Polar Loop: Display-free wearable without subscription as alternative to Whoop?
The Finnish sports watch manufacturer Polar has launched its first wearable without a display, the Loop. Unlike Whoop, it comes without a subscription.
Polar seems to want to offer an alternative to Whoop with the Loop.
(Image: Polar)
Health trackers without a screen seem to be in vogue: In addition to Whoop, which announced its fifth generation a few months ago, Amazfit also offers such a solution with the Helio Strap. Polar is now delivering a screenless wearable with the Loop, whose predecessor was launched in May 2024 as a business solution under the name Polar 360. With the Loop, the manufacturer wants to appeal to a broader user group – without a subscription model, for which Whoop has been criticized in the past and is not an option for some.
According to the manufacturer, the Polar Loop provides insights into fitness, recovery and sleep – the device collects "precise insights and data in the background, allowing users to check their progress whenever it suits them". With its screenless design, the tracker is designed to be less distracting and less disruptive to the user. "With the Polar Loop, we encourage people to focus on their daily impulses – those small, consistent actions that lead to lasting change", says Sander Werring, CEO of Polar in the announcement.
Designed for day and night
According to Polar, the wearable was developed to be worn around the clock and "records steps and active moments". It is designed to make routines visible – from sleep to everyday movement to training sessions.
On the technical side, the Loop contains Polar's Precision Prime sensor, which can record heart rate, activity, sleep, recovery and training data. All data is automatically synchronized with the Polar Flow app. It combines sleep, recovery, activity and training data. For users who continue to train with a Polar sports watch, the Loop wristband can supplement the time periods between training sessions.
Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt
Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externes YouTube-Video (Google Ireland Limited) geladen.
Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (Google Ireland Limited) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
The Loop wristband must be paired with the smartphone to record GPS data. The wearable can record numerous data such as steps, calories and exercise time independently of the smartphone. The device also has 16 MB of memory, which should be enough to store data for around four weeks without synchronizing it with the Polar app. As far as the battery life of the Polar Loop is concerned, the manufacturer claims up to eight days of use with the small 170 mAh battery.
Incidentally, Polar also offers an optional subscription service for just under ten euros per month. This service includes personalized training plans.
Videos by heise
The Polar Loop costs a one-off fee of 180 euros. The manufacturer offers the wearable, which weighs around 50 grams including the wristband, in the colors black, "Greige Sand" and brown. Users can also choose from additional bracelets in different colors, each costing 20 euros. Delivery is scheduled to begin on September 10.
(afl)
