Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Venu 3

Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Venu 3 face-off

December 22, 2023 Ivan Jovin Device matchup, Smartwatch 11 min read

The Polar Vantage V3, with its debut in October 2023, and the Garmin Venu 3 along with its variant, the Venu 3s, released in August 2023, pack the latest tech on offer from their brands. Each model, with its unique set of features and design elements, caters to a specific audience, promising to enhance the user experience in tracking fitness, health, and daily activities.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

These watches are about optimising health, enhancing training efficiency, and integrating seamlessly into the daily lives of their users. But there are important differences to be aware of. Read on to find out what they are.

Key takeaways

The Polar Vantage V3 is ideal for serious athletes seeking detailed fitness data and a premium design, albeit at a higher price point. The Garmin Venu 3 series, offering versatility and smartwatch features at a more moderate price, caters to a broader audience.

View on Polar / Garmin; View on Amazon (Venu 3).

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Hardware
Technical specs
Features
Bottom line

Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Venu 3: Hardware

Design & display

The Polar Vantage V3 and Garmin Venu 3 series exhibit distinct characteristics in their design and build, catering to a range of preferences in terms of look and feel.

The Polar Vantage V3 boasts a robust design with a case measuring 47 x 50.8 x 14.5 mm. This is slightly larger and thicker than its predecessor, the Vantage V2. The watch features an elegant Nordic-inspired design with an aluminum bezel, adding a touch of sophistication to its sporty look.

In contrast, the Garmin Venu 3 series offers two size options: the standard Venu 3 and the smaller Venu 3s. The first has a 45mm diameter case, the second a 41mm diameter case. Both options are encased in a fiber-reinforced polymer, diverging from the stainless-steel rear cover of its predecessor. This contributes to a lighter weight and enhanced comfort for extended wear.

In terms of physical interaction, the Polar Vantage V3 is equipped with 5 buttons, providing a tactile experience for navigation and feature access. The Garmin Venu 3 and 3s, however, streamline this with just 3 buttons, balancing physical interaction with touchscreen capabilities.

Display, colour options, water-resistance

The display is a standout feature for these devices. The Vantage V3’s 1.39-inch AMOLED, with a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels, offers a bright and clear interface. The Garmin Venu 3 ups the ante with a 1.4-inch display and the same resolution. The Venu 3s caters to preferences for a smaller display at 1.2 inches, with a resolution of 390 x 390 pixels. These displays ensure that information is easily readable and visually appealing.

Color choices are another area where these watches distinguish themselves. The Vantage V3 comes in three vibrant options: Sunrise Apricot, Night Black, and Sky Blue, offering a range of choices to suit different tastes. The Garmin Venu 3 series also offers a variety of color options. This includes Whitestone and Black for the Venu 3, and French Grey, Pebble Grey, Sage Grey, Dust Rose, and Ivory for the Venu 3s, providing a spectrum of choices from subtle to bold.

Water resistance is a critical feature for sports watches. The good news is that both these devices will suffice. Polar Vantage V3 offers a WR50 rating, suitable for swimming but not for deep-water activities. This is a step back from the Vantage V2’s WR100 rating. The Garmin Venu 3 and 3s maintain a consistent 5 ATM water resistance, making them versatile for various water-based activities.

Sensor technology

Moving under the hood, and the Vantage V3 introduces Polar Elixir. This is a next-generation biosensing technology, which marks a substantial upgrade over its predecessor’s sensor suite. This platform measures a wide range of physiological and mechanical data points with high accuracy, including GEN 1 ECG, SpO2, and skin temperature sensors. The V3 also features an advanced multi-band GNSS chipset for dual-frequency GPS technology, enhancing location accuracy and minimizing disruptions by connecting to a greater number of satellites.

The Garmin Venu 3 and Venu 3s are no slouch, either. They also offer comprehensive health monitoring features, including wrist-based heart rate, pulse ox blood oxygen saturation, ECG and advanced sleep tracking. Some new features include Sleep Coach, Nap Detection, and Jet Lag Adviser. These are absent in their predecessor. The Venu 3 series also supports more activity profiles and has the latest generation heart rate sensor.

In terms of connectivity and storage, the Vantage V3, does not offer built-in music storage or NFC. The Garmin Venu 3 and 3s, however, come equipped with NFC for contactless payments, as well as music storage for on-the-go entertainment. They also feature built-in speakers and microphones, allowing for phone calls and voice assistant access directly from the watch.

Battery life

The battery life of these smartwatches showcases their endurance and efficiency, tailored to varying user needs. The Polar Vantage V3 offers up to 8 days in smartwatch mode, extending to a remarkable 140 hours with power save options. Its performance in GPS/HR mode is equally impressive, lasting up to 61 hours, and 47 hours with dual-frequency GPS/HR.

The Garmin Venu 3 and 3s also deliver robust performance. The Venu 3 offers up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, with a substantial 26 hours in GPS-only GNSS mode, and 11 hours when GPS is combined with music playback. The Venu 3s, slightly smaller, provides up to 10 days in smartwatch mode, 21 hours in GPS-only GNSS mode, and 8 hours in all-systems GNSS mode with music, catering well to those who prioritize a balance between functionality and compact design.

Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Venu 3: Technical specs

Here’s a detailed tech specs comparison table for the Polar Vantage V3, Garmin Venu 3, and Garmin Venu 3s:

Specification	Polar Vantage V3	Garmin Venu 3	Garmin Venu 3s
Release Date	Oct-23	Aug-23	Aug-23
Case Material	Stainless steel, glass fiber reinforced polymer back, aluminium bezel	Stainless steel	Stainless steel
Physical Buttons	5	3	3
Shape	Round	45 x 45 x 12 mm	41 x 41 x 12 mm
Size	47 x 50.8 x 14.5 mm	Round	Round
Display Type	AMOLED	AMOLED	AMOLED
Resolution	454 × 454 pixels	454×454 pixels	390 x 390 pixels
Screen Size	1.39 inch	1.4 inch	1.2 inch
Weight (w/o Strap)	57 grams	47 grams	40 grams
Sensors	Accelerometer, Magnetometer compass, Barometer, Elixir biosensing, GEN 1 ECG, SpO2, Skin Temp	HRM, accelerometer, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, Pulse Ox, thermometer, ambient light sensor, ECG, temperature sensor	HRM, accelerometer, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, Pulse Ox, thermometer, ambient light sensor, ECG, temperature sensor
Water-Resistance	WR50	5 ATM	5 ATM
Positioning	Dual-frequency, GPS, Glonass, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
Built-in Speaker	No	Yes	Yes
Microphone	No	Yes	Yes
NFC	No	Yes	Yes
Music Storage	No	Yes	Yes
Connection	Bluetooth 5.1, ANT+	WLAN 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.3 & BLE, ANT+	WLAN 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.3 & BLE, ANT+
Battery Type	488 mAh	n/a	n/a
Battery Life	Smartwatch: 8 days, GPS/HR: 61 hours, Dual-frequency GPS/HR: 47 hours, Power save: 140h	Smartwatch: 14 days, GPS: 26 hours, GPS with music: 11 hours	Smartwatch: 10 days, GPS: 21 hours, GPS with music: 8 hours
Operating System	Proprietary	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Colors	Sunrise Apricot, Night Black, Sky Blue	Whitestone, Black	French Grey, Pebble Grey, Sage Grey, Dust Rose, Ivory
Typical RRP	$599	$450	$450

Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Venu 3: Features

The Polar Vantage V3, with its robust design and advanced sensor technology, is tailored for serious athletes who demand precision and a wide range of data. The Garmin Venu 3 and Venu 3s, with their flexible size options and comprehensive health monitoring features, target a broader audience. They are ideal for everyday fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals who seek a balance of style, health tracking, and smart connectivity.

The Vantage V3 stands out with its Polar Elixir biosensing technology, offering advanced metrics like GEN 1 ECG, SpO2, and skin temperature sensors. This makes it highly suitable for users who require detailed insights into their physical condition, especially during intensive training sessions. The Garmin Venu 3 series also offers robust health monitoring, including wrist-based heart rate, pulse ox blood oxygen saturation, ECG and advanced sleep tracking. The addition of features like Sleep Coach and Nap Detection in the Venu 3 series enhances its appeal for users interested in comprehensive wellness monitoring.

The Polar Vantage V3 enhances the user experience with its offline map capability. This feature, made possible by the watch’s substantial 32GB of storage, allows users to navigate confidently even in areas with poor or no network coverage. It includes functionalities like track-back, turn-by-turn navigation powered by Komoot, and Hill Splitter. Since the Venu is considered a “lifestyle” watch, it is geared more towards daily health metrics. Which means it doesn’t have offline maps.

Smartwatch features

When it comes to smartwatch-type features, the Garmin Venu 3 series excels with its built-in NFC for contactless payments, music storage, and the inclusion of a built-in speaker and microphone, allowing for phone calls and voice assistant functionality directly from the watch. These features make the Venu 3 and 3s more versatile as everyday wearables, extending their utility beyond fitness and health tracking. The Polar Vantage V3 lacks these features, instead sticking to the basic smartwatch-type functionality.

Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Venu 3: Price

As far aspricing, the Vantage V3 and Venu 3 series present options that cater to different budget ranges. The first, positioned as a premium offering in the sports watch market, is priced at $599. This price reflects its advanced sensor technology, robust build, and Nordic-inspired design aesthetics. On the other hand, the Garmin Venu 3 and 3s are priced at a more accessible $450 each. This pricing strategy makes the Garmin Venu 3 series an attractive option for those seeking a balance of high-end features at a more moderate price point.

Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Venu 3: Final thoughts

The Polar Vantage V3 and Garmin Venu 3 series each carve out their distinct niches, catering to varied user preferences and needs. The first, priced at $599, is a premium offering that appeals to serious athletes who demand high precision in fitness and health tracking and a wealth of performance metrics. The robust build and elegant Nordic design also add to its allure for users who value both functionality and aesthetics.

On the other hand, the Garmin Venu 3 and Venu 3s, priced at a more accessible $450, strike a balance between comprehensive health monitoring and smartwatch features. They are well-suited for everyday fitness aware people and health-conscious individuals who appreciate the flexibility of size options, NFC for contactless payments, music storage, and phone call functionality, making them versatile for both fitness tracking and daily wear.