Polar Pacer Pro is the company’s new mid-range running watch, while the Vantage V2 is the company’s old multisports watch carrying a premium of almost $200.
These models almost 2 years apart in their release surprisingly share a lot of things in common. From the old MIP display to the advanced ‘Running Power’ feature there is an almost 99% overlap in features between the two.
Here, we will compare Polar Pacer Pro vs Vantage V2 so you can make an informed decision on which of these premium running watches is the better deal for you.
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Table of Contents
Polar Pacer Pro vs Vantage V2 Comparison: 5 Major Differences
As the similarities between the two watches are plenty, we will only be discussing their key differences.
Price:
The Polar Pacer Pro is cheaper than the Vantage V2, making it a better choice for budget-conscious runners. It is priced at around $300, while the Vantage V2 was retailed at around $500 when it was initially released. However, you can often find the latter at a discounted price in eCommerce stores as it is an old GPS watch now.
Design:
Polar Pacer Pro makes trade-offs in casing material where it features a plastic casing with an aluminum bezel. In comparison, Vantage V2 is built with Aerospace aluminum alloy and glass fiber reinforced polymer.
The choice of materials makes the Polar Vantage V2 aesthetically appealing. However, Pacer Pro counters this with its lightweight design (41g) and a slightly smaller case size (45mm) without compromising the display (1.2 inches).
Water Resistance:
The Polar Pacer Pro is water-resistant up to 50 meters, while the Vantage V2 offers double that amount of protection with a water-resistance rating of 100 meters. This means that the Vantage V2 can be used for not only pool and open water swimming but also for diving, snorkeling, and high-speed water sports.
Fitness and Sports Metrics:
Although there is a great overlap of sports metrics between Polar Pacer Pro vs Vantage V2, the latter offers more options. For example, you get features like ‘Recovery Pro’, ‘Leg Recovery Test’, and ‘Orthostatic Test’.
The running features of both watches are the same, they differ mainly in performance metrics. Vantage V2 is a better companion when it comes to coaching advice and data-driven training.
Battery Performance:
Polar Vantage V2 GPS watch offers up to 40 hours of battery life in training mode with full GPS and 24/7 wrist-based heart rate monitoring. Pacer Pro offers almost 35 hours of performance in the training mode, but it matches the Vantage V2’s 100-hour performance when used in Polar’s PowerSave mode.
This is extraordinary when you consider that the Vantage V2 features a 346 mAh battery while Pacer Pro comes with a 265 mAh sized battery.
Final Verdict:
The Polar Pacer Pro is a great watch for runners who are looking for an affordable GPS running watch with most of the advanced features that Polar offers. It offers 99% of the same features as the Polar Vantage V2 and at a fraction of the cost. If you don’t need the extra durability and water resistance of the Vantage V2, then Polar Pacer Pro is the only choice between the two. And in our opinion, no matter how you compare these watches, Pacer Pro offers more value for the money.
Polar Pacer Pro vs Vantage V2: Comparison Table
| Product Name | Polar Pacer Pro | Vantage V2 |
| Price | About $299 | About $500 |
| Predecessor | Vantage M2 | Polar Vantage V |
| Models | 45 mm | 47mm |
| Release Date | April 2022 | October 2020 |
| 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, Barometer, Magnetometer compass, Accelerometer, Altimeter, Ambient light, HRM, Cadence Sensor |
| Dimensions, Weight | 45 x 45 x 11.5 mm | 41 g | 47 x 47 x 13 mm, 52g |
| Band Size | 20mm | 22 mm |
| Build materials | Nylon Wristband | Silicon |
| Colors | Carbon Gray, Snow White, Midnight Blue, Autumn Maroon | Silver & Gray-Orange, Black & Black-Red, Red & Red-Black, Black & Green, Silver & Grey-Lime, Black & Black |
| Waterproofing | 5 ATM | 10 ATM |
| Display Size | 1.2 Inch | 1.2 inches |
| Screen Type & Resolution | MIP, 240 × 240 pixels | Always-on color touch display with Ambient Light Sensor (ALS), 240 x 240 pixels |
| Pixel Per Inch | Not specified | 282.8 PPI |
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass | CORNING GORILLA GLASS 2320 (AF + DLC coating) |
| Always-on Display | Yes | Yes |
| Rotating Bezel | No | No |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth |
| Companion App | Polar Flow app | Polar Flow app |
| Storage | 32MB | Not Specified |
| Processor | Hyperfast, high-performance core processor | Not Specified |
| RAM | 5MB | Not Specified |
| 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 | No |
| 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(GPS) |
| 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+) | 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 | Training mode: up to 40h (GPS and wrist-based heart rate), Watch mode: up to 7 days in with continuous heart rate tracking. Multiple power save options available, save training mode: up to 100 hours |
| Battery Size | 273 mAh | 346 mAh |
| Charger Type | Not specified | Charging Dock |
| Fast Charging | Yes | Yes |