Full Review Below
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This is not so much a review but rather an explanation of why I sent my watch back.
As long-term runner and user of Polar sports products, I was very much looking forward to getting this watch. I gulped a bit at the £438.91 price but decided it would be worth it for the five years or so I planned to use it. I never expected to have to send it back after only a few days.
Currently, I use a Polar V800 which is a great watch, built like a tank, accurate and easy to use. However, I have had problems for a long time with the charging/sync connector and following recent firmware updates I have been having sustained Bluetooth problems with my Heart Rate Monitor connection and smartwatch failing repeatedly. It seemed a good time to move on to the V800 successor and top of the Polar watch range, the Vantage V.
I had read reviews where people complained about the dim screen but I was amazed at just how feeble the display was when I switched it on. I updated the firmware to the latest version 2.07 - a quick and easy job when syncing the watch - but it made little difference. Turning on the backlight helped a bit but the backlight remained on for just a couple of seconds with no option to extend it and even then it was far dimmer than I would like. In my video and in others the screen looks far brighter and snappier than in reality. I have to say this is one of the dimmest screens I have ever encountered on a smartwatch, worse by far than the V800, my Motorola 360 or even the many low-end watches and trackers sent to me for review.
Also, I have to criticise the ruggedness of the build quality. The watch buttons felt cheap and not firm enough and the strap p- which cannot be changed - felt thin and weedy and in complete contrast to the heavy duty V800.
I was unable to pair my watch to the phone, neither of which could see the other. In fairness perhaps that may be an issue with my watch and could be solved with more work but it certainly did not work straight from the box. Even had I been able to connect it I would not be able to receive notifications from the watch as this is one of many features promised but not yet available.
Setting the watch up and registering it to my Polar account could not have been easier. The initial steps are walked through with large and simple on-screen instructions with the option to complete the process on the watch, on the phone or with a computer.
I took it on a couple of runs and I have no criticisms of the performance, the GPS and Heart Rate Monitor both worked well - although with the usual question mark over the accuracy of arm based HRM readings - but I just found it too hard to read the screen. I want to be able to just glance down and read my current metrics without having to keep pressing the backlight button.
To summarise here are the reasons I decided to send the watch back.
1. Dim screen
2. Lightweight Build Quality
3. Bluetooth Issues
4. Too many features not yet implemented
5. High Price
So, for the time being, I will have to soldier on with my V800 or switch to another brand as I do not think any other Polar watch aside from the Vantage M - a cut-down version of this one - offers all day heart rate tracking.
I was very disappointed with this watch. Had it been substantially cheaper maybe I would have persevered with it as technically it is one of the most advanced sports watches on the market with a host of features needed by runners and athletes far above my level, but for the current price I expected it to work perfectly and answer all my needs from day one.
