Polar Grit X2 Pro: Is This the Smartwatch That Lost Its Way?

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The Polar Grit X2 Pro: A Solid Multisport Watch That Feels Stuck in Time

Polar has long been a trusted name in the world of multisport watches, particularly among dedicated athletes. Their focus on accurate fitness metrics, robust GPS capabilities, and impressive battery life has earned them a loyal following. However, in an increasingly competitive market where smartwatches are evolving rapidly, the Polar Grit X2 Pro finds itself in a precarious position – caught between its traditional strength in fitness tracking and the growing demand for smart features.

While the Grit X2 Pro boasts upgrades like improved sensors, a larger display, dual-frequency GPS, EKG functionality, offline maps, and USB-C charging, these advancements feel overshadowed by the strides made by competitors in the past few years. This leaves the watch, priced at $749.95, feeling somewhat dated and lacking in the features that modern users have come to expect from a premium smartwatch.

A Focus on Fitness, But Limited Smart Features

The Grit X2 Pro excels at what Polar does best – providing comprehensive fitness tracking data. With its extended battery life (lasting roughly 8 to 10 days on a single charge), the watch diligently tracks various metrics including heart rate, sleep quality, activity levels, and workout performance. It even includes a Sleep Boost feature aimed at predicting times of optimal alertness, although its accuracy can be inconsistent.

However, when it comes to smart features, the Grit X2 Pro lags behind. While it offers basic notifications and alarms, it lacks the more sophisticated functionality present in other high-end smartwatches. For instance, there’s no offline music playback, forcing users to rely on their phones for music control. Contactless payments are also absent, a significant drawback for those who desire convenience when venturing out for training or errands.

Furthermore, while the watch includes EKG functionality, it doesn’t offer atrial fibrillation detection, which has become a standard feature in many competitor smartwatches. This omission, coupled with the lack of other smart features like voice assistants, fall detection, or LTE connectivity, makes the Grit X2 Pro feel less appealing to users who seek a smartwatch as an everyday companion.

A Premium Design That Doesn’t Stand Out

Aesthetically, the Grit X2 Pro boasts a sleek and durable design with stainless steel and sapphire glass construction. Yet, within the crowded smartwatch market, it fails to stand out significantly. Compared to the stylish Garmin Fenix 7S Pro Solar or the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Grit X2 Pro’s design feels somewhat generic and lacks the same level of refinement.

The watch faces, while functional, don’t fully leverage the advantages of the OLED display and fall short of the elegance one might expect at this price point. While the navigation buttons provide a tactile experience, it requires some getting used to, and the overall interface can feel clunky compared to the more intuitive swiping gestures found on other smartwatches.

A Familiar Weakness: A Clunky User Experience

One of the longstanding criticisms directed at Polar watches is the user experience, and unfortunately, the Grit X2 Pro doesn’t fully break this trend. The accompanying Polar Flow app, though packed with data, feels cluttered and outdated. This can make navigating and interpreting information a tedious task, particularly for users who aren’t already familiar with the Polar ecosystem.

The watch’s interface, though functional, often feels outdated. The button-based navigation can feel cumbersome, especially when compared to the intuitive touchscreen interfaces found on other smartwatches. This can be particularly frustrating when trying to quickly access certain features or information.

The Competition: A Better Value Proposition?

The real challenge for the Grit X2 Pro comes from the competition. At its $750 price point, the watch faces stiff competition from smartwatches that offer a more compelling overall experience.

The Garmin Fenix 7S Pro Solar, for example, provides everything the Grit X2 Pro offers, plus significant advantages like solar charging, offline Spotify and YouTube Music integration, Garmin Pay, fall detection features, and more comprehensive EKG tracking with AFib detection.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2, while tailored to Apple users, offers a rich third-party app ecosystem, LTE connectivity, superior smartphone integration, car crash and fall detection, music streaming, and a more user-friendly interface. The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is expected to offer a comparable experience for Android users.

With so many alternatives available, it’s hard to justify the Grit X2 Pro’s price tag when comparable smartwatches offer a more comprehensive feature set and a more modern user experience.

A Niche Appeal for Polar Enthusiasts

It’s not entirely unreasonable to argue that Polar isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel with the Grit X2 Pro. Their focus has always been on providing detailed fitness tracking and robust battery life. If those are the only criteria that matter to you, the Grit X2 Pro certainly delivers. However, it’s difficult to ignore the increasing demand for smarter features from a premium smartwatch.

Perhaps the Grit X2 Pro is best suited for dedicated Polar users who prioritize in-depth fitness data and long battery life. For those seeking a smartwatch that seamlessly integrates with their daily lives and offers a wealth of smart features, the Grit X2 Pro may disappoint.

In the end, the Grit X2 Pro is a capable multisport watch that excels in its core functionality. But its lack of significant innovation and its high price point make it a tough sell in a market overflowing with more versatile and intelligent alternatives.

Article Reference

David Green
David Green
David Green is a cultural analyst and technology writer who explores the fusion of tech, science, art, and culture. With a background in anthropology and digital media, David brings a unique perspective to his writing, examining how technology shapes and is shaped by human creativity and society.