Polar 360 gets app support hinting at an imminent release

Today’s Polar Flow update supports the Polar 360 wearable. This could mean we’ll see this wearable launching soon – looks like Polar might be getting ready to compete with Whoop.

A display-free fitness tracker?

The fitness band is an intriguing new product from the company. The Polar 360 targets businesses with raw health data access and a developer kit.

What first grips attention is is the absence of a display on the Polar 360. This minimalist design choice sets it apart from the recent crop of fitness wearables. 

As can be seen from the images, the ultra-lightweight 13-gram band prioritizes comfort and seamless data collection. Its 3 ATM water resistance makes it suitable for various activities.

Despite lacking a screen, the Polar 360 packs a punch. Powered by Polar’s renowned Precision Prime technology, users can expect accurate heart rate tracking. Additionally, it monitors standard metrics like steps and calories, alongside advanced sleep tracking for light, deep, and REM sleep analysis. This focus on recovery metrics aligns with current health trends, as businesses increasingly recognize the value of rested and healthy employees.

With a perfectly decent 5-day battery life, the Polar 360 is designed to be a low-maintenance wearable solution for health tracking.

The business angle

Where the Polar 360 really diverges from consumer wearables is its software developer kit (SDK). This SDK offers developers the ability to access and work with raw data directly from the device. Companies can use this data for several purposes:

• Branded Health Apps: Businesses can create custom-branded health apps tailored to their employee wellness programs, using the real-time data from Polar 360.
• Polar Flow Integration: The SDK also enables integration with Polar’s existing Flow platform without the need for app development. This gives companies access to Polar’s established health analytics and insights.

A potential Whoop competitor?

Now where have we seen a display-free fitness band? Oh, that’s right – the Polar 360’s positioning inevitably draws comparisons to Whoop, a subscription-based fitness tracker known for its emphasis on in-depth recovery metrics. 

Like Whoop, the lack of a display suggests a focus on continuous, unobtrusive data collection. In fact, the device seems to blend elements of the Polar Very Sense heart rate band and Whoop. 

It’s entirely possible Polar will leverage a derivative of this product as a direct Whoop competitor – a display-free wrist-worn device focused on detailed activity and recovery tracking. It would make sense. Currently, Whoop stands relatively unchallenged in this niche.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

And while Whoop targets both individuals and teams, Polar’s current emphasis appears to be entirely geared towards business users. It will be intriguing to see if Polar aims to make a shift in this strategy – and directly challenge Whoop in the consumer market.

A few weeks ago we saw a FCC filing from the company which we suspect is for Polar 360. Now that support has been added in the smartphone app, the official launch should follow soon.

Source: Polar

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