Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Polar - Pacer Pro | Suunto - Race |
|---|---|---|
| GPS mode | 35 h | 120 h |
| Smartwatch mode | 7 days | 12 days |
| Multi-band GPS | false | true |
Between the Pacer Pro and Race, the Pacer Pro comes out ahead in several specs, while the Race wins on gps mode / smartwatch mode. Overall, the Pacer Pro scores 44.5 and the Race scores 70.6 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Race is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 26.1 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
The Pacer Pro does not pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec-table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the Race if you care most about gps mode / smartwatch mode. Its strongest claims are gps mode, smartwatch mode, multi-band gps. The single most decisive one: GPS mode — 242.86% more. 120 h vs 35 h.
Both ship with comparable solar charging, ecg, so those specs do not 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.
Which should you buy: Polar - Pacer Pro or Suunto - Race?
Suunto - Race leads the current Mars Score by 26.1 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare smartwatch mode, gps mode against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Polar - Pacer Pro if…
Polar - Pacer Pro does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
Choose Suunto - Race if…
Suunto - Race has the measurable edge on battery gps hours, battery smartwatch days, has multiband gps.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Polar - Pacer Pro wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Suunto - Race wins
- ▲GPS mode — 242.86% more. 120 h vs 35 h.
- ▲Smartwatch mode — 71.43% more. 12 days vs 7 days.
- ▲Has Multi-band GPS.
Spec comparison
GPS & Sensors
| Spec | Polar - Pacer Pro | Suunto - Race |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-band GPS | false | truelead |
| Barometric altimeter | true | true |
| Heart rate | true | true |
| ECG | false | false |
| Pulse Ox | false | truelead |
Battery
| Spec | Polar - Pacer Pro | Suunto - Race |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | 7 days | 12 dayslead |
| GPS mode | 35 h | 120 hlead |
| Solar charging | false | false |
Design
| Spec | Polar - Pacer Pro | Suunto - Race |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 45 mm | 49 mmlead |
| Weight | 41 glead | 83 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | 5 ATM | 10 ATMlead |