Polar Grit X2 Professional In-Depth Evaluation: A Flagship Watch?



The Polar Grit X2 Professional is positioned as Polar’s flagship journey and multisport watch, each from a options standpoint, but in addition its high-end {hardware}. Given the flagship nature of the watch, I’ve been placing it by way of its paces throughout some fairly demanding eventualities. A multi-day trek throughout the island of Madeira, numerous rides and runs into the mountains of Gran Canaria, openwater swims, and naturally, only a bunch of extra regular exercises that each one of us do.

The query is: Does it reside as much as its touted accuracy claims? And do the options justify the eye-watering worth in the present day, relative to the remainder of the market?

This evaluation dives into all these issues, one part at a time. From day by day primary step and sleep monitoring, to sports activities and exercises, to navigation and mapping, and at last the accuracy of the brand new coronary heart fee algorithms and GPS antenna.

As regular, this watch is a media loaner, and it’ll return to Polar. After which I’ll exit and get my very own for any future testing wants. When you discovered this evaluation helpful, you should utilize the hyperlinks on the backside, or contemplate turning into a DCR Supporter which makes the location ad-free, whereas additionally gaining access to a principally weekly video collection behind the scenes of the DCR Cave. And naturally, it makes you superior.

With that, let’s get into it!

What’s New:

The definition of ‘new’ will depend upon which earlier watch you’re referring to. If evaluating it (logically) to the Polar Grit X Professional (launched in 2021), then there are a selection of very substantial adjustments, outlined under. Whereas, for those who’re evaluating it to the Polar Vantage V3 launched this previous fall, there are exactly zero characteristic variations. Which I additionally clarify down under.

First up, right here’s what’s new in comparison with the unique Polar Grit X Professional:

– Modified to 1.39” AMOLED show (326ppi, 1,050 nits)
– Maintains sapphire crystal glass
– Elevated show dimension by 15% (versus GRIT X1 Professional)
– First Polar watch to have 810H sturdiness mil spec
– Elevated processor pace by 129% vs GRIT X1 Professional (275Mhz processor)
– Added dual-frequency/multiband GNSS/GPS
– Redesigned GNSS/GPS antenna
– Elevated storage to 32GB (primarily for maps)
– Contains North America & Europe maps downloaded (and free downloadable maps for in every single place else)
– Modified Polar charging cable to USB-C (nonetheless magnetic on watch aspect)
– Added Strava Routes syncing (lastly! Additionally coming to all Polar route-capable merchandise)
– Added historic monitor/route on navigation map (beforehand solely confirmed deliberate route)
– Added Vertical Velocity and VAM (Common Ascent Velocity)
– Added 3D pace (the way it calculates pace in steep conditions)
– Upgraded to Polar’s 4th Gen optical coronary heart fee sensor + ELIXIR (similar as Vantage V3)
– Added coronary heart fee ECG performance (Word: Doesn’t embrace Afib detection)
– Added nightly pores and skin temperature
– Added pores and skin temperature monitoring characteristic and baseline/steerage
– Added new optical coronary heart fee backdated error correction characteristic (fixes unhealthy HR information in realtime)
– Added two new watch faces since Vantage V3 (one analog, one digital)
– Added digital flashlight (show primarily based)
– Battery life will increase to 43hrs in GPS coaching mode, or as much as 140hrs in eco coaching mode
– Maintains 100m water resistance spec
– Maintains temp vary of -20°c to +50°c
– Maintains stainless-steel entrance case, and plastic again case
– Two base mannequin colours (Night time Black & Stone Grey), and one Titan Version
– Value will increase from $/€529 to $/€749 for base version, and Titan version from $/€649 to $/€869

Word: Titan version features a secondary leather-based strap, and has a complete watch+band weight of 64g.

Now, it’s possible you’ll be questioning how this watch differentiates itself from the inexpensive ($599) Polar Vantage V3. And the reply is straightforward: Purely primarily based on exterior case design. That’s it. The 2 watches run the identical actual software program, have the optical HR sensor, the identical GPS chipset, and even the very same battery inside. In reality, the Polar Vantage V3 received the identical software program launch (v2.0) the identical day the Polar Grit X2 Professional began delivery, thus making certain each watches are lock-step equivalent in the case of options.

In terms of materials variations, they’re as follows:

– Grit X2 Professional has a special exterior case design/look
– Grit X2 Professional has 100m water resistance, versus 50m for Vantage V3
– Redesigned exterior GPS antenna design, particularly for the Grit X2 Professional

Word that antenna designs could be totally different anyway between the Vantage & Grit X collection, because the case designs use totally different supplies. Today, the GPS antenna is arguably a very powerful part in the case of GPS accuracy. Over the previous couple of years we’ve seen numerous examples of two totally different watches utilizing the very same GPS chipset, however totally different antenna designs. A lot in order that *each* Polar and COROS have made some extent of publicly stating their first makes an attempt at dual-band GNSS antennas on earlier merchandise (COROS Vertix 2 & Polar Ignite 3) led to not-awesome GPS outcomes. This was aimed toward resolving that.

Okay, so let’s see if all these newness bits maintain true.

In The Field:

Contained in the field we’ve received the watch, and relying on which mannequin you’ve purchased, two totally different units of bands. When you received the Titan version (which is $869), then you definitely’ll get each the silicone band, and likewise the leather-based band/strap. That is the Titan version unboxing.

It takes about 10 seconds to swap the bands between them. Clearly, you received’t wish to use the leather-based band for any exercises, because it’ll shortly lose its luster. I did swap backwards and forwards fairly a bit for the primary month, after which received uninterested in the swaps, and simply left the silicone ones on. They’re completely advantageous straps.

As well as, you’ve received a USB-C charging cable, connecting the USB-C port to the proprietary charging port on the again of the watch. Watch corporations use specialised charging connectors as a way to guarantee deeper waterproofing that doesn’t have a tendency to carry up for utilizing a regular USB port over time (sweat, grime, sports activities gels, and so forth…). This is identical charging connector seen on the Polar Vantage V3.

