The Polar A300 fitness watch appeared on the wearable electronics market three years ago, immediately winning the hearts and wallets of sports fans. One of the first heart rate trackers at a relatively low price will become an indispensable training partner.

The model can serve as either a regular (very accurate) pedometer and physical activity counter, or an advanced training assistant using a number of additional sensors and an application.

Technical specifications

The device was released in 2015 - almost an eternity ago for current electronics. You shouldn't expect the Polar A300 to have the capabilities of a modern smartwatch - it's a specialized gadget that does its job well.

The characteristics of the device look like this:

• OLED screen with a diagonal of 0.5 inches and a resolution of 28x64;
• processor with a clock frequency of 90 MHz;
• RAM 16 MB, built-in 4 MB;
• Duration of uninterrupted operation - up to a month;
• connection with a smartphone or computer via Bluetooth 4.0/USB.

Polar A300 is optimized for long, trouble-free operation, constantly collecting data about your activities. All the clutter is stripped away to give you another day of use without charging, or an extra hour of uninterrupted heart rate tracking.

Screen design and performance

The Polar A300 White/Black watch has a minimalist design typical of electronic devices of the 90s. A simple silicone strap with six colors to choose from, a black and white screen, five large function buttons on the side panels. The OLED display has extremely low power consumption and sharp images, but the black and white color gives designers very little wiggle room.

Compared to LCD displays, OLED technology based on organic light-emitting diodes boasts instant response, almost complete absence of the concept of “viewing angle”, and a permissible temperature range from −40 to +70 °C. The disadvantages are the relatively low service life (up to 5 years) and the price of using the technology.

The device screen is always on, showing the time, date, charge level and goal completion. Bright lighting will help in the early morning or late at night - the manufacturer recommends wearing the device around the clock for accurate statistics collection.

Equipment and assembly

The gadget comes in two versions with a sensor Polar H7 and without it. Keep in mind that the sensor is a big part of the price and the reason to buy this tracker, be sure to check availability in the store or check with the seller.

In addition to the sensor, the package contains the watch itself, Polar A300 instructions, and a charging extension cord. Nothing unusual or interesting was found.

According to reviews, some users do not like the watch strap due to its stickiness and unpleasant texture. The “sticky” layer disappears after some time after use, but if wearing the watch is completely unpleasant, straps for the device can be purchased from third-party manufacturers.

Watch functionality

The basis of the Polar A300 HR functionality is its synchronization with a proprietary application Polar Flow, running on mobile operating systems iOS and Android, as well as desktop Windows and MacOS. When connecting, the user is led through the account registration procedure and activation of the gadget linked to the online diary.

The setup is quite complicated for beginners; before use, we advise you to review the instructions for use and thematic forums.

The main set of functions includes:

1. Pedometer.
2. Calorie counter.
3. Odometer (distance meter).
4. Physical activity counter.
5. Sleep monitoring and smart alarm clock.
6. Customizable set of notifications.

Once set up, the device will automatically track your chosen training pace. Long-term planning with increasing load through the application is possible.

Combined with an optional heart rate sensor, the device can track aerobic and anaerobic training zones, changing the rhythm of work from maintaining fitness and burning fat to serious training and building muscle mass.

Heart rate sensor

In 2018, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of fitness tracker models with a heart rate sensor on the wearable electronics market at a price three to four times lower. Why buy a device released three years ago today? To answer, you will have to delve a little deeper into the operating principles of modern heart rate monitors.

Not so long ago, the pulse on “civilian” devices was measured in the only way - a sensor located near the heart. This made it possible to collect data with high accuracy and minimal energy consumption. The Polar A300 HR heart rate monitor has exactly this type of sensor, which is attached to the chest on a special belt before training.

Modern fitness trackers use a different trick - they illuminate the skin in contact with the inside of the watch bracelet with a green laser, removing the pulsation of the blood. This allows you to abandon bulky sensors and obtain statistics at any time, on the fly.

