Optimistic and to the point review of the 9PP

fv4500

Hi there! New Suunto user here, just wanted to say Hei! and share with you some thoughts in the form of a to-the-point and optimistic (yep, we need some of that) review of my ~~flagship~~ ~~ex-flagship~~ ex-ex-flagship Suunto 9 Peak Pro:

Yesssss, that’s GREAT, and I wasn’t expecting that!

The looks and size: that’s spot on, I definitely can wear the 9PP 24/7, in all situations, without feeling like an astronaut in a restaurant or a spartan warrior looking for his sword (because the shield it’s already in my wrist ).
SuuntoPlus apps & guides: super-convenient way to increase the functionality of my watch with “expansion” functions that run along my regular sports modes. Way to go!
Whaaat?? Almost all new and fantastic features in that list DCRainmaker shows (here) is making it into my 9PP? HOORAY!

Good job Suunto!

Good price for what you get – as simple as this.
That MIPS display! The more sunlight it gets the better it looks, and it’s not a permanent lighthouse in my wrist – loving it.
Did I mention the buttons? Good size, tactile+sound feedback and UI designed to suit (I don’t use the touch screen AT ALL).
Suunto mobile App: lots of info in a clean interface, zero issues with connections, iPad version, routes’ heat maps, route creation in the app itself… lots of stuff to like here.
Made in Finland with 100% renewables: yep, that’s important for me.

Just OK-ish, but I can live with that (Suunto could do better, right?):

Battery life: I was expecting being close to the 21 days advertised, but I’m getting -10% to -12% daily drain with SpO2 off, notifications all off, plus an average daily 45min performance-GPS activity – that turns to about a week.
Optical HR: yeah, I’ve read many of you complaining, but OHR in my view is providing just a good indication on HR, probably close to the best you can get with the limits that the physics principles implemented in measuring impose (and there’s a chest strap right?).
Watch faces: can’t believe how few and simple they are – and where’s the analog Suunto 7 yellow one?

Well, that’s definitely a NO-NO:

Turn by turn navigation: I’m going to be serious here, it’s so badly implemented that not only it’s not useful, but it’s also plain dangerous – doesn’t make any sense that I get my turn warnings 800m in advance, but with the one in front of me is nowhere to be found. BAD.

Bottom line: the 9PP is a fantastic sport copilot that, with the information it provides, improves the whole activity but not being “intrusive / too much” and just lets me enjoy what I enjoy the most: the activity itself.

Thanks to all moderators and contributors, you’re making my experience with the watch much better with all the info you share.

(aaaand… this ended up being much longer than expected…). Cheers!

@fv4500 I largely agree with your point of view. It is really a technological gem, very well built, very comfortable, and its size is very pleasing to me even though I wear glasses. I hope Suunto will continue to provide such sizes in the future. I am looking forward to installing the new firmware, so far I haven’t had any particular problems or a single reboot, but the new features are very appealing.

marcrie

@fv4500 100% my opinion (turn by turn navigation is not well done). You can gain some battery life by setting the don’t disturb mode on, in my case between 18:00 and 7:00. You can find it under settings --> sleep. It also make sense to switch the backlight off, maybe a full battery drain to 0% and full charge is necessary too.

@fv4500 the 21 days would be without GPS usage… that is a big drainer.

The original firmware had only HR monitoring every 10min, but with latest firmware it has become every second… that must have an impact on battery life. I’m getting about two weeks per charge.

fv4500

About watch sizes, I think it’s quite like smartphones: manufacturers push hard to implement new features that come at a cost in battery life, resulting in bigger and bigger phones. I personally think the size of the 9PP is just perfect. Also, Suunto wish to implement maps, for instance, a minimum useable screen size for that forces you up to the size of the Vertical & Race.

fv4500

@marcrie Thanks for the recommendation! Yep, backlight is already off. And will try to do a “full battery cycle”, now I’m charging in 5-10min intervals when I have a shower.

fv4500

@twekkel Sure, services and performance come at a price! Definitely, I’m happy with the 7 to 10 days I get, it’s just that’s about half the advertised battery life… Yeah, the usual “up to…” on features and performance and “starting at…” for prices. Marketing techniques, they call them .

HansLeo

I also totally agree with your point of view!

I also add that the excellent balance between size, weight and performance reminds me of the Suunto Ambit Peak (which I’ve used for a lot of years and loved).

The turn by turn navigation is not “perfect”, but after using it in various ultras and trail running activities I can say I am happy with that.

In my humble opinion - to be a better adventurer or athlete or whatever you want - its best to study real maps and confront them with the gps track, that’s how I counterbalance the not perfect turn-by-turn navigation.

I also get around 7 to 10 days (with about 7-14hrs of training a week (outdoor and indoor), but for me the game changer is the fast charge.

Amazing tool, as I’ve read in other threads, I hope Suunto keeps this size maybe transporting some features like solar charge to the S9PP or who knows Vertical Peak

wmichi

I also hope that Suunto keeps this form factor. Imagine a S9PP with the updated display of the Vertical, 1.3" screen size, dual band, and an updated CPU with more RAM. That would be a snappy little beast.

@HansLeo Yes, the quick charge is absolutely fantastic.

Tieutieu

@HansLeo said in Optimistic and to the point review of the 9PP:

The turn by turn navigation is not “perfect”, but after using it in various ultras and trail running activities I can say I am happy with that.

In my humble opinion - to be a better adventurer or athlete or whatever you want - its best to study real maps and confront them with the gps track, that’s how I counterbalance the not perfect turn-by-turn navigation.

I’m 100% with you on the “map study”. I never go out without knowing a bit at least where I go. I also used for years the navigation on A3p, S9B and with my wife’s S9pp. It works great.
But since I own the SV I must admit that maps are so convenient and usefull ! I’d love to see a S9pp form factor watch with maps coming !

fv4500

@wmichi Agreed! I must admit that I was ready to let go some extra cash for the solar charge and buying the Vertical, letting go the slenderness and sweet spot of features of the 9PP. Today with the 9PP the quick charge has proven to be very convenient in a very much “real life” way.