It’s the Polar Ignite 3 is the first Polar watch with an AMOLED screen. And it definitely has a glow contrast to the monochrome displays that Polar’s models typically feature.
The watch has an impressive collection of fitness functions in the light body that have made me get up and pay close attention after having used other Polar trackers in the past.
However, the software that comes with Ignite 3 Ignite 3 is so basic and is lagging so much it is difficult to recommend. Add to that the fact that at $329.95/PS289/EUR329.90 it’s more expensive than the Apple Watch SE, and Polar is fighting a losing battle with the casual, fashion-conscious buyer it’s trying to attract here.
However, you might like the features of Polar over those of Apple Watch. Apple Watch. This makes the Ignite 3’s shortcomings all the more disappointing because it could have been an excellent fitness watch.
Design & Build
- Very light
- Great AMOLED screen
- Four color options
The Polar Ignite 3 is a extremely simple design watch with an elongated touchscreen and one button on the left to switch between menus, or to pause and close exercises.
It is available in the black and sand purple, and brown copper colors. Each of them, oddly enough, have different casing finishes that include lattice, grooves, smooth and scored in different ways and you should look out which you like best.
The straps are made of silicone, with a standard buckle as well as a loop that you can put the strap into the strap when you wear. They are smooth inside, but have an engraved texture on the outside, which I don’t like because it is rough and holds dirt and (sorry) the skin’s particles which can make it look dirty.
They are 20mm wide and are easily swapped out in the event that you prefer to use different models purchased from the Polar online shop. I have reviewed the black model that is very plain, but it is ideal to create a chic style.
It’s the best. Ignite 3 is amazingly lightweight and is just 35 grams with the strap. This is amazing considering that the watch has an in-built heart rate sensor as well as integrated in GPS which is one of the main reasons to purchase it because you can be able to forget that you’re wearing it. It’s an extremely comfortable and friendly watch I’ve ever worn at night to keep track of my sleep and other larger smartwatches are difficult to use (literally). It’s one of the thinnest watches equipped with GPS out on the market.
The feathery feel is due to the fact it’s 1.2in display is quite small, however I still found it big enough to be able to read the time and statistics while out and out and about, tracking runs and walks.
It’s also water-proof up to 30 meters.
Software and performance
- Laggy and frustratingly slow
- No mobile payments
- Simple tile-based data
I’ve previously reviewed several other Polar watches prior to this however this one is more frustrating with Ignite 3. Ignite 3. While it is true that the Ignite has the AMOLED screen that feels luxurious in comparison to the monochrome memory in pixels (MIP) screen of something similar to that of the Polar Pacer but the lack of buttons and the slow software makes the Ignite difficult to work with.
While the Pacer and the other Polar models have buttons that allow you swiftly navigate through the Polar’s software menus in the absence of a touchscreen and the Ignite 3 requires you make use of a touchscreen. However, the internals with low power can’t keep up with the demand, which results in an extremely sluggish and unresponsive experience for the watch that can be quite annoying.
Swiping up to see notifications result in an utter stutter. I’m not happy the fact that you cannot use the touchscreen to start it up. It is necessary to have lift the device in order to wake it or hit on the button to side.
This can be a source of stress when you’re working out in conjunction with the fact that there’s no fully-on display that is always on. This means that when you are running, for instance, you have to raise the watch towards your face in order to see your pace, time and other important statistics, but the watch is either unaware that it has been elevated or is slow to turn on the display.
As compared to other running watches that display stats continuously or are flexible and responsive, Ignite 3 isn’t as responsive. Ignite 3 is wearisome to use as it’s not able to cope with even my basic requirements.
It’s got only the 192MHz CPU and five megabytes of RAM, a bare minimum required for devices with smaller resolution screens but with the Ignite’s luminous AMOLED, it’s not going to be enough to keep up with.
Fortunately, scrolling to the left or right of the clock’s display is easy, as it moves through the full-screen tiles of weather, activity as well as sleep features, like the ‘today’s suggestions’ panel.
