For serious athletes and outdoor adventurers, having an advanced multisport GPS watch can provide valuable training insights and safety features. Two of the top premium options on the market are the Suunto 9 Peak Pro and Garmin Fenix 7.
But how do these flagship sports watches compare for features and performance? This in-depth guide examines the key differences between the Suunto 9 Peak Pro and Garmin Fenix 7 to see which is the better investment for your needs.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Features | Suunto 9 Peak Pro | Garmin Fenix 7 |
| Battery Life | 14 days (smartwatch mode) | Up to 57 days (solar) |
| GPS Accuracy | Dual frequency | Multi-band |
| Water Rating | 100m | 100m |
| Onboard Maps | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $899 | $699+ |
Overview of the Suunto 9 Peak Pro
The Suunto 9 Peak Pro sits at the top of Suunto’s sports watch lineup with a rugged, premium design optimized for mountaineering and adventures.
Key features and benefits include:
- Long battery life up to 14 days in smartwatch mode or up to 40 hours with GPS
- Dual-frequency GPS with added L5 signal for enhanced accuracy
- Barometer, altimeter, and compass sensors
- Onboard heat and altitude acclimation estimates
- Built-in offline topographic maps
- Robust durability with titanium bezel and sapphire crystal
The Suunto 9 Peak Pro provides in-depth data on all your activities with 80+ sport modes. The wealth of metrics, training tools, and recovery analysis make it ideal for serious athletes.
Advanced navigation features like the GPS Pathfinder route assistance provide an extra layer of safety during outdoor excursions. And the durable, premium build can withstand harsh mountain environments.
Overview of the Garmin Fenix 7
As Garmin’s newest flagship, the Fenix 7 refines the popular multisport watch line with new performance insights, enhanced solar charging, and touchscreen functionality.
Here are some of the Garmin Fenix 7’s standout capabilities:
- Multi-band GPS with improved position accuracy
- Solar charging models provide weeks of battery life
- Touchscreen available on Sapphire Solar editions
- In-depth activity profiles for over 150 sports
- Advanced training tools like PacePro guide optimal pacing
- Robust health monitoring with wrist-based heart rate
- Map support with ski resort information
Like the Suunto 9 Peak Pro, the Garmin Fenix 7 packs an exhaustive set of sports tracking and training features into a rugged yet stylish chassis.
The solar charging capabilities add convenience by reducing the need to constantly recharge. And the touchscreen Solar models provide a more modern, responsive user experience.
Also Read: Differences Between Garmin Fenix 6X And 6X Pro.
Key Differences Between Suunto 9 Peak Pro and Garmin Fenix 7
Now that we’ve covered the overall features of each watch, let’s do a detailed breakdown of how the Suunto 9 Peak Pro and Garmin Fenix 7 compare across some key metrics.
- GPS Accuracy
Both watches use advanced GNSS systems for improved position accuracy during activities. But they implement this differently.
The Peak Pro uses dual-frequency GPS supporting both L1 and L5 signals. The added L5 frequency helps boost positioning in challenging environments.
Meanwhile, the Fenix 7 utilizes multi-band GPS which taps into multiple satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo). This provides more reference points for pinpointing your location.
In practice, both deliver excellent GPS tracking accuracy, even under tree cover or near buildings. But some may find the Fenix 7 to have a slight edge in rapidly reacquiring signal and avoiding position drift.
- Battery Life
With GPS usage, the standard Peak Pro lasts around 40 hours while the Fenix 7 is rated for 57 hours. Very long life, but the Fenix 7 does eke out almost an extra day.
Where Garmin pulls ahead more is with the Solar editions of the Fenix 7. Combined with solar charging, the battery can extend up to 5 weeks in smartwatch mode or 73 hours in GPS mode. This blows away what the Peak Pro can do.
So for maximizing battery performance, especially during multi-day excursions, the Fenix 7 Solar has a big advantage. But the standard Peak Pro remains quite respectable.
- Display Quality
Both watches offer excellent display quality with bright, crisp screens and responsiveness.
The standard Peak Pro uses a 1.2” transflective memory-in-pixel display while the Fenix 7 has a 1.3” transflective. Both provide great sunlight visibility.
