We Compare Polar Vantage M3 vs Garmin Forerunner 55

36 Comments

1. I’m nitpicky: build quality and screen matters to me. The AMOLED on the Vantage M3 probably looks nicer, especially for casual wear. Garmin’s more utilitarian look is fine for workouts but kinda meh outside the gym.

   Also, did anyone compare heart rate accuracy while swimming? The article mentioned general HR but not swim-specific.

   • Good call, Ethan. The M3’s AMOLED does make it more versatile as a daily watch. Regarding swim HR: both watches are OK for swim pace and lap counting, but optical HR in-water is still less reliable than a chest strap — we didn’t have consistent chest-strap comparisons for this article.

   • We’ll try to add a small swim testing section in the follow-up; thanks for flagging it.

   • I swim a few times a week — neither optical sensor is perfect underwater. If swim HR is a priority, buy a compatible chest strap. Otherwise lap count and GPS (open water) worked fine on the M3.

   • Agree on the style point — my girlfriend prefers the M3 for daily wear because it looks less like a ‘sports gadget’.

   • Thanks for the replies. Chest strap it is then — swim goggles + chest strap = geeky but effective 😂

2. Really liked this side-by-side — helped me decide. I’m leaning toward the Vantage M3 because of the AMOLED and dual-frequency GPS. I run on tree-covered trails and my old watch kept losing signal.

   Only worry is the battery: 7 days vs Garmin’s 14 sounds like a big difference, but if the tracking is more accurate maybe it’s worth it. Anyone else choosing accuracy over battery?

   • I switched from a basic Garmin to a Polar with dual-band GPS — huge improvement on trails. Battery is shorter but I charge after long runs; overall worth it for me.

   • Glad it helped, Emma. For trail runs the dual-frequency GPS on the Vantage M3 can definitely reduce drift under canopy. If you mostly charge nightly or every few days, many users prefer the improved tracking.

   • If you’re doing ultra distances the Garmin might still be better because of battery, but for everyday trail running I’d take better GPS.

3. Okay so I’ve owned a Forerunner (older model) and loved the ‘daily suggested workouts’ — it kinda babysits you into consistency, which I need 😂.

   But the Vantage M3 sounds sexy with AMOLED and turn-by-turn.

   – For people who want simplicity and great battery: Forerunner 55.
   – For people who want tech, screen and navigation: Vantage M3.

   I do wish the article had a quick table of “who this is for”. Minor gripe, otherwise solid review.

   • Haha same, the Forerunner basically nags me into not skipping runs. Also much lighter on the wrist, fwiw.

   • Thanks for the feedback — we’ll include lightweight comparisons like that in the next revision.

   • Great point, James — a ‘who this is for’ summary is a good idea. We’ll add a short buyer’s-guide box comparing target users for each watch in an update.

   • Totally agree about the workouts — Garmin’s coaching nudges me to run even on lazy days. If you’re not into fiddly settings, the Forerunner is bliss.

4. Price-wise I can’t justify the M3 unless I actually use navigation and the fancy screen. For casual runners the Forerunner 55 seems like the no-brainer: long battery, easy setup, and less to break. Also, PSA: Forerunner is WAY lighter on the wallet during Black Friday 😅

   • Agreed. I got my Forerunner 55 on sale and it does everything I need. The M3 feels like overkill unless you want those extra bells and whistles.

   • Totally — value is a big factor. The Forerunner 55 offers excellent core features at a lower price point. Sales do make it very attractive.

5. Curious about accuracy: anyone compared step counts and daily activity tracking between these two? Sometimes different algorithms make a huge difference in daily calorie estimates.

   • I tracked both for a week and noticed Polar logged slightly fewer calories but more consistent resting HR. The numbers matter less than trends imo.

   • Short answer: they use different algorithms. Polar tends to be more conservative on calorie burn vs Garmin. For step counts, they’re usually close but can vary by a few hundred steps depending on arm movement and detection sensitivity.

   • Thanks — trend tracking is what I mainly care about. Good to know.

6. I love the idea of an AMOLED screen (colors!!!) but I worry about visibility in bright sun. Did the article test screen brightness on the M3 vs the Forerunner? ☀️

   • I had both briefly — AMOLED looks gorgeous indoors but Garmin’s screen wins readability while running at noon. If you mostly run sunrise/sunset or indoors, AMOLED is lovely.

   • We did a basic daylight check: the M3’s AMOLED is quite bright and readable in sunlight, though some reflective glare can occur at extreme angles. The Forerunner’s transflective display performs better in direct sun and is easier to read without cranking brightness.

7. Anyone tested the turn-by-turn on the M3 with GPX routes? I like exploring new city routes and want something that won’t make me pull out my phone every 5 minutes.

   • Yes — the Vantage M3 supports GPX route import and the turn-by-turn prompts are pretty reliable. You get vibrations and on-screen arrows, so you can keep your phone tucked away.

   • Worked well for me in Rome. Not 100% perfect in tiny alleys but 95% is fine for wandering. Make sure you export clean GPX files.

8. Long post incoming bc I’m indecisive:

   1) I like running but also cycle and hike. Turn-by-turn nav seems great for hikes.
   2) Battery life makes me nervous for multi-day hikes — Garmin’s 2 weeks is tempting.
   3) But the Vantage’s dual-frequency GPS and AMOLED would be sweet for maps.

   If anyone used the M3 on a 3-day backpacking trip (GPS on most of the time), how did battery hold up? Would you recommend carrying a small power bank?

   • I did a 3-day hike with M3: GPS + route guidance killed about half the battery each day. I carried a small 10k mAh power bank — saved my life. If battery anxiety bothers you, go Garmin.

   • Great detailed question. On a 3-day trip with heavy GPS usage and turn-by-turn, expect to charge once (power bank recommended). If you want to go completely off-grid longer, Garmin’s battery is better. Consider mixing: use the M3 for navigation-heavy days and switch to low-power modes when you don’t need maps.

9. Quick, practical notes from a coach:
   – For training plans and suggested workouts, Garmin Forerunner 55 is more beginner-friendly.
   – Polar gives deeper performance metrics for athletes who want to analyze.
   – If you’re coaching clients remotely, the Garmin ecosystem integrates nicely with beginner plans. Polar’s ecosystem is better for serious training data nerds.

   Pick based on how deep you want to go with data.

   • As a casual runner I really didn’t need the deep metrics — the Garmin’s suggestions kept me consistent without overthinking.

   • Nice summary, Liam. That’s exactly the tradeoff many users face: Garmin for straightforward coaching, Polar for deeper analysis.

   • We’ll add a short section highlighting ecosystem differences for coaches vs casual users. Thanks for the insight.

   • Right — most people should keep it simple unless they’re chasing specific performance gains.