Polar Grit X2 review: the Grit X2 Pro in a smaller, cheaper package

Date:
Mon, 19 Jan 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Description:
A feature-packed fitness watch let down by limited smartwatch functionality and a clunky companion app.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Polar Grit X2: One minute review

It's fair to say Polars smartwatch line up has become a little confusing over the last few years, with Pro and Titan versions floating around at premium prices alongside the Grit, Vantage M and Ignite series it's not exactly easy for buyers to decipher which model is the best for them.

The arrival of the Polar Grit X2 doesn't exactly help things. But it does point to the brand at least trying to make its outdoor models simple again not by reinventing the wheel, but by taking the best bits of the Grit X2 Pro and repackaging them into something that feels more wearable, less intimidating and crucially much cheaper.

Thats the core appeal here. The Grit X2 uses the same underlying hardware and software as the Pro model, including Polars Elixir biosensing platform (that tracks heart rate, ECG, SpO2 and skin temperature), dual-frequency GPS for better outdoor accuracy, and a bright AMOLED display that finally makes mapping feel like a proper modern feature rather than a gimmick. It also
keeps full offline maps capability and a generous 32GB of storage for them, which is still something many outdoor watches either charge extra for or half-deliver.

Where it differs is mostly in the build. The case is smaller and lighter, the materials arent as premium as the Pro, and water resistance drops from 100m
to 50m. That might sound like a downgrade on paper, but in reality, the Grit X2 is simply more practical for most wrists and most lives, especially if youre wearing it 24/7 for sleep tracking and recovery insights.

Its not perfect, though. Polars smartwatch features remain fairly basic notifications, music controls, a few widgets and thats your lot, as usual
with Polar and Polar Flow is still one of the least intuitive companion apps in the game. The watch interface also looks a bit old-school next to Garmins slicker menus and Apples everything is an app approach.

Still, if what you want is a capable, no-nonsense outdoor watch that leans heavily into training, recovery and mapping, the Grit X2 is arguably Polars best value rugged wearable yet. Polar Grit X2: Price and availability (Image credit: Polar) Price: 399 / $799 / AU$799 Release date: June 2025 Colors: Night Black and Brown Copper

The Polar Grit X2 launched in June 2025 and lands in a noticeably more approachable price bracket than the Grit X2 Pro, which is exactly the point.

In the UK, the watch has a 399 RRP but if you shop around you're likely to find it for less. At the time of writing, it's on sale for 331.17 on Polar's official online store . In the US, the watch is listed for a pretty unproportionate $799, probably due to import reasons from Polar's native EU, and in Australia itll cost you AU$799.

That pricing puts it in an interesting middle ground. Its clearly more
serious than basic outdoor-ish watches, but its also not trying to compete directly with the ultra-premium crowd like the Garmin Fenix 8 or Apple Watch Ultra range on price. Instead, its more of a smart alternative if you want flagship-grade tracking and mapping without paying flagship money. Value score: 4 / 5 Polar Grit X2: Design (Image credit: Polar) Slimmer, lighter and easier to live with than the Pro AMOLED display looks fantastic and is protected by sapphire glass Strap is comfortable but oddly stiff

The Grit X2 feels like Polars attempt at a rugged watch that doesnt look like a dinner plate strapped to your arm. It sports a 44.7mm case (around 45mm in real-world terms) with a fairly slim 12.5mm thickness, which is a genuinely wearable size for an outdoor watch and a noticeable shift from the bulkier
Pro model.

Despite being the cheaper version, it still keeps a stainless steel bezel and sapphire glass over the display, which is exactly what you want on something thats likely to scrape against rocks or whatever else life throws at it. The main cost-saving is in the case itself, which is reinforced polymer instead
of a more premium metal build. It doesnt feel cheap, but it does feel less luxurious than the Pro if youre the kind of person who cares about that.

The watch is also MIL-STD-810H certified, meaning its been tested against shock, temperature and humidity extremes. In other words, its meant to handle the outdoors properly, not just look like it can.

