Polar recently unveiled their premium Vantage V3, which boasts a tantalizing combination of both sports and smartwatch features.

On the flip side, Garmin’s Fenix 7 Pro Series steps onto the scene as a more rugged and bona fide GPS adventure watch.

When it comes to price tags, the Fenix 7 Pro stands a notch higher, even though the Vantage V3 doesn’t shy away with its impressive feature set. Caught in a quandary over which one to go for?

If both watches have caught your eye and you’re deliberating your next sports watch purchase, then you’ve landed on the right article.

Here, I’ll delve deep into the Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Fenix 7 Pro, laying out the facts to assist you in making a well-informed choice.

Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Price & Availability

As already mentioned, Garmin’s Fenix 7 Pro costs more than the Polar Vantage V3. 

Polar introduced the Vantage V3 in early October 2023. If you wanted one, you could order it ahead of time for £519/$599.90. These watches will start reaching people on October 25, 2023. You can pick from different colors. There’s the all-black one called Night Black. There are also Sky Blue and Sunrise Apricot, which have silver edges and either blue or white straps.

Polar keeps it simple. You can’t mix and match different parts or sizes. But, if you want, you can pay an extra £40/$40 to get a bundle with Polar’s H10 heart rate monitor.

Now, the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro series came out on May 31, 2023. This series has three sizes: Fenix 7S Pro (42mm), Fenix 7 Pro (47mm), and Fenix 7X Pro (51mm). 

A cool thing about these watches is that they can charge using sunlight. And unlike the Fenix 7, only the Pro models have this feature. The least expensive one in this series is priced at $799/£749.

Where to Buy?

Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Specs Comparison

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Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Design & Display

When you lay your eyes on the Polar Vantage V3 and the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro for the first time, the difference is clear. The Vantage V3 looks sleek and clean, while the Fenix 7 Pro has a strong and rugged look.

The Vantage V3 has a modern, slim look that Polar fans have come to love. It comes with a lightweight aluminum body and a bright touchscreen. This watch now uses AMOLED for its screen, different from the older MIP display. The screen clarity has also improved – it’s now 454 × 454 pixels, a big jump from the 240 × 240 pixels in the older Vantage V2. 

They’ve also added more sensors to the V3, which we’ll discuss later. But despite the new additions, the V3 is a bit heavier than the V2 – it’s 57g versus 52g. It’s also slightly bigger. However, the V3 isn’t as tough as the V2. It can handle water up to 50 meters deep, but it’s not as strong as watches made to military standards. The older V2 was stronger, but the V3 can handle colder temperatures.

Now, let’s talk about the Fenix 7 Pro. This watch is built tough. Unlike some other Garmin watches, the Fenix 7 Pro is made to handle rough situations. It comes in three sizes, and I got to try the 47mm one. It feels solid and sits nicely on the wrist. The case is made of polymer, with steel at the back and a steel bezel. It’s a bit heavy at 79g, but it feels sturdy. You can easily change its 22mm straps with a simple button press. The watch is waterproof up to 100 meters, so you can wear it while swimming in pools or the sea.

The Fenix 7 Pro has a 1.3-inch screen with a 260 x 260-pixel resolution. This screen is slightly clearer than the one on the standard Fenix 7. It’s easy to read indoors and outside, and it responds well to touch. The screen isn’t super bright, but it’s great for saving battery. A special feature is the solar charging ability, which can extend the battery life if you spend enough time in the sun.

This watch also has a new LED flashlight feature, borrowed from the larger Fenix 7X. It’s a handy little light that you can turn on without needing your phone.

To charge the Fenix 7 Pro, you use the same cable as the Fenix 7. Overall, this watch is a great mix of sturdy design, clear display, and useful features.

Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Features

Both watches are packed with features, but the Vantage V3 is focused on health and fitness activities while Fenix 7 Pro is designed for outdoor enthusiasts.

The Vantage V3 has made significant improvements in its internal workings. One major upgrade is its faster processing speed. The V3 now has a CPU speed of 275 MHz, which is a substantial 129% faster than its predecessor, the V2. This means smoother performance and quicker data processing, especially useful during intense workouts or when using multiple features simultaneously.

Polar Vantage V3 introduces Polar Elixir, an advanced biosensing technology. This new platform can measure a wider range of physiological and mechanical data points with high accuracy, including GEN 1 ECG, SpO2, and skin temperature sensors.

Another standout feature is its advanced multi-band GNSS chipset, offering dual-frequency GPS technology. This enhances location tracking accuracy by connecting to more satellites. Users can choose between full dual-frequency GPS or single-frequency settings for flexibility.

The Fenix 7 Pro is designed for outdoor enthusiasts and offers a wide range of features. It covers core activities like running, golfing, swimming, and cycling, with specific metrics for each. It also provides preloaded topographic maps, road and trail maps, and ski resort maps, all with touchscreen support for easy navigation. Relief Shading enhances map detail, and you can view weather information.

Garmin introduces Endurance Scores and Hill Scores to help you gauge your training’s suitability for hilly routes and endurance events. The watch comes with a new optical heart rate sensor and improved algorithms for better accuracy during workouts. You can also pair external sensors for additional data.

For smartwatch features, it offers notifications, music controls, Garmin Pay, and access to Garmin’s Connect IQ Store. While the user interface has seen some changes, it doesn’t introduce a lot of new smartwatch capabilities.

Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Battery Life

Both the Polar Vantage V3 and the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro are packed with features, but when it comes to battery life, here’s how they compare:

Polar Vantage V3:

• The V3 comes with a 488 mAh battery.
• Training Mode: It can last up to 53 hours when you’re using it for workouts and training sessions.
• Watch Mode: If you’re just using it as a regular watch, the battery can go for up to 192 hours, which is roughly 8 days.

Garmin Fenix 7 Pro:

Garmin has brought in a game-changing feature with solar charging. This was first seen in the Fenix 6 series and has been improved for the Fenix 7.

• Solar Panels: The Fenix 7’s solar panels have been increased by 54%. This means the watch can collect more sunlight and convert it into power, helping the battery last longer.
• Screen Brightness: The screen might not be as bright as some other Garmin watches with AMOLED displays, but it’s still very readable in sunlight and on overcast days.

Here’s how long the battery lasts on different models of the Fenix 7 Pro:

Garmin Fenix 7S Pro:

• Smartwatch Mode: Up to 14 days.
• With GPS: Up to 46 hours.

Garmin Fenix 7 Pro:

• Smartwatch Mode: Up to 22 days.
• With GPS: Up to 73 hours.

Garmin Fenix 7X Pro:

• Smartwatch Mode: Up to 37 days.
• With GPS: Up to 122 hours.

Polar Vantage V3 vs Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Which should you buy?

Buy Polar Vantage V3 if:

• Price Point: You’re looking for a premium watch with a more affordable price than the Fenix 7 Pro.
• Design & Display: You prioritize a sleek and modern design, coupled with a bright AMOLED touchscreen.
• Fitness & Health: Your main focus is health and fitness activities, and you appreciate faster processing speeds and advanced biosensing technologies like Polar Elixir.

Buy Garmin Fenix 7 Pro if:

• Outdoor Activities: You’re an outdoor enthusiast needing rugged design, topographic maps, and features tailored for diverse outdoor activities.
• Solar Charging: You spend a lot of time outdoors and would benefit from the extended battery life provided by solar charging.
• Design & Durability: You prefer a sturdy, rugged design that can handle rough situations and has a higher water resistance.
• Range of Features: You appreciate a wide array of features, from sports metrics to smartwatch capabilities and map navigation.

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