Polar Beat Vs. Polar Flow – The Differences - Train For A

Polar Beat vs. Polar Flow – The Differences

Written By: Jeremy N

Polar is a leading manufacturer of heart rate monitors for consumers. The Polar H10, the all new premium chest strap monitor features everything you’d ever want in a consumer heart rate monitor.

For instance, it’s compatible with third-party apps, has memory to capture workout sessions without the need for a smartphone, removable battery cover, long battery life of up to 400 hours, and improved secure chest strap, among other top features.

With the Polar Beat and Polar sensors, you can easily turn your smartphone into a productive fitness tracker.

You get access to real-time voice assistance, live heart rate data, personalized feedback on each workout session, and the ability to track your distance and routes.

This article gives a detailed comparison of the Polar Beat and Polar Flow heart rate monitors to help you make an informed buying decision.

It covers a review of the Polar Beat H10 to help understand this product line. Read on to find out which one of the two is a better match for your unique fitness needs.

The Polar Beat

The Polar Beat offers access to various features such as tracking training sessions with GPS to determine pace, distance and route. It’s also possible to track your running speed and distance from the length of your stride.

The monitor supports logging of all training sessions outdoor or indoor to create a detailed training diary.

With the data captured during training, you can easily share your experiences with friends and family on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. It also supports email and texts.

Other features of the heart rate monitors include:

• Access to hundreds of activity profiles
• Tracking lost calories in every training session
• Access to real-time heart rate data
• Better understanding of your training sessions to determine your achievements
• Recommendations for the right intensity for efficient workouts
• Tracking fitness progress in minutes
• Access to real-time workout effect such as improved fitness and fat burning

The heart rate monitor lacks an indicator light to show when it’s on and in use. It also doesn’t have a vibrator you can set up to off every 10 minutes or mile as in other models in the market.

The Polar H10 features a third electrode on the chest strap to enhance the accuracy of the heart rate monitor. Data captured is stored on the monitor’s memory for up to one hour for each session, giving you time to transfer them to an external drive for backup.

Polar.com

​The Polar Beat app allows you to initiate monitor-only sessions. The heart rate monitor saves your complete heart rate data in the form of a chart, including workout time, maximum and average heart rates, time taken to burn calories, calories burned (percentage) and maximum heart rate or burst modes.

Designed to track swimming workouts, you can use the monitor up to 30 meters under water due to its water resistant properties. It features a 5 kHz band to enable storage of your workout on the tracker or transmit it to Polar fitness watches in real-time.

The Polar H10 doesn’t feature built-in accelerometer, but you can get the Polar Stride Sensor Bluetooth Smart for access to running insights. When capturing video, the heart rate monitor can connect to GoPro devices to show your heart rate.

The Polar H10 connects to smartphones through Bluetooth connectivity. It uses GymLink, a proprietary technology, to connect to top gym cardio equipment brands, and Polar devices.

However, it doesn’t support ANT+, a technology that enables smartphones, monitoring devices, sports watches, gym equipment, etc., to communicate with each other.

The heart rate monitor easily pairs with Android and iPhone phones. It auto re-pairs if you lost connection due to one device being out of range. It reliably auto connects to GymLink.

The Polar Beat app offers free in-workout training and tracking, including over 100 exercises such as biking, running, judo and kitesurfing, etc., to choose from.

Upon sport selection, you get the option to select a target such as distance, time, benefit or duration at $2.99 in-app purchase. Tempo training, recovery workouts or optimal performance.

After selecting a target, you get access to voice guidance to keep you within the right zone of heart rate during your entire workout. A report then becomes available, including time spent in heart rate zones, heart rate chart, impact of your workout on fitness level, and a map of your run.

In-app purchases also give access to the Energy Pointer at $2.99 to show your sessions in real time if you’re improving in fitness or burning excess calories or fats. The Fitness Test to determine your fitness level is available at $3.99 in-app purchase. However, all in-app upgrades cost only $7.99.

With your workout data being stored in your cloud Polar account, you can access it from any device. The data also becomes accessible in Polar Flow, an app and web service for easy tracking of the history of your workouts, including setting up a program for fitness purposes.

Sale Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap - ANT + Bluetooth, Waterproof HR Sensor for Men and Women (NEW),Black

• WORKS WITH EVERYTHING: Polar HRM works with many sports and smart watches (Polar, Garmin, Apple, Suunto, etc.), Polar Beat, fitness apps such as Strava and Nike, and ALL HRM compatible Cardio Equipment
• SUPREME ACCURACY: Widely recognized for its top precision by many sources, Polar H10 is the most accurate heart rate sensor in Polar’s history. Polar H10 provides top quality heart rate measurement and it's the choice of many pro athletes.

