Street X Polar's £219 city watch with a built-in torch

What is new about the Street X?

The Street X is a new line for Polar rather than an update to an old one. Polar announced it on 25 March 2026 and put it on sale the same day, as Tom's Guide and Android Authority both reported. Polar calls it an "urban sports watch" for people who live, work and train in the city, and it slots below the Grit X2 and Vantage M3 in the range. The RRP is £219 on Polar UK, with no subscription.

The headline feature is a built-in LED flashlight with a red light mode, which Android Authority describes as a first for a Polar watch. Around it, Polar packs most of its training and recovery tools into a cheaper, tougher case: Training Load Pro, Nightly Recharge, Sleep Plus Stages, wrist-based running power, FitSpark daily workout suggestions and a running programme that builds plans for distances from 5K to the marathon. Polar lists more than 170 sport profiles. This first look covers the Night Black version, Polar code 900116713. Snow White and Forest Green versions cost the same.

How big is it, and how will it wear?

Polar quotes a 45 mm by 45 mm case that is 13.8 mm thick. It weighs 28 g without the strap and 48 g with the supplied 22 mm Polar Street wristband. That is light for a watch this size, because the case and bezel are bio-based plastic rather than metal. Light weight matters for a watch you are meant to sleep in, since Polar's recovery figures depend on overnight readings.

The screen is a 1.28 inch AMOLED touchscreen at 416 by 416 pixels, with an always-on option and an ambient light sensor. Gorilla Glass covers it. The look is chunky and outdoorsy, with guarded buttons. TechRadar found the buttons "over chunky" and the strap catch fiddly, though comfortable once fitted. If you have small wrists, the 45 mm width is the only size on offer.

What does it track, and how long does the battery last?

Polar quotes up to 10 days in smartwatch mode, up to 43 hours of training with GPS in performance mode, and up to 170 hours in its eco training mode. The battery is a 385 mAh lithium polymer cell, charged through Polar's proprietary Charge 2.0 cable. TechRadar measured about 70 minutes from empty to full.

Positioning uses GPS, Galileo, BeiDou and QZSS, but on a single frequency. That is the main technical compromise. Dual-frequency watches hold their line better among tall buildings, which is where an urban watch spends its time. TechRadar found the track matched its benchmark once locked on, but that getting a lock "often takes upwards of a minute". There is a barometer, compass, altimeter, route guidance, Track Back and Back to Start, but no offline maps.

Heart rate comes from Polar's Precision Prime optical sensor (Gen 3.5 by Polar's own spec sheet), with nightly skin temperature as well. TechRadar found its heart rate readings matched a dedicated tracker. There is no ECG and no blood oxygen sensor, and Polar does not list built-in contactless payment or music storage. You get notifications, music controls, weather and find my phone.

How well is it built?

Polar rates the Street X to WR50, suitable for swimming, and says it is tested against the MIL-STD-810H military standard for shock and environmental durability. It works from -20 °C to 50 °C. The plastic case will not feel premium next to a steel or titanium watch, and TechRadar thought the design "feels budget". The upside is that a knock against a door frame or a bike lock is less of a worry.

Is it good value against its rivals?

At £219 it undercuts the Garmin Forerunner 170, which TechRadar lists at £259.99. The Garmin is the more polished running watch, with a cleaner interface, while the Polar adds the flashlight, a barometer and a tougher case. The Amazfit Active 3 Premium, at £169.90 per TechRadar, is cheaper still and has more smartwatch features.

The value case for the Street X is Polar's training and recovery software with no subscription, plus the durability and torch. If you want maps, dual-frequency GPS and ECG, you have to step up to the Vantage M3, which costs considerably more.

What is the catch?

The catch is software and screen use as much as hardware. TechRadar found the interface hard to navigate with the buttons and felt the screen area was not used well. Single-frequency GPS is a strange choice on a watch sold for city running, and slow satellite lock will annoy anyone who wants to start straight away.

It is also new, so there is little long-term owner feedback yet. Early forum talk, on the Spanish site Foroatletismo, praised the price but questioned the lack of dual-band GPS and maps. If those features matter, a Garmin or Polar's own pricier watches make more sense. If you want a tough, light, torch-equipped trainer with proper recovery data for about £200, it is worth a look.

“A torch, a tough case and Polar's recovery tools for £219, held back by single-band GPS.”