When we did our initial review of the Titan 2 GPS sensor, we were impressed with what was on offer for the price. The unit featured premium hardware, an easy to use web platform and had a wide range of features. Not only did this make it a direct competitor to the more expensive GPS systems used by team sports clubs around the world, It did so at a fraction of the price.
It was after doing that review that we were given a unit of their entry level device the Titan 1+. In truth, at first we weren’t overtly, enthusiastic about reviewing it. After all, we were already content with the price point of their Titan 2($200 USD) and didn’t see the necessity for a lower tier device. However, that soon changed. Though there were sacrifices made in hardware and functionality to sell the Titan 1+ for half the price it surprised us at how well it operated as a performance monitoring tool. In this review we will compare the two devices head to head and explore what is the better value unit.
Unboxing
Included with both sensors are all the essentials including a compression bib to wear the device in, the GPS unit and micro USB cord for charging and data syncing. Perhaps the most notable point to mention is the major difference in cost. The Titan 2 retails for $200 USD prior to tax and shipping with the Titan 1+ considerably less at $100USD. On top of that, In order to access the web platform to view results there is annual subscriptions fee of $20USD for the Titan 2 and $15 for the Titan 1+. In both instances it is a small price to pay for the ease of access and breadth of features that are provided.
Sensor Design
Despite both sensors having a similar black design pattern, the Titan 1+ form factor triumphs over it’s more expensive counterpart. It is not the width or thickness of the devices which make the Titan1+ more ideal, rather it is that fact that it is considerably shorter in length. This makes for a smaller square like device in comparison to the rectangular Titan 2. We found this to be appealing, because as an athlete you want a sensor to be as unobtrusive as possible which the Titan 1 did a better job at. We understand the smaller size is likely due to the lack of Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and wireless sensor which enables real time communication. Due to identical finishing to the untrained eye it is difficult to identify the more premium device. Nonetheless, due to being less intrusive in our opinion the Titan 1+ does a better job than the Titan 2 in this department
Technology Involved
Comparison of the main sensor
Like any GPS tracking system, the core function of the device is to determine geographic location via its capability to communicate with satellites around the world. The better the sensor used, the more effective communication is and in turn better location results. Surprisingly, when it comes to this field Titan have opted for both devices to have identical functionality.
What is featured in the units is the industry first Triple GNSS GPS connection capabilities. The relevance of this is that not only does it connect to the American GPS set of satellites but also the Russian operated Glonass satellites and the European union operated Galileo group of satellites. In the process facilitating more accurate data and greater signal reliability for users. Due to having the same core sensor, it makes the head to head comparison as to what device is better value so challenging to make. In the argument supporting the Titan one you are paying half the price but still getting comparable data accuracy on total distance, sprint profiles and athlete tracking parameters. Because of this we perceive it to be a better option for organisations that don’t have much resources but still want the basic metrics that a GPS sensor provides with high accuracy and reliability.
What the Titan1+ is Missing
Perhaps the main difference between the two units is the titan 1+ absence of an IMU sensor. This gives the Titan 2 and advantage to collect more metrics in doors totalling over 35. This is important in situations when sessions are indoors in where the GPS sensor won’t function due to interference but teams still want to collect some performance metrics. The exclusive metrics which it collects include step frequencies, step load and measuring g-force load. Furthermore the Titan 2 allows for viewing real-time data. This can be useful in game to make tactical changes.
In combination if the additonal metrics and live feed are extremely important to your organisation then Titan 2 may be the option to go with. In our case most of our analysis was done post event so it wasn’t as imperative. Being non-professional athletes and playing our sports outdoors the exclusive metrics provided us with minimal additional insight. The significance of these function can only be evaluated through a case by case basis.
Product Function
Setup
The setup for both units is identical. It is a matter of pressing the button on the device and waiting for the connection with the satellites to be established. From here the device will then automatically collect the metrics. Once the session is complete turn it off via the same button. To view results the device needs to sync data via the TitanSync desktop software to the cloud. Once done results can be accessed using their web-platform which works through your browser. This facilitates it to be viewed on your phone, tablet and/or computer. For a more in depth overview of how the sensor works please view our Titan 2 blog.
Team Stats Page (Home Screen)
The team stats page is the equivalent of a home page where you can view all the information in graphical format. If you are after a quick overview of your sessions performance, this is definitely the place to go to. As both sensors use the same platform there is no difference in the experience save the Titan 2 has a few more stats which are available. The beauty of this mode is that you can simultaneously compare the performance of multiple athletes through the click of a mouse. I found this to be beneficial when I was comparing stats of myself and my team mate who also plays in the midfield with me. Collectively the user experience is intuitive, very responsive and quite pleasant. In this category despite the TItan 2 collecting more metrics there is no clear winner due the same web platform being used.
Session Explorer
The session explorer is the most in-depth mode for viewing session data. For the most part it operates like the team stats screen in where the user can view numerous statistics in graphical form. The most distinct feature is the embedded google maps satellite image of the location of your session. Here annotated tracking of player runs and heat maps are overplayed on the map. This visual representation makes for a powerful tool to evaluate performance from a technical perspective. Both sensors have this capability with the main difference the Titan 2 having a few more parameters such step rate. This mode also allows video integration. However, from our past use wasn’t a smooth experience. In summary, much like the team stats page the differences in this mode are minimal with no significant difference in user experience.
Conclusion
Without doubt these are both some of the best value GPS sensors on the market. Despite our initial reservations on the Titan 1+ being a significantly cheaper device we were surprised as to how well it fared against the Titan 2. The Titan 1 had a more preferable form factor than its more expensive counterpart due to it being shorter in length and less obtrusive. This is due to the absence of the IMU sensor and wireless connectivity for real-time data viewing. Being half the price it is assumed that the lower tier unit would have an inferior GPS sensor. Surprisingly though, when it comes to GPS connectivity both feature the same industry first Triple GNSS connection which allows for greater data accuracy and reliability. Creating a draw in this category. Though the Titan 2 has an IMU and wireless connectivity we found the extra metrics and features only to be relevant to more elite sporting situations. Lastly the user experience in the web platform was practically the same with the only real difference being the Titan 2 had the option to view a couple extra metrics. In circumstances where real-time feedback and metrics regards to impact and step parameters then the Titan 2 may be best for you. Overall the two are both great devices with our final opinion being that the Titan 1+ is the better value for money option due to collecting most key metrics and selling for half the price.
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