When comparing Apple Watch vs Polar M400, the Slant community recommends Polar M400 for most people. In the question“What are the best fitness trackers that pair with iPhones?” Polar M400 is ranked 2nd while Apple Watch is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose Polar M400 is:
The "Sport Profile" feature allows you to customize what stats you want to see for each type of exercise. For example, you may want the GPS on for running but not for a circuit workout. These preset profiles save you from having to set up the device each time you exercise.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Works well with iPhone
Health apps downloaded on iPhone can be integrated with Apple Watch
Pro Haptic feedback for notifications
Pro Heart rate sensor
Pro First -rate app support
Pro Digital Crown
The Digital Crown allows you to zoom in and out with various applications and can be used as a button.
Pro Sensitive touch
Allows for taps and presses to be registered as two different types of input.
Pro Standalone phone calls
Series 3 can make and receive phone calls by itself, without the need to connect to a smartphone.
Pro Can unlock your Mac
If you have a Mac with sufficient Bluetooth chip support the Apple Watch can be used in place of your password or touch ID to login/unlock the system when in proximity.
Pro Customizable watch faces
Can customize the watch faces with "complications" such as weather forecast, traffic, meeting schedule, etc… or your own photos.
Pro Great fitness app support
The Apple Watch integrates with virtually every well-known fitness and calorie tracking app out there.
Pro Siri / Digital Assistant Support
You can use Siri directly from the Apple Watch, allowing you to call or text, but also to get directions, and more.
Pro Gives you a lot of options for customizing different types of workouts
The "Sport Profile" feature allows you to customize what stats you want to see for each type of exercise. For example, you may want the GPS on for running but not for a circuit workout. These preset profiles save you from having to set up the device each time you exercise.
Pro Gives you custom activity goals suitable for your level
The daily activity goal is a good way to find out how active you really are in your everyday life. Here you can choose your typical activity level from three options and see how active you need to be to reach your daily activity goal.
The time you need to complete your daily activity goal depends on the level you have chosen and the intensity of your activities. Age and gender also affect the intensity you need to reach your daily activity goal.
Pro Detailed reports
The fitness tracker offers excellent reporting including distance, speed, cadence, heart rate (if paired with monitor), ascent, decent, calories, recovery status, and more.
Pro Ability to add training notes
The app allows you to add additional notes to your workouts for better tracking.
Cons
Con Expensive
Apple Watch is said to cost $349 USD.
Con Works only with iPhones
You need to have an iPhone (5 or later) to pair this smartwatch. It will not work with any other device, and has limited capabilities on its own (and still require the iPhone for the initial setup).
Con Sleep tracking lacks detail and accuracy
If you are awake for an extended period of time in the middle of the night and then fall back asleep, the fitness tracker may not see the additional hours as part of your sleep.
Con Unattractive and bulky design
The tracker is quite wide and hard to miss, it's not something that can blend in with what you're wearing outside of sport/exercise type settings.
Con Short battery life when using the GPS
With the GPS turned on, battery life goes from around 24 days to 9 hours.
This is likely fine for people who will always have opportunities to charge it after their run. However for anyone hoping to use the GPS for longer activities, such as hiking, that may not be long enough to be useful.