My experience with 3 separate Suunto 7's :(
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Im now on my 3rd Suunto 7.
The first one went out for warranty repair about 6 months after purchasing - it bricked after a light swim one day. It was in shop for 2-3 months. Got same watch back, and it worked.
Then the altimeter was way out of whack, as so many others have experienced. Sitting on a window sill, ascent of 50m, descent of 34, etc. Altitudes out generally from 25-100% of reality.
Then it died AGAIN, still under warranty, so I sent it in. Not wanting to be without my watch for the 2nd summer in a row, idiot that I am, bought another one.
Soon after, received the OG back as a refurb replacement because the shop in Norway couldnt fix it. Now it’s altimeter is wildly out of whack, too!
Watch 2 and watch 3 on the window sill, and W2 has 0 meters up/down and W3 has 40up, 30dn.
No updates to software in well over a year.
This has been a disappointing experience.
I absolutely love this watch - I bought it for the offline topo maps, but I’m so underwhelmed with the quality control, and dropping of support for a product that is only a few years old.
In comparison, when my wife’s Fitbit had an issue, an actual call center was reachable in minutes and a solution presented promptly.
I dont know which way Ill go next time I buy a sports watch, but probably back to the big players. Its a shame Suunto products are so unreliable.
To clarify - I havent yet used W2 enough to know if/when it will fail or behave erratically, but since W3 is now basically unreliable, Ill know soon.
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@Chris-Van-Sickle I just bought a new S7 last week, I really like it as a smartwatch and casual commute tracker. Old one I sold to a friend in 2021, also that one still working to this day, being more than two years old.
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@Chris-Van-Sickle
I link in here with @isazi . I’ve had my own S7 for few weeks without any issues.
My wife’s S7 works without any issues for more than 2 years now.
Maybe give your second purchase a chance and send back the faulty one if you observe that it didn’t improve. Suunto service is top notch in general. In few cases I had to send my watches in I’ve received them back within 1 week, within warranty time always free of charge and problems always solved.
I cross fingers for you! -
My S7 is also about to the 2 years old and used continuously and without much care, which means that it turned out to be a very good device, but in part I feel the same that some of the opinions expressed in this forum because it could be a better watch.
The only thing that really disappointed me about this model is the screen problem, which although I understand that could be considered “normal”(not for me…), I would have expected much later than in less than 1 year or so. While the warranty does take care of this, it is somewhat misleading as next time it will no longer be under warranty. A friend who bought my old A3P from me is still using it without any problems. Others who have the S9, S9B, etc, have no problem either. They are nice devices in any aspect.
PS- Another thing that dissapointed me a lot that I not have the possibility to navigate to a waypoint during the activitity using the SWA only.
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I bought my Suunto 7 on the day of its release back in 2020. Had it replaced under warranty last year after the altitude started its erratic behavior. Now the replacement watch has severe ghosting issues and I guess I have to send it in for repairs. I love the Suunto 7 when it’s working, but I agree that the reliability is way under par.
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@Chris-Van-Sickle my first black s7 had altimeter issues, i gave it away. the second white s7, on the other hand, is good for cycling, running, gym and walking, but the quality of the gps track is only sufficient. in gps mode 10 seconds really sucks![alt text]
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@Chris-Van-Sickle I feel your dissatisfaction mate, I had my S7 go for a repair / replacement last month after only three months of ownership due to condensation under the screen as I swim three times a week. My experience has been hit and miss, but the most annoying thing about this watch is the lack of support! Just disgusting that an OEM can release a one hit wonder watch and turn a blind eye on it just like that. If Suunto paid the slightest attention to this model, it would still compete today vs other brands.
I do love this watch like you, it just a shame it’s does have any future to remain on my wrist for long since other watches half the price can do a lot more.
I would call it a fancy looking smartwatch for special occasion. For now I rock a Garmin Instinct solar all day every day
