Suunto Core 2 Preview 2026: Everything We Know About Suunto’s New ABC Instrument
Suunto is preparing a successor to its long-running Core ABC (altimeter, barometer, compass) watch, revealed so far only through regulatory filings rather than an official announcement. Here’s everything confirmed, and what’s still speculation.
Want a Full GPS Multisport Watch Today?
The Core 2 looks likely to be a simpler instrument than a training-focused GPS watch (see below). If you want Suunto’s current full-featured multisport flagship now, the Suunto Vertical 2 offers dual-band GPS, offline maps, and up to 60 days of battery life.
What We Know
- FCC filing, model OW245 — cleared regulatory filing under this model number, first spotted in April 2026.
- CR3032 user-replaceable battery — more than double the capacity of the CR2032 cell in the original Suunto Core, pointing to a multi-year battery life between swaps.
- 100m water resistance and a stainless steel casing — confirmed in the filing documentation.
- Global certification markings — FCC, IC, CE, UKCA, EAC and KC markings suggest a broad international launch rather than a small regional release.
- Confidentiality period runs to September 2026 — typically a signal that the launch itself will follow shortly after, pointing to an autumn 2026 release window.
What We’d Expect (Speculation)
Suunto has not confirmed whether the Core 2 includes GPS at all. The original Suunto Core, in production since 2007, was a dedicated ABC instrument without satellite positioning — if the Core 2 follows that formula, we’d expect it to prioritise battery longevity and rugged simplicity over training metrics, rather than compete directly with the GPS-equipped Vertical or Race ranges. Pricing and a confirmed launch date have not been announced.
Why It Might Matter for Triathletes
Realistically, this looks like a backup or everyday instrument rather than a primary GPS training watch — useful as a long-life, always-on altimeter and compass for expedition-style training camps or hiking recovery days, not for logging interval sessions. Triathletes wanting GPS-based training metrics should look at the Vertical or Race ranges instead.
For context on where Suunto’s current lineup sits against Garmin and COROS, see our best triathlon GPS watches guide and our Suunto Vertical 2 Titanium coverage.
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