Polar Vantage V3 vs Vantage V2: Should you buy the new model or go for the older one at a discounted price?
The Vantage is a top-notch watch for multiple sports and triathlons. It’s packed with Polar’s best features. Now, in 2023, Polar has released the Vantage V3 with some exciting upgrades. This new model has a multi-band GPS, a bright AMOLED screen, and even mapping capabilities! So, should you grab the older model at its new lower price or spend a bit more for the latest and greatest? Let’s compare and help you make the best choice.
The Polar Vantage is a watch you can use for multiple sports, triathlons, training, and outdoor adventures. It comes with a cool GPS feature to help you navigate. The new model has a lot of cool upgrades, making it even better and helping it stand out among other brands.
| Vantage V2 | Vantage V3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price starts | $499 | $599 |
| Case size | 47 x 47 x 13 mm | 47 x 50.8 x 14.5 mm |
| Materials | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Glass | Corning Gorilla | Corning Gorilla |
| Weight | 52g | 57g |
| Screen | Transflective | AMOLED |
| Touch screen | Yes | Yes |
| Screen size | 1.2 Inch | 1.39 Inch |
| Screen Type | MIP | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 240 x 240 px | 454 x 454 px |
| Mapping | No | Yes |
| Multiband GPS | No | Yes |
| Optical cardio | Generation 3 | Generation 4 |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes |
| Pulse oximeter | No | Yes |
| ECG | No | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Skin temperature | No | Yes |
| Battery Capacity | 346 mAh | 488 mAh |
| Battery life | 7 days | 12 days |
| Waterproofing | 10 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Processor speed | 120 MHz | 275 MHz (2.3x faster) |
| Storage | 32 MB | 32 GB |
Polar Vantage V3 vs Vantage V2: What’s New?
- The V3 has offline maps that show detailed places all around the world.
- The V3 uses a brighter 1.39” AMOLED screen, making things look clearer than the V2’s screen.
- The V3 has a special GPS that connects to more satellites for better tracking.
- The V3 uses a newer version of a heart rate sensor.
- The V3 uses a special formula to mix data for better results.
- The V3 can check your blood oxygen and heart patterns, and it even measures your skin’s temperature. (But remember, it’s not a doctor’s tool!)
- The V3 has a built-in screen flashlight.
- The V3 can stay on with GPS for 43 hours, thinks faster, and can store a lot of things with its 32GB storage.
- The V3 lets you switch wristbands easily and uses a modern USB-C charger.
- The V3 can handle water up to 50m deep and has super strong Gorilla Glass 3 on its screen.
Design
When we first look at the design, the Vantage V3 is a bit larger and thicker than the V2. Why? It’s because of its fancy new screen. The V3 has an active matrix display, which is much clearer than the V2’s memory and pixel screen. The V3’s screen is 1.39 inches big, while the V2’s is only 1.2 inches. Plus, the edges or “bezels” around the V3’s screen are smaller, giving it a cool, modern feel.
But there’s more. The V3 has a special “Nordic” design that gives it a sporty yet stylish look. It also has an aluminum edge, which makes it look fancy and feels light on your wrist.
The Vantage V3 looks a lot like the older model. It has an aluminum case and rim, big buttons, and a special Corning Gorilla glass that’s a bit curved. You can also easily change the bracelet without tools. Even though it’s a bit thicker and heavier, the watch still weighs less than 60 grams. The biggest change you’ll notice is the cool screen.
The Vantage V3 has a stylish design and a bright AMOLED screen with a slightly curved Corning Gorilla glass to protect it.
Display
The Vantage V3 now uses a bright AMOLED screen, which is different from the old transflective one. This new screen shows many more colors – thousands compared to just 64 before. This means everything looks super sharp and colorful! But there are a few things to consider. The AMOLED screen uses more battery, it might turn off at times, and under bright sunlight, it might be a bit harder to see. However, it looks great indoors and in shaded areas like forests. If you’re unsure about these screen types, check out our guide on “Transflective vs. AMOLED screens: Which is better for a sports watch?”
Another cool thing? The screen is bigger, measuring 1.4″ compared to the older 1.2″. Plus, it has thinner black borders. So now, the screen covers 55% of the watch’s face, which is more than the 42% in the old model. This makes reading maps super easy and fun!
The new watch uses an upgraded light sensor for checking your heart rate. This sensor uses Polar’s “Precision Prime” technology. It makes sure the sensor touches your skin properly. This helps get a more accurate heart rate reading, which is really important for other features of the watch to work right.
Sensors
The new model has an upgraded dual-frequency GPS. This means it should work better in tricky places like forests, mountains, cities, and even at sea. We’ll test it out on our usual route and then add the results to our GPS track comparison tool to see how accurate it is.
