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The Best Polar Watch | Comparing Vantage M2 vs Vantage V2 vs Grit X vs Ignite 2

Which Polar Smartwatch Is for You?
We compare the Polar Vantage M2 vs Vantage V2 vs Grit X vs Ignite 2

Getting serious about training? Then it might be time to get a fitness smartwatch that not only helps you tune into your body, but helps you understand what exactly your body is telling you. So a metric on your watch says this ... now what? The Polar watch lineup is about that next step with features that measure strain and recovery, adapt workouts to your fitness level, assess how you use energy and suggest when to refuel, and more! But which is the best Polar watch for you? In this article, we're comparing the Polar Vantage M2 v s Vantage V2 vs Ignite 2 vs Grit X, so you can size up their features, pick the one that fits your goals, and get on with your personalized training plan!

Short on time? Skip to the PlayBetter Bottom Line or Comparison Table below.

 

Features in Common for This Polar Sport Watches Lineup on PlayBetter

Polar Heart Rate Monitor

The Polar Precision Prime™ sensor fusion technology combines optical heart rate measurement with other sensor technologies in order to rule out involuntary movement that might disturb the heart rate signal and produce unreliable readings.

Integrated GPS

All 4 of these Polar Watches come with GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS with assisted GPS for fast fix times. Plus, they include integrated compass and barometric altitude.

Nightly Recharge

The Nightly Recharge™ recovery measurement on your Polar smartwatch shows you how well you recover from the demands of your day during the night.

Sport Profiles & Training

Get profiles for over 130 different sports and ready-made daily workouts that match your fitness level and training history with the FitSpark™ training guide.

Music & More!

Access your playlist and adjust the volume—right from your sports watch! Also get weather and alerts for calls, messages, emails, and calendar events without having to pull out your phone.

Stay Energized

See how your body uses different energy sources during a training session. Polar Training multisport watches divide your energy usage into carbs, proteins, and fats.


Best Multisport Watch — The Polar Vantage M2

Performance guidance and essential smartwatch features for athletes! The effort you put in today makes all the difference tomorrow. The Polar Vantage M2 premium multisport watch helps you focus your athletic attitude with personal data and adaptive training, helping you track your progress and those important day-to-day details outside workout time.

  • FitSpark training guide offers you different types of daily workouts to choose from that match your recovery, fitness level, and training history.
  • Training Load Pro provides a holistic view on how your training sessions strain different systems in your body and how it affects your performance.
  • Polar Running Program lets you choose a distance and a date, and the Polar Flow app creates a personal and adaptive training plan that is based on your individual metrics. Your plan adapts along the way based on your progress.
  • Nightly Recharge tells you how well your body was able to recover from the strain caused by training and other demands of your day.
  • Get current and 2-day weather forecasts right on your wrist.
  • Navigate your playlist and volume on your Vantage M2 training smartwatch. 
  • Relax and calm down with guided breathing exercises.
  • Don't miss a thing! Get alerts for emails, texts, calls, messages, calendar events and more on your watch face!
  • Comes with access to Polar Flow, an uber-comprehensive training platform that offers extensive training planning and analysis tools, an automatic training diary, progress reports, and much more!

 


Best Running Watch — The Polar Vantage V2

Recovery from overall stress plays a major role in performance development, optimal daytime functioning, well-being, and health. The Polar Vantage V2 premium GPS running watch is the ultimate tool for tapping into personalized smart training. When is it optimal to push? When is it best to rest? This GPS multisport smartwatch will guide you toward intelligent training and your next personal best with features like:

  • Recovery Pro™ reveals how training strains the body and provides metrics that show when it’s time to recover.
  • The Polar Vantage V2 has all-day wrist-based heart rate monitoring.
  • Training Load Pro™ shows how your training sessions strain different parts of your body and how much you’ve been training, so you can determine if you’re on the right track.
  • Nightly Recharge gives you an idea of how well you recover during the night from the demands of your day.
  • Running Performance Test helps you track your progress and personalize your heart rate, speed, and power zones.
  • Cycling Performance Test lets you personalize your power zones and tells you your personal functional threshold power (compatible power meter required).
  • Leg Recovery Test tells you whether your legs are ready for high intensity training in just a couple of minutes without any special equipment—just your watch!
  • Up to 40 hours of continuous training time; multiple power save options boost the battery life all the way up to 100 hours
  • It's a GPS smartwatch with a lightweight, slim form-factor that doesn’t get in the way—whether you’re running, swimming, or sleeping.
  • Comes with access to Polar Flow, an uber-comprehensive training platform that offers extensive training planning and analysis tools, an automatic training diary, progress reports, and much more!
  • Plan your route on Komoot—Import it to your Vantage V2 sports watch and let the turn-by-turn guidance do the navigating for you.
  • Refuel and maintain adequate energy levels during long sessions with FuelWise.
  • Use the FitSpark training guide for ready-made daily workouts that match your recovery, fitness level, and training history.
  • Make your runs and rides more exciting with Strava Live Segments. Get alerts about nearby segments, see real-time performance data during, and check your results.


