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Suunto N3i
Reviewed by
William O'Neal
on 01/27/2005

See all Suunto products

  • Quick specs
  • Product type: Watch (combo device)
  • Designation: Technical
  • Clock: Multiple time zones
  • See full specifications

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The good: Easy integration with Outlook Calendar; comfortable; water-resistant up to 100 meters.

The bad: Expensive and requires extra subscription fee; bulky charger; no Mac support.

The bottom line: The Suunto N3i is one of the most stylish SPOT watches available, but it comes at a cost.

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CNET editors' review

  • Reviewed by:
    William O'Neal
  • Edited by:
    Bonnie Cha
  • Reviewed on: 01/27/2005
  • Updated on: 06/12/2006
When Microsoft initially launched MSN Direct several years ago, there were few watches available to take advantage of the service. Years later, not only has the service improved, offering greater range for users and more subscription channels, the selection of watches has expanded as well. At this year's CES, Microsoft announced several new watch partners, including Swatch, but also showed off new designs by Tissot and Suunto.

Suunto, a Finnish manufacturer, refers to its Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) watches as "wrist-top computers." Its previous model, the N3, was regarded as one of the best first-generation SPOT watches, and now, the N3i can be seen as the update to it. It sports a slimmer size, an interchangeable leather strap, and of course, the MSN Direct service. But be warned that this pretty watch costs a pretty penny at $299.

While the software on all SPOT watches is essentially the same, the hardware can be decidedly different, depending on which timepiece you choose. Compared to other SPOT watches, the Suunto N3i is quite sporty. This should come as no surprise, seeing that Suunto specializes in sports and diving watches. The N3i ships with a leather band that's supercomfortable, and the unit itself is quite thin and lightweight for a SPOT watch. It also rocks a large, scratch-resistant LCD and a five-button navigation system. Unlike the Fossil Abacus, which has the antenna in its band, the Suunto N3i's antenna is located in the circular ring that encompasses the watch face. The N3i supports changeable watch faces, and this model ships with six default faces and has room for two more downloadable versions.

The N3i ships with a charger that doubles as a USB cable. Compared to the Swatch Paparazzi's, however, the N3i's charger is pretty bulky but less cumbersome than the Fossil's. And thankfully, you can charge the N3i with a computer using just the USB cable. That said, battery life with the N3i was good, and we never lost power. You'll probably have to recharge the battery every four or five days. The N3i is water-resistant up to 330 feet (100 meters), and it boasts all of the features that you'd expect from a somewhat high-end sports watch: a stopwatch, lap and split timers, an interval timer, and programmable alarms. If you crave a more fitness-focused SPOT watch, Suunto also offers the n6HR, complete with a heart-rate monitor, a workout logbook, and downloadable training software.

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Suunto N3i

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