But the accuracy and response time of chest sensors is still higher. They don't need to turn on the laser every five seconds to get up-to-date information. The chest heart rate monitor also lasts much longer, and the information is transmitted to the watch via Bluetooth. The sensor is waterproof, like the watch, and works great while swimming.

Fitness test

The target audience of the device is people who want to exercise to maintain their health. The Polar A300 smartwatch allows you to conduct a standard fitness test that will assess your physical condition and help you create a training program.

The test will only take a few minutes. Based on the results, you can evaluate your progress since your last workout and reconfigure the “red” zones of the scales based on your current condition.

Autonomy

Thanks to energy-saving technologies, screen and components, the A300 model can work without recharging for up to a month. An excellent result for a device with a display. One of the main competitors is Xiaomi Mi Band 2, released in 2017, with similar parameters it only holds a charge for 2 weeks. Battery life varies depending on how often you use Bluetooth and your workouts. Due to constant screen activity, the deadline will always be approximately the same (plus or minus a week).

The device is partially autonomous and can work in the absence of a smartphone, saving data to the internal memory. In conjunction with a smartphone, Polar A300 will work as a personal trainer, signaling when you are insufficiently active or sitting at the computer for too long.

Advantages and disadvantages

The price and characteristics of the Polar A300 speak about the pros and cons of the gadget better than any words. The well-known manufacturer of fitness devices did not try to create a cheap machine that does everything and is poorly made. The Polar tracker is a specialized device that will help you create a training program, maintain rhythm in your workouts, and track your own health. None of the competing straps for $100 or less will give you anything close.

Cons - outdated pulse collection technology, which, despite its accuracy, is quite inconvenient. The device itself has not wanted to fall in price for the third year, successfully selling and updating even after the release of new models.

The application settings and working with heart rate are quite complicated for beginners, so we absolutely do not recommend the device as a first smart watch or fitness bracelet. First, decide whether you need this device and what exactly it is for.

• Operating system: Android Wear™
• Compatibility: Smartphones running Android 4.3 and later, iPhone 5 and later running iOS 8.2 and later
• Processor: MediaTek MT2601, 1.2 GHz dual-core processor based on ARM Cortex-A7 core
• Memory: 4 GB internal storage + 512 MB RAM
• Display: 1.30", 240 x 240 pixels, 260 ppi TFT display, Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3
• Battery: 500 mAh
• Battery life: 2 days / 8 hours of training (with Android phone), 1 days / 8 hours of training (with iPhone)
• Heart rate sensor: Optical heart rate measurement with 6 LEDs
• Sensors: Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, vibration drive, microphone
• Waterproof: Can be used while swimming, 10 meters, IPX8
• Weight: 63 g
• Connectivity: Bluetooth® 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
• Dimensions: 45x36x13 mm
• Physical buttons: 2 buttons: power button and front button for quick workout control
• Bracelets: Silicone, black or white
• Location: GPS and GLONASS
• Language support: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin), Japanese, Indonesian, Korean, Thai

Polar is known for its sports watches, and they appeared long before the boom of smartwatches. Polar has always catered to a relatively small niche of those who are serious about sports and want data on their workouts. The company's competitors were such manufacturers as Suunto, Garmin. The changing smartwatch market forced the company to abandon the old approach; it became necessary to increase the number of functions in the initially sports watches, in particular, to add notifications from a smartphone. For example, the flagship Polar V800 watch received notifications a long time ago, but only after a year and a half of improvements did this function begin to work more or less tolerably.

