| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Fourth Frontier |
| Type | ECG-based chest strap heart rate monitor (general wellness product) |
| Series | Frontier |
| Released | 2023 |
| Price at launch | GBP |
| Predecessor | Frontier X |
| Successor | Frontier Zone (cheaper, screen-free replacement). See the Frontier Zone specifications. |
| Weight | 25g |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Jump to: Expert opinion | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Activity profiles | Further reading
Expert opinion
The Frontier X2 is the only pod in the range with a colour display on the device and ECG streaming and export built into the base price. On the Zone, ECG streaming and export sit behind Frontier Premium, and the X3 has no ECG access at all.
Battery life is around 14 days of typical use, and up to 24 hours when recording continuously. It charges over micro USB, where the Zone and X3 use USB-C. At GBP 579 RRP (GBP 405 with code THE5KRUNNER) the X2 costs nearly three times the Frontier Zone’s GBP 199, and the Zone has replaced it as the main model on the UK store.
Fourth Frontier X2
24x7 ECG, real-time alerts and sports tracking.
Specifications
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Pod dimensions | 73 x 24 x 13mm |
| Weight | 25g |
| On-device screen | Colour display |
| Water rating | IP67 |
| Charging | Micro USB |
| Strap | Elasticated fabric with conductive and insulating layers, REACH and RoHS compliant, standard 45mm snap spacing |
| Sensing | |
| ECG lead | Single-lead ECG, approximating the V5 position of a 12-lead ECG |
| ECG sampling rate | Sampled at 250Hz, stored at 125Hz |
| Movement metrics | Body Shock and step cadence |
| Connectivity | |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| ANT+ | Not supported |
| Simultaneous connections | Three: the app plus two external devices |
| Heart rate streaming to | Apple Watch, Garmin, Whoop, Peloton, Zwift and other BLE fitness devices |
| App connections | Apple Health or Health Connect, Strava and Garmin Connect (Garmin Connect requires Frontier Premium) |
| ECG access | |
| Viewing and exporting the ECG trace | Stream it live, download a PDF and export the data, without a subscription |
| Subscription | |
| Frontier Premium adds | VO2 max, ventilatory thresholds, readiness score, sleep staging and Garmin Connect |
| Regulatory | |
| Classification | General wellness product |
| FDA | Not a cleared medical device |
| Where to buy | Fourth Frontier US store and UK/Europe store |
Battery life
| Mode | Battery life |
|---|---|
| Typical use (about an hour a day) | Around 14 days |
| Recording continuously | Up to 24 hours |
Features
Feature explanations are covered in the relevant the5krunner heart rate hub. Features are listed under Fourth Frontier’s own headings.
Heart health metrics
- Heart rate from a chest-based ECG
- Continuous ECG recording for up to 24 hours
- Heart rate variability (HRV)
- Strain
- Heart rhythm chart
- Breathing rate
Training and performance
- Monitors 20 types of activity
- Heart rate zone training
- Real-time vibration alerts for custom thresholds, working without a phone
- Training load
- Body Shock impact analysis
- Step cadence
- Route maps with ECG
Data and sharing
- Live ECG streaming
- Shareable live data and PDF reports
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Unrestricted .FIT file downloads
- Secure link sharing
Connectivity
- Bluetooth LE with Garmin, Zwift, Peloton and others
- Apple Health, Google Fit, Strava, Wahoo and TrainingPeaks integrations
- Up to three devices connected at once
Activity profiles
Fourth Frontier says the X2 monitors 20 types of activity, and names running, cycling, meditation, sleep and swimming. The manufacturer’s product page does not list the full set of activity profiles.
Fourth Frontier X2
24x7 ECG, real-time alerts and sports tracking.
Further reading
Related straps
Looking at alternatives to the Frontier X2?
- Successor: Fourth Frontier Zone, screen-free with a battery that lasts around 30 days.
- Also consider: the Polar H10. It is hardware only, so you need separate ECG software and it has none of the in-exercise features. It can record an ECG, which makes it competitive on that point.
