Polar Ignite 3 vs Huawei Watch Fit 2 : Which Will You Choose
Are you deciding between the Polar Ignite 3 and the Huawei Watch Fit 2? Let’s compare their value for money. The Huawei Watch Fit 2 is a lot cheaper than the Polar Ignite 3, so it might be the better choice for you.
Ultimately, the Huawei Watch Fit 2 is the winner in this comparison article, being both cheaper and scoring better overall than the Polar Ignite 3. The final score between both devices is 3-1-2, and here is a summary of my final results for each category.
| Sector | Winner |
| Smart Features | Watch Fit 2 |
| Health Features | Draw |
| Third Party Apps | Watch Fit 2 |
| Workout Mode Ability | Polar Ignite 3 |
| GPS Tracking | Draw |
| Battery Life | Watch Fit 2 |
After reflecting on the final results, I must say that I certainly believe that the Huawei Watch Fit 2 provides a superior value for your money. However, in my view, everything ultimately boils down to the intentions of the user. This is incredibly important because the smartwatch can be very helpful in a number of diverse ways.
In this particular article, I hope that you are able to discover the answers you are in search of between both of these devices. After testing both devices, they do offer great value.
How I Go About Comparing Devices
One thing that I would like to share with you before I share my results is that this is important to read first, because this is the way I will be presenting my test results to you, and they are important.
- I wont be comparing specifications (there are plenty of websites that do this)
- I will provide comparisons based on my testing criteria
- When ever I test a device, I test the device in six different categories
- I will provide a list of advantages from both devices over each other.
- The list of advantages is something that I have discovered during testing
- I will provide a link to my full articles if you want to see how I go about testing the device.
I’m approaching this in a certain way because there’s a good reason for it — there’s so much information to take in, and I know you want the answer right away. If there’s a specific category that matters to you, please do take the time to read my complete articles, as they will give you an understanding of how I test devices based on my experience.
Smart Features : Winner Huawei Watch Fit 2
| Level | Ignite 3 | Watch Fit 2 |
| Strength | Weak | Strong |
| Beginner | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Intermediate | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Advanced | 0/5 | 2/5 |
| Final Score | 4/15 | 10/15 |
When it comes to smart features, the Huawei Watch Fit 2 is surprisingly strong in this category. The final score gives you an idea, the size or gap between both devices and the kind of value that you would likely get when it comes to smart watch’s. In regards to the Polar Ignite 3, the device provides a minimalist smart feature approach, where you can view messages, answer calls, control music.
As far as advantages go, the Huawei Watch Fit 2 has so many, whereas the Polar Ignite 3 does not have any. Here is a list of advantages that I found when testing for smart features.
| Watch Fit 2 | Ignite 3 |
| Reply messages | None |
| NFC payments | |
| Find your phone | |
| Magnetic compass | |
| Measure air pressure | |
| Excellent battery economy |
Huawei Watch Fit 2 Advantages
- Reply to messages : With the Watch Fit 2, you can reply to a message directly from your watch, which is something the Polar Ignite 3 can not do. You cannot create a custom message, you can only use preset messages, and you can also include emoji’s. I also found the messaging very reliable as well.
- NFC payment : The Watch Fit 2 does have a built in NFC chip, but this feature is only available in certain countries around the world. I never got to test this feature here in New Zealand, as my device does not have the built in NFC chip. You should also check with your bank is Huawei Pay is acceptable in your region.
- Find your phone : The Polar Ignite 3 does not have this feature. It’s a handy feature when needed
- Magnetic compass, Measure air pressure : Both very useful features if you like to go hiking.
- Excellent battery life : Smart features are great, but it can burn battery life very quickly. With the Watch Fit 2, that is not the case, and is very good and managing battery life. I will show you my final results later in this article.
More Information
If smart features matter to you and you want to see how I rate a device for smart features, please check out my full articles Polar Ignite 3 : Smart feature ability could be better and also Huawei Watch Fit 2 : Smart feature ability is very good
Third Party Apps : Winner Huawei Watch Fit 2
| Feature | Watch Fit 2 | Ignite 3 |
| Strength | Strong | Average |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| App Stores | 2/5 | 0/5 |
| In Direct Ability | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Direct Ability | 4/5 | 0/5 |
| Final Score | 11/15 | 5/15 |
Third party app integration is a category that many smart features love to utilize, but that always comes down to the user and their intentions. Once again another lopsided score line between both devices, and once again the gap between both devices, tells you what kind of value you are likely to get, which is why the Huawei Watch Fit 2 is declared the winner in this category.
