Between the MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) and Race, the MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) comes out ahead in smartwatch mode and ecg, while the Race wins on gps mode. Overall, the MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) scores 45.3 and the Race scores 50.6 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Race edges ahead on the Mars Score (45.3 vs 50.6), but the 5.3-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) if you care most about smartwatch mode and ecg. The biggest gaps in its favor are smartwatch mode, ecg.
Pick the Race if you care most about gps mode. Its strongest claims are gps mode.
Both ship with comparable multi-band gps, solar charging, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Race is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) wins
- ▲Smartwatch mode — 33.33% more. 16 days vs 12 days.
- ▲Has ECG.
Why Suunto - Race wins
- ▲GPS mode — 300.00% more. 120 h vs 30 h.
Spec comparison
GPS & Sensors
| Spec | Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) | Suunto - Race |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-band GPS | true | true |
| Barometric altimeter | true | true |
| Heart rate | true | true |
| ECG | truelead | false |
| Pulse Ox | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) | Suunto - Race |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | 16 dayslead | 12 days |
| GPS mode | 30 h | 120 hlead |
| Solar charging | false | false |
Design
| Spec | Garmin - MARQ Athlete (Gen 2) | Suunto - Race |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 46 mm | 49 mmlead |
| Weight | 92 g | 83 glead |
| Water resistanceⓘ | 10 ATM | 10 ATM |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
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