Polar Ignite 3 In-Depth Review - The GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY!

[@RasMantisArt]

My Ignite is dying a slow and painful death after a bit over 4 years, so I am upgrading to the 3. Thank you for your many words they were helpful.

[@HealednDelivered88]

I did get the Polar Ignite 3. Wish I saw this before I got mine to better support you. I did get a 30% discount on mine from Polar, as I upgraded from my previous Polar M430. I don't run, but I do hike. I do carry my iPhone with the Polar Flow. I think the thing I don't like the most is that I have to press the button to see the time or I have to viciously shake my wrist. I don't want the screen on all the time, but it would be nice if I just could easily shake a couple times and see it rather than press the button because I don't always have the other hand free to do this. Somehow I thought the battery life would be longer, but mine is lasting 3-4 days. 6-7 would be nicer, but I guess 3-4 days with working out daily isn't too bad. Got mine a couple weeks ago. Thanks for your review.

[@ActiveIdeas]

Another awesome review! Looking forward to testing some Polar watches.. very excited to see what they do next year! Got my fingers crossed for some TOPO mapping for the next Grit X series 🌟

[@evanfortune-cabrera8887]

Really enjoying my Ignite 3. Some of the lag issues have been cleaned up with a recent update, so I've no complaints any longer with the initially reported lag times.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Interesting, I haven't gotten any firmware updates that have helped. Glad you're enjoying it!

[@preatoria]

​@@ChaseTheSummit Have you in the meantime ? I am on the look out for an every day use watch with some occasional running. This one came up in my searches but I am not sure with the lag experience etc.

[@willem-janageling3907]

Great review. I was also hoping to hear about the sleep-tracking quality. It's important for me and the previous version of the Ignite did poorly.

[@abruenin236]

Polar seemed to have fixed the back-button lag you have shown. On my device, after counting to one, I am back to the home screen

[@alexjheaton]

Thanks for the update, I’m looking at getting one this year to start training for a series of races and daily weight lifting but was skeptical once he got to the lag and GPS inconsistency

[@johnswimmer4104]

Great review. Really appreciate your perspective reflecting pros and cons. As a swimmer (pool/ocean), biker, skier, and outdoor activities, I am very interested in this watch, however the lag issue is a deal breaker for me and sure I would get very frustrated, so I am going to wait and see if Polar fixes it in an update. I would be interested in seeing you compare the Polar Insight 3 with the Garmin Venu 2, which I believe is a fair fight since they are close in functionality and price. Perhaps there is another brand you could include in the cage fight to see which watch wins.

[@MsRafanatic]

Hi Matt, great video. How about a comparison with the Polar Ignite 3 and the Garmin Venu 2s? They are similarly priced too.

[@anttiniskanen382]

Would the Ignite 3 vs. Venu 2 Plus be more reasonable, at least they look pretty similar?

[@Asthbendriel]

More than the Ignite 3 itself, I am interested on what it means Polar can do in the upcoming watches. The Vantage V and the Grit X have been out for a couple of years now, a new version with AMOLED displays lasting a week and that new customization options while keeping the sensor quality and getting more refined firmware, now that sounds awesome. The only thing that could possibly make it even better would be to change komoot for either their own mapping solution (quite impossible) or change it for ridewithgps (which would still suck having a third party app for routing, but it would add so much power to it like points of interest and custom cue sheets to add your own turn by turn directions if needed)

[@ChaseTheSummit]

That would be cool to see though... I would be surprised. The Ignite Series has always gotten the "nicer" display as it's focused more towards "smartwatch users" than sport users. But time will tell!

[@samgao]

Man... this almost would've been the perfect watch. Give us the buttons back! Fix the lagginess! Let the all day on feature darken when not lifted, (make that time adjustable) and fix the GPS! The size, weight on this is awesome! Plus the GPS... I mean I've done 12 hour hikes with GPS on, and it's amazing to see the trail and our pace when we come back!

[@mandatory360]

Great review Dave, thanks! Not looking for a new wearable at the moment but I like to keep aware of what's out there. How's the new house? 🏡

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Thanks! Still getting settled. You'll hear a lot more about that on the Podcast than on KZbin!

[@qwer55555555]

Great review! I like how this watch looks!

[@williamstevenson2649]

Thank you. Another fast talking tour de force! I think I need more buttons!

[@pekkaveijola3521]

After 1.2.1 firmware update all the lagginess is gone. Had to boot one time after the update.

[@Tatjew]

Have the GPS performance improved since? Or is it improved in the Ignite 3 Titanium which was released recently?

