Polar Ignite review: Clever fitness perks marred by too many compromises
Enlarge (credit: Valentina Palladino)
Polar has had some catching up to do in the smartwatch space as Fitbit, Garmin, and Apple continuously improve upon and release new products. Polar has always had solid wearable options for serious athletes, but now the new Ignite smartwatch wants to reach a wider group of users.
At $229, the Polar Ignite is more affordable than the Vantage M or V smartwatches, but it has more capabilities as a GPS watch than something like Polar's A370 fitness band. It's also more attractive and versatile thanks to a round, lightweight case and interchangeable bands. It seemingly provides a good balance of style and fitness prowess like Garmin's Vivoactive 3 or Fitbit's Versa does, but spending a week wearing the Ignite has proven that Polar should have paid more attention to small yet crucial details that can make or break a $229 smartwatch.
Design| Specs at a glance: Polar Ignite | |
|---|---|
| Price | $229 |
| Screen | 240x204 color touchscreen |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, heart rate monitor, GPS, GLONASS |
| Nav buttons | One |
| Water resistance | Up to 30 meters |
| Music storage | No |
| NFC | No |
| Swim tracking | Yes |
| Battery life | At least five days |
Buy
The Ignite is less intimidating than the Vantage M and V smartwatches because it strips away most of the side buttons and opts for a thinner and lighter case. The round smartwatch has a metal ring around its case and just one side button that navigates back on the touchscreen. Both parts of the watch band are removable, so you can switch them out for other styles at your leisure.
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