$83.79 Buy on Amazon

Designed to measure sleep, steps, etc., Polar Flow works with Polar heart rate monitor watches, including the H10. It connects with Apple Health to support data sharing with other apps. However, it’s not compatible with Google Fit.

If you don’t like the Polar app, you can use other third party apps such as Pear, Runtastic, and Strava with your heart rate monitor. Unlike its predecessor, the H7 with a battery life of up to 200 hours, the H10 can last up to 400 hours.

The Polar ​Flow

The Polar Flow is a web service or “window” into your workouts, daily activity and sleep. It allows you to do so much with regards to your workouts, training, sleep and daily activities.

Polar Flow allows you to view, assess and understand your workout data tracked with a Polar device such as the Polar Beat H10. With the powerful tool, you can do any of the following with your workout data:

• Track your sleep
• Measure your fitness level
• Plan your workouts or training
• Relive your best moments
• View your progress
• Strike a balance between rest and activity
• Socialize with people of the same mindset
• Manage your weight

Polar Flow is available both as a mobile app and a web service accessible from your iOS or Android device. The “Polar Flow web service” or Polar Flow is accessible at flow.polar.com. On the other hand, the Polar Flow app is available for download on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Sale Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap - ANT + Bluetooth, Waterproof HR Sensor for Men and Women (NEW),Black

• WORKS WITH EVERYTHING: Polar HRM works with many sports and smart watches (Polar, Garmin, Apple, Suunto, etc.), Polar Beat, fitness apps such as Strava and Nike, and ALL HRM compatible Cardio Equipment
• SUPREME ACCURACY: Widely recognized for its top precision by many sources, Polar H10 is the most accurate heart rate sensor in Polar’s history. Polar H10 provides top quality heart rate measurement and it's the choice of many pro athletes.

$83.79 Buy on Amazon

However, some features of the Polar Flow are only accessible from the web service. You need heart rate monitors such as the Polar Beat devices to track your training, workouts and activities to use the Polar Flow app or web service.

With the Polar Flow, you can do the following:

Improve your running game

Polar.com

With a heart rate monitor, you can use the Polar Running Program in Polar Flow to improve your running and make it interesting to stay motivated.

The program gives you access to a personalized running plan (it’s adaptive) and the ability to sync your heart rate monitor or activity tracker to follow the guided runs. The Polar running coach is customizable to your unique needs.

Polar Flow answers runners’ questions. However, the features available to you depends on the device or Polar heart rate monitor or tracker you use.

Explore th​​e world

Designed to work as an adventure map, Polar Flow gives you access to public training session logged into the app or we service through the “Explore” tab. It allows for distance, time, sports and location filtering.

Polar.com

Track your activities

Polar Flow supports daily, weekly and monthly activity tracking. You can view your daily activity goal and if it was met, total calories burned (including basal activity, metabolic rate and training sessions), inactivity stamps (if you sit for prolonged time), daily steps, active time (active time that goes into improving your fitness), and sleep time.

Track your sleep

You can track the quality, duration and timing of your slee​​p on a daily basis to determine spot trends in your schedule.

Polar.com

Maintain a training log

Polar Flow is also key to logging your trainings to track your sessions. The data is available from any device after one day, one year or even 10 years on the web service.

Polar Flow also analyzes your data to help you understand your training sessions, and gives access to flow groups, events and clubs.

Sale Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap - ANT + Bluetooth, Waterproof HR Sensor for Men and Women (NEW),Black

• WORKS WITH EVERYTHING: Polar HRM works with many sports and smart watches (Polar, Garmin, Apple, Suunto, etc.), Polar Beat, fitness apps such as Strava and Nike, and ALL HRM compatible Cardio Equipment
• SUPREME ACCURACY: Widely recognized for its top precision by many sources, Polar H10 is the most accurate heart rate sensor in Polar’s history. Polar H10 provides top quality heart rate measurement and it's the choice of many pro athletes.

$83.79 Buy on Amazon

​Conclusion

The Polar H10 is a great heart rate monitor while Polar Flow is an app or web service you can use with your tracking device. The device is easy to use, comfortable to wear and supports app usage for workout guidance.

Although Polar H10 lacks an accelerometer and ANT+ connectivity, it’s water resistance up to 30 meters under water when swimming, features various sports profiles, easily links to gym cardio equipment, and stores data in the cloud or external devices.

On the other hand, Polar Flow is a powerful workout tool you can use in different ways to improve your trainings. Both Polar Beat and Power Flow can be used side by side to improve your trainings and achieve your goals.

Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Hi, Jeremy Here,

I am the the guy behind Train for a 5K. On this site, I share everything that learned along my running journey. The content I create is the running training I wish I had before we started this journey. About Jeremy.

I have run over 250 races including the California International Marathon, Clarksburg Country Run, and various other 5K & 10K races throughout the United States. I am a former Athletics department employee at University of the Pacific and Shoe Consultant with Dicks Sporting Goods

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