Subsequent, let’s simply take a second to take a look at a gallery of photographs of the Titan’s leather-based band. Significantly, it’s gorgeous. I’d argue it’s the very best factor concerning the watch (which is able to concurrently make somebody within the band division very joyful, albeit on the expense of the remainder of the Grit X2 Professional group). However much more than being the very best factor concerning the Grit X2 Professional, it’s in all probability the very best band I’ve seen on any GPS sports activities watch. Possibly…possibly, a number of the Garmin MARQ variants (the $2,000+ watches), have on-par bands. However both method, this one is superior.

Right here’s a fast side-by-side comparability to the Polar Vantage V3:

And with that, let’s begin utilizing it!

The Fundamentals:

This part of the evaluation will give attention to the final non-sports utilization of Grit X2 Professional. Elements like exercise and sleep monitoring, dashboards/widgets, and different primary smartwatch options. Plus in fact, common usability of buttons/show/and so forth…

First up, the Grit X2 Professional has 5 buttons, alongside an AMOLED touchscreen. Basically, you should utilize buttons or touchscreen interchangeably, nevertheless you see match. The overwhelming majority of the time I have a tendency to make use of the buttons, relatively than the touchscreen. Merely put, it’s quicker and extra environment friendly (that is true of just about each watch I take a look at). Nonetheless, there are areas the place the touchscreen is less complicated – akin to transferring round throughout the map.

I haven’t had any points with the touchscreen in any situations, be it solar, rain, dumping rain, showers, or another liquid-type situation. Positive, as with most touchscreens, it’d take an additional faucet or two on a drenched display, nevertheless it’s not uncontrollable. Likewise, in aquatic (swimming) sport settings, the touchscreen is disabled totally, so that you don’t have to fret about water-driven wonk.

In terms of visibility of the AMOLED show, once more, zero points. As I preserve saying over the past 12-24 months, the AMOLED shows in the present day aren’t your grandfather’s AMOLED/LCD shows. They aren’t even the (usually unhealthy) AMOLED/LCD shows of simply 36-48 months in the past. There’s merely zero points seeing these screens in any situation you throw at them, from brilliant solar mid-summer atop a mountain, to darkish nights.

I’ll notice that some reviewers will mistakenly try to take an image of a black display in opposition to a brilliant white background, then try to say the display is tough to learn. That’s incorrect. The display is completely readable to your human eyes, however resulting from you or your digicam improperly exposing the scene, it’ll expose the remainder of the (bigger) scene, relatively than the comparatively small watch face

Now, that stated, AMOLED does have an effect on battery life, relying on which setting you’re utilizing. An AMOLED show has two settings: Gesture-based, and At all times-On. Gesture-based means the display is black/off once you’re not it. Then, once you increase your wrist, it turns again on once more. This protects battery. Whereas always-on means the display is always-on, thus burning extra battery. In a gesture-based configuration, the display is dimmed when your wrist is down, after which brightened once you increase your wrist. I used the watch in each configurations, although usually favor the always-on configuration – regardless of the battery hit. Right here’s an instance of dimmed and not-dimmed, taken a couple of seconds aside in brilliant solar, on the similar spot:

The gesture recognition on the Grit X2 Professional is OK. It’s not nice, nevertheless it’s not unhealthy both. It’s a tiny bit slower/laggier than I’d favor, however is nice sufficient typically. In gesture-based configuration, Polar claims as much as 10 days of battery life, whereas in always-on it’ll minimize that down considerably. Clearly, GPS time additional reduces that. I’ve used each modes fairly a bit over the past two months, and always-on appears to be about 3-5 days relying on GPS utilization, whereas gesture-based appears about proper at upwards of 10 days.

Now, trying on the watch face, you’ll be able to select from a lot of Polar pre-loaded watch faces, although there isn’t any type of third celebration watch face App Retailer or such. Nonetheless, I used to be completely advantageous with all these watch faces and the flexibility to flippantly customise them.

You’ll be able to swipe down from the highest to entry some fast controls menu, together with alarms, flashlight, timers, airplane mode, and do-not-disturb. You’ll swipe upwards from the underside to entry smartphone notifications. Extra on them later.

As an alternative, nearly all of non-sport interactions you’ll take can be by way of the dashboards (widgets), for areas like day by day exercise monitoring, sleep, climate, coaching standing, and extra. For instance, you’ve received the Exercise/Steps dashboard, displaying steps but in addition coronary heart fee information and vitality (all beneath the ‘Exercise’ panel):

When you faucet into it, you’ll get extra particulars about exercise that day, together with steps, energy, coronary heart fee min/max, and lively time. All of this info can also be accessible on the Polar Circulation app as effectively:

Curiously, Polar converts all non-step exercise into steps too. This implies for those who swim, cycle (even on a stationary bike), or do another heart-rate-driven train, it’ll convert these to steps. This results in wildly inflated step values.

Nevertheless, I’ve additionally had unexplainable crazy-step values. Right here’s a day the place I did actually nothing workout-wise, just some workplace work, then a 4-hour drive. The Polar has me at 44,000+ steps! COROS a way more plausible 4,360 steps (the 1hr 4mins of ‘exercise’ time on the COROS was really simply me recording a part of the drive to check one thing).

But different days, the place I principally simply did nothing besides stroll/run actions, it’s very shut:

However on another day besides a strict run exercise day, Polar tends to be double the rest I put on, nevertheless it’s usually as excessive as 10x different corporations. I don’t have a philosophical downside per se with changing different exercise sorts into steps, however on the similar time, I assume I kinda do. Steps are steps. There’s loads of different metrics you should utilize to seize whole vitality per day (lively time, energy, coronary heart fee time in zone, and so forth…). It’s one factor to have a handful of additional steps on a experience resulting from bouncing and such. It’s a wholly totally different factor so as to add an additional 20,000 steps. Simply my two cents.

