Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Garmin - vívoactive 5 | Polar - Vantage V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 264 h | 168 h |
| Weight | 26 g | 57 g |
| Display size | 1.2 " | 1.39 " |
| ECG | false | true |
Between the vívoactive 5 and Vantage V3, the vívoactive 5 comes out ahead in battery life / weight, while the Vantage V3 wins on display size / ecg. Overall, the vívoactive 5 scores 55.7 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 13.5 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 vívoactive 5 if your top frustration with your current device is running out of charge before the day ends — endurance is the lead spec here. The biggest gaps in its favor are battery life, weight. The single most decisive one: Battery life — 57.14% more. 264 h vs 168 h.
Pick the Vantage V3 if you care most about display size / ecg. Its strongest claims are display size, ecg. The single most decisive one: Display size — 15.83% more. 1.39 " vs 1.2 ".
Both ship with comparable cellular, spo2, water resistance, 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: Garmin - vívoactive 5 or Polar - Vantage V3?
Polar - Vantage V3 leads the current Mars Score by 13.5 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 Garmin - vívoactive 5 if…
Garmin - vívoactive 5 has the measurable edge on battery life h, weight g.
Choose Polar - Vantage V3 if…
Polar - Vantage V3 has the measurable edge on display size in, has ecg.
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 Garmin - vívoactive 5 wins
- ▲Battery life — 57.14% more. 264 h vs 168 h.
- ▲Weight — 31.00 g less. 26 vs 57.
Why Polar - Vantage V3 wins
- ▲Display size — 15.83% more. 1.39 " vs 1.2 ".
- ▲Has ECG.
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Garmin - vívoactive 5 | Polar - Vantage V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 42 mm | 47 mmlead |
| Weight | 26 glead | 57 g |
| Case material | polymer | aluminum |
| Water resistanceⓘ | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Display
| Spec | Garmin - vívoactive 5 | Polar - Vantage V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 1.2 " | 1.39 "lead |
| Always-on display | true | true |
| Peak brightnessⓘ | 1000 nits | 1000 nits |
Health & Fitness
| Spec | Garmin - vívoactive 5 | Polar - Vantage V3 |
|---|---|---|
| ECG | false | truelead |
| SpO2 | true | true |
| Temperature sensor | false | truelead |
| Sleep tracking | true | true |
| Blood pressure | false | false |
Battery & Connectivity
| Spec | Garmin - vívoactive 5 | Polar - Vantage V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery lifeⓘ | 264 hlead | 168 h |
| GPS | true | true |
| Cellular | false | false |
| NFC | truelead | false |
| OS | Garmin OS | Polar OSlead |
Frequently asked
Which has longer battery life, vívoactive 5 or Vantage V3?+
vívoactive 5 lasts 264 hours vs 168 hours.
Do vívoactive 5 or Vantage V3 support ECG?+
Vantage V3 supports ECG; vívoactive 5 does not.
Which has cellular, vívoactive 5 or Vantage V3?+
Neither offers cellular.