Some links on this page are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. How this works
Garmin Forerunner 55 vs Polar Vantage M3
The specs that matter for triathlon, side by side, from each maker’s own published figures.
| Spec | Garmin Forerunner 55 | Polar Vantage M3 |
|---|---|---|
| GPS battery | 20 h | 30 h |
| Smartwatch battery | 14 days | 7 days |
| Triathlon / multisport mode | No | Yes |
| Onboard maps | No | Yes |
| Open-water GPS (our rating) | 3 / 5 | 5 / 5 |
| Weight | 37 g | 53 g |
| Screen | MIP | AMOLED |
Open-water GPS is our 1–5 rating from the satellite systems each maker lists: multi-band receivers score 5. Everything else is the maker’s own figure.
Which should you pick?
Garmin
Pick the Forerunner 55 if…
- you want the longer smartwatch battery: 14 days vs 7 days
- you want the lighter one: 37 g vs 53 g
Polar
Pick the Vantage M3 if…
- you want the longer GPS battery: 30 h vs 20 h
- you want a triathlon (multisport) mode
- you want onboard maps
- you want better open-water GPS (our rating): 5 / 5 vs 3 / 5
Specs from the makers’ own pages: Garmin, Polar.
Not sure either is right?
Free tool
Triathlon Watch Comparison
Battery life, open-water GPS and maps across the watches triathletes buy.
Try the tool →
Free tool
Triathlon watches, compared
Every product in this category in one spec table, plus 435 head-to-heads.
See them all →