Pros: lots. It's an M400 that is lighter, has wrist based heart rate monitor, fast GPS acquire, and vibrating alerts.
Cons: the initial setup, poor customer support, and frequent sync errors. (More on this below.)
Delivery was extremely fast, but setting up the watch was a real pain. I tried it twice via phone (Android), failed both times at firmware update, having lost the Bluetooth signal (why does a product that's being sold for two days need a new firmware is another question). Finally I connected it to a computer where the setup, update and sync completed in a reasonable amount of time, and I only had to resync once because of some error.
The watch itself looks nice; similar to the M400 but different enough with its smoother touch and new wristband. If you had an M400 before, there won't be surprises, the menu is practically the same.
I'm yet to try it in action, when the pain of setup will have dwindled.
Update #1: now that I have used it in action, one more star. The M430 is just great, the fifth star is missing due to it taking three attempts to sync.
It is lighter than the M400, and while a couple of extra holes in the band don't seem to achieve much, it does help with the sweating.
The heart rate is more accurate than it was on the M200 (smooth raises and drops on the graph as I pedaled up slope and downhill, instead of noticing halfway that "hey, looks like we're doing something, let's crank it up from 90 to 155" ), even with indoor training where the wrist isn't in a predictable position like it is when running.
The buttons are quick to react, the menu is easy to use.
Finally, the silent (buzzing) alarm is here. Being an early raiser married to a late sleeper, a quiet way to wake up is cherished.
And now to the GPS.
Is it accurate? Probably is. It measures the same distance my other watches measured, give or take a few meters. But... It finds a GPS signal instantly. Right away. No waiting.
Remember when on cold, dark late autumn mornings you had to wait for a minute or two in the icy rain and wind for the GPS signal? Or when you wanted to measure the distance from the supermarket to your doorstep to prove it is *exactly* one mile*, and your husband and sister politely laughed at you while you waited for your watch to find that signal? Never again!
To summarize: set it up using a computer, be patient with the phone sync, enjoy the watch.
*It is.
Update#2: Attached is how a 6k run looks with the good old H7 sensor, vs the M430. There are differences, but they are minor, and the two graphs are practically the same.
Update#3: as expected, the HR accuracy is somewhat worse during weightlifting-type activities. (attached a second picture) Here I did some front- and back squats, followed by four minutes of deadlifts alternating with burpees (during which I placed the phone recording the H7 on a nearby shelf that was too far for this Bluetooth protocol, hence the gaps). The proportions are more or less there, but the numbers differ significantly. This is something I was expecting following my adventures with the M200; the accuracy improves with the band being tightened just the right way, and if one manages to sweat moderately, but (a) few are lucky enough to remain fresh and dry after 30 deadlifts and burpees (b) even then it is far from accurate.
If you want accuracy, go with the chest sensor.
I'll try biking next.
Update #4:
The watch stopped syncing. It connects, then claims that sync is completed after 1-2 seconds. I have to plug it into a computer. Disappointing.
After reinstalling the Polar Flow client, it syncs again, who knows for how long.
Update #5:
I think I figured out the sync issue. For whatever reason, the phone app switches the device off after every couple of syncs. Switching it on again (Settings - Devices) usually helps; if it doesn't, connect the watch to a computer or reinstall the app.
I'd like to mention how poor support from Polar was. I reported the sync issue to them, detailing all the troubleshooting steps I took; they responded after several days with a canned response suggesting some troubleshooting steps - some I wrote them to have tried already (wasn't even the full list), and nothing since.
The final verdict is 3 stars.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
From the manufacturer
Polar Flow
Track your workouts, analyze your progress and achieve more with Polar Flow – the complete fitness and training platform available on desktop and mobile.
Polar Flow helps you plan, sync and analyze your workouts, follow your long-term progress, find training inspiration and customize your Polar M430 to fit your needs.
Polar M430
GPS Running Watch
Chase your destiny with Polar M430, an advanced sports watch for runners who want more.
Polar M430 is packed with features that a dedicated runner looks for in a watch. Set your goals and crush them with this waterproof powerhouse.
