Polar Vantage M3 – Smaller version of the Vantage V3 unveiled
Polar has unveiled the Vantage M3, a new multisport GPS watch that, at just under 400 euros, is considered affordable, especially since it shares many aspects with the larger Vantage V3. Let’s take a closer look at what the product has to offer.
Polar Vantage M3 | Source: Polar
| Vantage M3 | Vantage M2 | Vantage V3 | Grit X2 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | AMOLED | LCD | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Display size | 1.28" | 1.20" | 1.39" | 1.39" |
| Protection | Gorilla Glas | n/a | Gorilla Glas | Sapphire Glas |
| Resolution | PPI | 416 × 416 | 325 | 240 × 240 | 200 | 454 × 454 | 327 | 454 × 454 | 327 |
| Touchscreen | + | - | + | + |
| Dimensions | 44.7 × 44.7 × 12.2 mm | 46.0 × 46.0 × 12.5 mm | 47.0 × 50.8 × 14.5 mm | 48.6 × 48.6 × 13.4 mm |
| Weight | 35 g without strap | 45 g with strap | 39 g without strap | 57 g without strap |
| Battery life - Smartwatch | 7 days | 7 days | 10 days | 10 days |
| Battery life - GPS (Multi Band) | 30 hours | n/a | 43 hours | 43 hours |
Display and Design
The Vantage M3 is a multisport watch featuring a 1.28-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 416 x 416 pixels. Polar uses Gorilla Glass to protect the display from scratches and impacts. While the watch case is made of lightweight plastic, the bezel is crafted from stainless steel, giving the watch a premium look.
Navigation and Offline Maps
For the first time in the Vantage M series, the Vantage M3 allows the use of offline maps, which can be downloaded for free from Polar’s website and stored on the watch’s 32 GB memory. Since Polar has already installed a large number of base maps, the offline maps can be used immediately. However, those who make the effort to download the data from the website and transfer it to the watch via USB cable will receive more detailed maps.
In combination with the offline maps, routes that can be directly used from Komoot are visible, allowing the Vantage M3 to guide users with turn-by-turn navigation along these routes.
Polar Elixir: Sensors and Algorithms
The term “Elixir” refers to an entire platform of sensors and algorithms that were first introduced with the Vantage V3 and have fully made their way onto the Vantage M3. This includes measurements of heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and ECG. The Vantage M3 can also determine skin temperature. Accelerometers track additional daily activities and nighttime sleep.
Extensive Sports Functions and Subtle Smart Features
Numerous sports profiles and settings clearly indicate the target audience Polar is addressing with the Vantage M3. With a water resistance of up to 50 meters, the watch is suitable for swimming but not for diving.
Since the watch is dedicated to sports, the smart features are somewhat more subdued. Nevertheless, the watch can display messages, control music playback on a paired smartphone, and includes a compass and weather forecast.
Battery Life
Thanks to a larger battery, the Vantage M3 lasts up to seven days with normal use. Activating the Always-On mode is likely to halve the battery life.
One of the special features of the Vantage M3 is the ability to replace the battery. While the watch needs to be sent to Polar for this, it represents a sustainable approach, as many sports watches and smartwatches with defective batteries often end up being discarded.
Polar has already announced an update for spring 2025 (which will also affect other models) that will include a new watch face as well as Points of Interest for the offline maps and a phone-finding function.
Prices and Availability
The Polar Vantage M3 is available from now in two colors (Greige Sand / Night Black). With a recommended retail price of €399.90, the Vantage M3 is €200 cheaper than the larger Vantage V3 model. Since the watches do not functionally differ aside from the material mix and display size, the Vantage M3 is an attractive alternative when display size is not a concern.
Polar Vantage M3
AMOLED
416 x 416 pixels
325 PPI
max. 1,500 Nits
53 g (with strap)
Rating
Features
Features
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Activity Tracking | |
| Steps | |
| Calories | |
| Floors | |
| Sleep | |
| Stress | |
| Inactivity alert | |
| Dynamic target | |
Information | |
| Time / Date | |
| Notifications | |
| Weather | |
| Calendar | |
| Find phone | |
Music | |
| Remote control | |
| Playback via BLE | |
Phone calls | |
| Calls (direct) | |
| Calls (via Bluetooth) | |
Sport programs / features
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Sensors
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| Acceleration / Gyroskop | |
| PPG / Heart rate | |
| Altimeter | |
| Compass | |
| Skin temperature | |
| Temperature | |
| ECG |
Location services
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| GPS | |
| GPS (Multiband) | |
| Galileo | |
| GLONASS | |
| BeiDou | |
| QZSS | |
| Live tracking |
Connectivity
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| Bluetooth LE | |
| ANT+ | |
| Wi-Fi | |
| NFC | |
| LTE |
Other
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| Interchangeable wristband |
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