Polar Pacer Pro and Vantage M2 are priced similarly ($300) and offer many of the same features for runners. But there are some key differences that could make one a better choice for you than the other.
If you want to save yourself the trouble of reading the entire post to find out which Polar is better, you can take our words and invest your money in the new Pacer Pro.
The watch offers several improvements over Vantage M2 without charging you any additional money.
In this post, we’ll compare the Polar Pacer Pro vs Vantage M2 side-by-side in five different categories.
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Table of Contents
Polar Pacer Pro Vs Vantage M2 Comparison:
There are many similarities between Polar Pacer Pro and Vantage M2 as they both come from the same company, so we will focus only on the key differences between the two.
Interface:
Polar added a faster processor (x2) and more memory (x7) to the Pacer Pro, which results in a more responsive interface. The watch also has a new always-on color display that makes it easier to see your stats at a glance.
Pacer Pro supports smartphone push notifications now during workouts. The overall experience on the watch is more polished as well.
Running Metrics:
Pacer Pro offers ‘Running Power’ a feature previously included in premium watches like Polar Ignite and Polar Grit X Pro. You won’t need an external sensor attached to the watch to get advanced running metrics (including Running Power) as you might in the Vantage M2.
Moreover, the Pacer Pro features the Running Performance Test and a new Walking test. The running performance allows you to see how your VO2 Max and running economy have changed over time.
Polar Vantage M2 doesn’t support Strava Live Segments which certainly gives an edge to the Pacer Pro, especially in the Strava community.
Navigational Features:
Vantage 2 is lacking in the navigational features department as it lacks a barometric altimeter sensor which pacer pro has. The latter double as a hiking watch where it can record your ascent, descent, and location.
Like Garmin watches, it offers a breadcrumb trail (back to track) in case you get lost on your run. You can download routes from your phone to the watch, but you first have to create them on the polar flow app or website. Also, you can follow a GPS track live on the watch and can create waypoints.
In addition to this, Pacer Pro offers support for Hill Splitter and Komoot route planning.
Water Resistance:
Polar Pacer Pro offers 5 ATM water resistance that roughly translates to up to 50m submergence in water. Vantage M2, on the other hand, is water-resistant only up to 30m.
You can swim in the pool and shower with Vantage M2, but the Pacer Pro goes a step ahead and support open water swimming.
Battery Life:
Polar Pacer Pro offers up to 100 hours of battery life in GPS tracking mode while Vantage M2 can go on for up to 30 hours. In the battle of battery endurance, Pacer Pro is the clear winner.
However, both watches take the same time to charge (2-2.5 hours).
Final Verdict:
Polar Pacer Pro is the better watch out of the two. It’s more polished, has a better interface, and offers advanced running metrics (without any external sensor), and navigational features. It is basically a cross Vantage V2 with M2 Watch with all the features of these two but priced the same as M2.
Polar Pacer Pro vs Vantage M2: Comparison Table
| Product Name | Polar Pacer Pro | Vantage M2 |
| Price | $299 | $293 |
| Predecessor | Vantage M2 | Polar Vantage M |
| Models | 45 mm | 46 mm |
| Release Date | April 2022 | March 2021 |
| Parent Company | Polar | Polar |
| Operating System | Proprietary OS | Proprietary OS |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
| Competition | ||
| Suitable For | Fitness/Running smartwatch | Fitness/Sport smartwatch |
| Sensors | GPS, Glonass, Galileo, QZSS, Precision Prime, Barometer, Magnetometer compass, Accelerometer, TEMP RECORDING (INTERNAL SENSOR) | GPS, Glonass, QZSS, Precision Prime, Barometer, Magnetometer compass, Accelerometer, TEMP RECORDING (INTERNAL SENSOR) |
| Dimensions, Weight | 45 x 45 x 11.5 mm | 41 g | 46 x 46 x 12.5 mm, 45.5g |
| Band Size | 20mm | 22 mm |
| Build materials | Nylon Wristband | Silicone |
| Colors | Carbon Gray, Snow White, Midnight Blue, Autumn Maroon | Black & gray, Champagne & gold, Copper & brown, Gray & yellow |
| Waterproofing | 5 ATM | 3ATM |
| Display Size | 1.2 Inch | 1.2 inches |
| Screen Type & Resolution | MIP, 240 × 240 pixels | LCD, transflective, 240 × 240 pixels |
| Pixel Per Inch | Not specified | 282.8 PPI |
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass | PMMA laminated glass |
| Always-on Display | Yes | Yes |
| Rotating Bezel | No | No |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth |
| Companion App | Polar Flow app | Polar Flow app |
| Storage | 32MB | Up to 90 hours of training with GPS and heart rate depending |
| Processor | Hyperfast, high-performance core processor | N/A |
| RAM | 5MB | N/A |
| Notification Alert | Yes | Yes |
| Calendar, Weather | Yes | Yes |
| Offline Spotify | No | No |
| Timer & Alarm | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable Watch Faces | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Assistant | No | No |
| Music Storage, Control | Just Control the music | Just Control the music |
| Third-Party Apps | Yes | Yes |
| Make calls, send texts & Emails | No | No |
| Browse Web | No | No |
| Contactless Payment | No | No |
| Built-in GPS | Yes(GPS, Glonass, Galileo, QZSS) | Yes(A-GPS, GLONASS, GPS, QZSS) |
| Heart Rate Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | Yes | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen | No | No |
| ECG | No | No |
| Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis | No | No |
| Steps, Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Menstrual cycle | No | No |
| Sport Mode | Yes(130+) | |
| Sync Data With Strava or Apple Health | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Performance | Training mode: up to 35 hours, Watch mode: up to 1032 hours, Power save training mode: up to 100 hours | Continuous GPS tracking: 40hrs, Smartwatch mode: 7 days |
| Battery Size | 273 mAh | 230mAh |
| Charger Type | Not specified | Charging dock |
| Fast Charging | Yes | Yes (1 hour) |
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