Wear Radar

Fitbit SensevsPolar Vantage V

Fitbit Sense
Buy/Wait:bad

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

Best for: Health-conscious users on any platform who want continuous stress monitoring (EDA sensor), ECG, and Fitbit's deep wellness coaching — without paying Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch prices. Particularly strong for iPhone users who want serious health tracking at under $250.

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Polar Vantage V
Buy/Wait:bad

Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming

Best for: Serious endurance athletes — particularly runners and triathletes — who want Polar's unmatched training load science and recovery guidance, combined with ECG health monitoring and running power in a premium package.

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Fitbit SensePolar Vantage V
TierSmartwatchSports GPS
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
Battery6 days8 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
Health sensorsecg, eda stress, spo2, hr, skin temp, hrvecg, hr, spo2, hrv, running power, skin temp
ReleasedSep 28, 2022Oct 4, 2023
Cycle length733 days1063 days
Cycle advicebadbad
Deals advicegoodgood
Next modelPolar Vantage V4 (2026)

Why buy each?

Fitbit Sense

Continuous EDA stress tracking

The EDA (electrodermal activity) sensor tracks physiological stress throughout the day — a feature absent from most competitors at this price.

6 months Fitbit Premium included

Comes with Fitbit Premium for advanced sleep analysis, HRV trends, stress management scores, and personalised health insights.

6-day battery, works with iPhone

Unlike Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, Sense 2 pairs with any smartphone and runs 6 days before charging.

Polar Vantage V

ECG on a sports GPS watch

Polar Vantage V3 is one of the few sports GPS watches with on-demand ECG — usually only found on lifestyle smartwatches.

Wrist-based running power

Running power measurement without a foot pod or chest strap — a significant training metric for pacing effort on hills and varied terrain.

Polar Training Load Pro

The most detailed training load analysis in any sports watch: muscle groups targeted per session, recovery status per muscle, and long-term load trends.