Subsequent, you’ve received your sleep metrics. These are cut up amongst three totally different pages, none of which really present your core sleep stats on the high. As an alternative, they’re constructed into the sections of: Sleep Enhance, Nightly Recharge, and Nightly Pores and skin Temperature. Beginning with Sleep Enhance, that is the place you’ll see which elements of the day you’re most certainly to be drained or have a number of vitality. You’ll be able to see the variations right here on this present day once I had a 4:15AM alarm for an early morning flight, versus a extra regular wake-up time:

When you faucet down into that, you’ll see your sleep instances for that night time, in addition to your sleep rating:

Subsequent, there’s Nightly Recharge. This exhibits how effectively you’re recharged after the earlier night time’s sleep. Once more, you’ll be able to see a comparability between the early morning flight (Compromised) and the common night time sleep:

Inside this there’s a ton of sleep stats unfold amongst two totally different pages, together with parts like HRV, sleep phases/levels, and extra.

(Facet notice: All of those stats have been on-again/off-again damaged for the final 4-5 weeks. As in, they wouldn’t even present up in any respect, just about all sleep stats. Polar lastly launched a firmware replace 4 days in the past to repair it. Hopefully it sticks.)

My suggestion to Polar right here is just like that of the Polar Vantage V3. Polar has plenty of actually good/fascinating stats in right here, however the group of all of them is kinda messy. There’s a cause why actually each different firm first organizes the sleep fundamentals (sleep instances/scores/common evaluation) into one space, after which all the flamboyant detailed bits into subsequent and extra detailed areas: It’s simply simpler to devour. Proper now, to view what number of hours I slept or my sleep rating, I’ve to dig round a bunch. There’s no quick-swipe view to view it.

Lastly, there’s Nightly Pores and skin Temperature. This stat makes use of the wrist temperature sensor within the watch to trace pores and skin temperature adjustments. Like a lot of the different superior sleep stats, this takes a couple of days of baselining earlier than it begins illuminating the sleep information. As with different manufacturers, I haven’t actually discovered any precise use for this but, particularly as one who travels fairly a bit (the place environmental adjustments considerably affect this).

Whereas it may be utilized in girls’s interval prediction (akin to what Whoop and Oura do), it’s not utilized by Polar and most different wearable corporations in that method in the present day.

Talking of which, all of these things is collected utilizing the optical sensor on the again of the watch:

This sensor is identical because the Polar Vantage V3, and is named the Polar Gen 4 Optical HR sensor. Word that Polar additionally makes use of the Elixir identify, however that’s really not the identify of the sensor (in any respect). As an alternative, Elixir is the umbrella time period for a wide range of totally different Polar proprietary algorithms that Polar makes use of in relation to indicators processing.

So what about sleep accuracy? Glad you requested. I’ve gone down a stupid-deep rabbit gap over the previous couple of months on this entrance. And in brief, I’ve had no points with it detecting go to sleep & wake-up instances nearly all of the time. Word that I don’t examine issues like sleep phases/levels, since frankly, the tech to try this comparability actually isn’t all that correct to start with (topping out within the low-to-mid 80% vary), which doesn’t move the bar for what I’d use for different metrics that I examine. Thus, I principally assume all wearables suck there (and plenty of do).

In any case, right here’s a enjoyable chart computing a few of my sleep metrics for a couple of week slice of that. I haven’t seen any significant change throughout the two-month timeframe.

Additionally for enjoyable, right here’s how HRV in contrast in opposition to a couple of totally different gadgets, noting that some gadgets have totally different calculation strategies.

And the way sleep scores in contrast. The clean days are instances when Polar determined to not compute sleep scores.

Now, switching matters totally!

In terms of the oft-discussed flashlight, do perceive it’s simply the show turned to white and full brightness. After all, an AMOLED show of this dimension at full brightness is greater than sufficient to light up a tent, a resort lavatory, or the again of the spice cupboard. Nevertheless, utilizing it on the Grit X2 Professional is cumbersome for fast entry, in that you should first wake-up the show (which at night time requires a faucet), then swipe down, then swipe to flashlight, after which faucet flashlight. Their rivals require only a fast double-tap of the higher left button, and immediately on.

It’s these type of minor-seeming issues that add up over time. Polar must give attention to these little particulars, simply as a lot because the big-ticket characteristic gaps.

In terms of textual content messages, the Grit X2 Professional will show texts and different smartphone notifications in your watch, per no matter you’ve configured in your telephone’s notifications management heart. You’ll be able to’t reply to those messages from the Grit X2 Professional, however you’ll be able to dismiss them.

Word that whereas the Grit X2 Professional has loads of storage onboard for maps, there is no such thing as a music storage or playback onboard. As an alternative, it has music management of your telephone’s presently taking part in media (e.g., play/skip/pause/quantity), however can’t in any other case navigate that music library. Whereas many would like to have onboard music throughout the watch, the truth of the music business’s fences means this merely isn’t going to occur (for streaming platforms like Spotify). Positive, Polar may comparatively simply allow music playback of MP3 recordsdata and the like, however in 2024, that’s not what the market at giant needs (and thus, in my view, could be a waste of Polar’s restricted growth/engineering time).

Likewise, the identical is true of contactless funds (NFC), which it lacks. These partitions are effectively established, and at this level there’s sadly no actual enterprise path ahead for an organization of Polar’s dimension to get funds on their gadgets (wanting going to WearOS). That stated, Polar did not too long ago trace that they’re planning one thing round NFC. My assumption right here is that they’re in all probability speaking a Curve-like partnership, which might be restricted to UK & EU of us, and has different limitations as effectively.

Sports activities Monitoring:

Clearly, for those who’re shopping for a Polar watch, it’s more likely to do sports activities monitoring. On this context, which means both GPS or non-GPS exercises/actions, that are all tracked and logged for evaluation both on Polar’s platform, or third celebration platforms you join, like Strava.

The Grit X2 Professional maintains the identical giant sport itemizing of sport sorts because the Vantage V3 does. The overwhelming majority of those don’t have any distinctive sport-tracking properties, however relatively, are used to distinguish calorie burn. Actually, a couple of of those sports activities have distinctive monitoring bits – like biking versus operating, however most are only for calorie metrics.

In any occasion, to open up a sport profile, you’ll faucet the decrease left button as soon as, and select ‘Begin Coaching’ (or, long-hold the crimson button to get to the identical spot). This brings you right here, to essentially the most not too long ago used sport profile:

You might have retailer 20 sport profiles in your watch, after which can change these by way of the Polar Circulation app, selecting which profiles you need. Inside every profile you’ll be able to customise information pages and information fields as effectively. You’re presently restricted to 4 information fields, a seemingly small variety of information fields in comparison with most of their rivals which are 8-12 fields.

