Polar Vantage M3 launches - how mid-range fitness watch compares with Grit X2 Pro and Vantage V3
The Nordic tech firm has dropped its third multisport wearable in little over one year - this time at a more affordable price point
Polar has launched its third fitness smartwatch in just over one year, Vantage M3, which follows hot on the heels of the flagship models Vantage V3 (released in October 2023) and the more rugged adventure watch Grit X2 Pro (which dropped in March this year).
For those who don’t know, the Finnish based firm has been a pioneer in wearable sports and fitness technology for nearly 50 years. The company said the new Polar Vantage M3 is a seamless blend of cutting-edge technology and minimalist Nordic elegance.
For the first time, Polar brings a suite of its class-leading training and health features into the popular mid-range category.
The company said the new wearable will help multi-sport athletes take the next step and give them class-leading features and metrics to train smarter, recover, and ultimately improve their fitness.
Polar Vantage V3 key features
The firm said the 45mm Vantage M3 builds on the success and popularity of the previous generations of Vantage M sports watches, continuing to refine and enhance the features that users love with the addition of dual-frequency GPS, offline maps, and state-of-the-art biosensing technology, including wrist-ECG readings, nightly skin temperature, and blood oxygen saturation measurements.
It looks just as stylish as Polar’s more premium watches, with a vibrant 1.28in AMOLED display, protected by Gorilla Glass 3, enclosed in a sleek, lightweight stainless-steel bezel. Despite its thin casing, Vantage M3 offers decent battery life with up to 30 hours in GPS training or up to seven days in smartwatch mode, making it ideal for tracking sports, daily activity and sleep without charging anxiety.
Weighing just 53 grams, Vantage M3 looks like an ideal companion for hikes, runs, rides, and other endurance sports. It raises the bar and offers more for those looking for more advanced tools to support in achieving and setting new goals.
With support for more than 150 sports and a comprehensive suite of training and recovery tools, the company has dubbed Vantage M3 as the ultimate multi-sport watch. It offers the data and insights that those balancing varied sports need – knowing they can count on Polar’s decades-long wearable expertise, history of industry-recognised research, and extensive algorithm portfolio.
Polar Vantage V3 review
When I reviewed the €599.90 Polar’s Vantage V3, I said “Battery life, build quality and usability are superb – but it’s not an everyday ‘smart’ watch like Apple Watch.”
I added: “The large sleek and stylish 47mm watch looks and feels great on your wrist and comes with an impressive range of features dedicated to fitness, rest and recovery. It boasts a stunning bright and colourful 1.39in AMOLED display, dual band GPS, built-in maps and improved performance and battery life. Vantage V3 includes a new optical heart rate sensor, an SpO2 sensor for monitoring blood oxygen saturation, a skin temperature sensor for keeping tabs on sleep quality and stress levels and a non-medical ECG sensor monitoring your overall heart health.”
I summed up: “Vantage V3 is an excellent package that gives targeted multisport watches from Garmin and Coros a run for their money. V3 is one of the most advanced workout trackers you can buy, armed with a stunning screen and impressive battery life.”
Polar Grit X2 Pro review
When I reviewed the ultra-premium 49mm €749.99 Polar Grit X2 Pro, I said it was a “rugged rival to Garmin and Coros has plenty to offer but there's only one drawback.”
That drawback was the hefty price tag compared to some of its rivals. But aside from that I informed readers that it was “an excellent package and one of the most advanced adventure-oriented fitness wearables you can buy.”
What was new compared to Vantage V3 was the stainless steel casing and tougher Sapphire Glass screen - Grit X2 Pro looks similar to the likes of Coros Vertix 2 or Garmin Epix Second-Gen.
That new casing means the Grit X2 Pro has a different GPS antenna design to Vantage V3. You’ll notice this in the best-ever navigation tracking by a Polar device. The case also means this 79g watch is waterproof up to 100 metres deep, whereas Vantage V3 was only 50 metres deep.
There is also a Titan version of Grit X2 Pro that comes with an additional leather strap.
What has been said
“Polar Vantage M3 empowers today’s incredibly versatile athletes and is perfect for anyone who wants the extraordinary set of Polar capabilities in a more compact design,” says Sander Werring, CEO of Polar Electro. “With its combination of award-winning design, superior performance, and science-backed features, no other mid-range sports watch supports athletes in their every pursuit like the all-new Polar Vantage M3.”
Pricing and availability and competition
Polar Vantage M3 is on sale now from Polar with a recommended retail price of €399.90. Customers can choose from two elegant colours: Night Black or Greige Sand.
The latest Garmin multisport watch is the more ultra-premium flagship model Fenix 8 which comes in 43mm, 47mm and 51mm size options and costs from €1,099.99.
The most recent Coros multisport watch is the 50mm premium flagship Vertix 2S. It costs €719 on Amazon. The frim has also teased a new wearable is launching on October 31, 2024.
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