Polar Vantage M3 makes premium health tracking more accessible

Polar has launched its latest mid-range sports watch, the Vantage M3, marking a big upgrade from its predecessor while incorporating several features previously reserved for the premium V-series.

Now, this launch is not entirely a surprise. In fact it is no surprise considering there was an FCC filing for the device that went through about a week ago, along with several retailer leaks in the past few days which left nothing to the imagination. The only question was when the device would launch.

Well, it is available from today, perfect timing, ahead of the all important holiday shopping period. You can check it out on Polar’s website.


Bringing high-end features to mid-range market

The most notable improvement with this iteration comes in the form of a new AMOLED display. This replaces the MIP screen of the M2. At 1.28 inches with a 416 x 416 resolution, the display offers considerably better visibility and touch functionality compared to the M2’s 1.2-inch, 240 x 240 non-touch display.

Under the hood, the M3 introduces Polar’s Elixir sensor suite. This brings ECG, SpO2, and skin temperature monitoring to the mid-range segment. The watch also features an upgraded optical heart rate sensor (Gen 4), departing from the previous Precision Prime technology. These additions put the M3 much closer to its premium sibling, the V3, in terms of health tracking capabilities.

The new model shows impressive improvements in processing power and storage. With a 275 MHz CPU (up from 120 MHz) and a substantial increase in memory from 0.64 MB to 37 MB, the M3 offers noticeably smoother operation. Storage capacity has also seen a dramatic boost from 32 MB to 32 GB.

When compared to the premium Vantage V3, the M3 maintains many of the same core features. However, it makes some compromises in build materials and battery life. While the V3 boasts aerospace aluminum construction and a larger 488 mAh battery offering up to 43 hours in training mode, the M3 uses a plastic case with stainless steel bezel and provides 30 hours of training time with its 310 mAh battery.

Essential readingTop fitness trackers and health gadgets

Navigation capabilities have been significantly enhanced. The M3 offers maps, track back functionality, and turn-by-turn guidance through Komoot integration. These features, previously absent in the M2, make the M3 a more capable companion for outdoor activities.

The M3 also introduces several new performance testing features, including leg recovery, running, cycling, and orthostatic tests. These additions, combined with voice guidance and work-rest guides, provide users with more comprehensive training tools.

At $399.95, the Vantage M3 positions itself as a middle-ground option between the previous M2 (now available at $209.97) and the premium V3 ($599.95). The price increase is significant from its predecessor. But so are the updates.


Tech specs comparison

Here is the complete tech specs comparison table between the Polar Vantage M3 and the Polar Vantage M2. As can be seen – improvements across the board!

Specification
Polar Vantage M3
Polar Vantage M2
Colors
Night Black, Greige Sand
Gold-Champagne, Black Gray
Dimensions
44.7 x 44.7 x 12.2 mm
46 x 46 x 12.5 mm
Weight
53 g
45 g
Total Weight (without strap)
35 g
28 g
Display Type
AMOLED
MIP
Display Size
1.28 Inch
1.2 Inch
Display Resolution
416 × 416
240 × 240
Touch Screen
Yes
No
Front Case Material
Plastic
Plastic
Back Case Material
Plastic
Plastic
Bezel Material
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
CPU Speed
275 MHz
120 MHz
Memory
37 MB
0.64 MB
Storage
32 GB
32 MB
GPS
Yes
Yes
Bluetooth Version
5.1
5.1
ANT Version
No
No
USB Cable
Proprietary / USB-C
Proprietary / USB-A
Operation Temperature
-20°C – 50°C
-10°C – 50°C
Water Resistance
WR50
WR30
Military Standard
No
No
Elixir Sensor
Yes
No
ECG
GEN 1
No
SpO2
GEN 1
No
Skin Temperature
GEN 1
No
OHR
GEN 4
No
Precision Prime™
No
Yes
Barometer
Yes
No
Magnetometer Compass
Yes
No
Accelerometer
Yes
Yes
Battery Capacity
310 mAh
230 mAh
Battery Type
Li-Pol
Li-Pol
Performance Training Mode
30 h
28 h
Eco Training Mode
70 h
127 h
Smartwatch Mode
7 days
8 days
Music Controls
Yes
Yes
Push Notifications
Yes
Yes
Nightly Recharge™
Yes
Yes
Sleep Plus Stages™
Yes
Yes
SleepWise™
Yes
Yes
Nightly Skin Temperature
Yes
No
Serene™
Yes
Yes
Leg Recovery Test
Yes
No
Fitness Test
Yes
Yes
Performance Tests
Yes
No
Orthostatic Test
Yes
No
Running Performance Test
Yes
No
Cycling Performance Test
Yes
No
Walking Test
Yes
No
Training Load Pro™
Yes
Yes
Energy Sources
Yes
Yes
Wrist-Based Running Power
Yes
No
Running Index
Yes
Yes
FitSpark®
Yes
Yes
FuelWise™
Yes
Yes
Voice Guidance
Yes
No
Work-Rest Guide
Yes
No
Vertical Speed & VAM
Yes
No
Recovery Pro™
Yes
No
24/7 Activity Tracking
Yes
Yes
Maps
Yes
No
Track Back
Yes
No
Turn-by-Turn Guidance (komoot)
Yes
No
Hill Splitter™
Yes
No
Route & Elevation Profiles
Yes
No
Route Guidance
Yes
No
Back to Start
Yes
Yes
Price
$399.95
$209.97

Here are the differences between Vantage M3 and Vantage V3. As mentioned, they come down to design, build materials and battery life. We’re actually not sure whether there is a need to maintain the two distinct lines considering the difference is now so small.

Specification
Polar Vantage M3
Polar Vantage V3
Colors
Night Black, Greige Sand
Sunrise Apricot, Orange, Night Black, Sky Blue
Watch Size
44.7 x 44.7 x 12.2 mm
47.3 x 47.3 x 13.5 mm
Weight
53 g
57 g
Total Weight (without strap)
35 g
39 g
Display Size
1.28 Inch
1.39 Inch
Display Resolution
416 × 416
454 × 454
Front Case Material
Plastic
Aerospace Aluminium
Bezel Material
Stainless Steel
Aerospace Aluminium
Battery Capacity
310 mAh
488 mAh
Performance Training Mode
30 h
43 h
Eco Training Mode
70 h
140 h
Smartwatch Mode
7 d
10 d
Price
$399.95
$599.95

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Marko Maslakovic

Marko founded Gadgets & Wearables in 2014, having worked for more than 15 years in the City of London’s financial district. Since then, he has led the company’s charge to become a leading information source on health and fitness gadgets and wearables.

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