Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming
Best for: Serious endurance athletes — particularly runners and triathletes — who want Polar's unmatched training load science and recovery guidance, combined with ECG health monitoring and running power in a premium package.
Full details →Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Competitive runners, triathletes, and ultramarathon runners who want the complete Garmin running analytics suite: full maps, running dynamics, training load, race predictor, and race day guidance — in the lightest, most running-optimised Garmin form factor.
Full details →| Polar Vantage V | Garmin Forerunner 965 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Sports GPS | Sports GPS |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 8 days | 23 days |
| Always-on display | ✅ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | ecg, hr, spo2, hrv, running power, skin temp | hr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, training readiness, running dynamics |
| Released | Oct 4, 2023 | Mar 1, 2023 |
| Cycle length | 1063 days | 1024 days |
| Cycle advice | bad | bad |
| Deals advice | good | good |
| Next model | Polar Vantage V4 (2026) | — |
Polar Vantage V3 is one of the few sports GPS watches with on-demand ECG — usually only found on lifestyle smartwatches.
Running power measurement without a foot pod or chest strap — a significant training metric for pacing effort on hills and varied terrain.
The most detailed training load analysis in any sports watch: muscle groups targeted per session, recovery status per muscle, and long-term load trends.
Turn-by-turn navigation on full TopoActive maps — the key differentiator from the FR265. Essential for trail running and mountain racing.
Cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, ground contact time, and running power — the full biomechanics suite for optimising form and efficiency.
More than double the FR265 battery life. Enough for week-long trail ultras without a charge.