Polar recently expanded their Vantage lineup by introducing the Vantage V3 watch with premium features.

However, if you’re confused about deciding between the Polar Vantage V3 vs Vantage M2, then this article is for you.

I’ll put these two side by side to guide you on which may be worth buying. But remember, the Polar Vantage V3 costs more than double the Vantage M2.

So this is a comparison between premium versus value – the high-end Vantage V3 versus the more affordable Vantage M2. 

Read on to see how they stack up and which offers better value for your needs.

Polar Vantage V3 vs Vantage M2: Price & Availability

As already mentioned, the Polar Vantage V3 costs nearly double the Vantage M2. The Vantage V3 can be pre-ordered in sky blue, night black, or sunrise apricot color options for $600. 

You can also buy the Vantage V3 bundled with the Polar H10 heart rate strap monitor for $50 more. The Vantage V3 will begin shipping on October 25.

On the other hand, the Vantage M2 has been on the market for a couple of years now after launching in March 2021. It’s priced at a more affordable £269/€299/US$299. 

So while the latest Vantage V3 commands a premium price, the Vantage M2 delivers robust features and performance at half the cost.

Where to Buy?

Polar Vantage V3 vs Vantage M2: Specs Comparison

Related:

• Polar Vantage V3 vs Pacer Pro: Which is Worth to Buy?
• Suunto Race vs Polar Vantage V3: What’s the Difference?
• Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Forerunner 965 vs 265: Multisport GPS Watch Battle
• Polar Vantage V3 vs Grit X Pro: Which Should You Buy?

Polar Vantage vs Vantage M2: Design & Display

Like all Polar watches, the Vantage V3 and M2 maintain a sporty, circular look with two physical buttons on the left side and three buttons on the right. While sharing a similar aesthetic, subtle design differences help distinguish them.

In terms of size, the Vantage M2 is slightly larger at 46 x 46 x 12.5 mm. However, the Vantage V3 is the most robust at 47 x 50.8 x 14.5 mm, making it the largest watch in this lineup with a masculine style.

The Vantage V3 stands out with its 1.39-inch AMOLED display conjuring a crisp 454 x 454 pixels resolution. Comparatively, the Vantage M2 has a 1.2-inch MIP display with a 240 x 240 pixels resolution.

Additionally, the V3 is the only model with a touch-enabled screen for convenient menu and setting navigation.

The Vantage M2 uses stainless steel and glass fiber reinforced polymer in its durable construction. Meanwhile, the premium Vantage V3 boasts an aerospace aluminum alloy case and glass fiber-reinforced polymer back.

For water resistance, the Vantage V3 is rated WR50 for swimming and water activities. The Vantage M2 lags slightly with a WR30 water resistance rating.

Finally, both watches offer various color options and quick-release bands to easily swap out different style straps.

Polar Vantage V3 vs Vantage M2: Health & Fitness Features

When it comes to health tracking tech, the new Polar Vantage V3 leaves the Vantage M2 in the dust. 

The V3 stands out with its array of advanced metric monitoring, like wrist-based ECG to detect irregular heart rhythm patterns, blood oxygen saturation sensors to track oxygen levels in your blood, and skin temperature sensors to monitor changes in skin surface temp. This gives you a more holistic view of your physical status and recovery than the M2 can provide.

The V3 also uniquely equips an LED flashlight – you won’t find that on the M2. This allows illuminate your path in the dark if you’re running or hiking before sunrise or after sundown. 

While both models track your daily movement with an accelerometer, the V3 takes it a step further with an integrated barometric altimeter. This enables tracking elevation gains and losses during activities like trail running or hiking in the mountains – key data for outdoor athletes.

Of course, the V3 captures all the basics too – steps, calories, sleep, continuous heart rate monitoring, and more. But where it really distances itself from the M2 is with the advanced health metrics and unique tools like the LED flashlight.

So if you want the latest and greatest sensor tech and features for tracking performance, recovery, and overall well-being, the Vantage V3 is the clear choice. It gives athletes and explorers far deeper insights than the less equipped Vantage M2 can offer.

Polar Vantage V3 vs Vantage M2: Smart Features

For GPS tracking, both watches utilize built-in satellite connectivity systems like GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS to track your location during activities. 

However, the V3 ups the ante with dual-frequency GPS for enhanced accuracy and reliability, especially in areas with lots of signal interference. While the M2 provides solid GPS performance, the V3 sets a new standard in location tracking precision. 

Processing power also goes to the V3, with its faster 275 MHz CPU and massive 32GB of internal storage – far beyond what the M2 offers. 

The V3 stands apart with unique features like offline topographical maps for navigation in areas with no cell service or WiFi, thanks to its huge 32GB of onboard storage. 

This is invaluable for hikers, trail runners, and adventurers in the wilderness. The V3 also introduces advanced health tracking capabilities and a handy LED flashlight – upgrades the M2 lacks.

While the M2 covers the basics like activity tracking reliably, the feature-loaded V3 is in another league for in-depth metrics and mapping.

Neither has built-in music storage, but both allow control of phone playlists when working out – great for athletes wanting tunes on the go. They also both display smartphone notifications and weather forecasts on your wrist. 

But when it comes to robust sensor tech, advanced location tracking, and the most comprehensive data capture, the Polar Vantage V3 clearly outshines the Vantage M2.

Polar Vantage V3 vs Vantage M2: Battery Life

When it comes to battery endurance, the Vantage V3 simply outlasts the Vantage M2, period.

The V3 is packed with a high-capacity 488 mAh battery that can keep powering you along for up to 61 hours of continuous training mode. And it still provides nearly a week of watch mode at 288 hours even with constant heart rate monitoring enabled.

On the other hand, the Vantage M2 taps out quicker at just 30 hours in its max training mode. You’ll get about 7 days of watch functionality before needing to power back up.

For endurance athletes, adventurers, and really anyone who doesn’t want to charge frequently, the Vantage V3 is the clear winner here. Its vastly superior battery life means you can just keep on tracking through multi-day hikes, ultramarathons, or even week-long outdoor expeditions without ever worrying about your watch dying.

The Vantage M2 puts up decent numbers for more casual users. But for power-hungry athletes and outdoor explorers needing extended battery life, the Vantage V3 simply dominates in the battery department.

Polar Vantage vs Vantage M2: Which Should You Buy?

Buy the Polar Vantage V3 if:

• You want the most advanced health tracking capabilities like ECG, SpO2, and skin temp sensors
• Dual-frequency GPS and offline maps are important for your outdoor activities 
• You need ultra-long battery life for endurance events or multi-day expeditions
• Price is not a limiting factor and you want the premium top-end model

Buy the Polar Vantage M2 if:

• You want solid basic activity tracking at a more affordable price point
• Extended GPS battery life is not a major consideration for your uses
• Touchscreens or advanced mapping don’t matter much for your workouts
• You want good Polar quality without all the bells and whistles of the V3

Latest Comparisons:

• Fitbit Charge 6 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: In-Depth Comparison
• Google Pixel Watch 2 vs Apple Watch SE 2: Which is Better?
• Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Amazfit GTR 4: Which Should You Buy?