Polar Vantage V2: Still worth it?

Is the Polar Vantage V2 still worth it now that the Vantage V3 is out? Polar fitness watches may not be quite as popular as the best Garmin watches, but the brand still has a solid track record of delivering good quality health and fitness tracking devices. I've used several Polar devices, including fitness trackers, watches and chest-worn heart rate sensors, and found them to be consistently good in their performance. The Polar Vantage V2 is one of Polar’s multi-sports watches, designed to support serious sportspeople hit their training goals.

But as is the way with technology, newer models come around with upgraded technology and new features. And that, in turn, makes older devices redundant. Or does it? Is the Polar Vantage V2 still a watch worthy of wearing?

What is the Polar Vantage V2?

The Polar Vantage V2 was released back in 2020, and at the time, was one of Polar’s most premium multi-sport watches. Designed to track a wide range of sports, this watch was (and is) suitable for supporting running, swimming, cycling, strength training and more. It also comes with many other features designed to help users get the most from their training regimen.

For starters, there’s built-in support for GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and QZSS global positioning systems. This means the watch will provide more accurate route tracking when you’re exercising in the great outdoors. This is ably supported by navigational tools such as turn-by-turn guidance, a Track Back function to lead you back the same way you came, and route guidance. It can even automatically detect when you’re going up or down a hill – this is called Hill Splitter, rather than “Grand Old Duke of York” mode (admittedly, a more suitable name).

In training and recovery terms, the Vantage V2 can monitor your training load, the type of energy sources your body is using during exercise, your running power, and can even offer personalised training guides that match your fitness level, and recovery status from your last workout.

The Polar Vantage V2 is also waterproof (up to 100 metres) and has battery life of up to 100 hours (about four days). In tracking terms, it offers 24/7 activity tracking, to keep an eye on your steps, and provide estimates of your calorie expenditure. There’s also heart rate and sleep tracking, which allow the watch to estimate your nightly recovery, similar to Garmin's Body Battery tool.

Overall, the Polar Vantage V2 is a comprehensive package of training and recovery tools designed to help you be the fittest you can be. But Polar’s latest version - the Vantage V3 - offers even more.

The Polar Vantage V3

The Polar Vantage V3 takes the already extremely good Vantage V2 and upgrades it in almost every single way. An improved display, more accurate GPS, offline maps that can be used to navigate via your wrist, night-time skin temperature tracking, and blood oxygen monitoring. The upgraded heart rate sensor can take an ECG (electrocardiogram) reading as well as provide constant heart rate data as you go about your day.

The screen is a crystal-clear AMOLED display, while the V3 offers additional swimming metrics, running programmes, and guidance on recovery and when to work or rest during a training session. In short, the Polar Vantage V3 has lots to like. But how do the two devices compare, and just how big a difference is there between them?

Polar Vantage V2 vs Polar Vantage V3

As you’d likely expect, the Vantage V2 and the Vantage V3 have a lot in common. But there are a few areas where we can draw some clear distinctions between the two devices.

Design

The Polar Vantage V3 is a slightly larger watch, measuring 47.3 x 47.3 x 13.5 mm compared to the 47 x 47 x 13 mm of the V2. The V3 also weighs five grams more than the V2. But in return, you get a 1.39-inch AMOLED display on the V3, compared to a 1.2-inch memory-in-pixel (MIP) display on the V2. The display is significantly brighter and sharper on the newer watch and is a notable upgrade over its predecessor.

Both watches use premium materials, and clearly have a lot in common in terms of design. They each have aerospace-grade aluminium casing on the front case and bezel of the watch, and plastic on the back case. In the hand, the Vantage V2 certainly doesn't feel like a "cheap" device. It's comfortable to wear, and the metal aluminium finish is lightweight, but feels high-quality.

Interestingly, the Vantage V2 is water resistant to 100 metres, while the V3 variant is only water resistant to a depth of 50 metres. For most recreational swimmers this won’t be an issue, but it is unusual to see a downgrade from an older model to a newer one.

Features

When it comes to features, the Vantage V3 offers several new features that are missing from the V2 model. We’ve highlighted a few of them already, but the main additions are as follows:

More health tracking features, and improved accuracy in GPS tracking and heart rate monitoring, as well as more training tools, mean that the Vantage V3 does offer several new features that make it an upgrade over its predecessor.

For some, those added metrics will come under the “nice to have” rather than “must have” category. While for others, features such as maps, or an ECG function might be considered essential, in which case, the V3 is the model to go for.

Value

The Polar Vantage V2 has an RRP of £439, while the Vantage V3 comes in at £519, meaning the newer model is, on paper, £90 more expensive. And given the new features and the improved screen, £90 is a reasonable price difference. This is especially true when you consider that the Vantage V2 is a four-year-old model.

But the RRP of the Vantage V2 is not necessarily the price you’ll need to pay. We’ve seen it available for under £300, which makes it considerably cheaper than the Vantage V3. For many, paying over £200 more for the newer device is much harder to justify.

Alternative options

Of course, Polar isn’t the only brand that delivers high-quality multi-sport watches, and the best smartwatches for tracking your health will often provide many of the same fitness tracking tools as the Polar Vantage series. There are also some great budget smartwatches that can offer all the essentials, at a lower price. Here are just a handful of alternatives to consider:

So, is the Polar Vantage V2 still worth buying?

Ok, so the Polar Vantage 2 is four years old now. It’s been superseded by newer models with extra features and more accurate sensors, so it misses a few tools compared to newer rivals. If you’re looking for the latest and greatest, and want every possible metric available, the Vantage 2 is difficult to recommend. If we’re just comparing the Vantage 2 to the Vantage 3, the better screen and much wider array of metrics mean the newer watch is the superior device. And that’s without considering all the watches on offer from other manufacturers.

On the other hand, the Polar Vantage 2 was a very good multi-sports watch when it first came out. And while it may no longer be the new kid on the block, that doesn’t mean it isn’t hanging tough. It still offers plenty of useful health and fitness features, including built-in GPS and navigation, as well as heart rate monitoring, and recovery guidance. These remain as accurate as they were when the watch was new. While this is less accurate than newer devices, for many, the Vantage V2 will still be accurate enough.

It’s well-built, lightweight and comfortable, making it ideal for outdoor pursuits. And the price you can expect to pay has fallen considerably over the years – making this a lot more affordable than it was when it first came out. If you’re happy to go for an older model without the latest bells and whistles, there is still value from the Polar Vantage V2.

Steven Shaw is a Senior Tech Writer and Reviewer for What’s the Best. Steven writes how-to guides, explainers, reviews and best-of listicles covering a wide range of topics. He has several years of experience writing about fitness tech, mobile phones, and gaming.

When Steven isn’t writing, he’s probably testing a new smartwatch or fitness tracker, putting it through its paces with a variety of strength training, HIIT, or yoga. He also loves putting on a podcast and going for a long walk.

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