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Polar Vantage V2 Accuracy

17 October 2020
the5krunner

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Summary

My Polar Vantage V2 Review unit performed fairly well in accuracy tests across the triathlon sports and accuracy is improved over the first generation Vantage. Its main weakness was shown in the last few open water swims I managed this year where both HR and GPS were lacking compared to Garmin who also seem to have stepped up a notch in OWS over the last year or so. Most GPS devices tend to do well at cycling and the Vantage V2 is no different. However, the hardest tests for accuracy are when running. The Polar Vantage V2 matched what typical Garmins deliver with running and, other than an occasional wobbly with oHR, there was little to separate a normal Garmin oHR/GLONASS performance to a normal V2 oHR/GLONASS performance. I repeat a GNSS test for every running-capable watch and the V2's best score was an acceptable 75%.

Last Updated on 24 January 2026 by the5krunner

My favourite kit and nutrition

  • Maurten — the race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mix engineered to be easy on the stomach.
  • Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — the small adapter that keeps your charging cable tidy at the stem. Essential for race day.
  • Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session.
  • Ravemen FR300 — front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters.
  • Garmin Varia RTL515 — radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Garmin watch.
  • Stryd — the footpod that brings running power to your Garmin. The single most useful running upgrade I have made.
  • Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — the power meter pedals most serious cyclists end up choosing. Accurate, easy to move between bikes.

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7 thoughts on “Polar Vantage V2 Accuracy”

  1. How does gps accuracy of vantage v2 compare to that of the original vantage?
    Could you comment on that?

      1. Wow, thanks!

        If I read the results in the xls right, the vantage TITAN is actually better than the brand new vantage v2 (looking at gps-accuracy). Well, it’s not worlds apart, it’s 79% vs 75% according to the xls. I wonder, is this firmware issues? Should we expect the v2 to improve over the next months via firmware upgrades?

        1. each test is just one test and, yes, conditions and firmware vary from one to the next.
          i guess you can’t really compare the test results too literally (I use real-world experience to take a view on accuracy in my reviews and this is just one input) but i guess they are indicative.

  2. i saw your xls file and i saw vantage v2 model a & model b..what’s the differences? how do we know which one is model a and which is model b?

      1. thanks for reply. it’s interesting that the result difference between the 2 is like heaven and earth. i’m actually surprised (or not so) at suunto 9 final accuracy at near the top. i got suunto 9 recently and the gps accuracy really doesn’t disappoint, though the ohr, well…. you know and i know …

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