Frontier X2 review: the heart rate monitor I actually prefer using

TechRadar Verdict The Frontier X2 from Fourth Frontier is a very good heart rate monitor. It’s accurate, providing a continuous ECG functionality through its electrodes and matching readings from top-of-the-range wrist-based wearables, just like the Polar H10. The screen and physical button are incredibly helpful when it comes to making sure the device is on and connected, a constant pain point for some puck-based heart rate monitor users. Its premium price will put many users off, but those who shell out will reap the rewards. Reasons to buy +Highly accurate HR compared to other wearables +ECG livestream functionality super useful +Screen and tactile button enormously helpful +Rechargeable Reasons to avoid -No ANT+ -Very premium price tag -Some features locked behind subscription paywall Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Find out more about how we test. Jump To: One minute review Price and availability Specifications Scorecard Should I buy? Also consider How I tested Frontier X2: One minute reviewWhile the Polar H10 chest strap is used by athletes the world over as a heart rate monitor accuracy benchmark, one of its biggest pain points can be its connectivity issues. It’s hard to know whether it’s going to drop out, or you need to replace or clean the strap, until you actually start a workout. There’s also no interface or control on the heart rate monitor itself, and the app is cluttered and outdated. I like using the Polar H10 for its accuracy, but when it doesn’t work for me, it’s not always obvious until after the fact — which, when testing multiple devices simultaneously, is a frustrating experience.Frontier X2 from Fourth Frontier offers a different chest strap experience: a more modern app and a USB-chargeable device, with a screen and a button allowing you to manually start a workout and receive haptic feedback. That haptic feedback also triggers when you cross heart rate zone thresholds.While you can’t view the screen while wearing it on your chest of course, it does make workout preparation and phone connection so much easier than Polar’s offering. Guessing the heart rate monitor is working, even checking your phone to make sure heart rate is streaming correctly, only to have it drop out halfway through and lose my data due to a poor connection or crap strap, is an experience I’d like to leave in the past.The Frontier X2 uses heart rate information to calculate Whoop-style metrics like a Strain score, Stress score, Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Breathing Rate, and estimates calories burned. That last metric is somewhat outdated, as research from Stanford University found that calorie estimates based on heart rate are unreliable as they measure effort rather than energy expended. A premium tier subscription costs an additional $119.99 / £109.99 per year, adding a Readiness score, VO2 Max and even sleep stage analysis. As an already-expensive device, I wouldn’t recommend this unless you’re planning to make Frontier X2 your privacy fitness tracker, and accuracy is hyper-important to you.Latest Videos FromTechRadarThe continuous electrocardiogram, or ECG, can livestream an ECG scan for yourself or a medical professional to the Frontier app. Not only is this useful for spotting irregular heart rate rhythms over time, but I most often used it to check the HRM is streaming data correctly before starting working out in earnest, which is recommended, as the scan flags up in the app if there’s insufficient data due to poor connection.In terms of accuracy, I had no complaints. I took it for a test run against the Apple Watch Ultra 4 (which offers a redesigned Health Sensing System said to be ‘the most accurate ever on a wearable’) and the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro, which uses Garmin’s Elevate V5 that I’ve already tested against the Polar H10 and found to be very accurate.The results of the Frontier X2’s test run were excellent, with just 2 bpm separating the Frontier X2 from the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Garmin Fenix 9 Pro’s average heart rate readings, a clear indication that all three devices are telling the same story about my body, and thus all three are very likely to be accurate. After some more solo runs and workouts, I feel like I could certainly recommend the Frontier X2, if you don’t mind paying the hefty premium price. (Image credit: Future)Frontier X2: Price and availability$599 / £449 / AU$775Very expensive for a HRMNot competitively priced compared to the industry standardThe Frontier X2 can be found on storefronts like Amazon for $599 in the US and £449 in the UK. In Australia, it’s more difficult to locate, but Selfridges’ AU storefront lists it for AU$775. The optional subscription for premium features on top is tough to swallow at this price.Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inboxSign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.This is a lot for a device that fundamentally only measures heart rate, and although the Frontier X app can interpret strain, readiness, training load, specific workout profiles and other metrics, it’s still a lot to ask for compared to the $89.95 / £79.50 / AU$139 Polar H10.However, it does address quite a few of Polar’s pain points, notably including a micro-USB charger rather than a replaceable coin battery, and a screen for an easier indicator of connection. The continuous ECG is a nice touch too, offering a way to test the monitor’s connection in addition to providing reliable ECG data for a medical professional. All in all, it’s an excellent package, but I wouldn’t call it excellent value.Value score: 3.5/5 Frontier X2: Specifications (Image credit: Future) Swipe to scroll horizontally Component Frontier X2 Dimensions 73mm x 24mm x 13mm Weight 25g without strap Case material Plastic Connectivity Bluetooth Water resistance IP67 Accelerometer Yes Battery 14 days typical usage Frontier X2: Scorecard Swipe to scroll horizontally Category Comment Score Value A premium product with more to recommend it over Polar, but not enough to stretch your budget. 3.5/5 Design So many pain points addressed. 4.5/5 Features More than most HRMs, but limited. 4/5 Performance Accurate and reliable with little friction. 4.5/5 Frontier X2: Should I buy? (Image credit: Future)Buy it if…You want the best heart rate monitorIf money is no object, the Frontier X2 won’t let you down.You want a rechargeable batteryDon’t want to faff around with coin batteries? The Frontier X2 uses standardised micro-USB. You want ECGThe Frontier X2 is as good for people watching their heart health as it is for serious athletes.Don’t buy it if…You’re running a triathlonThe Frontier X2 isn’t for use in saline water. You’re on a budgetJust get a Polar H10 instead, although you’ll have to put up with its app and the odd connection dropout. Also considerCoros Heart Rate MonitorWhile not electrical, but optical like a smartwatch, this arm-mounted HRM performed incredibly well during testing. Read our full Coros Heart Rate Monitor reviewPolar H10The industry-standard accurate heart rate monitor.Read our full Polar H10 reviewHow I testedI took the Frontier X2 on test runs, gym sessions and meditations, draining the battery down and wearing it consistently. I used its continuous ECG functionality, compared its in-app metrics to competitor wearables, and cleaned the band after each use.First reviewed: October 2026 Senior Fitness & Wearables Editor Matt is TechRadar's expert on all things fitness, wellness and wearable tech. A former staffer at Men's Health, he holds a Master's Degree in journalism from Cardiff and has written for brands like Runner's World, Women's Health, Men's Fitness, LiveScience and Fit&Well on everything fitness tech, exercise, nutrition and mental wellbeing.He is the author of the upcoming book The Health Data Heist, set to be published by Bloomsbury in 2027. When he’s not training or writing about health and fitness, he can be found reading doorstop-thick fantasy books with lots of fictional maps in them. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.