Polar confirms the status of PACER watches in its current lineup

After the launch of Vantage M3, I, Dcrainmaker, and other reviewers were unsure about the position and future of Polar’s PACER Series. Pacer Pro seems similar to the Vantage M3.

So I asked Polar, and whilst they didn’t give too much away, they clarified its position in the range.

For the Fitness line:

• Unite (entry-level, $159.95),
• Ignite 2 (mid-range fitness watch with TFT display, $239.95),
• Ignite 3 (advanced fitness watch with AMOLED display $339.95 or $399.95 for the Titan model)

For Sports watches:

• Pacer (MIP display, $239.95), Pacer Pro (MIP display, $349.95), Vantage M3 (AMOLED display, $399.95) and Vantage V3 (AMOLED display, $599.95)
  

For Outdoor watches:

• Grit X Pro (MIP display, $559.95 or $679.95 for the Titan model) and Grit X2 Pro (AMOLED display, $749.95 or $869.95 for the Titan model)

Competitor Comparisons

Polar broadly differentiates itself from competitors as follows.

Polar is especially focused on providing scientifically validated training and recovery insights… A particular advantage of Polar watches is battery life, with the Vantage M3 offering up to 7 days on a single charge—significantly longer than many smartwatches. This extended battery life, combined with our commitment to accuracy and personalized guidance, ensures that users can rely on our devices for consistent fitness and health tracking, even during intensive training schedules. [Polar]

Polar Vantage M3 vs Poalr Pacer Pro

This link is the official comparison of the Pacer Pro and Vantage M3.

I can summarise it by saying that for the additional $50, the M3 offers a larger, higher resolution AMOLED touchscreen and better case materials. It has the latest ECG-oHR heart rate sensor, adding SpO2 and skin temperature. However, the cheaper Pacer Pro is more durable (MIL-STD) and has a longer battery life because of the screen tech used.

M3 bags some additional fitness tests, recovery pro, work-rest guide, trackback and offline maps on the software side.

Take Out

I’m still none the wiser. Will Pacer be discontinued or re-priced lower?

Getting the Vantage M3 over the Pacer Pro is a no-brainer unless you want a Polar watch with a better battery life. Only slightly cheaper, Pacer Pro is more likely to be more heavily discounted in sales, so you should be able to grab a bargain at Black Friday, for example.