bg i think this is all relative.
With Garmin, the chipset and OS barely use any power (as they are doing very little in the background). Therefore, changing from an unlit low resolution transflective screen to a lit high resolution AMOLED screen will be a significant change.
However, on WearOS, the chipset is way more powerful and doing significantly more in the background (as well as being inefficient!), that changing screen type (or even how it is used) has a comparatively small affect on the battery consumption.
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any info on what is contained in today’s update?
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@metalmi said in is a system update coming ?:
any info on what is contained in today’s update?
Today’s update?
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@aleksander-h Yes, I got some system update 6 hours ago.
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@metalmi ah. Probably just the security patch that started rolling out 15th September.
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@aleksander-h said in is a system update coming ?:
@metalmi ah. Probably just the security patch that started rolling out 15th September.
I was pretty sure I got that one already, but now when you mention it, that might be it. Thanks
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@metalmi you could always check the firmware update page on the Suunto site and compare version numbers for the system apps.
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@metalmi said in is a system update coming ?:
@aleksander-h Yes, I got some system update 6 hours ago.
I’ve a few ‘Google Play’ updates over the past week, and this always looks like a system update at first…
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I see there is a new update released today for the S3, S5, and S9/S9B/S9P watches. These devices also had a big update back in June.
The past update for the S7 was April
Can anyone from Suunto, or connected to Suunto and in the know, please at least give us some information on IF the S7 will get any further updates or not?
I’m not asking for dates or details, just simply if the S7 will get any more love from Suunto. Or has it been dropped completely?Seeing as I’m still seeing adverts for the S7 and getting bombarded with emails trying to get me to buy (another)one, I would like to think there is more to come. Would Suunto advertise an obsolete device? I would hope not.
Please Suunto, just let us know if you still love us
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@olymay,
I am very satisfied with the S7 and it really offers everything I need. IMHO more than a new update I would prefer Suunto try to fix those glitches you read about here and there… -
@walker said in is a system update coming ?:
@olymay,
I am very satisfied with the S7 and it really offers everything I need. IMHO more than a new update I would prefer Suunto try to fix those glitches you read about here and there…I love my S7 too, very much so! I’m not complaining about updates, just hoping to get some news.
And I am not demanding major updates with new features every few months, it’s just that regular updates mean that the product is still a focus for the company. Which I think the S7 still is for Suunto.
There are a few features being asked for on these forums (external sensor support, auto laps, etc) and whilst I know not all of them will come to the S7, some of them would be nice
Regarding glitches, there aren’t many glitches with the S7 anymore as most have been fixed. I think I’ve only had one wobble with mine in the last 6 months, which is considerably fewer than my phone, laptop, PS4, or TV).
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Just guessing here.
I think the way Google is handling WearOS 3 has put Suunto in a bit of a difficult situation. Most people probably aren’t interested in buying a Wear3100 based WearOS 2, no matter how good it is. Suunto could make a Wear4100 based watch, but still be stuck with WearOS 2, which again, probably won’t excite many, because it is missing WearOS 3.
By the time WearOS 3 becomes available for other manufacturers, Samsung will probably have gobbled up much of potentially interested customers considering their watches are quite nicely priced and carry the Samsung brand.
All these things considered, I would not blame Suunto for thinking “Not worth it”, and decide against future efforts on WearOS. In that case, I also would not expect them to continue work on their current WearOS watch.
Now if they aren’t 100% decided on the matter, that poses a bit of a problem. If they say updates are coming, they commit themselves and will get massive backlash if they don’t. If they say no more updates are coming, they might risk losing even more potential sales, especially on the Titanium edition which is still quite new. By not saying anything, their options are all still open. I’m guessing this might be where Suunto finds themselves now. ,
I hope Suunto continue with their efforts on WearOS. As far as I’m concerned, there are no other options for those who want a WearOS watch capable of doing good/accurate sports tracking. Samsung don’t seem interested as they’ve always been hit-and-miss in terms of GPS and heart rate. As long as they have features they can list on their marketing material, they don’t seem concerned with how well it works.
All this is of course nothing more than wild guesses on my part.
