Polar Software Release 3.0

Polar has unveiled Software Release 3.0 for its flagship sports watches, the Polar Grit X2 Pro and Polar Vantage V3. This update introduces features to enhance training, exploration, and daily usability for Polar’s high-end watches. Here is an in-depth look at the new and improved functionalities.

Points of Interest (POI)

The new Points of Interest feature boosts navigation for athletes and explorers. This feature simplifies route planning and exploration by tracking key landmarks such as shelters, supermarkets, and cafés or marking custom POIs for future reference.

• Beeline Navigation: Provides direct routes and distance guidance to selected POIs.
• Customizable POIs: Allows users to set precise locations tailored to their needs.
• Available Anytime: Grants access to POIs during and outside training sessions.

It is especially useful for endurance athletes venturing into unfamiliar terrain or planning strategic rest stops.

Find My Phone

The Find My Phone feature helps locate misplaced phones:

• Displays the phone’s last synced location on the watch map.
• It plays a sound on the phone when it is within Bluetooth range.
• Provides quick access via the home screen drop-down menu or main menu.

This tool ensures users remain connected to their devices during training and daily life.

Charging During Training

Battery life concerns are addressed with the ability to charge the watch during active or paused training sessions:

• Safely charges the watch mid-activity, accompanied by a “Dry before charging” reminder for wet conditions.
• Ideal for ultra-endurance events, multi-day adventures, and long hikes.

This feature ensures the watch remains powered for the most demanding sessions.

Watch Faces & Widgets

Personalization options expand with two new analogue and three new digital watch face layouts:

• New Widget Designs: Introduces “capsule” and “pill-shaped” layouts for quick data access.
• Modern Aesthetics: Combines sleek design with practical functionality.

These options allow users to stay stylish while keeping critical information easily accessible.

Post-workout analysis becomes more convenient with the Route Overview feature, which enables users to:

• View routes directly on the watch after outdoor workouts.
• Instantly review performance metrics without syncing to Polar Flow.
• Analyze navigation and performance on the go.

This addition simplifies the training review process and enhances outdoor training experiences.

Internal Notifications

Internal reminders and alerts help users stay organized:

• Planned Training Today: Ensures sessions are not missed.
• Sync Reminders: Keeps data up to date.
• Forgot Phone Alerts: Ensures preparedness.

Customizable settings allow users to tailor these notifications to their routines.

Pool Swimming Styles in Training Summary

Swimmers benefit from enhanced performance analytics:

• Breaks down metrics by swimming style, including freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke.
• Tracks distance, duration, and pace for each stroke.
• Provides detailed insights for improving technique.

This feature is designed for athletes seeking to refine their swimming performance.

What Else Has Improved?

Software Release 3.0 also includes several refinements and fixes:

• OHR Accuracy: Offers more reliable optical heart rate readings during training.
• Cardio Load UX: Provides clearer, actionable feedback with terms like “Recovering” and “Productive.”
• Pre-Training Mode: Improves sport profile selection, GPS status indicators, and setup speed.
• Compass Calibration: Enhances logic for smoother navigation.
• Route Guidance Logic: Supports mid-route recalculations for dynamic navigation.
• Display Brightness: Improves visibility in bright sunlight.
• 3D Speed Fixes: Ensures accurate speed calculations on varied terrains.
• Pool Swimming Metrics: Enhances stroke detection and distance measurement.

Take Out

Polar has ticked more boxes with this software release, some important ones.

The company is working towards delivering a more comprehensive navigation feature set, and the POIs are an essential part.

In the past, sports watch companies seemed caught up in the never-ending spiral of raising prices and adding techy features, often forgetting that watches selling for well over $500 may not be trivial sport-only purchases for most people. People expect to be able to wear these watches 24×7 to get value from their expensive purchases. But you can’t wear an ugly watch 24×7. Poor watch faces from many companies, including Garmin, are problems the sports watch industry finds hard to shake. Most companies, including Polar, appear to be finally addressing this – as demonstrated here. Indeed, we only discovered today that Garmin is adding the ability to change watch face complications on the watch rather than via the app.