Looking for a tough smartwatch that doesn’t weigh you down? Polar introduces the new Street X which brings pro-level ruggedness and features like a built-in LED flashlight to a much more affordable price point.
Polar has been competing with Garmin, Fitbit, and Apple in the smartwatch segment for many years, yet it hasn’t quite captured a massive share of the wearable market. While recent releases have been exciting, they were primarily athlete-oriented and positioned at the higher end of the price spectrum. Now, the company has launched the Street X, which aims to offer rugged, professional features in a lighter form factor with a more accessible price tag.
The Polar Street X is categorized within the company’s sports lineup, a placement suggested by its tough, industrial aesthetic. However, it successfully blends lifestyle and fitness elements into a single, cohesive package.
A Lightweight and Durable Smartwatch
The device is built on a reinforced polycarbonate chassis, providing robust protection for both outdoor adventures and everyday wear. It carries a MIL-STD-810H rating and WR50 water resistance, ensuring it can handle the rigors of the wild or the occasional bump at the gym. A surprising addition is the built-in LED flashlight housed on the top side. This feature is similar to those found on newer rugged watches from Garmin or Amazfit, serving as a vital tool if you find yourself running at dusk or starting an outdoor workout in the early morning.
At 45 mm, the watch appears chunky, yet it is significantly lighter than many of Polar’s other rugged offerings. Without the strap, it weighs only 28 grams (48 grams with the strap), making it ideal for all-day wear or for those with smaller wrists. To achieve this featherweight design, the Street X omits metal accents around the bezel and buttons, opting for a fully composite construction instead.
The centerpiece is a 1.28-inch AMOLED touchscreen boasting a 416 x 416 pixel resolution and 1,000 nits of peak brightness, all protected by Gorilla Glass 3. It also supports an Always-On Display mode. With AOD enabled in smart mode, you can expect 10 days of battery life, or 47 hours of continuous use during performance tracking with guided GPS/GNSS navigation. This endurance is more than double what most popular smartwatches offer.
Wellness Tracking on the Polar Street X
The Street X comes equipped with Polar’s Precision Prime optical sensor for continuous heart rate monitoring. It also includes a skin temperature sensor to track overnight fluctuations. However, the more affordable price point does mean a few omissions; the watch lacks ECG and SpO2 sensors, so users who prioritize those specific health metrics may prefer the Pacer model.
Despite these omissions, the Street X retains advanced fitness capabilities, including Training Load Pro and Recovery Pro, along with voice guidance for over 170 different sport profiles.
The device also includes essential smart features, though these are limited to phone notifications for calls and messages, weather updates, and music controls. There are numerous watch faces to choose from, and users can customize complications and widgets to suit their needs.
Polar Street X Pricing, And It’s Affordable!
The real highlight is the price: the Street X costs just $249 (€249 / £219). That is $100 cheaper than the Pacer Pro and significantly less than rugged alternatives from Garmin and Apple. It is currently available in major markets in Night Black and Snow White, with a Forest Green version slated for release later this year.
Would you consider the Polar Street X for its affordable price, even if it lacks features like an ECG or offline maps? We want to hear your thoughts in the comments!
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