- Wrist-based heart rate
- Integrated GPS
- Indoor running metrics
- Polar Running Program
- 24/7 activity & sleep tracking
Polar Fitness Test
Running Index
Training Load
Recovery Status
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
Wrist-based heart rateTrack your heart rate from the wrist easily and comfortably with Polar’s optical heart rate solution. |
Integrated GPSTrack your pace, distance, altitude and route. |
Indoor running metricsTrack your pace and distance indoors on the track or the treadmill with the built-in accelerometer. |
Polar Running ProgramTrain for a running event with a personalized, adaptable running plan. |
Customer Questions & Answers
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2017
Cons: the initial setup, poor customer support, and frequent sync errors. (More on this below.)
Delivery was extremely fast, but setting up the watch was a real pain. I tried it twice via phone (Android), failed both times at firmware update, having lost the Bluetooth signal (why does a product that's being sold for two days need a new firmware is another question). Finally I connected it to a computer where the setup, update and sync completed in a reasonable amount of time, and I only had to resync once because of some error.
The watch itself looks nice; similar to the M400 but different enough with its smoother touch and new wristband. If you had an M400 before, there won't be surprises, the menu is practically the same.
I'm yet to try it in action, when the pain of setup will have dwindled.
Update #1: now that I have used it in action, one more star. The M430 is just great, the fifth star is missing due to it taking three attempts to sync.
It is lighter than the M400, and while a couple of extra holes in the band don't seem to achieve much, it does help with the sweating.
The heart rate is more accurate than it was on the M200 (smooth raises and drops on the graph as I pedaled up slope and downhill, instead of noticing halfway that "hey, looks like we're doing something, let's crank it up from 90 to 155" ), even with indoor training where the wrist isn't in a predictable position like it is when running.
The buttons are quick to react, the menu is easy to use.
Finally, the silent (buzzing) alarm is here. Being an early raiser married to a late sleeper, a quiet way to wake up is cherished.
And now to the GPS.
Is it accurate? Probably is. It measures the same distance my other watches measured, give or take a few meters. But... It finds a GPS signal instantly. Right away. No waiting.
Remember when on cold, dark late autumn mornings you had to wait for a minute or two in the icy rain and wind for the GPS signal? Or when you wanted to measure the distance from the supermarket to your doorstep to prove it is *exactly* one mile*, and your husband and sister politely laughed at you while you waited for your watch to find that signal? Never again!
To summarize: set it up using a computer, be patient with the phone sync, enjoy the watch.
*It is.
Update#2: Attached is how a 6k run looks with the good old H7 sensor, vs the M430. There are differences, but they are minor, and the two graphs are practically the same.
Update#3: as expected, the HR accuracy is somewhat worse during weightlifting-type activities. (attached a second picture) Here I did some front- and back squats, followed by four minutes of deadlifts alternating with burpees (during which I placed the phone recording the H7 on a nearby shelf that was too far for this Bluetooth protocol, hence the gaps). The proportions are more or less there, but the numbers differ significantly. This is something I was expecting following my adventures with the M200; the accuracy improves with the band being tightened just the right way, and if one manages to sweat moderately, but (a) few are lucky enough to remain fresh and dry after 30 deadlifts and burpees (b) even then it is far from accurate.
If you want accuracy, go with the chest sensor.
I'll try biking next.
Update #4:
The watch stopped syncing. It connects, then claims that sync is completed after 1-2 seconds. I have to plug it into a computer. Disappointing.
After reinstalling the Polar Flow client, it syncs again, who knows for how long.
Update #5:
I think I figured out the sync issue. For whatever reason, the phone app switches the device off after every couple of syncs. Switching it on again (Settings - Devices) usually helps; if it doesn't, connect the watch to a computer or reinstall the app.
I'd like to mention how poor support from Polar was. I reported the sync issue to them, detailing all the troubleshooting steps I took; they responded after several days with a canned response suggesting some troubleshooting steps - some I wrote them to have tried already (wasn't even the full list), and nothing since.
The final verdict is 3 stars.
Verified Purchase
Another Polar M4xx
By Vissai on June 2, 2017
Pros: lots. It's an M400 that is lighter, has wrist based heart rate monitor, fast GPS acquire, and vibrating alerts.By Vissai on June 2, 2017
Cons: the initial setup, poor customer support, and frequent sync errors. (More on this below.)
Delivery was extremely fast, but setting up the watch was a real pain. I tried it twice via phone (Android), failed both times at firmware update, having lost the Bluetooth signal (why does a product that's being sold for two days need a new firmware is another question). Finally I connected it to a computer where the setup, update and sync completed in a reasonable amount of time, and I only had to resync once because of some error.