Five years ago, anyone who wanted to keep track of how they were doing their sport was limited in their choice of smartwatches, which were proudly called sports computers. High cost, lack of a large number of alternatives, primarily in terms of the cost of devices - all this made this market very narrow and niche, a sort of cabal. Polar performed very well in it; the old audience makes up the core of buyers today. The market has changed, and Polar reacts very slowly to these changes and still lives in the old reality. The Polar M600 watch is an attempt to rework the V800 model for a new reality, which cannot happen painlessly. This is the first Polar watch on Android Wear, the choice of this open platform is due to the ease of its integration, but we must remember that Google itself has slowed down its development, and many companies have refused to use it. An attempt to cross a snake with a hedgehog led to the loss of developments characteristic of the V800, and the new functions introduced by Android Wear do not distinguish this watch from any other. At a noticeably high cost, the watch turned out to be suspended in the air. Old audiences who loved Polar won't get much enjoyment out of the M600, and new audiences won't understand what they're paying that kind of money for. We'll return to the issue of positioning a little later, but for now let's take a closer look at the watch.

Design, control elements

The watch can be purchased on a black or white strap, while the main unit is no different; it is black, with a metal edging on the sides.

The silicone strap is comfortable, it has a metal buckle and two strap locks. The size will suit almost everyone, the strap is universal. The downside is that its entire surface is covered in grooves; they are very small, and dust gets stuck in them. Over time, the side edges are wiped off, and smooth, licked areas appear. The edges seem to be greasy.

The watch capsule is threaded into the bracelet; this design is typical for inexpensive sports bracelets; almost no one uses it in watches. Usually sports or smart watches have a different design, but here it is simplified as much as possible.

This approach dictates the appearance of the watch; it is in the Polar style, it is easy to recognize it as a sports model, but it is by no means an accessory for every day. It looks awkward during the day unless you wear workout clothes all the time. These are specialized watches for sports; they cannot be considered as a universal solution.

As they say, all markers have different tastes and colors; I usually don’t dwell on the design of the devices, since everyone’s perception of this parameter is different. But if we talk about this case, I think it is important to emphasize that the design is to some extent from the past, it is very different from what we see in similar products from different companies.

The IPX8 protection standard allows you not only to wash your hands while wearing the watch, but also to swim with it, including diving to a depth of 10 meters. For some, this may be an argument in favor of this watch.

There are two keys on the watch, on the left side and just below the screen. The buttons are quite stiff and it’s not very easy to press them while running. The side key turns the device on/off; it is also responsible for the screen backlight; it can be dimmed or made brighter for a while (triple press). But the central key is needed to start or stop a workout.

The touch screen is small, its diagonal is 1.3 inches, and its resolution is 240x240 pixels. It is quite comfortable for viewing information both indoors and outdoors; the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 is slightly curved and glares, but this does not cause problems.

The fonts on the screen are small, this is a limitation of both the diagonal and the platform itself, so in the main training modes the information is displayed in an enlarged size, which is convenient.

The charging lanyard is similar to the one used in the V800, many users of this model complain that it falls apart over time. The design is completely identical, so we can assume that there will be something similar here too. Charging the battery from the computer takes approximately 2 hours. The operating time varies greatly depending on which smartphone you synced the watch with. Thus, the manufacturer claims only one day of work with the iPhone, but with Android smartphones it is two days. In both cases, training can take up to 8 hours; there is an optical sensor that measures heart rate.

On average, my watch lasted about 2 days with notifications from my phone (Galaxy S7 EDGE). Considering that the screen is almost always off, this is very little.

Using the Polar M600 with an iPhone gives you less options, and it's not just the battery life. So, the watch cannot use Wi-Fi, there is no downloading of additional applications (!), you cannot reply to SMS, there is no typing, there are no templates for rejecting incoming calls, you cannot make calls from the watch, sending mail is also impossible, but viewing mail is possible only from a GMail mailbox, other mailboxes are not supported. It's also not possible to listen to music from the M600's memory when used with an iPhone. In a word, there are so many restrictions that it’s easier to forget about the M600 in conjunction with an iPhone; this is not the most interesting option for use with an Apple product.