The score line also paints a different picture, and I dont want the information you see mis lead you, because there are some flaws that you need to be aware of, and I will explain next. In terms of advantages, the Polar Ignite 3 does have one, whereas the Watch Fit 2 has many
| Watch Fit 2 | Ignite 3 |
| Own app gallery | Larger partnerships |
| In direct ability | |
| Direct ability |
Polar Ignite 3 Advantages
Larger partnerships : The Polar Ignite 3 can only interact with third party apps, in directly which is where you share your Polar flow tracking data with a third party app as a partnership. What you will find is that the Polar brand has a far greater catchment of third party partnerships to connect to. The down side to this is, you can connect to sport performance apps only. After all it’s a running device anyway.
Huawei Watch Fit Advantages
In direct ability : The Huawei Watch Fit 2 experience is just as good as the Polar Ignite 3. The speed of the information being transferred over to the third party app is very impressive. It’s also the preferred method that i like to use as well. If you have a premium level subscription check if the Huawei Watch Fit 2 can be used to transfer tracking data from Huawei Health.
Own app gallery : You are very limited for choices, hence the reason why I have given the device a 2 out of 5 for app stores. You have access to three apps, but in my opinion they are not very useful, like calculator, radio, gossip
Direct ability : This is the personal preference for many smart watch users, which is to control the third party app directly from the device. Unfortunately you cannot control an of the popular third party apps directly, but you can only control apps within the devices app gallery. The only app I could test was calculator, as the other two I needed a Huawei phone as it cannot function in the Android Ecosystem.
More Information
If you want to know more about the third party app ability of both devices, check out the following articles Huawei Watch Fit 2 : Third party app ability is very good and also Polar Ignite 3 : Third party ability is fairly good. You will get an idea what I look for during testing.
Workout Mode Ability : Winner Polar Ignite 3
| Criteria | Watch Fit 2 | Ignite 3 |
| Strength | Strong | Very Strong |
| Basic Level | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Intermediate Level | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Advanced Level | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Final Score | 11/15 | 15/15 |
When it comes to tracking your workouts, I have rated both devices with a very high scores, however there is only one device that prevailed in this category, which is the Polar Ignite 3. With a perfect score, the Polar Ignite 3 is capable of handling all fitness levels and at elite also.
On the other hand the Huawei Watch Fit 2, is a very good device as well. It’s not quite at the elite level, but it can provide basic, intermediate and some advanced workout training features to track your progress.
In terms of advantages the polar Ignite 3, has so many, whereas the Huawei Watch Fit 2, this device has a few advantages that the Polar Ignite 3 does not have. Here is a list of advantages for both devices.
| Watch Fit 2 | Ignite 3 |
| Basic option | Accurate training load systems |
| GPX files | Structured running program |
| Ideal for swimmers | |
| Train wise | |
| Advanced auto detection |
Huawei Watch Fit 2 Avantages
Basic option : If you want a device that tracks your workouts at a very basic level, the Watch Fit 2 would be a better option between the two devices. I know the Polar Ignite 3 is more than capable of tracking at a basic level, but it’s quite pricey. If you are someone that is looking to progressively improve your fitness, then the Polar Ignite 3 would be the better choice.
GPX files : Quite a popular request for anyone that does a lot of running, trail biking or hiking, the Huawei Watch Fit 2 can export GPX files to the Huawei Health app. Also you can import GPX files from third party apps like Komoot, which is something that I like to do when I do GPS tracking tests.
Polar Ignite 3 Advantages
Accurate training load systems : Managing your training load is like super important as you go through your program, and the Polar is no different from Fitbit’s daily readiness score, Garmin’s body battery, and Huawei’s training load. What’s cool about Polar is that you rate your workout once you’re done. It’s not weird or anything because athletes do it all the time, and it uses RPE (rate of perceived exertion). That way it can adjust when it needs to and give you good training advice.
Structured running program : The running program offered by Polar is perfect for people who want to pursue running as a leisure activity, whether it’s a 5k, 10k, half-marathon, or marathon. The best part is that you can concentrate solely on running, and the device will take care of all the thinking and adjust your training based on your workload. This is not the first time that Polar has offered a running program.
Ideal for swimmers : The Polar Ignite 3 is a smartwatch that features the precision prime sensor, which is a patented sensor that utilizes sensor fusion. Sensor fusion is a technique that utilizes multiple sensors to authenticate tracking information more accurately. The sensor can accurately track swim motion using a 3D accelerometer, which is a feat given the static motion.
