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| The update to Polar OS 5 is now available on five different smartwatches |
If you’re a Polar Vantage M3, Vantage V3, Grit X2, Grit X2 Pro, or Ignite 3 owner, check your wrist—a significant software upgrade is now making its way to your device. Polar has officially begun the staggered rollout of its latest operating system, Polar OS 5, bringing a suite of convenience features, refined visuals, and smarter recovery insights to its flagship wearables.
As with any major over-the-air update, Polar notes it may take several days for the update to appear for all users globally. The update is identified by the following software versions for each model:
- Polar Vantage M3 (v5.0.12)
- Polar Vantage V3 (v5.0.13)
- Polar Grit X2 (v5.0.12)
- Polar Grit X2 Pro (v5.0.13)
- Polar Ignite 3 (v5.0.12)
For the latest official status and detailed release notes, you can always check Polar’s official software update page.
Quality-of-Life Improvements Take Center Stage
Polar OS 5 focuses heavily on refining the day-to-day user experience. One of the most requested features—multiple alarms—can now be set directly from your wrist, eliminating the need to pull out your phone for simple reminders. The update also introduces a thoughtful night mode for watch faces. When ‘Do Not Disturb’ is activated, the display dims significantly, only offering a gentle glow upon button press, with some faces switching to a more minimalist, sleep-friendly time format.
Staying on top of your wellness is now more intuitive with two new watch face widgets (complications). A quick glance can reveal your previous night’s sleep quality score or a snapshot of your activity from the past week. And in a small but clever touch, your watch will now display the time whenever it’s placed on its charger.
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| Data from the SpO2 sensors can now be displayed as a graph |
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| Polar OS 5 introduces new widgets |
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| Maps are now available in dark mode |
Enhanced Tracking and Smoother Performance
For the data-driven athlete, a new chart for tracking blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) trends over time provides a deeper window into your body’s adaptation and recovery. The built-in maps application receives a much-appreciated dark mode, reducing eye strain during nighttime navigation or low-light planning. Polar has also addressed performance, improving the zoom functionality within the maps app for a smoother experience.
A notable fix resolves a persistent bug for iPhone users, where notifications could sometimes appear multiple times on the watch. This update aims to ensure alerts are clean and single, as intended.
Smarter Recovery and Workout Guidance
Perhaps the most personalized addition is the new post-workout query. After you finish a session, Polar OS 5 will ask you to rate how strenuous the effort felt on a scale of 1 to 10. This subjective feedback allows the ecosystem to better understand your perceived exertion, helping it tailor future workout recommendations and recovery advice more accurately to your individual state.
Ready to experience Polar OS 5? The update is rolling out now for the five supported models. If you’re looking to join the Polar ecosystem, the feature-packed Polar Ignite 3 is available starting at around $305 on Amazon.
The Bottom Line
Polar OS 5 isn’t about flashy gimmicks; it’s a considered, user-focused update that polishes an already robust platform. By adding practical daily tools, enhancing data visibility, and introducing a layer of subjective feedback for training, Polar continues to strengthen its position as a brand dedicated to serious, yet accessible, health and performance tracking. Keep an eye on your Polar Flow app or watch settings for the update notification—it’s a upgrade that makes your smartwatch feel more integrated and intelligent than ever.
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| Watch faces get a night mode |
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| The time is shown during charging |
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| Multiple alarms can be set after the update |