In today’s fast-paced world, technology is connecting everything. What started with basic computers, consumer technology has come a long way. Today, everything from our light bulbs to accessories is becoming smart. They are becoming a part of the Internet of Things connected to a central control hub such as a smartphone.
Related Post: Polar Ignite 2 vs Polar Vantage M2
Wristwatches especially have seen a paradigm shift with the advent of connected things. What started with analog and digital options are now available in smart flavors. The smartwatches of today can track health activities, show notifications, control music, track your sleep, and so on. One such smartwatch that caught our eye is the Polar Ignite 2.
Polar Ignite 2 Review: Features of The Polar Ignite 2
| Display | Display Size: 1.2 inches Display Type: Color Touchscreen Resolution: 240×204 |
| Weight | 35gramms |
| OS | Proprietary |
| Health Tracking Features | 24/7 Heart Rate monitoring Sleep Tracking HR Max Heart Rate Zones |
| Fitness Tracking Features | Goal-based activity tracking FitSpark™ training guide Advanced running metrics Fitness Test by Polar Training History Running Index analysis |
| Smart Features | Smartphone Notifications Music control Multiple watch faces Stop clock Weather |
| Sensors | GLONASS Galileo GPS Heart Rate Sensor Accelerometer |
| Water Resistance | 98 Feet |
| Blood Oxygen(SpO2) | No |
| Battery | 3 days of battery life |
The Polar Ignite 2 is the successor to the Polar Ignite. The 2nd generation of the Ignite series brings various new features and improvements over its predecessor such as the ability to broadcast HR readings via Bluetooth. Here’s a list of the various features and functions of the Polar Ignite 2:
Design
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The Polar Ignite 2 opts for a circular design language. The circular display is surrounded by a stainless-steel bezel with intricate engravings. The watch goes for a more simplistic and minimalist look over the more rugged nature of some of its competitors like the Amazfit T-Rex.
This design language gives the watch a more mature and stylish appeal. The watch houses a singular button on the bottom left. This button can be used for a multitude of purposes ranging from waking up the watch to using it as a back button and so on.
Polar offers a galore of strap options to pick from, the standard option being a silicon strap with a smooth finish. The watch weighs 35 grams with the standard wristband. While the watch unit alone weighs 21 grams. The smartwatch is rated to be water-resistant up to 30m.
Display
As mentioned earlier, the Polar Ignite 2 ships with a circular display. It is an IPS TFT panel. The circular display has a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels. While the display doesn’t have a high resolution, it is acceptable for a smartwatch. The watch has touchscreen support which can be used to navigate the watch alongside the physical button.
Health and Fitness Features
Being a fitness-focused watch, the Polar Ignite 2 comes packed with a ton of health and fitness features. The watch ships with a galore of sensors for tracking data. From Heart Rate Monitors to GPS, all-important sensors are present and accounted for.
However, Polar has skimped out on the SpO2 sensor that helps in oxygen blood tracking. The smartwatch utilizes its inbuilt Integrated GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS to track outdoor runs. For heart rate tracking, Ignite 2 uses what Polar calls the Polar Precision Prime™ sensor fusion technology.
To complement all this hardware, the Ignite has a bunch of software perks up its sleeve. The Ignite 2 supports up to 130 different sports profiles including swimming. During swimming, the watch can track heart rate, swimming style, distance, pace, strokes and, rest times. The FitSpark function can also offer training advice and workout patterns to the user.
For ease of use, these workouts are primarily divided into three categories- Strength, Cardio, and Supportive. Polar Ignite 2 also tracks the user’s sleep patterns and cycles. The Nightly Recharge feature shows the sleep data in an easy-to-consume fashion.
The watch can also show the user’s VO2 max. Most of these features and data can be accessed directly from the watch. For some detailed analysis, users can access the Polar Flow Application.
Smart Features
Apart from the fitness features, the smartwatch also ships with a myriad of smart functions. Users can directly control music playback from their watch during a workout or normal listening sessions. The watch can also display notifications when connected to the smartphone.
However, the watch doesn’t support replying to notifications. It has a serene mode which helps as a breathing exercise tool with guiding animations for inhalation and exhalation. The Polar Flow application gives an even more detailed analysis of sleep, workouts, and jogs with a variety of graphs and infographics.
Like most other watches, the Ignite 2 can also alert users if they’ve been physically inactive for too long. The watch packs a ton of customization options from various watch faces to customizable widgets.
Users can change the color and feel of the home screen and re-arrange the widgets (heart rate, training sessions, sleep quality, music controls, and weather, etc.) according to their preference.
Battery
The Polar Ignite 2 houses a 165 mAh Lithium Polymer Battery. The company claims that the watch can last up to 20 hours in training mode with all functions such as GPS and continuous heart rate scanning. If used conservatively, the watch can last up to 4-5 days according to the brand. These claimed figures are quite respectable for a fitness-based smartwatch.
Pricing of The Polar Ignite 2
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Polar has launched the Polar Ignite 2 in various regions around the world. It costs under $250 in the USA. However, as the watch is available for purchase in a bunch of other countries, pricing varies from region to region.
The watch is available in four colors – Storm Blue, Gold and Champagne, Rose Gold and Pink, Black Pearl. Along with the watch, users can purchase add on straps whose pricing is as follows (for the USA):
- Polar hook and loop nylon wristband, 20 mm Black
- Polar hook and loop nylon wristband, 20 mm Red
- Polar snap & slip silicone wristband, 20 mm Blush
- The Polar Ignite & Unite LES MILLS Edition wristband Black
- Polar Ignite & Unite LES MILLS Edition wristband White
- The Polar silicone wristband, 20 mm Black-Black S/M/L
- Polar silicone wristband, 20 mm White-Silver S/M/L
- Polar woven wristband, 20 mm Pink
- Polar silicone wristband, 20 mm Pink-Rose gold S/M/L
- Polar Ignite leather wristband
- Polar Crystal Wristband, 20 mm Gray Crystal
- Polar Crystal Wristband, 20 mm Gold Crystal
Therefore, the Polar Ignite 2 seems like a compelling option for many buyers looking for a fitness-orientated smartwatch. If we look at the competition, we have the likes of T-Rex Pro from Amazfit which has a sportier rugged look. The OnePlus Watch retails for 159 Euros which has a similar classy look to the Ignite 2.
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Then there’s Polar’s own rugged feeling Polar Vantage 2 which has a similar feature set as Ignite 2 and sells at an almost identical price. Therefore, there are plenty of options for buyers in the market looking for a mid-range smartwatch with options from Garmin, Amazfit, Polar, Fitbit, and so on. Let us know what your thoughts are about the Polar Ignite 2 in the comments section.