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@aleksander-h said in is a system update coming ?:
Just guessing here.
I think the way Google is handling WearOS 3 has put Suunto in a bit of a difficult situation. Most people probably aren’t interested in buying a Wear3100 based WearOS 2, no matter how good it is. Suunto could make a Wear4100 based watch, but still be stuck with WearOS 2, which again, probably won’t excite many, because it is missing WearOS 3.
Fully agree. Virtually nobody is buying 3100 anymore, unless it’s a crazy low price.
It does look like the 4100 will get WearOS 3, but not until well into next year, by which point it will be a three year old chip.
IF Qualcomm get a decent 5100 chip out soon then that could be an option, although my faith in QC at the moment is very, very low.By the time WearOS 3 becomes available for other manufacturers, Samsung will probably have gobbled up much of potentially interested customers considering their watches are quite nicely priced and carry the Samsung brand.
Samsung definitely are stealing a head start with WearOS 3, but I don’t think it is insurmountable. The devices are selling based on reputation and being first with WearOS 3, so there is nothing to compare them to. Most of the fancy health features don’t work if you don’t have a Samsung phone, so one something else comes out that offers those features to all phones then the GW4 will be in trouble.
All these things considered, I would not blame Suunto for thinking “Not worth it”, and decide against future efforts on WearOS. In that case, I also would not expect them to continue work on their current WearOS watch.
Now if they aren’t 100% decided on the matter, that poses a bit of a problem. If they say updates are coming, they commit themselves and will get massive backlash if they don’t. If they say no more updates are coming, they might risk losing even more potential sales, especially on the Titanium edition which is still quite new. By not saying anything, their options are all still open. I’m guessing this might be where Suunto finds themselves now. ,
I wouldn’t blame Suunto if they did decide WearOS wasn’t worth it. However I think they would be missing a trick. The S7 is by far and away the best WearOS device for tracking activities as well as general day to day health (the resources feature for example). A second generation device could really take this to the next level.
What hurts Suunto I think is the lack of advertising. Most people I speak to have never heard of Suunto, and those that have associate them with either dive watches or extreme running watches. When I explain the S7 to them they are all super interested (although many say it’s too big!).
Also, I read a LOT of tech blogs and websites and most of them have a regular ‘Best Smartwatch’ or ‘Best WearOS Watch’ and none of them mention the Suunto 7 (despite rating it highly in reviews!). Suunto needs to get more share of the market awareness so that customers know it exists.One thing I would want from Suunto however, is clarification on the future of the Suunto 7. If it still going to be supported than that is great news and I’ll look forward to more updates and time using the S7.
If it is not going to be supported and they are pulling out of the WearOS game then I think the paying customer deserves to know this, especially as they are still selling the S7, how would you feel to buy a new device to find out it is instantly end of life? You’d be pi$$ed!
If it is end of life, the price should be dropped and we should be told (heck, if the price dropped low enough I might buy a Ti version to replace my current one!)I hope Suunto continue with their efforts on WearOS. As far as I’m concerned, there are no other options for those who want a WearOS watch capable of doing good/accurate sports tracking. Samsung don’t seem interested as they’ve always been hit-and-miss in terms of GPS and heart rate. As long as they have features they can list on their marketing material, they don’t seem concerned with how well it works.
I also agree with this analogy of Samsung. They make a big song and dance about all of the health features available on the GW4 but then whisper very quietly that most won’t work unless you also buy one of their phones.
Not to mention that forums/socials/reddit and more are full of people complaining about the GW4 HR sensor, GPS accuracy, and more.
Yes it has eleventythree billion features, but they don’t work well (if at all).
Typical Samsung (in my opinion).All this is of course nothing more than wild guesses on my part.
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@olymay
based on the number of issues they have, they are going to need that year head start…
Plus a lot of their health features are really gimmicky, as the tech really isn’t there yet, and especially not in a watch. -
@jamie-bg said in is a system update coming ?:
Plus a lot of their health features are really gimmicky, as the tech really isn’t there yet, and especially not in a watch.
But will most normal users even be aware of that, or simply brag about everything their watch can do?
