When comparing Suunto M5 vs Apple Watch, the Slant community recommends Apple Watch for most people. In the question“What are the best fitness trackers with heart rate monitoring?” Apple Watch is ranked 3rd while Suunto M5 is ranked 9th. The most important reason people chose Apple Watch is:
Health apps downloaded on iPhone can be integrated with Apple Watch
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Adapts to ones workouts
The watch can adapt to the routine one is using for their workouts in order to suggest other workouts the user may be able to handle. This basically works as a simple personal trainer, which can be encouraging to the user.
Pro Heart rate monitor is not necessary for every workout
Luckily the extra monitor is not necessary for every workout, which is nice as it can be a pain to hook up correctly and is a bit of a chore being an extra piece to worry about.
Pro Works well with iPhone
Health apps downloaded on iPhone can be integrated with Apple Watch
Pro Haptic feedback for notifications
Pro Heart rate sensor
Pro First -rate app support
Pro Digital Crown
The Digital Crown allows you to zoom in and out with various applications and can be used as a button.
Pro Sensitive touch
Allows for taps and presses to be registered as two different types of input.
Pro Standalone phone calls
Series 3 can make and receive phone calls by itself, without the need to connect to a smartphone.
Pro Can unlock your Mac
If you have a Mac with sufficient Bluetooth chip support the Apple Watch can be used in place of your password or touch ID to login/unlock the system when in proximity.
Pro Customizable watch faces
Can customize the watch faces with "complications" such as weather forecast, traffic, meeting schedule, etc… or your own photos.
Pro Great fitness app support
The Apple Watch integrates with virtually every well-known fitness and calorie tracking app out there.
Pro Siri / Digital Assistant Support
You can use Siri directly from the Apple Watch, allowing you to call or text, but also to get directions, and more.
Cons
Con Setting up the heart-rate monitor can be a chore
Finding the correct placement for the heart rate pad to record correct reading can be difficult to do, which may be time consuming and a PITA.
Con Movestick can't be run on OSX
Software for the device is not OSX compatible, though users could emulate a Windows environment and use the software that way.
Con Heart rate monitoring can be hit or miss
There may be times where the monitor fluctuates out of the norm, which leads to incorrect readings. Normally this is understood when using something like a smartwatch, but to see it happening with a device that has a separate band to record heart monitoring it is a shame to see.
Con Expensive
Apple Watch is said to cost $349 USD.
Con Works only with iPhones
You need to have an iPhone (5 or later) to pair this smartwatch. It will not work with any other device, and has limited capabilities on its own (and still require the iPhone for the initial setup).