Again on that sport profile ‘ready’ display, it’ll begin trying to find GPS (if a GPS exercise), in addition to coronary heart fee lock. Additional, for those who’ve received paired sensors (e.g. biking sensors) or your telephone close by, it’ll hook up with that. It’ll use the telephone for voice bulletins.

Nevertheless, you can too faucet the settings button within the higher left. This allows you to select a given structured exercise that you simply’ve favorited, in addition to a course/route. The following part dives into the programs/routes bit (navigation), so we’ll skip that for now.

On this space, you can too allow coronary heart fee sensor broadcasting to third celebration gadgets. That is performed by way of Bluetooth Good, and might broadcast your coronary heart fee to an app (e.g., Peloton, Zwift, Strava, and so forth…), or perhaps a bike pc (e.g., Garmin Edge or Wahoo GPS). Having used this characteristic loads although, it’s simply tremendous finicky. In contrast to all of their rivals, it doesn’t keep in mind the setting (on or off) every time, and thus you need to do that foolish dance every time, attempting to get it re-paired with the third celebration unit. It’s these types of little issues that begin to add up.

When you do have it paired, it does appear to work/keep linked the length of the session. I had no points there.

Nonetheless, again on the watch, as soon as GPS/HR is locked, you’ll go forward and faucet begin to start recording. From right here, you’ll see your information pages as configured. You’ll be able to faucet the buttons to iterate by way of the totally different information pages.

When you’ve received issues like automated laps enabled, these will routinely set off as effectively. Similar goes for any structured exercises you might need loaded into the unit. Word that sadly, Polar doesn’t have any integration with TrainingPeaks for pulling structured exercises into Polar gadgets. Once more, in 2024 (and even half a decade in the past), this was completely commonplace. I’m being pickier on this evaluation than previous Polar critiques on these types of issues, as a result of Polar has to appreciate that after they improve their costs 50% from the earlier version, individuals count on these baseline options on a sports activities gadget.

After all you’ll be able to nonetheless create your individual exercises manually within the Polar platform, however for any coached athlete, or somebody following a coaching plan, doing that day by day is only a waste of time.

By way of issues like tempo stability whereas operating, I’ve had no points with that.

Likewise, I’ve had no points with show visibility in brilliant sunny situations (I’m in Florida for a couple of weeks, operating/biking/and so forth within the brilliant solar, and 0 issues in any respect). Once more, AMOLED shows of 2024 (and even 2022) merely don’t have visibility points in brilliant solar.

As soon as your exercise is full, you’ll faucet to pause, after which maintain for 3 seconds to finish the exercise. On the completion of this, you’ll get an entire slate of metrics to take a look at:

All of those metrics are additionally accessible on the Polar Circulation app (smartphone or web site), if you wish to dive into them.

Likewise, all of this information is then despatched to any third celebration apps you may use/authorize inside Polar Circulation, akin to Strava or TrainingPeaks (Word: Polar will ship information *TO* TrainingPeaks, however is not going to *RECEIVE* exercises from TrainingPeaks). Right here’s a current run, despatched to Strava:

Along with the per-workout evaluation, you’ll additionally get bigger tendencies by way of varied options in Polar’s platform. Beginning off with essentially the most primary of these stats, is your weekly abstract, which resets each Sunday night time:

I do want there was a neater technique to see my 7-day (trailing) coaching load. Resetting each Sunday night time isn’t tremendous useful come Monday morning.

After that, you’ve received your Cardio Load standing web page. This principally exhibits your present coaching load, versus your historic norm. Mine fluctuates up and down relying on the quantity I’ve. So in the intervening time, with a bunch of current journey, I’m barely under my present norms:

In instances the place my coaching has exceeded my norms, it’ll warn me that I’m in danger for harm.

After that, you’ve received day by day exercise strategies. In my case of those subsequent two photographs, I did an interval run earlier in that day, so now the suggestion is for a ‘Supportive’ exercise, which principally means stretching:

For lack of wherever else to place it, the Polar Grit X2 Professional can pair to Bluetooth Good sensors, particularly: Coronary heart Price sensors, Footpads, Operating Energy Meters (Stryd), Biking Energy Meters, Biking Velocity/Cadence sensors, and a few physique temperature sensors. It connects to the Sennheiser Momentum Sport headphones I not too long ago examined, and likewise pairs to the CORE Physique temperate sensor. Although, pairing to the CORE sensor didn’t appear to end in any information displaying up throughout my exercises. Unsure if that’s a bug or what.

You’ll be able to see right here for instance, paired to a biking energy meter, my information each on the watch mid-workout, however extra notably afterwards for evaluation:

Curiously, I simply pulled the latest experience to take a look at for the above screenshot, and this one had some odd dropouts, that I don’t see on the opposite bike computer systems/watches linked to that energy meter for this experience. I appeared again at each different experience of mine over the past two months, and none had dropouts, so…simply unhealthy luck that the primary (and solely) experience I went to seize a screenshot of, had a considerable energy drop-out (notice my pace/coronary heart fee are fixed on this pancake flat course, whereas the ability/cadence go to zero for like 30+ minutes):

With that, let’s change gears a bit into the navigation aspect of issues.

Navigation & Maps:

The Grit X2 Professional has onboard mapping and navigation, although the extent of navigation options you’ll get will differ significantly primarily based on which on-line route platform your route originates from (e.g., Komoot vs Strava). In my case, I put issues to the take a look at in a three-day trek utilizing the Grit X2 Professional to cross the Portuguese island of Madeira. This hike had some 17,000ft of elevation achieve over almost 100KM of trekking. It was epic, and I had deliberate my routes utilizing Komoot – and particularly gone right here to check the Grit X2 Professional’s navigation options.

To start, let’s begin with the maps. The Grit X2 Professional has preloaded US & European maps on them, at a so-called ‘Fundamental’ element stage. To get different map areas, you’ll merely go to Polar’s map web site, the place you’ll be able to select which maps you wish to obtain. That is additionally the place you’ll be able to choose to obtain extra detailed maps (which is what I exploit). All of that is completely free, identical to all of their rivals. Word that this does require a pc and USB connection, because the Grit X2 Professional doesn’t have WiFi on it (and there’s not sufficient bandwidth in Bluetooth to obtain these decision/sizes of maps).