The new model has a special sensor that can show an ECG and more importantly, check how much your heart rate changes. This is super useful for figuring out things like how fit you are and how long you should rest after exercising.
The Vantage V3 also has a sensor called a pulse oximeter. This sensor checks how much oxygen is in your blood while you sleep, which helps understand your sleep better. Plus, there’s a thermometer that measures your skin temperature at night. This can help spot if you might be getting sick.
Water Resistance
The Vantage V3(5 ATM) isn’t as waterproof as the Vantage V2(10 ATM). You can use it for swimming, but it’s not good for diving or sports like surfing, kite surfing, or canyoning. So, it might not be the best choice for some outdoor adventures.
Features
When it comes to what these watches can do, the Vantage V2 and Vantage V3 are pretty similar. You can learn more by checking our detailed reviews of both watches.
| Main Features | Vantage V2 | Vantage V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Activity monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Nightly recharge | Yes | Yes |
| SleepWise | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep phases on the watch | No | Yes |
| Nightly Skin Temperature | No | Yes |
| Smartphone notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Mp3 player | No | No |
The V3 has some awesome new features. It can show offline maps because it has a lot of storage. There’s also a virtual flashlight, which is super useful in the dark. And for those who care about heart health, the V3 can even show an ECG. However, if you’re thinking about music, neither watch can store songs offline.
The Vantage V3 also introduces a walking test and a voice guide. This voice guide talks to you about stuff like your speed during your activity, so you don’t have to keep looking at your watch. Just remember, you’ll need Bluetooth earbuds to hear it. Plus, there are a few other new features that add to the already awesome list of things the watch can do.
Sports functions
| Vantage V2 | Vantage V3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Training Load Pro | Yes | Yes |
| Sources of energy | Yes | Yes |
| Running index (VO2max) | Yes | Yes |
| FitSpark | Yes | Yes |
| Voice guidance | No | Yes |
| Exercise-rest guide | No | Yes |
| Recovery Pro | Yes | Yes |
| Fitness test | Yes | Yes |
| Performance Test | Yes | Yes |
| Orthostatic test | Yes | Yes |
| Running performance test | Yes | Yes |
| Cycling performance test | Yes | Yes |
| Walk test | No | Yes |
| Work-Rest Guide | No | Yes |
Outdoor functions
| Vantage V2 | Vantage V3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Mapping | No | Yes |
| Breadcrumb route tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Turn after turn guidance | Yes | Yes |
| Retracing his steps | Yes | Yes |
| Hill Splitter | Yes | Yes |
| Elevation profile | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Guidance | No | Yes |
Battery Life
The battery life of the watch has gotten way better! It lasts 50% longer when you’re using it for sports and 70% longer when you’re just using it as a regular watch, even though it has a bright AMOLED screen that uses a lot of energy. But to save battery, the screen turns off by itself.
The V3 has a better battery than the V2. It comes with a 488 mAh battery, while the V2 has a 346 mAh battery. This means you can use the V3 for training up to 53 hours, but only 40 hours with the V2. If you just use them as regular watches, the V3 can last 192 hours (that’s 8 days!) and the V2 can last 168 hours. And if you want to save battery? The V3 can go for 140 hours and the V2 for 100 hours.
If you want to see the time or anything else, you’ll need to move your wrist or press a button. This can be a bit annoying if you’re trying to check the time at work or read maps during a sport. There’s an option to keep the screen on all the time (always ON), but the screen gets dimmer after a few seconds. If you’re out in the sun, you’ll need to turn the screen back on to see it clearly.
Price
You can buy the Polar Vantage V3 now for $599.90. It comes in cool colors like Night Black, Sky Blue, and Sunrise Apricot. If you want the watch with the Polar H10 heart rate chest strap, it costs $649.90.
Polar has raised the price by $99 for this model. But considering all the awesome new stuff like a bright AMOLED screen, new sensors, and mapping, it seems like a small price jump.
Conclusion!
The new Vantage V3 clearly stands out from the old model. It offers more features, lasts longer, and costs just $99 more. The new map feature, the bright AMOLED screen, the multi-band GPS, and the more accurate heart rate monitor are big pluses. We definitely recommend the V3.
However, think about a few things before you decide. The AMOLED screen has its ups and downs (check out our article about AMOLED vs. transflective screens to learn more). Not everyone needs a map feature on their watch.
The multi-band GPS is great in areas with weak GPS signals, but if you don’t go to such places often, you might not need it. The V3 is also a bit heavier and thicker. And remember, the older Vantage V2 will probably get cheaper soon.
So, if you’re choosing between the V3 and the V2, you might think about spending the extra $99 for the V3. It has so many new features like maps, a flashlight, and advanced health tracking. The V3 is like a peek into the future of watches! However, if you’re on a budget, the V2 is still a solid choice at $499.
