Polar Loop review: a Whoop-alike with personality issues

There's no shortage of fitness trackers out there right now. While the old guard will still opt for a smartwatch, in 2026 there's an option for every type of person, like smart rings and other fitness trackers.

The Polar Loop definitely sits in the latter camp. As a bracelet-style, screen-free wearable, it draws obvious comparison to devices like the Whoop.

Where the Loop differs, though, is in its price structure – it can be had with a one-off payment, where the Whoop requires a monthly fee to use. So, for subscription averse fitness lovers, this sounds like a treat.

Polar Loop review: Key Specs

The Polar Loop is designed to get in your way as little as possible within the course of a day, and that starts with the dimensions of the thing. Measuring 42x27mm and just 9mm thick is really wearable – most of my time here at T3 is spent testing luxury watches, and those dimensions are very nice indeed.

It's also incredibly light – just 29g with the wristband attached – which means you'll hardly even notice it over the course of a day. That doesn't come at the consequence of rugged design, either, with a stainless steel construction and 30m of water resistance on offer.

The device is powered by a 170mAh battery. That doesn't sound like a lot, but with no screen to power, it can actually stretch quite far – eight days, says Polar.

In terms of fitness tracking, you can expect all of the usual suspects to be included. The Loop will track your heart rate, step count, different activities and sports, calories, sleep and more.

Polar Loop review: Performance

On the wrist, much of the Loop's spec-sheet goodness appears to translate into real-world use. You'll quickly feel it melt away on the wrist, which is perfect for something designed to be worn everyday and in all manner of situations.

It's also stylish, without being overbearing in its design. I love that users are able to customise the look with additional bands, and the range of strap and case colour combinations feels well thought out. You should have no trouble matching any outfit with what's on offer.

Operation is also pretty self explanatory. If you opt to do nothing else, the Loop will track your heart rate and activity, and monitor your sleep without needing any additional input.

Hop into the app, though, and you can bolster this with some additional input. There are a wealth of specialised activities and sports to select from, which tailor the collected data with the activity in mind. That's handy because the device will simply default to 'Other Indoor' when it notices you've started doing something.

That also leads me to my first couple of gripes with the product. First, it doesn't seem to register when I've logged an activity, instead deciding to double up with a partially duplicated activity it has registered. That means I get a half hour walk, but also eight and a half minutes of 'Other Indoor' – annoying!

It's also worth noting that the activity selection screen isn't especially useful. There's lots of different options on offer, but unless you're a heptathlete, you probably won't use more than a handful. A favourites option – or even just a frequently used section – would go a long way here.

Really, it's the software side of the product where things aren't as polished. The overall app design is clumsy at best, with a design that just doesn't feel connected to the userbase the device targets. It's a tracker aimed at the Average Joe, with an app that is made for a sports scientist, and I really believe changes to it would go a long way.

The only other point of note on that front is that the device lacks any sort of Blood Oxygen measurement. That's a shame, as lots of other devices are including that these days, meaning it does feel missing.

Still, what this does track, it does in style. I think the sleep tracking is best here – clear graphs and useful information boxes which inform the user of what the data means in the real world. Daily activity graphs aren't too bad, either, though perhaps a little more convoluted than they really need to be.

Polar Loop review: Verdict

If you're after a basic health tracker which can keep note of your daily steps, track the quality of your sleep, and do both without interrupting you with a constant flurry of notifications, the Polar Loop is well worth a look.

This is a device which does the basics well, and can be a useful companion for tracking data without needing to be absorbed into it at all times. However, if you're not using the data for anything, it does beg the question of why you're wearing it at all.

While I do like the idea, I think the app needs a real overhaul to be more user friendly. It's essentially a device aimed at casuals, with an app made for sports scientists, and that's almost never the way around you'd want it.

Polar Loop review: Also Consider

It's no secret that the Polar Loop's design is inspired by that of the Whoop fitness trackers. As such, if you're looking for an alternative, that's a good place to start.

If you're still seeking something which does away with the subscription model, the Amazfit Helio Strap is a killer option – and costs less, too!