When you’ve downloaded the map file, you merely drag the file onto the Polar Grit X2 watch, identical to you’d copy/paste a file from a thumbnail. Straightforward-peasy.

Whereas having to make use of a pc could also be annoying for some conditions, I do recognize that I can obtain smaller map chunks (particular person nations). Garmin forces you to obtain large units of nations, which is a strong ache within the ass once you journey to a brand new nation and overlook to obtain maps, and want to take action on the final minute on a crappy resort/mobile connection attempting to get down a 13GB map file (versus a a lot smaller 500-800MB map for simply the realm wanted).

So with maps all set, we will discuss routes. With the Grit X2 announcement, Polar introduced Strava Routes help, permitting you to push Strava routes to the Grit X2 Professional. This joins the present Komoot Routes help they’ve had for a couple of years now. The important thing distinction is that when utilizing Strava Routes, you WILL NOT get any turn-by-turn navigation help (only a breadcrumb path). Whereas with Komoot routes, you’ll get flip notifications (together with audio notifications for those who’ve received the Polar Circulation app in your telephone inside vary).

In any occasion, to get routes in your watch, you’ll choose them from the Polar Circulation dashboard (telephone or web site). Word that there’s a restrict of 100 ‘favorites’ synced to your watch (which incorporates each structured exercises and routes). That’s notable as a result of by default Polar will really sync *all* of your starred routes (which, might be each route) – and also you’ll insta-fill-up the watch. So simply remember after connecting that, you may must do some deselecting of all of the outdated junk you’ve nonetheless received in Strava (or Komoot).

In any case, I primarily used Komoot routes with the Grit X2 Professional, due to the truth that it helps turn-by-turn navigation. Whenever you first load up a route on the watch, it’ll present particulars concerning the route, and notably ask whether or not to start out the route from the start, center, or in reverse.

Round this level, it’ll additionally ask you to calibrate the compass (which is required for navigation). This requires literal wrist gymnastics, as you flip your wrist round in circles based on the prescribed dance steps. If the judges determine you didn’t do the dance transfer completely, you get to start out the whole recreation over.

Significantly, it’s annoying AF.

I can deal with doing this as soon as in a protracted whereas, however within the case of the Grit X2 Professional, you’re doing this consistently. On my multi-day hike I used to be doing this quite a few instances a day, and normally as a minimum superior time to do it. With out it, the map received’t orient, and also you received’t get flip instructions. So, it’s kinda mission vital. I requested Polar why this must be performed so usually (when a lot of the rivals don’t require it ever), they usually stated they’re working to seek out methods to cut back the frequency of how usually it must be performed. Once more, it’s the little issues that add up. Every by itself isn’t an enormous deal, however in combination they develop into an avalanche that wants mitigating.

Whereas navigating, you’ll see the newly up to date route on the display, displaying your prescribed path, together with the brand new arrows displaying the path of journey. The map will orient primarily based on the compass path, and the replace fee of the map oriented to the watch path (heading/compass) is fairly good.

As you method a flip you’ll get notified on the watch of the flip and the path of journey. When you’ve received your telephone with you, and the Polar Circulation app opened, it’ll additionally provide you with voice steerage. I favored this throughout my hike, because it was simply in my pocket and let me ignore the watch a bit extra (and likewise ensured I didn’t miss the excitement/beep).

When you go off-course, you’ll get a warning once you transcend the established course. As a result of the Grit X2 Professional doesn’t have so-called ‘routable maps’ onboard, it will possibly’t really route you on an alternate path again to the deliberate route. As an alternative, it simply exhibits that you simply’re off-course and hints you must in all probability undo no matter it’s that you simply (clearly) did improper.

As well as, with a route loaded, you’ll get a profile of the upcoming elevation, akin to under. This exhibits the place you’re, and the sections accomplished (the shaded sections). It additionally gives whole accomplished ascent/descent, and remaining deliberate ascent/descent.

Sadly, there’s a bug that misplaces the situation of your dot on the elevation graph (and thus, the shaded space) by a lot of kilometers. This meant the watch would say I used to be on the high of a climb, once I was really simply beginning the bottom of this 450-500m climb. This sample would repeat itself on just about each Komoot-based course/route I’ve used over the previous two months. At proper, under, Polar exhibits me descending down at this level, whereas in actuality, I’m very a lot slogging it up the climb Garmin exhibits on the left.

Curiously, after a couple of days of testing totally different variants, I discovered this bug solely confirmed up once I’d choose to start out a given route (any route) from ‘the beginning’, whereas if I chosen to start out it at “A midpoint”, it accurately positioned my dot.

Right here’s one other instance of the offset, the place I’ve very a lot been climbing some 900-1,000 meters already (as evidenced by the 932m on the Polar), but the elevation plot doesn’t present me in any respect on that climb (whereas the Garmin Epix at left, exhibits me about half-way up the primary climb portion.

Now, one notable change with the Grit X2 Professional (and likewise with the Vantage V3 on the newest firmware) in relation to mapping, is that you simply’ll see your historic monitor even for those who don’t have a route loaded. Additional, with a route loaded, once you go off-course, you’ll now see your historic monitor too. I used to be very vital of this very primary hole when the Vantage V3 launched final fall, and it’s good to see it fastened right here.

Talking of that map, you’ll be able to zoom in/out as you see match, in addition to pan. Polar says they’ve sped up the map render instances on the Grit X2 Professional & Vantage V3, resulting from some new optimizations that you simply affirm when the replace is first accomplished. These all appeared advantageous/regular to me, so I’ve received no complaints there. Realistically, you don’t are likely to zoom/pan the map on a watch a ton, relatively, you’ll simply double-check positioning with a fast look.

Lastly, let’s use this chance to speak about battery burn. A part of my curiosity in doing a multi-day hike was to see how effectively the battery dealt with. Polar claims 40-hours of battery life; may it obtain that in a typical hike?

