Polar Loop ditches the screen & subscriptions for minimalist tracking
Polar has launched the Loop, a lightweight fitness band that does away with the screen altogether. It sticks to the essentials, tracking heart rate, sleep and daily movement without adding any extra noise. The concept feels like a direct answer to devices like Whoop, but without the subscription fees. All features are included out of the box and firmware updates will keep things current.
A fitness band without screens or subscriptions
The first thing that stands out about the Polar Loop is what it doesn’t have. There’s no display or buttons. And there are no recurring fees. You just wear it, let it do its thing in the background and sync your data when you’re ready. It’s designed to stay out of the way while supporting your daily habits.
In an era where every wearable wants to talk, vibrate, prompt or nudge, this is a deliberately stripped-back approach. You don’t get pace stats, countdowns alarms or notifications. The band doesn’t even show the time. That’s by design. Polar is aiming this at users who want to stay connected to their health, but without the interruptions.
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Instead, Loop focuses on recovery, sleep and movement. You wear it all day, and the heart rate sensor logs your data continuously. Then you check in via the Polar Flow app whenever you want to review your stats. There’s no pressure to respond to anything in real time.
In essence, this looks like a re-worked version of the bussines-facing Polar 360 tracker. Currently you can only wear the thing on your wrist. But an arm/bicep band might come in the future.
What’s under the hood
Despite the minimalist design, the hardware is fairly capable. The band uses Polar’s Gen 3.5 optical heart rate sensor, so not the Elixir sensors many were hoping for. This does provide access to Polar’s more advanced sleep and recovery features, including SleepWise, which estimates your daytime alertness, and Nightly Recharge, the company’s tool for assessing overnight recovery. Polar says the algorithm for the precision prime sensor has been updated so the only thing it lacks vs elixir is SpO2 and ECG. The device also includes an accelerometer for tracking movement and sleep patterns.
When it comes to workouts, the Loop uses Polar’s Training Load Pro system to track how much strain your body is under. It’s a similar approach to what Garmin does with Training Status and Load or what Whoop calls Strain. There’s no GPS support of any kind, not even connected GPS, so it’s clearly not aimed at runners looking for route maps.
The battery is a 170 mAh lithium-polymer cell, rated for up to eight days between charges. Bluetooth 5.1 handles syncing, and you’ll need to use Polar’s proprietary USB-C cable to recharge.
There’s no physical display, vibration motor, barometer or compass. Everything happens behind the scenes. The app shows your trends, recovery levels and sleep insights, but the tracker itself stays silent. It’s water resistant to WR30 standards and weighs just 29 grams with the wristband attached.
Less is the whole point
This won’t be for everyone. If you’re looking for a smartwatch, the Loop isn’t trying to be one. But if you’re trying to reduce screen time or just want a band that tracks the basics with less fuss, it might be the right fit.
What is a bit of a disappointment is that the device is using the Flow app. We were hopeful Polar would create something that might offer a more Whoop-like experience as far as the smartphone app software. Granted, the fact that it uses the Flow app might make it a useful addition for people already in the Polar ecosystem. For example if you have a watch and want to swap it for Polar Loop at times.
Apparently, the app will get a refresh. How far this goes is yet to be seen. Android will, reportedly, be getting the app refresh first – then Apple. Hopefully, by the end of this year.
In our mind, it is good the company is trying out something new. With the wearables market getting increasingly crowded, Loop carves out its niche by offering simplicity. It’s for people who don’t want to be constantly nudged, buzzed or shown charts every five minutes. In addition to Whoop, Polar Loop is also competing against the Amazfit Helio Strap.
Retailing for $200, you can pick up the device in a choice between Night Black, Greige Sand and Brown Copper. It is available now on Polar’s website.
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