[@Gabrielerf]

Great review, Polar has been making really good watches, however I do rarer Garmin watches and ecosystem. thank you for another awesome review.

[@simoncockett8954]

Great review. I am going to watch your Pacer Pro review now to compare the 2. The Pacer Pro, seems more aimed at serious athletes. I almost want to say the Ignite 3 is a Smart watch with sport features, and the Pacer Pro is a sports watch watch with Smart features. Would you agree?

[@JuliexSteadman]

POLAR - PLEASE PUT THE BUTTON BACK ON THE LOWER LEFT OF THE WATCH and not in the middle - when i press it, it pinches my skin and it is more difficult to reach... ..lower down, the watch naturally sits higher on the curvature of the wrist... Just bought the Polar Ignite 3 (10/5/23 - based in the UK) The watch with the new band does sit more snuggly on my wrist (176 mm) than the ignite 1 and it is thinnner (although people say it isnt) and so i find that it is comfortable to can wear it at night. I couldnt tolerate the Ignite 1 on my wrist... Im loving the new lay out on the watch face. I have mine set to date, activity completed, heart rate and temperature. I love the fact that i can see all these at a glance and in depth as well.. I had an immediate firmware upgrade and that seems to have resolved the lag, Im not findin there is the delay spoken about in these videos. In my excitement I rushed down the gymn without my chest strap which meant i was just wearing the watch. I didnt find the heart rate to be very accurate without wearing the chest strap. At one point I should have defiitely been in the red zone (i was about to keel over !!) and the watch wasnt. I think this has something to do with the sweat on your wrist (ironically). It seems to be quite good at monitoring during ordinary activity during the day though... Im no keen athlete, i have just bought this for general motivation so I can eat more cake !! and not die so soon of a heart attack !! I prefer polar over fit bit because i do more gymn type excecise (cross trainer, rowing, bike) than i do walking as my hips are playing up. My experience of fitbit is that its goal setting is all around steps, there is nothing for heart rate unless you pay extra for their software..... So fitbit is great if you are a walker or even a casual runner but no good if you tend to do other excercise including swimming...

[@worldsmart02]

How about comparison between ignite 3 and venu 2 plus ..

[@carpediem7013]

Getting one. Fitness, heart rate, sleeping. Not a runner or hard core training.

[@mot1demeester]

And how is it going? Are you happy with it?

[@hks7722]

Thank you so much for that review. Please I need advice from you for the watch will help me track calories sleep and stress someone who does gym only

[@ChaseTheSummit]

This Polar would work. Other than that I'd try the Garmin Venu 2 SQ if you're on a budget.

[@Aspartame69]

Theyre doing a more conventional band now, its still silicon, but doesnt seem to breed smells.

[@leightri]

I've been wearing mine daily for 4 months. Biggest disappointment is the sleep feature, which has worked about 6x in total. That means "Nightly recharge" has never worked, ever. Highlight is being able to wear into the sauna (which I do 20 mins 3x a week). I wish Polar had that as an "activity". I like the battery life, the face, the speed, it's pretty accurate in measurement (although my H10 is still the gold standard). I have big hands and wrists, but went with the smaller strap so there is less to fold under and so have no issues. I'd give it an 8/10 because the sleep function is very important and simply does not work.

[@georgemaniatis4673]

Your comments about sleep give me pause. I really need sleep monitoring as part of a medical condition. Can you elaborate on what your complaints are?

[@leightri]

@@georgemaniatis4673 I have sleep apnea, and also want to keep track of my quality and quantity of sleep. The watch is supposed to do this automatically. Last night I fell asleep at midnight and woke at 7:45am, but my watch recorded sleep from 11:56pm (great) until 4:40am. I have to go into the flow app on my iPhone to make an adjustment.

[@ADCFproductions]

There has been some firmware updates recently, did you check those out?

[@skullsuit]

The lag has been fixed

[@Ordinary-Hendrik]

Dave, for some reasons, I try it but the my daily 24h heart rate keep drop to 50’s, and take about 30s to 1 mins to get back when I start work out.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

That's odd. I'm not sure I'm seeing the same issue.

[@Ordinary-Hendrik]

@@ChaseTheSummit ya, I like the ignite 3 but it is strange.

[@HAMDIMAHMOOD]

My best watch tactix 7 pro ballistic edition ✌🏻

[@HadrysL]

Hi. I was in between this one and Garmin Venu 2s. Finally I decided for Ignite 3 and after one day of use, havent regret my decision but I have had only one problem....it does not track my steps =S. Any idea how to fix that? I mean thats a very basic thing....Thanks!