Best Outdoor Multisport Watch — The Polar Grit X

Do you have trail-running type grit? Meet your match with the Polar Grit X outdoor watch for extreme go-getters. This rugged yet lightweight GPS smartwatch has all the features and none of the fat on it! Although it has military-grade durability, smart training features, and a super long-lasting battery—it won't bulk up your run ,your ride, or your swim!

  • Military-level durability—Polar Grit X has passed several MIL-STD-810G tests, including extreme temperatures, drop, and humidity.
  • At 64 grams, Polar Grit X is one of the lightest outdoor multisport watches out there.
  • The ultra-long battery life and multiple power save options make sure Polar Grit X last longer than you do!
  • Training Load Pro shows how your training sessions strain the different parts of your body and how much you’ve been training, so you can make sure you’re on the right track.
  • Stay energized throughout your session with the new FuelWise fueling assistant.
  • Hill Splitter™ gives you detailed uphill and downhill stats to know how you performed on the ascent and descent sections of your route.
  • Running Power give you more comprehensive insight into the intensity of your running sessions.
  • Running Index shows an estimate of your running VO2max and how your running performance is developing.
  • FitSpark training guide offers you different types of daily workouts to choose from that match your recovery, fitness level, and training history.
  • Nightly Recharge tells you how well your body was able to recover from the strain caused by training and other demands of your day.
  • Plan your route on Komoot and let the turn-by-turn guidance on the watch keep you on the right track.
  • Polar Grit X shows you current weather and a 2-day forecast.
  • Comes with access to Polar Flow, an uber-comprehensive training platform that offers extensive training planning and analysis tools, an automatic training diary, progress reports, and much more!
  • Make your runs and rides more exciting with Strava Live Segments. Get alerts about nearby segments, see real-time performance data during and check your results.
  • Training Benefit provides motivating feedback immediately after training describing the effect of the session.

Best Fitness Watch — The Polar Ignite 2

If fitness, accuracy, improvement, and personalized style are on your wishlist—for a super attractive price—then you'll want to check out the Polar Ignite 2 fitness GPS watch, packed with features like:

  • Ultra reliable advanced wrist-based heart rate technology.
  • Integrated GPS to track precise speed, distance and location.
  • Personalized daily workout guidance based on recovery, readiness, and training history with FitSpark
  • Track your progress with the Weekly Summary feature. 
  • Like the Polar Vantage V2 , Vantage M2, and Polar Grit X, the Polar Ignite 2 supports over 130 different sports. Add your favorite sports to your watch in the Polar Flow app and customize what you see on your watch during each sport.
  • See how your body uses different energy sources during a training session.
  • Polar Ignite 2 divides your energy usage into carbs, proteins, and fats.
  • Get guided Serene™ breathing exercises to relax your body and calm your mind.
  • Sleep and recovery data provides detailed insights for sleep duration and quality, as well as measuring overnight recovery to set you up for the next day's challenges.
  • The Polar Ignite 2 has simple-to-use dashboards for wrist-based music controls, weather reports, and push notifications.
  • The Polar Ignite 2 lightweight but durable design can be personalized with a variety of watch faces, colors, and accessory bands.


The quality of a high-end GPS multisport smartwatch with the adaptive training, recovery, smart features, and battery life you need to turn today's effort into the difference tomorrow. Let the Polar Vantage M2 take you there!

Want the ultimate in personalized intelligent training? Test your limits and test the stress you put on your body. Get adaptive plans and guidance to train and recover like a pro with the Polar Vantage V2

The hyper durable GPS watch for extreme athletes and extreme conditions. Attack your next trail run or outdoor adventure with the military-rated Polar Grit X!

Super light with an easy-to-use dashboard for your active lifestyle. Power-packed with the many standard Polar features, the Polar Ignite 2 has all the style, accuracy, and versatility you want on your wrist for a sweet price!