Watch connection – Android Wear and Polar Flow, sports modes

Since this is a symbiosis of two systems, they exist in parallel, practically without intersecting with each other. Android Wear is responsible for notifications and applications; there is a familiar interface, and there are no special features in it. For Polar Flow to work, you must first install Android Wear, otherwise there will be no synchronization.

But the Polar Flow application already allows you to plan training, outline your plans and look at your achievements. The web version has more information than the Android app, but even here you can choose almost any workout, except triathlon (available in the V800). Running, cycling, swimming, various exercises in the gym, strength training - all this is included in the watch, and this is a big plus for them. It would be hard to call the interface simple, but you can get an analysis of what you did and a fairly detailed debriefing.

The workout is activated by the center key, depending on the training calendar and time, this may be what you have selected in advance, or the default workout (this also changes). If you are using the built-in GPS, then when starting up you should wait until the watch sees the satellites; this will not happen indoors for obvious reasons. The heart rate sensor also starts working, it starts noticeably faster than GPS, it takes about 15 seconds.

For those who run, it will be a disappointment that the watch can only set laps automatically; in manual mode it is impossible to indicate the lap time. Why? No one knows. There is no information about incline when running or riding, which makes the watch surprising, in this price group it is a common feature.

The watch has its own memory for your data, it is 4 GB (2.6 GB is available to you). You can download music, connect wireless headphones - no problems. This is not possible on iPhone; music only works with Android smartphones.

The quality of the heart rate sensor (6 LEDs) is typical for such devices and does not differ from other Polar models. It is inferior to cardio belts, a miracle could not happen here. The question is how much precision do you need. For most people who are recreational runners or use such devices for fitness, the sensor's accuracy is sufficient.

The Polar website states that the watch tracks your activity 24/7, to me that means it not only counts steps but also measures your heart rate, but it doesn't! Heart rate is measured only during the workout you started. It would not be amiss to say that most sports and smart watches have long learned to measure heart rate throughout the day, and this does not in any way affect the operating time. There is a clear gap in the capabilities of the Polar M600.

Conclusion

The Polar M600 watch turned out to be very unique; at a price of $330 in the USA (28,000 rubles in Russia), it is impossible to perceive it as a competitor to many existing models. This isn't your average Android Wear smartwatch, but it's not your typical Polar sports watch either. I didn’t like this product, there are enough reasons for this - the design, lack of heart rate measurement 24/7, short operating time and the need to constantly charge them. And Android Wear itself seems to me not very suitable for such products, although someone may have a different opinion. This is a product for the "old" Polar audience that knows the company and for some reason loves it. As an example, here is a letter from one of our readers:

“Hello, Eldar.

Sorry for using “you”, but I’ve been reading you since 2002, and it feels like we’ve known each other for a hundred years.

In Digestive I heard your opinion about Polar watches and that you want to spend time talking about them. It seemed to me that you did not have complete information, and I decided to express a few thoughts. Perhaps they will complete the picture.

To begin with, I must say that Polar’s ​​flagship today is the Polar V800. And this is not even an accessory, but, I would say, a device. A device, a tool that allows you to control and develop training. The watch was released in 2014, and only 1.5 years later its firmware was updated, allowing it to receive notifications from the phone. That is, initially they were not even smart watches. And to be honest, none of them are smartwatches. There is no variety of dials, programs, dialers, and other whistles. It’s impossible to read the entire message, everything is very truncated, but look what they have: work without charging for up to a month, GPS can guide you along a route, the monochrome screen can be read in any position and lighting, the ability to connect speed, cadence, power sensors (this is for cyclists), chest heart rate sensor (don’t rush to say that this is the last century. In addition to higher accuracy, this is the only solution that allows you to attach a watch to the handlebars of a bicycle, and receive heart rate readings, as well as see the parameters of the trip - speed, distance, gradient, and 3 dozen more data that you need on your trip). There is a fitness test that allows you to evaluate your progress in training (calculates oxygen consumption). And the most important thing, which even Garmin does not have, is a recovery chart. When training regularly, it is important not to overtrain, and Polar helps you train in the most effective zone. This uses data collected from users over many years. The price, of course, is high from the point of view of smart brothers. From the official seller - 27 thousand. In Europe - 280 euros. But this is a slightly different segment. By the way, Polar has its own ecosystem, everything there - from storing training data, to analyzing results, and “friendship” with fellow sports fans. True, the development of this ecosystem in the “social” aspect of Polar is somewhat behind the times. But this is compensated by the automatic reset of all data in Strava. And there everything is in order.