In brief, no. However, that’s a caveated no. In my case, I gave it the very best probability potential. I turned off always-on show (so that you’d increase your wrist to see information, else, the display is black). However, I did have a route loaded. Nearly all of the time, the display was not on the map display, however on varied different information pages (both the elevation profile, or simply some pace/ascent screens):

In that configuration throughout the hike, right here’s how a lot battery was burned every day:

Polar Grit X2 Professional Battery Mountain climbing Battery Outcomes:
Day 1 – 12hr 50min: ~98% to 55% remaining
Day 2 – 9hr 49min: ~96% to 52% remaining (notice: Grit X2 Professional received unintentionally paused for an hour at one level at a break)
Day 3 – 7hr 4mins: 83% to 60% remaining

As you’ll be able to see, I charged it every day (usually within the morning after waking up). The watch fees moderately quick to about 90%, so it wasn’t too unhealthy. Nonetheless, as you’ll be able to see with primary math, I used to be primarily on-course for about 20-25hrs of battery per cost, relatively than the 40-hours. Polar says these 40 hours are with out navigation, whereas most individuals utilizing it for trekking are more likely to have navigation loaded.

For context, on the opposite wrist I had the Garmin Epix Professional (47mm, which is the middle-sized one), in an equivalent not-always-on mode and with the identical Komoot course loaded, and utilizing Auto-Choose/SatIQ for GPS accuracy. I attempted to maintain the 2 items on the identical tough information pages. That one has a claimed battery life in gesture mode of 20-32 hours (the vary is as a result of Garmin doesn’t specify ‘Auto-Choose’, however relatively compelled multi-band or not). Additionally they don’t specify the affect of navigation. Nonetheless, right here’s my battery stats:

Garmin Epix Professional Mountain climbing Battery Outcomes:
Day 1 – 12hr 50min: 95% to 45% remaining
Day 2 – 11hr 4min: 94% to 46% remaining (notice the longer exercise length vs above, resulting from unintentional Polar pausing)
Day 3 – 7hr 4mins: 84% to 50% remaining

Each watches had Bluetooth connectivity to my telephone enabled the whole time, although I turned off mobile a lot of the hike, so I didn’t actually have any smartphone notifications coming in. As you’ll be able to see, the battery life there was fairly shut, with a slight edge to the Polar by a couple of %. In terms of day by day battery life outdoors of that, the 2 watches are additionally primarily a wash at about 4-6ish days in always-on configurations (once more, the 47mm Epix, the bigger 51mm Epix has far more battery life).

Coronary heart Price Accuracy:

From an accuracy standpoint, we’ll begin on the guts fee sensor – which is among the areas that Polar stated they spent plenty of time engaged on. The {hardware} is, in fact, equivalent to the Polar Vantage V3, however the software program has had substantial algorithm updates. Curiously, that is the one space that I noticed large shifts throughout my testing interval. A lot in order that I’m actually solely information for this evaluation, because the last firmware launch about 5 weeks in the past.

For these checks, I’m a wide range of exercise eventualities, and evaluating them in opposition to each chest straps, different competitor watches, in addition to different sensor areas (together with optical bands just like the Polar Verity Sense and COROS Coronary heart Price band). These exercise eventualities embrace steady-state efforts, interval efforts, and doing so throughout a number of sport sorts.

We’ll begin off with this path run I did, as a great baselining second. This route was principally climbing steadily upwards for the primary hour, then a little bit of a descent (simpler, as a result of it was extra technical/steep cactus/cliff avoidance, and thus extra of a quick stroll), after which again to operating downhill the final 5-6KM. All of which is a good way to see how issues carry out.

I had the COROS Vertix 2S on one wrist (optical HR), the Polar Grit X2 Professional on the opposite wrist (optical HR), then a HRM-PRO Plus chest strap (linked to a Garmin Epix), in addition to COROS’s personal arm band HR sensor (linked to a Suunto Vertical). Plus, there was a Whoop 4.0 band within the combine too, although it’s not proven on this information set. Right here’s the information:

As you’ll be able to see, issues are actually darn good right here from each items. Frankly, this was the very best exercise I’ve seen thus far from the Polar Grit X2 Professional, in addition to the COROS Vertix 2s. There was just one transient second you see above the place the COROS Vertix 2S brain-farted and spiked the HR worth. I’m not fairly clear why, as nothing particular occurred then.

Subsequent up, we’ve received a sizzling and sweaty seaside run, which included some hills, however was additionally half interval run. I did the primary half steady-state (to the extent the hills would let me), after which did intervals each kilometer for the second half. Similar crew of watches as above, right here’s that information:

Right here we see a couple of wobbles from the Polar Grit X2 Professional, and one transient spike from the COROS Vertix 2S, however once more, these all did moderately effectively. Sadly, it’s all downhill from right here.

Subsequent, we’ve received a run again in Amsterdam, this time in cooler (however not chilly) wet climate. This was an fascinating run in that I did 2KM steady-state, then 250m as a tough interval. Rinse/repeat, for the whole run. Once more, similar crew of watches, however as you’ll be able to see fairly shortly – issues aren’t so sizzling.

This could not have been a tough run – heck, as I usually joke, even the Whoop band received it proper this time (principally). Granted, faraway from this graph is the horrific accuracy of the Sennheiser Momentum Sport optical HR headphones (as a result of it was so messy you couldn’t in any other case make sense of the opposite watches on this graph).

In any case, as you’ll be able to see, the Polar Grit X2 Professional & COROS Vertix 2S watches roughly missed each interval, in addition to some steady-state sections. As my 4-year outdated daughter would say “It was not stunning”.

Now, switching sport areas, right here’s a 3hr experience. This one was a foremost climb part for about 75 minutes or so, adopted by a steep descent, after which steady-state right into a strong wind whereas barely descending (so, nonetheless work). Similar crew of coronary heart fee sensors as above.

The Polar Grit X2 Professional (in gray) did fairly darn good right here really. A couple of minor wobbles on the descending parts, however that’s considerably regular, particularly given this descent was a bit spicy by way of pavement high quality, so I used to be gripping the bars tightly, whereas not really placing out plenty of coronary heart fee effort.