The display is a 1.28-inch AMOLED panel with a 416 x 416 resolution, and its one of the main reasons this watch feels like a modern upgrade over older
Grit models. Its sharp, colourful, and makes maps far more usable than the
old MIP screens do. You can set it to always-on too, which looks great, but obviously hits battery life considerably.

Around the bezel you get Polars familiar five-button layout, and theyre textured and easy to press even when your hands are cold or sweaty. That matters more than youd think, especially when youre mid-run and dont want to be poking at a touchscreen in the rain.

My only real gripe here is the strap. Its flexible enough, but it has a slightly stiff feel that makes you very aware of it during workouts. The good news is it uses a simple sliding pin mechanism, so swapping it out is easy if youd rather stick a softer strap on there. Design score: 4 / 5 Polar Grit X2: Features (Image credit: Polar) Loads of outdoor and training features lifted from the Pro model Offline maps are excellent route guidance is less
seamless Smartwatch features still feel basic

The Grit X2 is essentially running the same feature set as the Grit X2 Pro, which is a big deal when you consider how much cheaper it is (399 vs 649 RRP, although obviously US costs are much higher).

Polars Elixir biosensing platform is the main draw here, boasting 4th-gen optical heart rate tracking, wrist-based ECG, blood oxygen-sensing (SpO2) and skin temperature tracking. In real life, that translates to a watch that
feels properly serious about health data, rather than just ticking the usual smartwatch boxes.

Polars recovery tools are still some of its strongest features. You get Nightly Recharge, which breaks down how well your body recovered overnight, and more sleep insights than most people will ever need. Theres also Training Load Pro and Cardio Load, which help you understand how hard youre pushing across sessions, plus performance tests like leg recovery and walking tests.

Its a very Polar approach, which is to say its geared toward people who actually care about training patterns and recovery trends rather than just collecting colourful rings.

The outdoor side is equally strong. You get full offline maps, 32GB of
storage for them, and navigation features that finally put Polar in a more competitive place with the likes of industry big guns Garmin and Suunto. The maps themselves look great on the AMOLED display, and moving around them
feels responsive rather than laggy. You can switch orientation, view points
of interest and pan around without it feeling like youre fighting the watch.

The less slick part is how you actually get routes and turn-by-turn navigation. You can upload GPX files, or sync routes from services like
Komoot and Strava, but those options often require paid subscriptions and
the whole process still feels more fiddly than it should. You can absolutely use the maps without turn-by-turn guidance, but if you want a seamless experience planning a route on the fly, for instance, Polar still isnt there yet.

As for smartwatch features, its the usual Polar story. You get phone notifications (but cant act on them), weather widgets, and music controls. Thats basically it. There's no app store, nor is there a proper ecosystem. Nothing that feels meaningfully new compared to previous Polar watches. If
you want your watch to replace your phone for anything beyond workouts, this isnt the one. Features score: 3 / 5 Polar Grit X2: Performance Dual-frequency GPS is accurate and reliable for most outdoor training Heart rate tracking is solid, but can drift high in hard efforts Sleep and recovery insights are strong

In day-to-day use, the Grit X2 performs like youd expect from a watch using Polars latest hardware.

Dual-frequency GPS is now becoming standard across sports watches, allowing for more accurate positioning in challenging environments. However, that doesnt automatically mean every watch that features it is perfect. In the
Grit X2s case, though, its a strong performer. Compared against watches like the Garmin's latest Forerunner 970 , it generally held up well in terms of accuracy and didnt do anything weird with routes.

Heart rate tracking is also solid, especially in steady-state workouts where optical sensors tend to behave best. When intensity ramps up, it still has that familiar wrist-sensor problem where readings can spike a bit higher than expected, especially during sudden pace changes. Its not the end of the
world, but if you're obsessed with accuracy, you'll be way better off with a chest strap, or perhaps using the Polar H10 alongside this watch.