I still remember. When the watch appeared, it didn't even sync with the phone. Only with a wire to the PC. Then the process of “improvement” went on for a very long time. First, we made it possible to synchronize with iOS. A few months (months!!!) later we reached Android. There were many problems that were resolved with updates. There are no plans at all with Winmobile. And here I agree that Polar has been doing all this for a very long time, and obviously there are no (or few?) specialists in working with mobile OSes. Although, on the other hand, now there are no problems synchronizing with the phone. Although the work with notifications remains “scrappy”.

But on the other hand, all modern smartwatches (I myself wear a Gear s2 Classic in everyday life) of the “sports” functions, in fact, only have a pedometer. And there is simply nothing to replace the V800 with. Well, if only Garmin is comparable in terms of bells and whistles.

The appearance of a new product - the M600 - is rather an attempt to keep up with the times. There, a good half of the functions are “cut down” compared to the V800.

But this is more of a civilian version. For notifications and pedometer :).

Although, in addition, the ability to download and analyze all the data in the Polar ecosystem has not gone away.

Thank you if you read to the end.

Sincerely,
Alexander".

As for me, Alexander’s letter places the accents very correctly; in the Polar M600 much remains of the flagship, and this is a plus of this device. But it is only suitable for those who want to study seriously, and here the question arises: why do you need a connection with a smartphone and all these notifications? For a similar amount you can buy a V800 and use it during training, but this is also not a watch for every day. In short, the Polar M600 is a strange compromise that clearly will not be in great demand on the market.

The Finnish company Polar was created in 1975, when mobile heart rate monitoring tools did not exist. But already in 1979 she patented the world's first wireless heart rate monitor, and in 1982 - a wireless heart monitor. Since then, the training regimen of athletes around the world has changed qualitatively.

Today, anyone can buy a portable Polar heart rate monitor, including in the form of super popular smart watches and bracelets. The manufacturer produces a huge range of models for both professional athletes and ordinary people leading an active lifestyle.

The lineup

• Sports watch Polar V800 (HR).

Professional model from a Finnish manufacturer. These Polar watches are supplied with a heart rate monitor (an additional option), made in the form of a chest strap. They are also equipped with a built-in GPS module, an activity counter, support for cycling sensors and more than 20 sport profiles - from simple running to triathlon.

• Smart watch Polar M600.

The most innovative model and the world's first fitness tracker based on Android Wear OS. The main feature of the device is the built-in optical heart rate sensor. It does not require wearing a chest strap to operate. In essence, this Polar model is a heart rate monitor with a watch that can be worn anytime and anywhere as a stylish accessory. The case is waterproof, and the color screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. There is support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS.

• Smart watch Polar M430.

A simplified version of the previous model with a small monochrome display and no Wi-Fi. But the most important thing has been preserved - the built-in optical heart rate sensor, as well as GPS and the basic functions of a fitness tracker. Another nice feature is the price; the Polar M430 heart rate monitor costs 25% less than its “big brother”.

• Smartwatches M400 and A300.

They differ from the previous version in the absence of a built-in heart rate monitor (but if necessary, you can use an additional chest strap), and the A300 model also does not have GPS.

• Smart watch Polar M200.

This model is the cheapest way to get a modern optical heart rate monitor with a built-in GPS sensor. The manufacturer positions the device as an inexpensive fitness watch for runners.