Right here’s one other experience – this time some intervals as you’ll be able to see. This was completely clean pavement, however you’ll be able to see the Polar Grit X2 Professional and COROS Vertix 2S nonetheless struggled a bit bit infrequently. Not horrifically although.

After I did one other experience a couple of days prior with faster-paced intervals, the Polar Grit X2 Professional positively struggled right here (in crimson).

Not as a lot because the COROS Vertix 2S struggled, however on the entire, each have been on the Wrestle Bus.

Subsequent, one other climb, and this time it sticks the touchdown completely on this 70 minutes of climbing part, the place all is completely advantageous. After all, it will get a bit messy for a bit throughout some descents within the center (after which advantageous once more as I get again to steady-state using), however on the entire it’s fairly good right here.

Total, together with principally day by day exercises for 2 months, the outcomes throughout the previous month have been good and positively improved, however not perfection-amazing both. There’s some instances the place it’s simply hard-wrong for no explainable cause. And whereas Polar says they’ve a brand new error correction characteristic within the unit to retroactively appropriate the information, not as soon as did I see that occur. In reality, I recorded just about each exercise with a secondary app that may take the reside coronary heart fee worth from the Polar Grit X2 Professional, in order that I may examine them afterwards to see any corrections. And it by no means occurred, even in apparent failure eventualities. For instance, there was that Amsterdam run above that failed actually badly. A case the place I ended for 20-30 seconds, standing completely nonetheless throughout a steady-paced run, and it was sustaining a excessive coronary heart fee (150bpm), regardless of all different gadgets being low (100-110bpm).

I’m not saying it doesn’t exist, as I feel it does, however relatively, the eventualities that set off the retroactive corrections are so few and much between that I’d simply assume it by no means really fixes something.

That stated, as I famous, nearly all of the operating exercises are fairly satisfactory, and fairly good. Biking is extra iffy although.

GPS Accuracy:

Subsequent, we’ve received GPS accuracy. The Polar Grit X2 Professional makes use of the identical GPS chipset because the Polar Vantage V3. Nevertheless, because of the totally different case design than the Vantage V3, it has a special antenna – which Polar particularly famous they labored on to enhance GPS accuracy in comparison with the Vantage V3. Bear in mind, in 2024, just about all these watches from all the most important endurance sports activities manufacturers are utilizing the identical GPS chipset, it’s the antenna design (and generally customized firmware) that make the distinction right here.

In any case, I’ve thrown all the pieces at this unit, from the the mountains of Madeira (together with tunnels that enter/exit a thousand ft alongside the aspect of a cliff), to cities, and extra mundane exercises.

Beginning off with the path run once more, this was principally open desert, besides one loop that was in a canyon with tall cliffs on all sides. As you’ll be able to see on the excessive stage, issues look fairly strong. Right here’s the information:

So let’s zoom in a bit. Once more, it may be laborious to see, however I’ve zoomed in on the part up in opposition to the cliffs. Right here we will see slight variations between the items, however solely by a couple of meters. Everybody did actually good right here.

About the one spot on this whole run you’ll be able to nitpick is that this transient second the place, beneath an overhang, the Polar Grit X2 Professional plotted a couple of factors off to the aspect, however actually, that’s tremendous nitpicky.

So let’s kick it up a notch. This time we’ve received a metropolis run in Amsterdam. The primary portion is comparatively simple, although it does embrace a large 8-12 lane freeway + 4 practice lane underpass, which all items nailed.

The opposite parts of the run earlier than the tall-building sections have been good too from most items, albeit the Polar did appear to wander a bit bit off the monitor. Not a lot, identical to a meandering toddler that’s not fairly holding onto its mother and father’ fingers (you need to zoom in above on the hyperlink).

In any case, the true meat of this run is the downtown constructing part, with tall buildings going upwards of 30 tales. I run up/down this stretch in just about each GPS watch take a look at I do.

Right here, the COROS Vertix 2S did very effectively (alongside the Garmin Epix Professional). The Polar Grit X2 Professional minimize some corners, and the Garmin Forerunner 965 additionally took a dip right into a constructing for a second. That is in all probability the very best efficiency COROS has ever had from any of their gadgets on this take a look at.

Subsequent, again into the mountains we go, this time on that 3-hour climb with an enormous slate of competing gadgets. That is the who’s-who of GPS bike computer systems. Right here’s a fast high-level map that principally doesn’t let you know something helpful, however I embrace it for context. Right here’s the information hyperlink.

Extra importantly, right here’s one of many switchback sections going up.

As you’ll be able to see, it’s just about equivalent to the opposite items on the market, so good job at low-speeds climbing up these steep switchbacks in opposition to rock cliffs.

After which equally, going again down, it nailed the descents on these higher-speed sections. That is notable, as a result of in inexperienced we’ve received the COROS Vertix 2S, which didn’t fairly nail the quicker/tighter turns. Thus, kudos to Polar right here.

At this level, I’ve received in all probability 45-50 GPS exercises on it, and all of them are principally the identical – no points, and general fairly strong GPS accuracy. I did although notice the Madeira mountains, so let’s pull in that information set for funsies. Only for context, right here’s the terrain we’re working with:

Enjoyable stuff, huh?

Now, I’ll notice that for these units, the Grit X2 Professional was technically on the Launch Candidate firmware. That stated, Polar famous there have been no GPS-related adjustments on this version (in comparison with last model that got here a pair days later). There have been coronary heart fee adjustments, which is why I solely included information from later units.

Trying on the first near-13-hour day, all three items have been very related. The denser the jungle and the steeper the terrain (generally 30-40% inclines), issues received extra variable, however nothing loopy totally different. A random part on Day 1:

Day 2 although noticed a number of variances, as I used to be within the areas with the large cliffs and tunnels. On this space (seen within the three photographs above), tunnels would principally traverse from one cliff face, beneath the mountain lots of of meters, to the opposite aspect of the mountain to a different cliff face. Consequently, you bought some fairly loopy GPS tracks, like this:

In these tunnel instances, the Polar Grit X2 Professional did completely advantageous. The Garmin Epix Professional really struggled every time on the ‘exit finish’ plotting the primary level accurately. Of notice right here is that I had the Garmin Epix Professional on ‘SatIQ’ mode, which saves battery life by switching between dual-frequency/multiband as wanted. Whereas the opposite three items have been all in compelled dual-freq/mulitband the whole time. In hindsight, it could have been fascinating to see if I had compelled the Epix Professional into multiband, if it’d have performed a greater job at catching the exit factors. As soon as it acquired the exit, it was completely advantageous once more.

