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 →Current model just released
Best for: Athletes, coaches, and fitness-obsessed users who want deep recovery and sleep data without screen distractions. WHOOP suits those who train hard and want to understand whether their body is ready to push. Not for casual users or those who want smartwatch features like notifications or GPS.
Full details →| Polar Vantage V | WHOOP 5.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Sports GPS | Fitness Tracker |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 8 days | 5 days |
| Always-on display | ✅ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | ecg, hr, spo2, hrv, running power, skin temp | hrv, spo2, skin temp, respiratory rate, strain |
| Released | Oct 4, 2023 | Sep 1, 2025 |
| Cycle length | 1063 days | 1461 days |
| Cycle advice | bad | good |
| Deals advice | good | neutral |
| Next model | Polar Vantage V4 (2026) | WHOOP 6.0 (Expected ~2029) |
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.
No distractions — WHOOP tracks everything without buzzing, glowing, or asking for your attention. All data lives in the app.
WHOOP's Recovery Score synthesises HRV, resting heart rate, sleep quality, and respiratory rate to tell you how ready your body is each day.
The WHOOP battery pack slides onto the device and charges it without removal — no gaps in overnight sleep tracking.