• Smart bracelets.

The most advanced fitness bracelet, A360, has a built-in heart rate monitor and a small screen. Simplified models - Polar Loop (2) do not have a screen, and heart rate is measured only through a chest sensor. The bracelets can track the wearer’s activity, sleep phases, count calories, distance traveled, etc.

You can buy a Polar heart rate monitor of any model in the Watchsport online store.

The Polar M600 sports watch is an indispensable item for any athlete. Its main feature is a full-fledged Wear OS by Google™ base. By purchasing this compact device, the user always stays connected even without a smartphone. We begin a detailed review of the Polar M600 watch.

Peculiarities

The Polar M600 smart watch is characterized by:

• Built-in 6-LED optical heart rate monitor
• Waterproof housing
• Hassle-free synchronization
• Availability of two connection modules
• Abundance of useful functions
• Menu support in 14 languages
• Low price of 28,000 rubles

Equipment

The Polar M600 watch includes:

• Charger
• Instructions for use
• Warranty card

The functionality of the device is wide. Use the manual to understand in more detail the capabilities and operation of the device.

Design

Two watch models were released for sale:

• Polar M600 Black
• Polar M600 White

In white, the watch looks more solid, but the black version is more advantageous in terms of convenience. It masks all appearance imperfections that have appeared over time.

The device weighs only 63 g. The body dimensions are small - 45x36x13 mm. The case is square, built into a silicone bracelet. Soft hypoallergenic material does not cause discomfort to wear.

Design

The manufacturer did not bother with the design. It is simple and clear, which is an advantage for the user. There are no management issues. There are only two round physical buttons in the case. One is responsible for turning the device on and off, the second is intended for training mode. The buttons are large, easy to press, and respond instantly.

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Description

Technical characteristics of the Polar M600 sports watch:

• The screen is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• 1.30-inch TFT display with 260 ppi resolution
• Powered by dual-core MediaTek MT2601 processor
• Powered by a full Android Wear™ base
• Syncs with Android 4.3+ and iOS 8.2+
• Connects via Bluetooth2, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n modules
• Stores data on 4 GB (RAM – 512 MB)
• Built-in 500 mAh battery
• Waterproof up to 10m IPX8
• Navigation system – GPS and GLONASS

Heart rate monitor

The Polar M600 heart rate watch can accurately measure these indicators. Thanks to the hypersensitive touch sensor, the user does not worry about inaccurate calculations.

An optical heart rate monitor with 6 LEDs is built into the watch. This indicates his independent work. To start measuring your heart rate, you don’t need to download apps or pair with your smartphone. Everything here is done for user comfort.

Autonomous operation

The watch has a battery with a capacity of 500 mAh, i.e. battery life is quite good. But! Let us note one feature. Battery life varies depending on timing. If the user connects the watch with Android, the battery life will last one day, and if with an iPhone, it will last one day shorter.

Polar M600 battery life:

• Passive use mode – 1 day for iPhone, 2 days for Android
• Active use mode – 8 hours for both systems
• Normal use mode – about 12 hours for iPhone, 36 hours for Android

Synchronization

The model in question connects freely with two devices – Android, iPhone. Users note a smooth connection and smooth operation.

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Thanks to its own operating system, Polar M600 is able to work independently. Now you don't need to take your smartphone with you when you go jogging or training. A smart watch with a full-fledged operating system is a small computer that contains everything you need.

Functions

Polar sports watch model M600 can:

• Determine the user's fitness level
• Create an individual training plan
• Monitor achievements and adjust classes
• Switch training profiles depending on the sport
• Show location and build running and cycling routes, etc.

The device supports 14 languages, including Russian. The settings can be adjusted. To do this, go to the menu options and select the design in Russian. The device is equipped with other useful sensors. These are an ambient light sensor, a gyroscope and an accelerometer. The design contains a microphone, and the watch sends signals using a vibration drive.