Polar Ignite 2

Polar Ignite 2 launched in April 2021 as a refresh of the original Ignite, with a larger battery and trickle-down features from higher-tier Polar watches.

Manufacturer Polar
Type Fitness watch, onboard GPS
Series Ignite
Released 21 April 2021
Price at launch GBP 200.00 / EUR 230.00 / USD 230.00
Predecessor Polar Ignite (original)
Successor Polar Ignite 3
Sizes 43mm (single size), S and M/L strap options
Colours Black, Pink, Champagne, Blue

Specifications and features as at launch, sourced from Polar’s user manual technical specification.

Jump to: Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Further reading


Expert opinion

Ignite 2 shares its Precision Prime sensor with the Vantage V2 and carries a Sony GNSS chip supporting GPS, GLONASS and Galileo, with GPS and GLONASS set as the default combination. It has no barometer or compass, and storage holds roughly 90 hours of GPS and heart rate training data, varying by language setting.

The watch has no NFC, no onboard music storage and no app store; music playback is controlled on a paired phone only. Straps are a standard 20mm interchangeable fit, with Swarovski crystal-studded options sold separately alongside the standard silicone and recycled PET bands.

Buy Polar Ignite 2 via the5krunner’s Polar affiliate link.


What’s new versus the original Ignite

  • Refreshed aesthetics: new colours, new bezel and new watch straps, including crystal-studded options
  • Battery life up roughly 10%, from 17 to 20 hours in training mode, with a separate mode covering up to 100 hours
  • GNSS and GPS performance improvements
  • Watch face showing weather from a paired smartphone
  • Music control for the active app on a paired smartphone
  • Weekly Summary watch face
  • Energy Sources: carb versus fat burn per workout
  • Heart rate broadcast to other equipment

Specifications

Display
Type Colour touch display (IPS TFT), Dragontrail glass lens
Resolution 240 x 204 pixels
Physical
Case size 43mm (single size)
Thickness 8.5mm
Weight 35g with strap, 21g without
Case material ABS+GF, glass with anti-fingerprint coating, PMMA, stainless steel
Strap material Silicone or recycled PET, stainless steel buckle, 20mm interchangeable
Water rating WR30
Sensors and positioning
GPS GPS and GLONASS by default, Galileo also supported. Assisted GPS for fast fix times.
GNSS accuracy Distance +/-2%, average route accuracy 5m, per Polar’s own testing in open conditions
Heart rate Precision Prime optical, shared with the Vantage V2
Other sensors No barometer, compass, ECG or SpO2
Connectivity and storage
Connectivity Bluetooth LE, 2.402-2.480GHz, 5mW maximum power
Charging Proprietary USB cable
Storage Up to 90 hours of training data (GPS and heart rate), depending on language settings
Music storage No. Controls phone-connected music only.
Onboard maps No

Battery life

Mode Battery life
Activity tracking, continuous heart rate Up to 5 days
Training mode (GPS and optical HR) Up to 20 hours

Battery is a 165mAh Li-Pol rechargeable cell. Operating temperature range is -10°C to +50°C.


Features

Training and recovery

  • FitSpark adaptive daily workout guidance
  • Nightly Recharge
  • Sleep Plus Stages
  • Serene guided breathing
  • Energy Sources: carb versus fat burn per workout
  • Free structured running plans
  • Over 130 sport profiles
  • Continuous heart rate and 24/7 activity tracking

Navigation

  • Onboard GPS, GLONASS and Galileo, no barometer or compass
  • No onboard maps or route guidance

Connectivity and smart features

  • Polar Flow app
  • Weather watch face using data from a paired phone
  • Music playback control for the active app on a paired phone
  • Weekly Summary watch face
  • Heart rate broadcast to gym equipment and other devices
  • No NFC, no contactless payment, no onboard music, no app store
  • Syncs to third-party apps including Strava, TrainingPeaks and MyFitnessPal via Polar Flow

Further reading

Related watches

  • Predecessor: Polar Ignite (original).
  • Successor: Polar Ignite 3, which adds an AMOLED display, dual-frequency GPS and a faster processor.
  • Also consider: Polar Unite, a cheaper, connected-GPS-only sibling launched the year before Ignite 2.