Polar Vantage V3: One minute evaluate
The Polar Vantage V3 is the replace to Polar’s flagship premium multisports watch, which launched again in 2020. So we’ve waited just a few years for its successor and Polar has rewarded that wait with some massive options.
The headline addition is likely to be the brand new AMOLED display, however Polar has additionally launched its new Elixir biosensor that may now ship blood oxygen, pores and skin temperature and coronary heart fee through ECG to arm you with extra metrics. It’s additionally including offline maps and dual-frequency GPS to ship extra correct outside information.
Whereas the Vantage V2 was a strong providing from Polar, the Vantage V3 sees issues step up a notch and it now looks like a greater match for the competitors. It is meriting an inclusion in our greatest working watch information.
I’m nonetheless not solely satisfied its core coronary heart fee powers are the most effective, however the Vantage V3 is certainly a multisports watch that stands out for all the best causes.
Polar Vantage V3: Specs
| Element | Polar Vantage V3 |
| Value | $599.90 / £519 / AU$899 |
| Dimensions | 47 x 50.8 x 14.5 mm |
| Weight | 57g |
| Case/bezel | Aluminium |
| Show | 1.39-inch 454 x 454 px AMOLED |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS Twin-Frequency |
| Battery life | 12 days / 60 hours GPS |
| Connection | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Water-proof? | Sure, 5ATM |
Polar Vantage V3: Value and availability
- $599.90 within the US
- £519 within the UK
- $899 in Australia
The Polar Vantage V3 was introduced in October 2023 and is available for purchase now instantly from Polar and a small assortment of shops at present. It has a present RRP of £519 within the UK, $599.90 within the US and $899 when buying it in Australia, across the similar asking worth because the Garmin Forerunner 965.
Polar Vantage V3: Design and display
- New AMOLED touchscreen
- Heavier than Vantage V2
- Properly textured buttons
The Vantage V3 is Polar’s efficiency watch, so not like its Grit collection, it’s providing excessive grade supplies, all whereas maintaining issues comparatively mild and cozy to put on day and night time.
It nonetheless measures in with a 47mm case just like the V2 however is now thicker at 14.5mm in comparison with the 13mm thick case on the Vantage V2. It’s additionally bought heavier, leaping from 52g to 57g. These adjustments in the end don’t alter the expertise of strapping the V3 on. It’s nonetheless a reasonably sleek-looking watch with aluminium within the case and the bezel to offer it a gorgeous metallic body.
The strap hooked up to that case is a workout-friendly silicone one, although you wouldn’t assume it at first look as Polar has clearly tried to offer it the looks of a standard watch strap. I’m unsure I solely love the texture of it although because it sits very comfortable in direction of and might pull at hairs. Each strap and watch case are waterproof as much as 50 metres depth, which does imply you need to use it in water however is a downgrade on the stronger 100 metre waterproofing accessible on the V2.
Round that aluminium case lies 5 bodily buttons they usually nonetheless have that properly textured end that makes them good to press, even with sweaty or moist fingers. That surrounds a 1.39-inch, 454 x 454 decision AMOLED touchscreen with Gorilla Glass on prime to guard it in opposition to scratches. Together with the added pop of color it’s an even bigger show, and whereas there’s a skinny black bezel across the edge it’s effectively hidden by Polar’s predominantly black colored watch faces.
It is an awesome AMOLED panel, with deep blacks, good max brightness and I’ve had no points viewing it indoors, outside or in a swimming pool. The display may be saved always-on with the increase to wake gesture help not as responsive as I’d have appreciated. What’s properly responsive is the software program working on the V3. It’s slick, doesn’t lag and is an enormous enchancment on the expertise of interacting with its predecessor.
When you want to cost it Polar features a proprietary charging cable that clips into the port just under that new sensor array. It’s not probably the most safe of charging setups, and also you simply have to be aware it’s out of the way in which of something that may knock it misplaced.
Polar Vantage V3: Options
- Twin-frequency GPS
- Free offline maps
- Elixir sensor array
The Vantage V3 takes the whole lot that was good on the V2 and goals to make enhancements in some fairly vital departments.
On the monitoring entrance, Polar’s launched dual-frequency GPS to boost outside monitoring accuracy for actions like working, when utilizing the watch close to tall buildings, in unhealthy climate or densely forested areas. It’s now additionally including free offline maps to hitch the present turn-by-turn steering provided by the Komoot app help.
There’s nonetheless over 150 sports activities profiles provided and Polar is bolstering one sport specifically, promising extra swim metrics together with robotically detecting swimming model.
Across the again of the watch is the place you’ll discover Polar’s new Elixir sensor array, which sees a change within the design of the optical setup that’s now able to capturing blood oxygen, pores and skin temperature, take ECG coronary heart fee measurements, with the upgraded Gen 4 model of Polar’s optical coronary heart fee sensor additionally in tow.
Polar continues to supply wealthy sleep and coaching options, so that you’re nonetheless having access to its Coaching Load Professional and Restoration Professional insights, with Polar’s FitSpark advised day by day exercises and FuelWise fueling reminders for endurance athletes additionally nonetheless on board. It’s added the voice steering help from the Ignite 3 together with the Work-Relaxation-Information, which makes use of coronary heart fee information to dictate when you need to relaxation between exercise units.
