Sunday Runday
On this weekly column, Android Central Wearables Editor Michael Hicks talks in regards to the world of wearables, apps, and health tech associated to working and well being, in his quest to get quicker and healthier.
The Polar Vantage M3 is the model’s first reasonably priced AMOLED watch, after the $599 Vantage V3 and $749 Grit X2 Professional first shed off the previous MIP commonplace. The $399 M3 shares their 4th-gen Elixir OHR and dual-band GPS, which means it ought to supply dependable accuracy on par with Polar’s flagships.
I made a decision to place this to the check! Regardless of the wet climate and coming down with a chilly, I took the Polar Vantage M3 on a number of runs, lengthy walks, and a observe run over the previous couple of weeks, evaluating the outcomes towards the Garmin Fenix 8‘s dual-band GPS, the COROS HRM armband, and the Polar H10 chest strap.
Once I pitted the Vantage V3 towards flagship Garmin and COROS watches, it fell a bit quick for GPS accuracy (whereas nonetheless doing higher than a GPS-only watch) and was pretty correct for HR knowledge in comparison with a chest strap. So I used to be curious to see how the mid-range Vantage M3 would do with related {hardware}.
Seems the Polar Vantage M3 is kind of dependable for GPS, however rather less dependable for coronary heart price accuracy in some instances. Nonetheless, the mid-range M3 is already making the flagship V3 look just a little overpriced by providing the identical expertise for much less.
Polar Vantage M3 GPS accuracy
I used the Fenix 8 as a location accuracy management group as a result of Garmin’s dual-band GPS tends to guide the business for reliable leads to my exams. The mid-range COROS PACE Professional did surprisingly effectively towards it in my accuracy check earlier this month, so I had excessive hopes that the Vantage M3 may do equally effectively.
| Exercise | Polar Vantage M3 | Garmin Fenix 8 |
|---|---|---|
| 11/13 (Run) | 4.04 miles; 324W; 58 TL; 164 spm | 4.01 miles; 351W; 76 TL; 162 spm |
| 11/17 (Run) | 2.00 miles; 312W; 30 TL; 164 spm | 2.02 miles; 338W; 43 TL; 162 spm |
| 11/17 (Observe run) | 4,020m; 477W; 50 TL; 182 spm | 4,010m; 503W; 260 TL; 180 spm |
| 11/17 (Stroll) | 6.31 miles; 83 TL; 124 spm | 6.33 miles; 31 TL; 116 spm |
| 11/21 (Run) | 3.03 miles; 322W; 44 TL; 164 spm | 3.01 miles; 351W; 61 TL; 163 spm |
| 11/21 (Stroll) | 3.27 miles; 29 TL; 126 spm | 3.27 miles; 15 TL; 123 spm |
| 11/23 (Run) | 6.23 miles; 350W; 142 TL; 168 spm | 6.22 miles; 381W; 166 TL; 164 spm |
I am sorry that so lots of my exams have been quick jogs — which are typically too quick to disclose discrepancies — or lengthy walks which are normally too slow-paced to problem the antenna’s full talents. I did not get to go on a hike for correct elevation testing or accuracy on a tree-obscured route, both.
From what I used to be capable of check, nevertheless, the Vantage M3 did respectably effectively, at all times falling carefully inside the similar margins because the Garmin look ahead to a long term.
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In the event you look extra carefully on the GPS map between the Vantage M3 (orange line) and Fenix 8 (blue) for my most up-to-date 10K run above, there are a number of cases the place the Vantage M3 drifts barely into the road or buildings, with the identical unprompted zig-zagging and onerous angles because the dual-frequency Suunto Race, in addition to some points with underpasses that the Fenix 8 did not encounter.
Fortunately, the Vantage M3 has fewer gaffes than Suunto and does completely effectively in regular situations, sticking to the right facet of my native path. And for my observe run under, it did not stick completely to the primary lane, however that is one thing each watch I’ve examined struggles with; Polar’s consequence is definitely among the many finest I’ve seen amongst dual-band watches.
Whereas I could not do a correct hike, my stroll alongside one other close by path was illuminating. Within the screenshots under, you may see how the Vantage M3 (now the blue line) does completely effectively on the unimpeded stretches, however underneath tree cowl, you may see much more wavering in brief stretches the place I used to be strolling straight forward (and Garmin’s orange line is normally extra constant). My whole distance was solely two-hundredths aside, although, so most individuals will not thoughts.
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General, I believe individuals can be proud of the Vantage M3’s location accuracy, particularly for its worth. What’s maybe extra attention-grabbing is how Garmin and Polar constantly observe working energy, coaching load, and steps per minute in a different way.
I am inclined to belief Garmin over Polar for steps; Garmin has received a number of step-counting accuracy exams, and Garmin, Apple, COROS, and Fitbit all carefully matched on whole steps and cadence throughout a 20-mile, four-watch check.
