Wear Radar

Polar Grit XvsApple Watch SE

Polar Grit X
Buy/Wait:bad

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

Best for: Trail runners, hikers, and outdoor athletes who want Polar's analytics with significantly longer battery life than the Vantage V3. The titanium case and sapphire glass make it suitable for technical terrain where watch durability matters.

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Apple Watch SE
Buy/Wait:good

Early in release cycle

Best for: iPhone users who want Apple Watch's core experience — activity tracking, notifications, crash detection, and Apple Pay — at a lower price point. Ideal for kids, teens, or anyone upgrading from a much older watch without needing the advanced health sensors.

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Polar Grit XApple Watch SE
TierSports GPSSmartwatch
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS only
Battery40 days18h
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
Health sensorshr, spo2, hrv, running powerhr, irregular rhythm, crash detection, fall detection
ReleasedMar 14, 2023Sep 19, 2025
Cycle length873 days1098 days
Cycle advicebadgood
Deals advicegoodneutral
Next modelApple Watch SE 4 (Expected fall 2027)

Why buy each?

Polar Grit X

40-day battery for trail and ultra runners

Five times the battery of the Vantage V3 — enough for week-long mountain stages or ultramarathons without charging access.

Hill splitter auto-detection

Automatically segments your run by uphill and downhill sections, calculating pace and power for each — essential for mountain race training.

Wrist running power at mid-range price

Running power without a chest strap or foot pod — Polar's key differentiator versus Garmin at this price tier.

Apple Watch SE

Full watchOS at a lower price

Access the entire watchOS app ecosystem, Apple Pay, Siri, and Family Setup — for $150 less than the Series 11.

Crash and fall detection

Emergency SOS, fall detection, and Crash Detection give real safety value even without premium health sensors.

Aluminium in four colours

Available in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and (PRODUCT)RED with a wide range of Apple Watch-compatible bands.