The watch itself looks nice; similar to the M400 but different enough with its smoother touch and new wristband. If you had an M400 before, there won't be surprises, the menu is practically the same.
I'm yet to try it in action, when the pain of setup will have dwindled.
Update #1: now that I have used it in action, one more star. The M430 is just great, the fifth star is missing due to it taking three attempts to sync.
It is lighter than the M400, and while a couple of extra holes in the band don't seem to achieve much, it does help with the sweating.
The heart rate is more accurate than it was on the M200 (smooth raises and drops on the graph as I pedaled up slope and downhill, instead of noticing halfway that "hey, looks like we're doing something, let's crank it up from 90 to 155" ), even with indoor training where the wrist isn't in a predictable position like it is when running.
The buttons are quick to react, the menu is easy to use.
Finally, the silent (buzzing) alarm is here. Being an early raiser married to a late sleeper, a quiet way to wake up is cherished.
And now to the GPS.
Is it accurate? Probably is. It measures the same distance my other watches measured, give or take a few meters. But... It finds a GPS signal instantly. Right away. No waiting.
Remember when on cold, dark late autumn mornings you had to wait for a minute or two in the icy rain and wind for the GPS signal? Or when you wanted to measure the distance from the supermarket to your doorstep to prove it is *exactly* one mile*, and your husband and sister politely laughed at you while you waited for your watch to find that signal? Never again!
To summarize: set it up using a computer, be patient with the phone sync, enjoy the watch.
*It is.
Update#2: Attached is how a 6k run looks with the good old H7 sensor, vs the M430. There are differences, but they are minor, and the two graphs are practically the same.
Update#3: as expected, the HR accuracy is somewhat worse during weightlifting-type activities. (attached a second picture) Here I did some front- and back squats, followed by four minutes of deadlifts alternating with burpees (during which I placed the phone recording the H7 on a nearby shelf that was too far for this Bluetooth protocol, hence the gaps). The proportions are more or less there, but the numbers differ significantly. This is something I was expecting following my adventures with the M200; the accuracy improves with the band being tightened just the right way, and if one manages to sweat moderately, but (a) few are lucky enough to remain fresh and dry after 30 deadlifts and burpees (b) even then it is far from accurate.
If you want accuracy, go with the chest sensor.
I'll try biking next.
Update #4:
The watch stopped syncing. It connects, then claims that sync is completed after 1-2 seconds. I have to plug it into a computer. Disappointing.
After reinstalling the Polar Flow client, it syncs again, who knows for how long.
Update #5:
I think I figured out the sync issue. For whatever reason, the phone app switches the device off after every couple of syncs. Switching it on again (Settings - Devices) usually helps; if it doesn't, connect the watch to a computer or reinstall the app.
I'd like to mention how poor support from Polar was. I reported the sync issue to them, detailing all the troubleshooting steps I took; they responded after several days with a canned response suggesting some troubleshooting steps - some I wrote them to have tried already (wasn't even the full list), and nothing since.
The final verdict is 3 stars.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2018
Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2018
The other buttons dont get stuck; however, the button action is very unsatisfying and gives very poor feedback.
I began the Polar warranty process online. Unfortunately, Polar does charge for shipping for repairs.
Great initial value with great features; however, I can’t recommend this product due to its poor build quality. You can see in the photo that I uploaded that the button on the bottom right is flush to the watch surface.
Verified Purchase
Poor Build Quality
By Kang on March 16, 2018
I purchased this device in July 2017 and have worn it for 83 different run/bike sessions. It had all the features I needed (heart rate, water resistance, gps tracking); however, proved to be a poorly manufactured product. The buttons on the device became very mushy within the first two months. The two bottons in fact often get stuck in the down position.By Kang on March 16, 2018
The other buttons dont get stuck; however, the button action is very unsatisfying and gives very poor feedback.
I began the Polar warranty process online. Unfortunately, Polar does charge for shipping for repairs.
