Polar has dropped some more teasers of its upcoming wearable set to launch on September 3. The company has confirmed there will be no screen and no subscriptions. A previous image released by the outfit shows a curved silhouette of what looks like a lightweight activity band – something that resembles a Whoop-style device.
“Our users have been asking for a new kind of wearable, one that puts them in control of their health and fitness right out of the box, without the distractions of screens or the pressure of constant notifications. What they want is simplicity and freedom” said Sander Werring, Polar CEO.
Polar leans into minimalist health tracking
Here is some of the new info that has been posted on the company’s website.
And then there is the earlier teaser image that is part of Polar’s French-language marketing. It appears in an email header with the following text:
Free shipping | Easy returns | 2-year warranty
That’s not the interesting part. The real focus is the photo below. A shadowy outline shows a slim band, with a curved form that wraps like a wrist strap or band. One end appears to house a small sensor unit. The other side shows a secure loop, possibly for adjusting tension.
It looks like a design made for passive health tracking. Something that stays out of the way during the day and night but keeps logging data in the background. Very much along the lines of the Polar 360. But clearly not the same device.
Still no specs but the message is clear
Polar has not published any technical specs yet. But the branding continues to suggest this is not going to be a smartwatch. Their earlier teaser said: “Not another screen… Promise.” That is a pretty strong message.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
If this turns out to be a redesigned consumer version of the Polar 360, it will likely come with heart rate tracking, sleep monitoring and raw data exports. The Polar 360 has already been used by businesses but has never been available to the general public.
That could be changing. A recent FCC filing appears to match the timing of this teaser. It may well be for the same device.
No subscription – no confirmed
And we now have confirmation from Polar that the upcoming device will not have a subscription. That means Polar Loop (or whatever it ends up being called), may offer a similar experience to Whoop but without locking data behind a monthly plan. That would set it apart.
Whoop has defined the screenless wearable category. But the subscription model puts off a lot of people. If Polar keeps things simple, with a one-time purchase that syncs to the Flow app, it could appeal to users who want recovery insights without a recurring cost.
To pull that off, they will need to improve the software experience. Whoop’s app is clear and focused on recovery and strain. Polar Flow is capable but built around watches. If this new band is going to succeed, the app will need to evolve with it.
More screenless bands are on the way
Polar is not alone in this direction. Zepp Health has the Helio Strap. Garmin revealed its Index Sleep Band. And Whoop continues to refine its offering. These devices all have something in common. They are not watches. They focus on one or two things like sleep or recovery, and they try to do that well.
Not too long to go until we find out all the remaining details. The launch date is fixed for September 3rd.
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