Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Apple - Watch SE 3 | Polar - Vantage V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 18 h | 168 h |
| Display size | 1.78 " | 1.39 " |
| Weight | 33 g | 57 g |
| Cellular | true | false |
| ECG | false | true |
| SpO2 | false | true |
Between the Watch SE 3 and Vantage V3, the Watch SE 3 comes out ahead in display size / weight, while the Vantage V3 wins on battery life / ecg. Overall, the Watch SE 3 scores 55.9 and the Vantage V3 scores 69.2 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Vantage V3 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 13.3 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the Watch SE 3 if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. The biggest gaps in its favor are display size, weight, cellular. The single most decisive one: Display size — 28.06% more. 1.78 " vs 1.39 ".
Pick the Vantage V3 if your top frustration with your current device is running out of charge before the day ends — endurance is the lead spec here. Its strongest claims are battery life, ecg, spo2. The single most decisive one: Battery life — 833.33% more. 168 h vs 18 h.
Both ship with comparable water resistance, peak brightness, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Vantage V3 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Apple - Watch SE 3 or Polar - Vantage V3?
Polar - Vantage V3 leads the current Mars Score by 13.3 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare display size, battery life against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Apple - Watch SE 3 if…
Apple - Watch SE 3 has the measurable edge on display size in, weight g, has cellular.
Choose Polar - Vantage V3 if…
Polar - Vantage V3 has the measurable edge on battery life h, has ecg, has spo2.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Apple - Watch SE 3 wins
- ▲Display size — 28.06% more. 1.78 " vs 1.39 ".
- ▲Weight — 24.00 g less. 33 vs 57.
- ▲Has Cellular.
Why Polar - Vantage V3 wins
- ▲Battery life — 833.33% more. 168 h vs 18 h.
- ▲Has ECG.
- ▲Has SpO2.
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Apple - Watch SE 3 | Polar - Vantage V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 44 mm | 47 mmlead |
| Weight | 33 glead | 57 g |
| Case material | aluminum | aluminum |
| Water resistanceⓘ | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Display
| Spec | Apple - Watch SE 3 | Polar - Vantage V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 1.78 "lead | 1.39 " |
| Always-on display | false | truelead |
| Peak brightnessⓘ | 1000 nits | 1000 nits |
Health & Fitness
| Spec | Apple - Watch SE 3 | Polar - Vantage V3 |
|---|---|---|
| ECG | false | truelead |
| SpO2 | false | truelead |
| Temperature sensor | false | truelead |
| Sleep tracking | true | true |
| Blood pressure | false | false |
Battery & Connectivity
| Spec | Apple - Watch SE 3 | Polar - Vantage V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery lifeⓘ | 18 h | 168 hlead |
| GPS | true | true |
| Cellular | truelead | false |
| NFC | truelead | false |
| OS | watchOS | Polar OSlead |
Frequently asked
Which has longer battery life, Watch SE 3 or Vantage V3?+
Vantage V3 lasts 168 hours vs 18 hours.
Do Watch SE 3 or Vantage V3 support ECG?+
Vantage V3 supports ECG; Watch SE 3 does not.
Which has cellular, Watch SE 3 or Vantage V3?+
Watch SE 3 offers a cellular variant; Vantage V3 is Wi-Fi only.