Polar Ignite 3 Review: Specifications

Polar Ignite 3 Review: Design and Display

The Polar Ignite 3 is lightweight and features a stylish stainless steel bezel surrounding the new Gorilla Glass 3.0 screen. The screen is no longer flat but softly curved, giving the Ignite 3 a premium look.

Polar has made significant strides in improving the screen, evident in how it’s utilised. See the difference:

The left photo shows that the Polar Ignite 2 doesn’t fully utilise its circular casing, with the screen cut off at the bottom displaying the Polar logo. There’s still a black border around the screen, but it’s reduced, and one of the watch faces can easily and effectively hide the bezel, as seen in the image above. The Ignite 3 uses a larger portion of the screen, which looks much better and enhances usability with the new AMOLED screen.

The Polar Ignite 3 features an AMOLED touchscreen, displaying colours vividly and sharply, making it the first Polar smartwatch with an AMOLED screen. The Ignite 2 had an LCD screen, and the difference is immediate. The colours and animations are sharper, making navigation through the Ignite 3 much smoother.

Additionally, the new AMOLED screen on the Ignite 3 offers three brightness options, with the brightest likely being the most used for optimal visibility.

Polar Ignite 3 Review: Battery

The Ignite 3 promises the same battery life as the Ignite 2, offering 5 days with ‘normal’ use, such as step counting, timekeeping, and receiving notifications. Add a 24/7 AMOLED screen, and the battery life drops significantly to 2 days.

Regarding tracking capabilities, improvements are noticeable. Where the battery life with GPS tracking was 20 hours on the Ignite 2, the Polar Ignite 3 extends this to 30 hours. The power-saving mode matches the Ignite 2, providing 100 hours of battery life with reduced GPS location updates and the heart rate monitor disabled.

However, a less appealing feature carried over from Polar to the Ignite 3 prevents tracking fitness activities when the battery reaches 10%. You’ll receive a notification prompting you to charge the smartwatch to continue tracking your workout.

Polar Ignite 3 Review: User Interface

The Ignite 3’s controls are smooth, making it easy to navigate through apps and windows for music, weather, and fitness. The side button accesses settings, where you can disable unused windows to speed up navigation.

A downside is occasional lag when navigating or raising your wrist, with delays in screen activation or instances where it doesn’t turn on at all, which can be annoying. Use the side button to activate it in such cases.

The vibrant watch faces and ability to add complications to the home screen show Polar’s progress and a step in the right direction, though some areas still need refinement.

Polar Ignite 3 Review: Key Features

Sleepwise

With Sleepwise, you get an analysis of how your night’s rest affects your daily activities. It provides detailed predictions and an estimate of when your body is ready to sleep, shows optimal nap times, and indicates your energy levels post-nap, determining if a workout is feasible.

Dual Band GPS

Dual Band GPS uses L1 and L5 frequencies for precise location tracking and is less prone to signal interference from tall buildings, trees, or bad weather. This feature, typically found in pricier smartwatches, stands out as a notable addition to the Ignite 3.

Widgets

You can add widgets to the home screen, a feature absent in the Ignite and Ignite 2. The Ignite 3 allows customisation and addition of widgets to the menu, enhancing usability.

Polar Ignite 3 Review: Price and Availability

The Polar Ignite 3 is Polar’s flagship, offering good value for its capabilities. It’s currently available from £329.00 and comes in the colours:

• Copper Brown
• Black
• Purple
• Sand

To change your style and adapt to different occasions, explore our range of Polar Ignite 3 straps.

Polar Ignite 3 Review: Conclusion

The Polar Ignite 3 is a significant step forward for the Ignite series. The Ignite 2 was already capable, but the Ignite 3 elevates it with an improved screen, longer battery life, refined design, and smoother navigation. However, minor issues remain, such as occasional lag in the user interface and the inability to track sports activities below 10% battery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Ignite 3 make contactless payments?

No, the Polar Ignite 3 does not have NFC, so contactless payments aren’t possible.

Is the Polar Ignite 3 water-resistant?

Yes, the Polar Ignite 3 is water-resistant up to 30 meters.