Suunto Race 2, Garmin EU Update, Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Week in Wearables

Three meaningful updates landed this week across the endurance wearables space. Suunto pushed a significant H1 2026 firmware to the Race 2, Garmin gained new iPhone features in the EU, and Amazfit returned to serious running hardware after a three-year gap. A lot to unpack.

The Suunto Race 2 Triathlon firmware adds three features that matter for race day: automatic T1/T2 transitions, heart rate broadcast to bike computers via optical PPG at the wrist, and pool drill sets. Automatic transitions are the headline. When they work, they remove a genuine pain point. The HR broadcast is worth flagging for cyclists already running a Wahoo or Garmin head unit. No chest strap needed, though remember: the Race 2 reads blood volume via light, not electrical impulses like a Polar H10 strap, so accuracy under hard efforts can still drift. The pool drill sets are a nice add for swim-focused athletes. Reports suggest the transition detection is solid but not flawless, so keep a finger ready for manual override on race day.

On the Garmin side, Brussels keeps handing EU users features that US and UK accounts cannot touch. With iOS 26.5, Garmin watches in the EU gain reply-from-wrist messaging and Live Activities. Apple Watch owners in Europe have had both for years. For a Fenix 8 or Forerunner 965 owner commuting between training sessions, being able to reply to a message without pulling out a phone is genuinely useful. Live Activities means you can glance at a Deliveroo order or a flight gate on your watch face. Not core training stuff, but it closes a real gap versus the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in daily use.

The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro is the most interesting hardware story of the three. Titanium case, sapphire crystal, and a price that has climbed roughly 50 percent over its predecessor. Amazfit is clearly targeting the Coros Pace 3 and Garmin Forerunner 965 bracket now, not the budget end. Testing across running, cycling, and swimming against Garmin and Polar references will be the real proof. Stryd integration is listed, which matters for power-based run training. The brand has not shipped a serious running watch since 2023, so expectations were low. Early signs suggest they cleared a low bar with room to spare.

Verdict: The Race 2 firmware is a real improvement for triathletes, with one caveat on transition reliability. The Garmin EU update is regulatory progress dressed as a feature drop. The Cheetah 2 Pro is worth watching. Full reviews will tell the full story.