However I’ve observed previously how Garmin coaching load appears to underestimate walks and overestimate observe exercises, whereas Polar separates cardio and muscle load in a manner that feels extra refined and correct to my effort stage — apart from the grossly-underestimated observe load. And working energy has at all times felt like an arbitrary metric that varies by model, so I do not put a lot inventory in it.
Polar Vantage M3 HR accuracy
My Polar Vantage M3 coronary heart price outcomes gave me whiplash. For most traditional runs, it delivered constant HR averages, if all barely under my exterior HRMs. However my observe run outcomes have been disappointing and my stroll knowledge confirmed the right averages however was bizarrely wild on the graphs.
| Exercise | Polar Vantage M3 | COROS HRM or Polar H10 |
|---|---|---|
| 11/13 (Run; COROS) | 146 bpm / 155 max; 546kcal | 147 bpm / 155 max; 536kcal |
| 11/17 (Run; COROS) | 146 bpm / 157 max; 279kcal | 146 bpm / 157 max; 274kcal |
| 11/17 (Observe run; COROS) | 175 bpm / 193 max; 285kcal | 179 bpm / 190 max; 285kcal |
| 11/17 (Stroll; COROS) | 122 bpm / 146 max; 1,119kcal | 123 bpm / 146 max; 773kcal |
| 11/21 (Run; COROS) | 146 bpm / 157 max; 418kcal | 147 bpm / 157 max ; 409kcal |
| 11/21 (Stroll; COROS) | 111 bpm / 120 max; 463kcal | 111 bpm / 120 max; 372kcal |
| 11/23 (Run; Polar H10) | 168 bpm / 185 max; 954kcal | 169 bpm / 186 max; 859kcal |
For each run besides one two-mile jog, the Polar Vantage M3 was 1 bpm wanting my optical arm band or my Polar ECG. Within the two HR graphs under (hit the magnification button), you possibly can see how the purple Garmin graph sits barely above the pinker Polar one at most factors, apart from when my effort dips and Polar is slower to drop.
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There’s usually a delay between wrist- and arm-based optical screens or chest straps, however a stable health watch ought to nonetheless common out to the identical consequence in the long run. I would wish to see Polar work out its algorithm to shut the small hole, however 1 bpm is not a significant difficulty and it is nonetheless in the correct ballpark.
What’s barely weirder is my two strolling exercise charts. Polar actually struggled to remain near my fluctuating coronary heart price for each actions, with a 5–10 bpm hole above or under my precise HR for sustained stretches.
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They ended up averaging out to equivalent or shut bpm averages for 6- and 4-mile walks; so once more, maybe you will not care in regards to the distinction. However that will have been luck greater than every little thing else; I observed this 5Krunner HR accuracy check did fantastic for many runs however had bizarrely inflated HR totals for a relaxed stroll. So I am hoping that is an space the place the Polar algorithm can enhance with time.
As for my observe exercise, I can solely present a portion of the graph as a result of it in some way received absolutely misaligned in-between lap pauses about midway via, so the outcomes have been needlessly complicated. This portion provides you a glimpse of what to anticipate, although: a number of beats quick at most factors, dipping as little as 20 bpm underneath at one level, and overestimating my max by a number of beats. Mainly, it is far and wide.
I’ll do an unpaused observe run for my full Vantage M3 evaluate, to keep away from any bizarre points with flat, skewed outcomes. However even with this incomplete check, I really feel just like the Vantage M3 may have executed significantly better in that preliminary snapshot. If I have been a severe athlete attempting to trace anaerobic effort, I would most likely purchase an exterior monitor to pair with my Vantage M3.
The Polar Vantage M3 holds its personal
There is a new class of AMOLED working watches that value about the identical as an Apple Watch or Pixel Watch however supply a severe leg up for coaching metrics, battery life, and accuracy.
If I had to decide on between the COROS PACE Professional ($349), Suunto Race S ($349), Polar Vantage M3 ($399), and Garmin Forerunner 265 ($449), I would have a critically robust resolution on my fingers — however I would additionally really feel like I could not go incorrect with anyone alternative.
With the Vantage M3 particularly, I respect its light-weight and skinny design, Strava route and Komoot instructions integration, full suite of sensors like ECG and pores and skin temp, and default topo maps.
Its 7-day battery life is on the quick facet for a working watch, and I am not the largest fan of Polar Movement as a companion app, nevertheless it does not really feel like a significant downgrade from the pricier Vantage V3, with related perks like its helpful VO2 Max and orthostatic exams and comparable accuracy. Whereas I’ve but to evaluate it absolutely, the Vantage M3 appears to be like extra compelling than the V3 for sheer worth.
I simply want it was just a little extra correct for anaerobic runs or low-effort cardio.
Mid-range working excellence
Whereas the Polar Vantage M3 is cheaper than the Vantage V3, it has the identical water resistance, well being sensors, multi-band GPS, coaching and restoration software program, health exams, topographical maps, and restricted good instruments for $200 much less. It has a shorter battery life, a smaller show, and cheaper supplies, nevertheless it’s in any other case a extra compelling choice for many runners.
