Motorola and Polar Just Teamed Up to Build the Ultimate Budget Smartwatch

Motorola just dropped a bombshell at CES 2026. They’re back in the smartwatch world, and this time, they aren't playing around. After last year's Moto Watch Fit felt a bit like a "me too" product, the new Moto Watch changes the vibe completely. The big news? They’ve partnered with Polar, the legends of heart rate tracking. This isn't just a basic pedometer anymore; it’s a serious tool for people who actually care about their recovery data.

First off, let’s talk looks. Motorola ditched the square face for a classic round 1.43-inch OLED screen. It’s snappy, bright, and wrapped in a 47mm aluminum case that feels way more expensive than it actually is. You’ve got a stainless steel crown for scrolling, and you can pick between leather, silicone, or metal bands. Honestly? It looks like a high-end timepiece, but it’s built like a tank with Gorilla Glass 3 and an IP68 rating.

The partnership with Polar is the real "meat" here. Most budget watches just give you raw numbers that don't mean much. The Moto Watch uses Polar's actual science. You get features like Nightly Recharge, which basically tells you if you slept well enough to hit the gym the next morning. It also tracks blood oxygen and stress levels. Instead of just saying "you walked 5,000 steps," it gives you an Activity Score based on how hard your heart was actually working.

Here’s the kicker: it doesn't use Google's Wear OS. While that means no Play Store, it also means the battery is a beast. We’re talking 13 days of juice on a single charge. Even if you leave the "Always-on" display running, you’ll get a full week. Plus, it has dual-frequency GPS. That’s a massive win for runners because it means the watch won't lose your location when you're under heavy tree cover or around tall buildings.

At €99.99, Motorola is basically calling out the competition. It’s a fitness-first watch that doesn't look like a plastic toy.