Fitness and health tracking
- The GPS tracking is a bit off.
- There are a variety of workout styles
- Sleep stage tracking in detail
Ignite 3 Ignite 3 is not a smartwatch. It’s a fitness tracker that comes with GPS tracking and a good collection of health features as well as some nice features like customizable watch faces.
It can monitor walking, running or cycling, HIIT training sessions such as indoor cycling, swimming treadmill running as well as fitness training, hiking mountain biking, and more. However, you can choose general indoor or outdoor activities when the activity you’re engaging in isn’t mentioned. This will nevertheless ensure that your cardiovascular rate as well as GPS movement will be monitored if required in order for you to track your workout.
I frequently used the watch during a period of time as my daily watch, and to keep track of long runs and hikes. Apart from my performance concerns I’ve described the Ignite 3 does excellent job at actual tracking. However, when I focused in on the GPS overlay of the trail for some of my run, I noticed that the trail cut corners, indicating I crossed greens I didn’t, or even gained the ability to be able to run into walls.
Although I’d love to this, it’s a feature I don’t have. Ignite 3 and the Apple Watch SE and Polar Pacer (both cheaper than Ignite 3) performed better in my tests. It’s unfortunate, particularly considering it’s the Polar has Dual-band GPS which is supposed to be more precise.
Its Polar Flow app you sync the watch to on Android or iOS has a slight learning curve since it’s not the easiest application, but once you look at your exercise routine you can see a clear detailed view of information such as zones and heart rate and the pace by distance or elevation change in calories burned, and an entire GPS map that includes distance markers.
I have found that the GPS can stay connected and seldom if ever disconnects. When I look at the results in Polar Flow, I am confident that the Ignite 3 will monitor the activities I am doing precisely and this helps in wanting to keep wearing it and relying on the information it offers.
Battery life and charging
- Battery life of up to a day
- Proprietary charge cable
- There is no wall plug in box
Ignite 3 Ignite 3 has reasonably good battery longevity. It is recommended that you have to recharge it every about four days and usually include two or three sessions of more than one hour. The use of the GPS to go on outdoor adventures will require more battery, but it will last for at most three days in my experience.
The battery’s life began out slightly erratic, but it slowed out after a couple of weeks. It’s drains slightly during the night however this is normal when you’re monitoring heart rate and movement. It’s even more irritating that it drains at the same speed, even if I didn’t wear it.
It is charged using the USB-A cable that is a proprietary one that is attached to the back. It has no wall outlet in the box, however you can use it to charge using an adapter you may have have or in the USB-A port on your computer.
Price & availability
The Polar Ignite 3 costs $329.95/PS289/EUR329.90 direct from Polar.
This is quite expensive considering the Polar Pacer has most of the same features for $199.95/PS169.50/EUR199.90, though it lacks the Ignite 3’s AMOLED screen.
Its Apple Watch SE is an excellent alternative and a more affordable purchase with its $249/PS259/EUR299 asking price, and has far better features for a smartwatch, however it’s battery lasts only one day. Also, you could look into the $399/$449 Garmin Venu 2 Plus If you are looking for a great combination of exercise and a smartwatch, and have some extra money for spending.
Verdict
The Polar Ignite 3 is a compact and powerful GPS fitness device that is ideal for those at the less casual end of the fitness spectrum. It’s got a lightweight appearance, and a gorgeous AMOLED screen, as well as a good long-lasting battery.
However, the application is so slow and sluggish that it completely ruins the experience of wearing the watch every day. It can be inflexible and annoying to use, as well as regular annoyances, such as being slow for the display to come up upon you lift your arm to check whether it’s time to go or your exercise routine. The absence of a fully-always-on display is unsettling for this price, and especially with OLED technology.
It’s a great option for those who you would like one of the slimmest fitness watches that has GPS and the benefit of not needing to charge each day. However, there are better alternatives out available for the money.
