Polar has begun rolling out its latest major software update, Polar OS 5, to its current-generation sports watches.
The firmware update, which you can spy the official notes of here, is rolling out to five key models: the Polar Vantage M3, Vantage V3, Grit X2, Grit X2 Pro, and Ignite 3.
While Polar OS 5 doesn’t introduce headline-grabbing new sports profiles, it focuses heavily on ‘quality-of-life’ improvements designed to polish the daily user experience.
One of the most significant changes is the introduction of a system-wide dark mode for maps. This allows for more comfortable viewing during night runs or low-light navigation.
This is paired with an improved “Night Mode” that dims the display and keeps it minimalist when Do Not Disturb is active, preventing blinding flashes of light when checking the time at 3 AM.
Refining the interface
The update also introduces several long-requested features:
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Multiple alarms: Users can finally set and manage multiple alarms directly from the watch
Charging clock: The watch now displays the current time while connected to its charger
SpO2 trends: A new on-device graph illustrates blood oxygen saturation history over a seven-day period
RPE grading: After a workout, the watch prompts users to rate their perceived exertion on a 1–10 scale
On that last point, Polar also notes that these ratings are integrated into its Flow ecosystem to provide more subjective context to the watch’s data-driven training load recommendations.
The update is currently being distributed in stages via the Polar Flow mobile app.
The Wareable take
Polar OS 5 could well prove to be a much-needed maturation moment for the brand’s software.
Historically, Polar has excelled at heart rate science but has lagged far behind Garmin (which itself is behind smartwatch makers Apple and Google) in pure UI polish.
Small touches like the charging clock and multiple alarms might seem trivial, but they make the watch much more viable as a 24/7 companion rather than just a training tool.
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It’s a solid, sensible update—and we’re hoping even more lands throughout 2026 to help the brand bridge the gap for its users.