The optional Fenix 7X Solar uses touchscreen functionality though, providing a more direct interaction model. The Peak Pro lacks any touch capabilities.
So if you want a more modern, responsive display experience, the Fenix 7X Solar with its touchscreen and slightly larger real estate wins out.
Also Read: Comparison Between Suunto and Coros
- Onboard Maps
Having onboard topo maps is invaluable when adventuring off-grid. Fortunately, both Garmin and Suunto include full color maps that even work in GPS navigation mode.
The Peak Pro includes access to Suunto’s global heatmap database for plotting popular hiking trails and POIs around the world.
Meanwhile, the Fenix 7 uses Garmin’s own built-in TOPO mapping offering detailed street maps, trails, lakes, and more. Plus ski resort maps are preloaded.
For actual usage, the mapping capabilities are quite comparable. Both allow tracking routes, searching locations, setting waypoints, etc. So this category is mostly a tie.
Also watch this review video:
- Price and Value
The Suunto 9 Peak Pro demands a premium price of $899 for the added features and premium construction.
Meanwhile, the Garmin Fenix 7 starts at $699 for the standard model. The Solar editions jump up closer to $850.
You do get better battery life and touchscreen with the more expensive Fenix Solar option. But both watches provide immense value for serious athletes with their rich data insights, navigation, and overall quality.
The Peak Pro fetches a higher price tag for the titanium and sapphire glass build. So it comes down to which specific features suit your needs and budget preferences.
Also Read: Comparison Between GizmoWatch And Apple Watch.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Garmin and Suunto watches offer comparable GPS accuracy these days. Both use advanced GNSS systems to boost position precision and signal locking. Suunto implemented dual-frequency GPS starting with the 9 Peak Pro for better performance under tree cover or near buildings. Meanwhile, Garmin uses multi-band GPS on the Fenix 7 tapping into multiple satellite systems. Real-world results between the two are very similar though with both offering reliable tracking. So it’s largely a tie when it comes to current GPS accuracy between the brands.
The Fenix 7 can make a strong claim as the best Garmin watch currently available for serious multisport athletes. It takes Garmin’s already impressive fitness tracking capabilities and makes them even more powerful and approachable. The touchscreen Solar models provide greater responsiveness and battery efficiency through solar charging. And the refined design is Garmin’s most stylish yet while still being rugged and durable. For the ultimate Garmin experience, the Fenix 7 hits the sweet spot across sports tracking, smart features, and design aesthetic.
The Garmin Fenix 7 caters best to active users who want an advanced training tool and robust outdoor watch. Athletes like runners, cyclists, swimmers, and triathletes will benefit most from the Fenix 7’s extensive performance metrics, training load analysis, and recovery tools. Its long battery life and navigation also make it a great fit for hikers, climbers, and other adventurers. Casual exercisers may be overwhelmed by all the data insights though. So the Fenix 7 shines brightest on the wrists of dedicated fitness enthusiasts who want to track progress across a wide range of sports and activities.
Yes, the Suunto 9 Peak is an excellent hiking watch. Its long battery life even with GPS active allows tracking hikes for days without needing to recharge. The barometric altimeter provides accurate elevation data on climbs. And the built-in offline topographic maps let you load hiking routes and navigate trails without cell service. For more advanced hikers, the new Peak Pro adds dual-frequency GPS for improved accuracy under trees plus newaltitude and heat acclimation features. So both the standard Peak and upgraded Peak Pro serve as versatile hiking companions.
Final Thoughts
The Suunto 9 Peak Pro and Garmin Fenix 7 represent the pinnacle of premium multisport GPS watches. Both provide extensive activity tracking and training tools wrapped up in durable, attractive packages.
For serious athletes wanting the ultimate stats and insights across dozens of sports, you can’t go wrong with either.
The Garmin Fenix 7 offers slightly better battery efficiency, especially for multi-day excursions thanks to solar charging. But the Suunto 9 Peak Pro justifies its higher cost with a truly premium build including titanium and sapphire glass.
At the end of the day, choosing between these flagship watches comes down to your budget plus weighing specific features like touchscreen, battery life, and onboard mapping. Regardless of your final pick, you’ll have an invaluable high-tech training partner and safety net for adventures in the wild.
