Turn by turn directions & PIN security land on Polar’s flagship watches
Firmware 4.1.5 has started rolling out for the Polar Vantage V3 and Grit X2 Pro. The update introduces turn by turn guidance, a PIN code security feature, along with heart rate broadcasting controls on the watch.
Turn by turn navigation now works on any route
The first of the updates is support for turn by turn guidance across all routes, not just Komoot imports. After selecting a route from your watch’s navigation menu, you can now toggle turn by turn instructions on or off before starting your session.
Once active, the feature delivers sound and vibration alerts along with on-screen prompts showing which direction to take. Which means you no longer have to rely on periodic checks of the map or breadcrumbs. For Komoot routes, turn by turn remains enabled by default.
PIN security adds another layer of protection
A new PIN feature has been introduced that lets you lock the watch when it’s not on your wrist. It is something many other brands have, including Garmin.
The system uses Polar’s skin contact detection, which relies on the continuous heart rate monitor to determine whether the watch is being worn. When contact is lost, the watch locks automatically and can only be unlocked using your six-digit PIN.
So why would you need the feature. For example, if your watch is lost or stolen. Also, the PIN blocks USB access while charging, which means you can safely connect it to any public computer without risking data transfer.
It is easy to set the thing up. Either during the initial watch configuration or later through Settings > Data & security > Set PIN. Once set, you can change or disable it using the same menu, though you will need the current PIN to do so.
In the event of three incorrect PIN entries, the watch locks for a minute. Continued failed attempts will increase the wait time to five minutes. Eventually, you’ll be prompted to reset the watch, which wipes all data from the device. So don’t forget your pin! Regardless, synced data in your Polar Flow account stays safe, and you can manually trigger a sync even when the watch is locked by pressing and holding the BACK button.
During workouts, the PIN protection is temporarily lifted. This lets you mount the watch on a bike handlebar, for example, without it locking due to a lack of skin contact.
Heart rate broadcasting is now easier to control
Live heart rate broadcasting is no longer enabled by default in any sport profile. But the toggle is now available directly on the watch, making it easier to manage. You’ll find it in pre-training mode by selecting Settings > Share HR with other devices > Heart rate visible to all.
This allows the watch to transmit your heart rate over Bluetooth to compatible apps, gym equipment or external displays. It’s handy for group workouts where shared data is displayed publicly or for use with platforms like Zwift.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
If you’d rather keep this feature enabled for specific sports, you can still do so through the Flow app or web interface. Your chosen setting will sync to the watch the next time you connect it to the service.
Other improvements round out the release
There are several smaller changes in firmware 4.1.5 that will be appreciated by regular users. Polar has fixed occasional interruptions in optical heart rate readings. Mapping has also received a few adjustments. You now get a wider zoom-out range when viewing maps outside of training. More importantly, the ‘track up’ orientation setting no longer resets to ‘north up’ when panning or zooming during an activity. A new sleep structure graph has also been added to the sleep data screen.
Firmware 4.1.5 is available now for both Vantage V3 and Grit X2 Pro via the Polar Flow mobile app or FlowSync desktop client. You can find the full change-log on this link.
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