Polar Verity Sense: Significant and unwelcome update
Polar has just dropped a notable update for the ageing Verity SENSE armband HR monitor. Normally, that’s the cue for a small celebration or, at least, a smile.
Not so this time. At least for me.
It seems that Polar is discontinuing FLOW SYNC., I vaguely remember that being announced a while back, and I put off dealing with it. Now it seems that if I update to v3.0.15, I will no longer be able to use the PC version of FLOW Sync to upload Verity SENSE data directly to FLOW (I’ll have to use the FLOW smartphone app). That makes the device effectively unusable for my workflow. Maybe I’ll find a way around it, or perhaps I’ll just use an alternative.
On a positive note, for those who want it, Polar has added BLE (Bluetooth) secure connections. That’s probably about 1 person. Perhaps that person can write down below why they want secure BLE connections to enlighten the rest of us. As a welcome side effect of the increased security, Polar’s release notes imply this will extend battery life.
Then there is the addition of a default-on second BLE connection, which is handy to some people in niche scenarios, me occasionally.
Wider Changes Are Afoot
We’ve also known for some time that Polar is revamping FLOW partly because it needs to, and partly to support its push for its LOOP 2 band (the Whoop competitor). As of a couple of days ago, changes are happening there too – specifically to the new training analysis view.
Verity SENSE Firmware Official Details
Version number: 3.0.15: Enhancements/fixes:
- European Union’s Radio Equipment Directive (RED) features implemented: Your device fully complies with the RED requirements, ensuring wireless safety, reliability, and secure connectivity.
- USB communication port disabled: Your Verity Sense can no longer connect to FlowSync.
- 2 Bluetooth devices are set to be enabled by default for easier pairing.
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) secure connection supported: Verity Sense now supports secure BLE connections, improving both security and energy efficiency during wireless communication.
- Battery limit for starting a training session lowered from 30% to 15%, so you can train longer.
- User notification added when 2 Bluetooth devices, ANT+, and Heart rate visible to all settings are enabled in the Flow app.
Last Updated on 30 January 2026 by the5krunner
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors.
It’s always had two BLE channels, this update just has default settings both to on, previously default settings had only one on.
good spot, ty
“Battery limit for starting a training session lowered from 30% to 15%, so you can train longer.”
I wonder if this is what gives me an impression of very poor battery life with this device, not lasting one week of training (15h)….but still shows 20-25% when I plug it in….
should be quite bit more than that?
my older oh1 has low battery life. it degrades over time.
How many training sessions did you do with it?
a huge number of sessions. hundreds.
My Verity Sense isn’t even updating with the Android Polar Flow app. It’s stuck at version 1.1.5.
Polar Flow asks me to upgrade, but it terminates the upgrade without any warning or error.
That means, if I tried updating it with FlowSync, that would be the last upgrade I could do.
first I’d do the unpair re-pair thing on smartphone. make sure you remove the bluetooth device from ios/android settings as well before repairing.
try another phone if you can. ideally iOS.
if you still cant update the firmware, in your scenario i would risk upgrading it on flowync while you can.
i doubt there will be amny more firmwares above the current v3.
Can’t get it to connect to Zwift after the update. Can’t get past the Allow Connection prompt. I wondered if that’s due to secure BLE. Anyone know how I turn it off?
I see that Polar have withdrawn this update:
https://support.polar.com//en/updates/verity-sense-firmware-version-3015-no-longer-available
odd. but true
I’ve tried chatting with Polar and all they will say is that I should send it to them to check out the issues. I tried to explain it was the firmware update that is causing all of the issues and they claim it is not on their end. This update is nothing more than updating the sensor into obsoletion. IT is interesting the update has been taken down, so the tech peeps know there is an issue, but have not conveyed this to their customer service representitives.