Great initial value with great features; however, I can’t recommend this product due to its poor build quality. You can see in the photo that I uploaded that the button on the bottom right is flush to the watch surface.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2017
Color: BlackSize: Medium/LargeVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Harry
Great sports watch. Recommended.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 23, 2021Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Perfect Running Watch
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2021Verified Purchase
AzuMX9
Buen reloj, mi experiencia no tanto
Reviewed in Mexico on September 10, 2019Color: BlackSize: Medium/LargeVerified Purchase
Buen reloj, mi experiencia no tanto
Reviewed in Mexico on September 11, 2019
El reloj es muy bueno para registrar el entrenamiento, después de usarlo un par de días me he obsesionado con este tipo de gadgets.Reviewed in Mexico on September 11, 2019
He tenido que regresar el reloj y, aunque si me gustó, le doy 3 estrellas por que mi experiencia no fue la mejor. Lo había pedido para un cumpleaños y, aunque con prime salía gratis el envío, decidí pagar el envío acelerado para tenerlo justo a tiempo. A pesar de eso el reloj llegó después de la fecha, incluso después de la fecha que marcaba sin envío acelerado. Como no lo regalé decidí quedármelo y los primeros días fueron de maravilla, sin embargo, a los pocos días de uso no pude sincronizar bien el reloj y dejo de marcar mis entrenamientos lo que me decepcionó bastante y para mi gusto es muy grande, no se ve para nada moderno y es muy masculino, así que lo regresé. Me reembolsaron el valor del reloj sin problema pero perdí el dinero del envío acelerado, lo cual me molesto bastante pues ni siquiera habían cumplido en la fecha de entrega.
Con base en mi poca experiencia con este reloj de actividad, que es el primero que uso de este tipo puedo comentar lo siguiente: (esto te servirá si eres inexperta como yo)
1. Este reloj es para registrar el entrenamiento, SE CENTRA EN EL RUNNER, aunque puedas agregar otras actividades en la aplicación, prácticamente todas sus funcionalidades están enfocadas en correr.
2. Registra la calidad del sueño más o
menos bien. Si eres una persona que se mueve mucho al dormir este lo marcará como que estuviste despierto.
3. Algo que fue nuevo para mí fue la alarma silenciosa para despertar. La pulsera vibra en tu muñeca lo que evita que se sobresaltes con la alarma ruidosa de tu celular. Esto yo lo amé!!! Pero lo puedes encontrar en cualquier smartband.
4. Algo que extraño bastante, además de la precisión del registro de entrenamieto es el objetivo de actividad. El reloj te muestra una barra que se va llenando a medida que vas cumpliendo tus retos lo que te motiva a alcanzar tus metas más rápido. Y lo mejor es que el dispositivo te ayuda a cumplir tus metas a lo largo del día, por ejemplo: te puede decir: camina 1 hora o corre 25 min... es genial y esto es lo que más extraño.
5. El podómetro es muy bueno, actualmente estoy usando un Fitbit y me marca pasos hasta dormida. Así que aquí el polar va ganando.
6. Calcula las calorías mucho mejor que Fitbit, lo aseguro.
7. TIENE GPS INTEGRADO!!! Eso lo extraño también.
8. La medición de la frecuencia cardiaca es excelente. Sin embargo yo no pude programar la frecuencia cardiaca continua, solo podía verla durante el entrenamiento.
9. Una de las razones por la que me convenció este reloj fue por que te ayuda a controlas las ZONAS de entrenamiento, pero tampoco pude configurar las alarmas para mantenerme dentro de alguna zona así que tenía que esta e volteando a ver la pantalla pues no emitía alertas.
En general es un buen artículo. Lo recomiendo ampliamente si eres corredor o quieres serlo. Extraño muchas opciones que no encuentro en mi nuevo smartband.
Lo regrese por que no pude configurar varias cosas y algunos días no registro mi entrenamiento lo que me decepciono bastante. Además, no se veía nada bonito ni tecnológico.
Si volvería a comprarlo pero lo intercalaría con una pulsera de actividad más sencilla el resto del día, para que pueda monitorear cosas más cotidianas, no solo el entrenamiento.
Me gustaría seguir conociendo la marca con otros productos por que como mencioné al principio ahora estoy obsesionada con registrar mis entrenamientos y el día a día pero no
Volvería a pagar por el envío rápido jaja
Images in this review
bargainbuyer
Superb watch
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2020Verified Purchase
I keep buying junk from amazon
Battery life isn’t 30 hours...try 10
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2020Verified Purchase
