Polar Electro Oy (commonly known as Polar) is a Finnish manufacturer of sports training computers, particularly known for developing the world's first wireless heart rate monitor.
The company is based in Kempele, Finland and was founded in 1977. Polar has approximately 1,200 employees worldwide, it has 26 subsidiaries that supply over 35,000 retail outlets in more than 80 countries. Polar manufactures a range of heart rate monitoring devices, and accessories for athletic training and fitness and also to measure heart rate variability.
History
Early devices (1975-2010)
In 1975, there was no accurate way to measure heart rate during training, and the idea of a wireless, portable heart rate monitor was conceived on a cross-country skiing track in Finland.
Polar was founded in 1977, and the company filed its first patent for wireless heart rate measurement three years later. Its founder Seppo Säynäjäkangas (1942–2018) was the inventor of the first wireless EKG heart rate monitor. In 1978, the company launched its first commercial product, the Tunturi Pulser. In 1982, Polar launched the world's first wearable wire-free heart rate monitor, the Sport Tester PE 2000.
New products (2011-20219)
In November 2015, Polar released its first optical wrist-reading heart rate monitor, the A360. The Polar H7, a chest strap heart monitor, was given a positive review in 2016 by PC Magazine, which praised the accuracy and features such as working underwater, but did note they cause chafing when used for extended periods, like a triathalon. The Polar H10 was also positively reviewed by PC Mag in 2017.
In July 2018, Dutch newspaper De Correspondent revealed that Polar's fitness app shows users on the map, making it possible to find out their real names, profession and home addresses. In response, Polar ended some of the online functionality of sharing routes on the map.
Recent developments (2020-2026)
While Polar Electro is an internationally recognized Finnish consumer electronics brand, its market position has become increasingly challenged, particularly in North America. The company's annual revenue was €170 million in 2020, then €112 million in 2022, when it had an operating loss of €31 million. The company's annual revenue in late 2023 was approximately €110 million. Despite maintaining substantial turnover, that year Polar reported a net loss of about €15 million. At the time, Talouselama attributed the drop in revenue to factors such as high inventory levels among retailers, increased global competition in wearable technology from brands such as Garmin, and weak consumer sentiment impacting the traditional heart rate monitor and sports watch segment.
In 2023, Polar Electro began licensing its technology to other companies, with its first arrangement with the Japanese company Casio.
Polar Electro partnered with Casio Computer on a smartwatch in 2023.
In 2024, Polar's CEO was Sander Werring. In 2024, the company filed a patent infringement lawsuit for alleged infringement of its US Patent 6,537,227, which describes a heart rate monitor worn on the chest, and a method for calculating energy expenditure. The Utah District Court sided with defendants Suunto, Amer Sports and Firstbeat Technologies, and in 2025 a US appeals court deemed Polar Electro's patent unenforceable. The ruling did not impact Polar's existing consumer devices. In January 2026, Polar and Motorola announced a partnership on a smart watch.
Products
Polar RC3 heart rate monitor watch, pictured in 2013
Today, Polar has products ranging from basic models for beginners to fitness enthusiasts and training systems designed for elite athletes. Polar has also developed heart rate monitoring and training systems for equestrian sports. Polar technology and devices are widely used in various scientific studies, as well as being adopted by many university research departments. In part due to its own history, and the affiliation with universities and the scientific community, Polar offers a research co-operation programme focused on supporting studies in exercise science.
As of 2005, most of Polar Electro's heart monitors calculated calorie burn. As of 2016, among its products was the Polar M450 cycling computer, which used Bluetooth to pair to a heart-rate strap. In 2021, among Polar Electro's products were the Polar Ignite 2 smartwatch, which synced with Polar Flow, a multi-platform app that stores fitness data. In September 2025, Polar launched a screenless band without subscription.
↑Michael Czinkota; Ilkka Ronkainen (18 August 2006). International Marketing. Cengage Learning. pp.310–. ISBN0-324-31702-6. The origins of the Finnish sports instruments producer Polar Electro can be traced back to the need of cross-country skiing ... By the year 1982, the technology had advanced to the point that the first wireless heart rate monitor was ready.
↑Sally Edwards (1 January 1993). The Heart Rate Monitor Book. Polar CIC. pp.127–. ISBN978-0-9634633-0-2. In 1982 Polar Electro Oy introduced the world to the first wireless heart rate monitors. These first generation heart rate monitors (the "PE 2000s") were released onto the market and readily accepted by athletes, particularly at the elite and ...