I also used the Grit X2 for indoor sessions and general gym workouts, and it handled those well enough, with the usual caveat that wrist HR is never going to be flawless when youre gripping bars or constantly flexing your wrists.

Sleep tracking is one of Polars longstanding strengths, and it shows here.
The Grit X2 does a decent job of capturing the broad trend, like when you
fell asleep, how long you slept, and whether your night was restful or messy, etc. Sleep stages (REM, deep, etc.) are still something I take with a pinch
of salt on a wrist-mounted wearable, but the overall sleep score and recovery insights are useful. If you want a watch that encourages you to take recovery seriously, Polar remains one of the best at it. (Image credit: Polar)

The area where Polar lets you down in the Grit X2 isn't the tracking, it's
the presentation. The Polar Flow app might be packed with data, but it's just so poorly put together. Some of the terminology is also a bit cryptic, which makes quick glances harder than they should be.

When it comes to battery life, the Grit X2 uses a 310mAh battery, which is smaller than the Pro models chunkier cell. Polar says youll get up to a week in smartwatch mode (assuming you dont use the always-on display), and in my experience thats realistic. Turn on always-on, however, and thatll obviously be cut down.

For GPS tracking, youre looking at about 30 hours in the best accuracy mode, which is decent for most runners, hikers and cyclists.

One genuinely neat addition is that you can charge the watch while still tracking an activity. Thats not something youll do while running, but if
youre hiking with a power bank in your pack, its a smart way to avoid ending an activity early just because battery anxiety kicks in.

The most interesting battery detail, though, is that its replaceable. Thats rare on rugged sports watches, and its a big deal for longevity. Polar says you cant do this yourself and will cost 39.90 ( around 35 / $45), plus
service and shipping fees to send the watch to a Polar Service Center. If youre someone who keeps watches for years, thats a pretty good perk. Performance score: 4 / 5 Polar Grit X2: Scorecard (Image credit: Polar)

Category

Comment

Score

Value

Good feature set for the money

4/5

Design

Lightweight and comfortable.

4/5

Features

Fine, but more comprehensive options available.

3/5

Performance

Excels as a training tool, limited as a watch.

4/5 Polar Grit X2: Should I buy? Buy it if...

You want Pro-level outdoor features for less

Its basically the Grit X2 Pro experience in a cheaper, lighter package. View Deal

You care about maps and navigation

Full offline maps plus 32GB storage makes it a proper adventure companion. View Deal

You like deep recovery insights

Polars sleep and training load tools are still among the best. View Deal
Don't buy it if...

You need robust smartwatch features

Theres no app store, voice assistant or payment support, for example. View Deal

You hate fiddly apps

Polar Flow is simply not the most intuitive app experience. View Deal

You need huge battery life

Its good, but some rivals will outlast it on multi-day GPS-heavy trips. View Deal Also consider

Garmin Fenix 8

If you want the most complete rugged do everything ecosystem, Garmin still leads. Better smartwatch support, deeper customisation, and often stronger battery - but youll pay significantly more.

Check out our full Garmin Fenix 8 review View Deal

COROS Vertix 2S

If battery life is your top priority and you want a performance-first adventure watch for ultra-distance days, Coros is hard to ignore. Less smartwatch fluff, huge endurance focus.

Check out our full COROS Vertix 2S review View Deal

Suunto Race

A great pick for outdoor navigation fans who want a cleaner, simpler
interface and strong mapping tools, with certain models also offering solar charging for longer trips off-grid.

Check out our full Suunto Race View Deal How I tested

I wore the Polar Grit X2 daily for around two weeks, testing its features during various activities, including running, cycling and yoga. I used its dual-band GPS for outdoor workouts and tracked recovery metrics with Polars app tools.

I also evaluated its smartwatch functionality by syncing it to a smartphone, using it for notifications and assessing app integration. To test durability, I wore it during both high-intensity workouts and casual everyday use, paying attention to comfort and battery performance.

First reviewed: January 2026



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/polar-grit-x2-review


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)