On the smartwatch entrance, Polar nonetheless retains issues easy as soon as once more, providing the flexibility to view your notifications, change watch faces and management music playback in your paired smartphone. The added AMOLED display and increase in CPU efficiency actually makes these options a lot nicer to make use of day-to-day.
Polar Vantage V3: Efficiency
- Welcome dual-frequency GPS accuracy increase
- Coronary heart fee nonetheless so-so
- Delivers good battery life and general efficiency
The V3 is Polar’s premium multisports watch, so it’s supplying you with the most effective the corporate has to supply in watch options. It’s bringing within the dual-band GPS help it debuted on the Polar Ignite 3, it’s boosting the mapping and navigation options it launched on its Grit outside watch and the brand new Elixir sensor goals to supply increase in accuracy to enhance the reliability of sports activities, wellness and sleep monitoring.
Polar’s twin frequency GPS, which like Apple, Garmin and Suunto amongst others, means the V3 can use the L1 and L5 frequency bands to boost positioning monitoring accuracy. I wasn’t massively impressed with it on the Ignite 3 the place Polar first launched it, but it surely’s actually extra dependable right here on the V3. I’ve been utilizing it alongside Garmin and Suunto’s comparable modes and whereas simply barely off on the gap monitoring in comparison with the Garmin and Suunto, it wasn’t sufficient to trigger any concern. Mapped routes contained in the Polar Circulate app didn’t increase any alarms both.
Polar says it’s additionally boosted the swimming metrics on supply, so I hit the pool together with the Kind Swim Goggles and Garmin Forerunner 965, two swim trackers I do know ship good monitoring accuracy within the water. Regardless of delivering good core swim information, I can’t say I noticed something notably groundbreaking right here. You’ll get quickest tempo and common tempo stats together with common and max cadence metrics and that’s actually about it.
Then there’s the reliability of that new Elixir sensor, which guarantees an upgraded optical coronary heart fee sensor, although I can’t say the accuracy has been massively upgraded for me. Even on regular paced exercises I discovered the optical coronary heart fee sensor tended to report decrease common coronary heart fee readings and most coronary heart fee readings appeared greater in opposition to a coronary heart fee monitor chest strap. It’s not a horrible performer, but it surely’s additionally not the most effective efficiency I’ve seen from a wrist-based coronary heart fee monitor. If unsure, pair up an exterior coronary heart fee monitor.
Polar’s Elixr sensor array additionally brings new blood oxygen monitoring, pores and skin temperature monitoring at night time, and ECG measurements once you maintain your finger on the highest bodily button for 30 seconds. All of those new metrics place the onus in your merely monitoring and analyzing traits, which will help you resolve whether or not you need to be taking it simple otherwise you’re in fine condition to have a strenuous day.
That perception additionally works in tandem with Polar’s wealthy sleep monitoring, one thing that does separate it from the sports activities watch competitors. Together with core sleep monitoring stats, it’s providing you nightly recharge measurements, nightly pores and skin temperature and the increase from sleep insights, which feels just like Garmin’s Physique Battery power monitor. Crucially, the sleep information is among the most dependable I’ve come throughout on a watch and it held up effectively in opposition to the Oura Ring Gen 3’s nice sleep monitoring.
One other massive optimistic is that not like earlier Polar watches, complete sleep monitoring would not present an enormous drain on battery, which on the entire, is a giant enchancment on the Vantage V2. There’s now an even bigger 488mAh capability battery, which Polar says can final for as much as 12 days in its day by day watch mode and 61 hours in coaching mode, up from 40 hours. I discovered the Vantage V3 might final per week with common monitoring utilizing the highest GPS accuracy mode. Whenever you choose to maintain the display set to always-on, you’re going to get lower than 5 days, and utilizing options like GPS will see an additional dent too.
Polar Vantage V3: Scorecard
| Class | Remark | Rating |
| Worth | Across the similar worth level because the Garmin Forerunner 965. | 4/5 |
| Design | Polar stays true to the Vantage V2 design and offers it a stunning AMOLED display to raise that metal-heavy look. | 5/5 |
| Options | The added mapping, dual-frequency GPS and slicker smartwatch options make up for some shortcomings within the coronary heart fee monitoring division. | 4.5/5 |
| Efficiency | Boosted general battery, lag-free software program and core sports activities monitoring and coaching options make the V3 a strong performer. | 4.5/5 |
Polar Vantage V3: Ought to I purchase?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally contemplate
| Element | Polar Vantage V3 | Garmin Forerunner 965 | Apple Watch Extremely 2 |
| Value | $599.90 / £519 / AU$899 | $600 / £600 / AU$999 | $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 |
| Dimensions | 47 x 50.8 x 14.5 mm | 47.1 x 47.1 x 13.2 mm | 49 x 41 x 14 mm |
| Weight | 57g | 52g | 61g |
| Case/bezel | Aluminium | Titanium bezel, plastic case | Titanium |
| Show | 1.39-inch 454 x 454 px AMOLED | 454 x 454 1.4-inch AMOLED contact | 502 x 410 px poly-silicon always-on OLED Retina Show |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS Twin-Frequency | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | Sure (unspecified) |
| Battery life | 12 days / 60 hours GPS | Watch mode 23 days, GPS solely 31 hours, GPS + Music 10 hours | 36 hours |
| Connection | Bluetooth | Bluetooth, ANT+, WiFi | Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, LTE |
| Water-proof? | Sure, 5ATM | Sure, 5ATM | Sure, WR100 (diveproof) |
