Polar Vantage M2 smartwatch in review: Good sports functions, still without touchscreen

The Polar Vantage M2 follows the Vantage M introduced in 2018, which Polar introduced at the same time as the Vantage V at the time. Even then, the Vantage V had a touchscreen and barometer while the Vantage M didn't, and that hasn't changed in the 2nd generation.

The case of the Vantage M2 is made of fiberglass-reinforced polymer. On the silicone strap, we like the clasp, which, like the bezel, is made of stainless steel and has an additional bracket. This allows the strap to be threaded more quickly than through the usual first of two loops behind the clasp. The two included band pieces cover a wrist circumference of 130-210 mm (5.1-8.3 in).

In contrast to the Vantage V2, the Vantage M2 has not undergone MIL-STD-810G testing. Instead of laminated Gorilla glass, a PMMA laminated glass with a tempering coating is used. Polar specifies the water protection at 30 m (~98 feet) according to ISO 22810 and adds "minimum for bathing and swimming" in the wording; the Vantage V2 is protected to 100 m (~328 ft) according to the same standard and is suitable for regular use in water - but not for diving with equipment.

The signal generator with which the Vantage V2 acoustically amplifies vibration alerts, is missing from the Vantage M2, as is an ambient light sensor to adjust the brightness of the 1.2-inch display. The brightness cannot be changed manually. Although the LCD is easy to read in daylight, the backlight, which is activated when the arm is raised, is often not sufficient indoors. The stronger light, which is turned on with the upper left button, is sufficient.

A long press on the same button locks the other 4 against unintentional triggering of functions. They can be used to start the synchronization with the smartphone and navigate through the menus. A long press on the middle right button opens the training app in the last used training mode. The buttons only have a weak pressure point. Polar enhances the haptic feel with a slight vibration.

Polar adds different information to the watch face, similar to widgets. Using the navigation buttons, you can switch between them or open detailed pages, such as weather, activity status, last workout, or Polar analytics like Cardio Load Status and Nightly Recharge, which the Health and Fitness section explains.

Weather info includes actual and felt temperature, precipitation and humidity, wind speed and direction, and a 2-day weather forecast. The forecast is hourly for the following 12 hours. After that, or for the following day at the latest, the rhythm changes to a three-hourly forecast, and for the day after next, to 6 hours.

The last widget names the title that the smartphone is currently playing and opens a remote control for its player if required.

Optionally via the app or the watch itself, you can set an alarm that repeats on individual days. However, there are no other alarms for alternative times and repetition rhythms. Furthermore, tools like the timer or stopwatch can only be accessed via the menu, so comparatively many buttons have to be pressed before the time starts running.

The Polar Vantage M2 does not log blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). It measures the heart rate around the clock or only at night if desired. You can deactivate the measurement during training.

We determine the potential of the optical heart rate monitor under the dynamic conditions of an interval workout, which we record simultaneously with a heart rate sensor. The PPG sensor of the Vantage M2 clearly lags behind the chest strap. The maximum heart rate is only nine beats below the chest strap's value, but the Vantage M2 is 19 beats below it in the phase when the chest strap reaches its maximum. That is clearly too little, especially since it does not signal the higher frequency in the following minutes.

If you also wear the watch at night, Polar splits the recording into two areas. The ANS status provides information on heart rate, breathing rate and heart rate variability. By recording this data, Polar analyzes how well the autonomic nervous system (ANS) has recovered overnight in order to make recommendations for training the next day.

Separately, Polar looks at sleep phases and classifies them based on records of past nights.

The Polar Flow app lets you decide which of the 130 possible sports programs, including those of the streaming provider Les Mills, should be available on the Polar Vantage M2. You can also personalize the training screen and individual parameters via the app.

The sports tracker records a maximum of 20 training programs, supplemented by favorites that are also created via Polar Flow. By the way, Polar's web portal at flow.polar.com is recommended for easy configuration and later analysis.

Polar differentiates between quick and phase targets in the favorites. Quick targets either aim for a defined calorie consumption or a time or distance target. Phase targets are used to define an interval training, optionally with warm-up and cool-down. Using the phase target or the ZoneLock function, you can define a power, speed or heart rate zone that you want to reach or maintain. Zone changes are signaled by the Vantage M2 via vibration during the workout.

Simple interval and countdown timers can also be set on the watch itself. If you want to run or ride a given distance in a fixed time, the Vantage M2, like the Vantage V2, determines a race-pace and visualizes it during the workout. What the Vantage M2 is missing compared to the Vantage V2 is the Hill Splitter function: The Vantage V2 uses the altitude sensor to distinguish between flat stretches and sections with a downhill or uphill gradient and calculates the average speed for all three cases.

If you are interested in the Hill Splitter function, you should take a look at the test of the Polar Vantage V2 test. The training log included there comes from the same run as the one of the Vantage M2 shown here. The watches were not on the same wrist, as correctly indicated in the app.

After each workout, Polar uses the Cardio Load status to evaluate the load of the workout on the cardiovascular system. The associated Cardio Load widget signals whether the current training intensity is underwhelming, sustaining, building, or overwhelming. In testing, the status at least reflected well when the author overdid herself with interval workouts.

Based on this, the FitSpark widget provides personalized workout suggestions that include supportive exercises as well as guided cardio or strength workouts.

The test results for the Polar Vantage V2 described in the review of the Polar Vantage V2 are not available on the Vantage M2. However, it can also be connected to running and cycling sensors, as well as an external sensor for heart rate.

Polar supplies the Vantage M2 in 4 color combinations: Black-Gray, Gold-Champagne as in the test device, Gray-Yellow and Brown-Copper. The manufacturer's RRP is 299.95 Euros (~$366). So far, you can hardly get it cheaper online, for example at Amazon.