THE POLAR VANTAGE V2, POLAR VANTAGE M2, POLAR GRIT X, & POLAR IGNITE 2 COMPARISON TABLE

POLAR VANTAGE M2 POLAR VANTAGE V2 POLAR IGNITE 2 POLAR GRIT X

Price

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Battery Life

Up to 30 hrs in training mode
(GPS and wrist-based heart rate)
or up to 7 days in watch mode
with continuous heart rate tracking.
Multiple power save options available.

Up to 40 hrs in training mode
(GPS and wrist-based heart rate)
or up to 7 days in watch mode
with continuous heart rate tracking.
Multiple power save options available.

Up to 20 hrs in training mode
(GPS and wrist-based heart rate)
or up to 5 days in watch mode
with continuous heart rate tracking.
With multiple power save options:
up to 100 hours.

Up to 40 hrs in training mode
(GPS and wrist-based heart rate)
or up to 7 days in watch mode
with continuous heart rate tracking.
Multiple power save options available.

Water

Resistance

Water-Resistant (WR30)

Water resistant 100m
(suitable for swimming)

Water resistant 30 m
(ISO 22810, suitable
for swimming)

Waterproof (WR100)

Display

Always on color display.
Hard-coated PMMA
laminated lens. Size 1.2”,
resolution 240 x 240.

Always-on color touch display.
Laminated Gorilla glass lens with
anti-fingerprint coating.
Size 1.2”, resolution 240 x 240.
ALS (ambient light sensor)

Gesture-activated color touch display
(IPS TFT) with ambient light sensor (ALS).
Always-on option in training mode.
Resolution 240 x 204.
Dragontrail glass lens.

Always-on color touch display.
Laminated Gorilla glass lens
with anti-fingerprint coating,
protected with forged stainless
steel bezel with lugs. Size 1.2”,
resolution 240 x 240.

Advanced
Features

  • Training Load Pro
  • Nightly Recharge
  • Polar Running Program
  • FitSpark training guide
  • Recovery Pro
  • Running Performance Test
  • Cycling Performance Test
  • Leg Recovery Test
  • Training Load Pro
  • Nightly Recharge
  • Polar Running Program
  • FitSpark training guide
  • Nightly Recharge
  • Polar Running Program
  • FitSpark training guide
  • Hill Splitter
  • Running Index
  • Military-Level Rating
  • Training Load Pro
  • Nightly Recharge
  • Polar Running Program
  • FitSpark training guide

Shared
Features

  • Satellite navigation: GPS, QZSS,
    GLONASS, and Galileo
  • Nightly recharge
  • FitSpark™ daily workouts
  • Smart notifications and music controls
  • Wrist-based heart rate
  • Serene breathing exercise
  • Energy sources used during training
  • Personal and adaptive running program
  • Swimming metrics
  • Sport profiles (choose from
    130 from Polar Flow platform)
  • Weekly summary
  • Watch face color themes
  • Polar Flow app and web portal
  • Satellite navigation: GPS, QZSS,
    GLONASS, and Galileo
  • Nightly recharge
  • FitSpark™ daily workouts
  • Smart notifications and music controls
  • Wrist-based heart rate
  • Serene breathing exercise
  • Energy sources used during training
  • Personal and adaptive running program
  • Swimming metrics
  • Sport profiles (choose from
    130 from Polar Flow platform)
  • Weekly summary
  • Watch face color themes
  • Polar Flow app and web portal
  • Satellite navigation: GPS, QZSS,
    GLONASS, and Galileo
  • Nightly recharge
  • FitSpark™ daily workouts
  • Smart notifications and music controls
  • Wrist-based heart rate
  • Serene breathing exercise
  • Energy sources used during training
  • Personal and adaptive running program
  • Swimming metrics
  • Sport profiles (choose from
    130 from Polar Flow platform)
  • Weekly summary
  • Watch face color themes
  • Polar Flow app and web portal
  • Satellite navigation: GPS, QZSS,
    GLONASS, and Galileo
  • Nightly recharge
  • FitSpark™ daily workouts
  • Smart notifications and music controls
  • Wrist-based heart rate
  • Serene breathing exercise
  • Energy sources used during training
  • Personal and adaptive running program
  • Swimming metrics
  • Sport profiles (choose from
    130 from Polar Flow platform)
  • Weekly summary
  • Watch face color themes
  • Polar Flow app and web portal

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Offers

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  • Free 60-Day Returns
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  • Free 60-Day Returns
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