Polar has announced the Vantage M3, its redesigned mid-range multisport watch — and it looks like a proper contender.
The new Vantage M3 gets loads of new smarts trickling down from the Vantage V3, with a big focus on mapping, performance analytics, ECG, and recovery. It costs £349 (US pricing tbc), which puts it around the same mark as the Garmin Forerunner 265.
The key addition to the M3 is the dual-frequency GPS and offline maps. For the first time in its mid-range category, Polar includes dual-band GPS that takes advantage of L1 and L5 frequencies for more accurate tracking in built-up areas.
Polar also adds ECG, following Garmin, which itself has followed the likes of Apple, Samsung, and Huawei in allowing users to track heart rhythm.
The Vantage M3 also keeps tabs on nightly skin temperature monitoring and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurements.
As we’ve seen across the running watch world this year, Polar opts for an AMOLED display. The M3 gets a 1.28-inch AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 3, which makes for a much-improved experience using the watch — and helps it compete with the likes of the Apple Watch Series 10 or Ultra 2. Despite its thin case, the watch is lightweight at just 53 grams, making it suitable for long sessions in endurance sports like running, cycling, and hiking.
Battery life is up to 30 hours in training mode, using GPS and heart rate monitoring, or up to 7 days in standard smartwatch mode.
Polar’s Smart Coaching system brings across Training Load Pro, which assesses the strain on both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. Additionally, the watch provides sleep tracking, calorie consumption, and long-term recovery data, helping users balance effort and rest. Polar’s sleep tracking has been praised in our recent reviews of the Polar Grit X Pro and Vantage V3 — and is also found here.
The Vantage M3 focuses heavily on recovery, offering detailed insights into how the body is responding to training over time. This includes monitoring sleep quality, readiness for training, and daily activity levels to help users avoid overtraining.
The Vantage M3 will be available for purchase starting 23 October 2024 for £349 in Night Black or Greige Sand.