The Polar Ignite 3 is equipped with advanced auto detection and can only be utilized in the pool. It has the ability to detect changes in swim motion, but it is limited to a few swim styles such as freestyle, breaststroke, and butterfly. I plan to write another article on this topic after I am able to collect swimmer data.
Train wise : When I tried out the feature, I wasn’t sure if it would work, but it actually suggested that I rest for 6 minutes instead of my usual 4. The device was pretty accurate most of the time, but there were a few times when it wasn’t as good. I’m going to write a full article on it to see if it’s really accurate.
More Information
If you want to know more about both devices when it comes to workout mode ability, and how I rate and test devices, check out articles Polar Ignite 3 : performs well when it comes to tracking your workouts and also Huawei Watch Fit 2 : Workout mode ability is very good
GPS Tracking : Draw
| Criteria | Watch Fit 2 | Ignite 3 |
| Strength | Strong | Strong |
| No of Sensors | 5 | 5 |
| Extra’s | None | Assisted GPS, Dual Band |
| Basic test | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Hard test | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Very hard test | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Final Score | 10/15 | 10/15 |
When it comes to GPS technology, the Polar Ignite 3 is absolutely stacked. The Polar Ignite 3 can connect to the 5 main navigational satellites with assisted GPS, and Dual band frequency. Even with all that technology, the Huawei Watch Fit 2 still has the same level of accuracy, and it does not have the extra features (assisted GPS, dual band). As far as GPS accuracy, both devices performed well and both devices occurred the same errors during testing, which I will explain.
Easy level test : During the test, I did not experience any issues with either device. When planning my route, I made sure to avoid any overhead obstructions and chose a terrain that was completely flat. For the best possible results, I would suggest finding an area like this that is consistent and accurate, but this can be difficult depending on where you live.
Hard level test : When it comes to GPS tracking, tall buildings can be a major obstacle. In this particular test, I made sure that 80% of my planned route was near tall buildings, which ended up negatively impacting my results. Even though I was at least 2m (10FT) away from the tall buildings, my GPS tracking was still poor. It is important to keep this in mind when planning your own route.
Very Hard test : During the test, I planned my route through an area with dense vegetation and elevation changes. Both devices performed well and were able to track my location when I was walking under thick forest trees. However, they failed to do so when I was in elevated areas. This occurred because the satellites require more time to track the receiver (your device). Bear this in mind when you are hiking or traveling on elevated roads.
More Information
If you want to see how I check for GPS accuracy, and how I rate each device, check out articles Polar Ignite 3 : GPS accuracy is very good but it does have it’s issues and also Huawei Watch Fit 2 : GPS accuracy is very good
Battery Life : Winner Huawei Watch Fit 2
| Tests | Watch Fit 2 | Ignite 3 |
| Strength | Very Strong | Average |
| Battery economy without GPS Tracking | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| GPS Battery consumption | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Final Score | 9/10 | 6/10 |
When it comes to battery life, there is only one clear winner here and that is the Huawei Watch Fit 2. The battery life is very good, and the device almost gets a perfect score. The Polar Ignite 3 on the other hand, it’s very good at GPS battery consumption , but not so good when it comes to battery life economy. I will show you my final results.
Battery Economy Comparison
- Based off my own typical usage
- Test ends once 90% has been used
- No GPS tracking used
- Watch Fit 2 is two times more efficient than the Polar Ignite 3
| Criteria | Watch Fit 2 | Ignite 3 |
| Battery economy per day | 10% | 23% |
| No of days | 9 | 4 |
| Star rating | 4/5 | 1/5 |
GPS Battery consumption
- Based off my own typical usage
- Test ends once 90% has been used
- One Hour of GPS tracking
- Watch Fit 2 is two times more efficient than the Polar Ignite 3
| Criteria | Watch Fit 2 | Ignite 3 |
| Battery economy without GPS Tracking | 10% | 23% |
| GPS Battery consumption per hour | 5% | 6% |
| Total battery consumption per day | 15% | 29% |
| No of days | 6 | 3 |
Final Conclusion
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you have learnt a lot about both devices in comparison. Both devices are very good, and can be helpful in some way, if you look at the Polar Ignite 3, all of the built in technology is more helpful to some one that is looking to improve performance, and you can see this in my ratings.
As for the Huawei Watch Fit 2, it’s fairly well balanced as the device is very strong in some categories such as smart features, workouts, GPS tracking, and battery life that can match it with the higher end devices to some degree.
Remember your user intent matters when you are choosing the right device for you. Disregard the fact the Huawei Watch Fit 2 is the winner in this article, and refer back to the categories that matter to you and check if the rating meets your needs in a smart watch.
