Suunto introduces the Core 2, an updated version of its classic ABC watch, prioritising durability, readability, and basic navigation features for backcountry explorers in a design that eschews modern smartwatch complexities.
Suunto has revived one of its best-known outdoor watches with a model that leans harder into backcountry practicality than modern smartwatch ambition. The new Core 2 updates the company’s original 2007 ABC watch, a device built around altitude, barometric pressure and compass readings, and Suunto says the latest version is meant to help users navigate, monitor conditions and stay oriented when they are far from reliable phone coverage.
The design remains intentionally simple, but the hardware has been substantially revised. According to Suunto, the Core 2 uses a brighter LED dot-matrix display, with a switchable red and green backlight, and the company says the screen is 40% brighter than before. It also has 10 ATM water resistance, a large step up from the original Core, and MIL-STD-810H durability certification for harsher conditions. Suunto says the watch uses a replaceable CR3032 coin cell battery that can last up to 15 months.
The Core 2 is not trying to compete with full-featured GPS watches from Garmin or mainstream smartwatches from Apple and Samsung. It does not offer location mapping or turn-by-turn navigation, but it does include an altimeter, barometer, compass, step counter and moon phase display. Suunto says the barometer can detect pressure changes and alert wearers to approaching storms, while Bluetooth support allows the watch to receive software updates and sync with an app.
At $179, the Core 2 is positioned as an affordable option for hikers, backpackers and other outdoor users who value durability and basic instruments over advanced software. Suunto presents it as a deliberate refinement of the original concept: a watch designed to be readable, rugged and long-lasting, rather than connected and feature-heavy.
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