[@daniesmar]

how IS GPS accuracy and lag now? I've heard an update has improved them... Also, how is battery life?

[@ZeljkoTrogrlic]

Increased screen resolution is making it slow. Processor speed is doubled, but pixel count is tripled.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

That could be the case. They have issued a firmware update that does seem to make it a lot better though.

[@georgemaniatis4673]

What firmware version has the ignite 3 you tested, have?

[@dcutl]

How about GPS distance and pace? How accurate is that? Because that is really what matters to me. A lot of watches fall short on the GPS map.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Over the course of the 32 mile ultra I ran my Garmin recorded 32.4 Miles while the Polar Ignite 3 recorded 31.61 which is pretty close over that long of a distance. Pace readout always felt a little off though during the activity.

[@dcutl]

@@ChaseTheSummit , OK, thanks. That doesn’t sound too terribly bad. I kind of like more than one button, so I’m going to watch you review on the Pacer…that may be more to my liking.

[@PHILLIPS8822]

I just brought this watch it doesn't count my steps so far what is up with that

[@uattardi]

forerunner 955 ! none can beat that one

[@ChaseTheSummit]

It's a bit more expensive though!

[@craigmeyer3123]

Also completely different screen tech. Agreed that the 955 is great (too bad the maps don't work as well as on the Epix and Fenix though), but those of us with older eyes really need a higher contrast OLED screen, not a MIP screen. Also, as Dave says, there is a not insignificant price difference between these, almost $200 (CAD) by the time you include taxes.

[@uattardi]

@@craigmeyer3123 Hello, I totally agree with you and Dave on this.

[@kieley424]

Thanks for the great review! I’m looking for a watch to connect my polar heart rate strap to been running/xc sking heavy into zone 2 training. I’m getting sick of strapping my phone to my wrist or using Fitbit lol Seems like great watch

[@Lasombra08]

New update is out that addresses the lag.

[@amshaq007CR7]

Wish we could come up with a plan to help chase reach 100 k subs before year end

[@ChaseTheSummit]

🙏

[@heathergrey7893]

I would like the band to be like a metal and be able to close it with a magnet.

[@matthiassventoest6800]

great review.., is polar starting to become an after thought in the gps watch arena ??

[@ChaseTheSummit]

I hope not!

[@scriptosaurusrex]

I am sure they will come back. Traditionally always had best HR and GPS accuracy, but recently that's been low. Another generation and they will be fighting fit again no doubt. Allegedly their (and Suunto's, who you basically never hear about in reviews but have a fiercely loyal following) actually make the best altimeter watches.

[@Panagiotis-Skordilis]

The band of the watch is probably an out-of-season April Fools' joke.

[@Lasombra08]

Well, at least you can buy a cheap nylon strap and never look back.

[@jacquesbocquet381]

I just bought the Ignite 3 and I just find OVERCOMPLICATED…. I am still struggling to find out how to use the GPS…. still not found….

[@bchandler81]

Polar is the ONLY fitness/GPS watch I've ever returned & never given any consideration again.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Why did you return?

[@bchandler81]

@@ChaseTheSummit It felt like a toy on my wrist. Lacked a variety of watch face options, subpar sleep tracking & the app wasn’t my favorite. For a company that trail-blazed wrist-based heart rate technology, I felt like Garmin just did everything better.

[@deetles98]

Fitbits don’t even last a year, my Garmins are super buggy and don’t sleep track properly, bod battery is always low, nap tracking does not work. My polar Ignite 2 WORKED.

[@sagybp]

That lagging in the menus looks really bad.

[@Muzzell88]

Sleek yes but looks like it will smash easily

[@savagedriver1967]

The watch strap design is plain stupid. It's like they've never seen a watch strap before - did they even test it?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

I am surprised it made it to the public.

[@mj99875]

Your top comment is a bit crypto scam 😂

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Took care of it. Thanks.

[@pablo_elizalde]

Great review, awful watch! The band alone would make me go elsewhere.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

The band is easily fixable. Hopefully the firmware is just as easy!

[@craigmeyer3123]

It's interesting how people who've never owned or tested the watch declare it a fail. As far as the watch strap goes, it isn't that terrible. I'm actually surprised at the passion of the opinions on the strap. It certainly isn't the best strap available, but it's not that bad. Easily fixable as well. Just change the strap. I think the hardware is really good and the software is typical Polar. Some really great options/solutions with a dash of lag.