In whole, there have been solely three of those tunnels, all the pieces else was boringly the identical. I’ll notice that the Polar Grit X2 Professional did have some substantial elevation offsets on the primary two days although (as seen within the information under), however given it wasn’t technically absolutely the last firmware, I’ll let that slide for now. I haven’t seen elevation offsets in another information units since (together with loads within the mountains).

Right here’s all three days, for these which are bored and wish to have a look at the routes in additional element:

GPS Comparability – Day 1
GPS Comparability – Day 2
GPS Comparability – Day 3

Oh wait, we’ve received yet one more factor: Openwater swimming!

I did a large set of some 14 GPS watches as a part of an Openwater Swimming GPS Watch Accuracy Extravaganza. That submit will go reside subsequent week, however right here’s the Polar Grit X2 Professional’s efficiency in that take a look at: Blah.

It did ok to keep away from touchdown within the ‘Failboat Finale’ class, however solely simply barely (severely, it in all probability was third from worst). Particularly, you’ll be able to see it clearly undercutting right here. This matched a few of my earlier swims with it as effectively, thus, the sample appears to be holding right here for not-awesome-but-not-horrible GPS accuracy on this unit.

What’s humorous is that for those who have been to take a look at the entire distances right here, you’d suppose they have been shut (Reference Buoy at 1.19km, Garmin Epix Professional at 1.19km, and Polar Grit X2 Professional at 1.16km). However what that overlooks is that the Polar monitor ‘gained’ distance resulting from all of the wobbles, although it clearly undercut the turns and corners.

That stated, except for openwater swimming, I’m fairly proud of the GPS efficiency of the Polar Grit X2 Professional, and don’t have any actual complaints there. It seems Polar has caught the touchdown on their antenna design, and GPS algorithms. Good job!

What’s The Path Ahead?

There’s no query that the Polar Grit X2 Professional is Polar’s finest watch thus far. It’s actually essentially the most gorgeous trying visually, and naturally, has essentially the most options of any of their watches launched to date too. I feel the leather-based band that comes with the Titan mannequin is totally gorgeous, arguably among the finest, if not the very best band included inbox on any sports activities watch in the present day. It appears to be like very sharp when not figuring out. Moreover, in the case of the software program aspect, there are some minor little upgrades which are a pleasant contact – akin to including the directional arrows in your routes throughout the map.

With the launch of the $750-$860 Grit X2 Professional, Polar seems to try to emulate a few of their rivals by providing a higher-end trying watch that has the identical options as their plastic-equipped variant (the Vantage V3, in Polar’s case). In any case, it accommodates the very same inner parts, chipsets, and even battery. It solely differs within the externally seen points, just like the case design and an upgraded glass on the display. With that distinction, Polar considerably elevated the value over not simply the Vantage V3, but in addition relative to the earlier Grit X Professional. Consequently, and easily put: This watch is effectively past overpriced. It’s not going to draw new clients to Polar, however solely tempt essentially the most loyal of present Polar followers. You’ll be able to’t launch a costlier product with considerably much less options and accuracy than the bottom Garmin Epix, which has been floating within the $550-$630 vary the previous couple of months. One may additionally have a look at the $699 COROS Vertix 2 collection, which additionally even consists of two totally different straps/bands in every field. The Suunto Race ($449) has just about equivalent maps to the Grit X2 Professional, because it’s actually from the identical supply. And Suunto has an app retailer on the watch, and I’d argue a greater smartphone app too, particularly for navigation.

In some ways, at a software program stage, the Grit X2 Professional jogs my memory a little bit of the Garmin Intuition 2 when it was launched two years in the past. It was shut, but in addition not prepared – and had quite a few bugs. Some minor, some extra notable. Issues like Polar’s improper upcoming elevation profile are annoying, however not a deal-breaker. Similar goes for the superior sleep-related metrics failures many skilled since launch, that seems resolved with most up-to-date replace. Stuff like this are comparatively simple issues to repair (given they have been working beforehand on different Polar gadgets), identical to it was for the Garmin Intuition 2 collection. So I’m much less fearful about these things.

To Polar’s govt group, I’ve a couple of ideas which may be value contemplating. First, you should change the pricing of this watch, and the Vantage V3. It’s not likely debatable, and undoubtedly, your pre-sales numbers vs expectations possible exhibit this. For distinction, we noticed competitor Suunto take a a lot totally different pricing method going from Suunto Vertical to Suunto Race, and it’s clearly paid off. Second, you should give attention to closing the hole on headliner navigation options individuals count on of a navigation watch that prices $750-$870. That features some type of ClimbPro-type characteristic. That features extra avenue/names/and so forth particulars on the map. But it surely additionally consists of extra nuanced AMOLED display-related options that Suunto, Garmin, Apple, Fitbit, and plenty of others have round higher sleep modes/show brightness, higher flashlight modes/interactions, and extra. And at last, for those who’re attempting to get the athletes, in 2024 (and even 2020) individuals count on options like TrainingPeaks structured exercise integration to the watch.

Undoubtedly, this evaluation will sound unfavorable. Positive, it’s largely a ok watch. It navigated me principally advantageous by way of a multi-day trek within the mountains. And over the past two months it’s captured each considered one of my exercises with out crashing. However “ok” doesn’t work in in the present day’s aggressive panorama, particularly at these costs. When priced past the market norms, you need to: Excel in options, or excel in accuracy, or excel in materials development, or excel in premium model worth. I wrestle to see which class the Grit X2 Professional can verify that field in, relative to both their like-priced, or cheaper rivals.

Hopefully, they’ll exhibit a forward-looking roadmap on how they’re going to shut each the characteristic and accuracy gaps, if not replace their pricing scheme. Because the competitors over the following 3-6 months is just going to get (considerably) stiffer.

Thanks for studying.