Polar Vantage V4: Is It Worth the Wait?
Finnish brand Polar is preparing a new endurance flagship. Here's what we already know about the Vantage V4 — and whether it's worth the wait.
Polar is preparing a new flagship in its sports-watch line — the Vantage V4. The Finnish maker hasn't officially confirmed the full spec sheet yet, but leaks and the pedigree of previous generations paint a fairly clear picture. The watch is expected to launch in autumn 2026, replacing the Polar Vantage V3.
What to expect from navigation
The headline upgrade is dual-band (L1 + L5) GPS. According to leaks, the V4 will use a "Sony CXD5610" receiver that tracks two frequencies at once, improving accuracy by up to 30% in dense forest or among tall buildings. That would bring Polar in line with the multi-band GPS of the Garmin Forerunner 970 and Garmin Fenix 8.
Battery and sensors
The V3 already delivers up to 140 hours with GPS — one of the best figures among AMOLED watches. Rumours suggest the V4 gets a larger 350 mAh battery and even longer endurance in power-saving modes. Wrist-based running power should finally work without an external pod — a feature runners have wanted for years.
Like its predecessor, the V4 will likely keep the 47 mm titanium bezel and sapphire crystal, with a roughly 1.43-inch AMOLED screen (not yet confirmed).
Who it's for
The Vantage V4 is aimed at triathletes, runners and endurance athletes. Polar is traditionally strong in training analytics: Training Load Pro, Recovery Pro and an automatic VO2 max test help you plan load and recovery. The watch syncs with the Polar Flow platform and supports the H10 chest strap for precise heart rate.
Price and release date
Unofficial figures put the V4 at around $599 (~€600), keeping it cheaper than Garmin's premium Fenix models. No exact date has been announced, but autumn 2026 is expected. It's also worth browsing all Polar watches and other smartwatches.
