*****UPDATE***** I've used the V650 for about three months now. I ride my bike about 5 times a week. My V650 has the most recent update (Software Version 1.2.0, Firmware Version 4.1.7), including maps.
I still generally like the V650. I find the GPS works very well. I never have any issues with GPS.
Occasionally, the V650 unit has trouble pairing to the speed and cadence sensors on the bike or with my H7 HRM. I select "Search for Sensors", and it usually finds them right way. It is important that your HRM is not paired to another device (such as a Polar Loop or your phone), as it will only pair to one device at a time and you must un-pair it with the other device before it will pair with your V650.
I do find the V650's screen hard to read in bright sunlight while wearing sunglasses. For example, it is tricky to see if you are paired to all the sensors in bright light. Unfortunately, the backlight times out before it is done pairing. On the screen, little green circles stop flashing when you are paired - which is very tough to see in bright light - especially if the backlight turned itself down. It would be better if a larger icon popped up for each sensor when you pair. (Also, since I sync after every ride, I end up charging the V650 with only a few percent of battery use. Let the backlight stay in bright mode for criminy sakes!) Luckily, it usually pairs just fine.
I've found the case of the V650 to be pretty slippery. You have to be careful holding it so as to not accidentally touch the touch screen or the side button, and it is easy to have it slip around in your hand. A little more grip to the surface, especially around the edges, would be appreciated.
The left side button is easy to inadvertently push - either when holding the unit or when you toss it in your pocket. (I regularly remove the V650 from my bike to prevent theft or to sync). Hitting the side button can take it out of "Lock Display" mode, allowing all your settings to get changed if the screen is touched - like if it is in your pocket. I've had a few frustrating moments when half way through a ride, I discovered the settings were altered. Polar needs to fix this - unfortunately, to do so is probably a hardware fix and not a firmware fix.
I bought the speed and cadence sensors to allow the V650 to show "inclination", or the grade percent of the road. I found it does work, but it is not very accurate - the inclination readings in percent are quite a bit off from what Google Earth says the road grade is - that is they read way under. A 10% grade might register at only 4 or 5 % on the V650. Therefore, I have set the unit to display altitude. So don't bother with the speed and cadence sensor kit unless you really want to see cadence. You already get speed from the GPS in the V650, so the speed sensor only provides a slightly more accurate reading - a very minor difference.
There are still a few bugs in the software and Polar Flow. For example, when I look at the altitude profile of my ride on Polar Flow on the web, it is correctly displayed. When I view the same profile on my phone, it says it is in "Feet", but it displays in meters - it is very obvious someone forgot to make the conversion from meters to feet in the Polar Flow app for iOS. ******END UPDATE*****
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I love the V650. I've used the Polar H7 Heart Rate Monitor with my iPhone 6 for several months and finally decided to add the V650. First of all, the H7 HRM with an iPhone and the Polar Beat app will get you almost as much data as the V650. So it is a much cheaper way to go. With the H7 and the Polar Beat app, you can record average and max heart rate, average and max speed, elapsed time, etc. and map your ride from the phone's GPS. All of the data and your route map uploads automatically to the Polar Flow website, were you can maintain a diary of all of your workouts. The same data is viewable on your phone.
With the V650, you can see on the display all of the same data the H7 records, plus some additional data. I like the ability to see the data real time while riding my bike. The display is large, easily read and worked well, even in bright sun light and while wearing sunglasses. There are many customizable views available to see your data while riding.
The V650 paired easily with my previously purchased H7 HRM. I did find out that I needed the "Polar Flow" app to see the V650 data instead of the "Polar Beat" app. Both are free apps and I had no trouble getting both up and running. I also figured out I need to make sure the Polar Beat app is shut down on my phone in order for my H7 HRM to pair with the V650 using Bluetooth.
One major difference with the V650 vs. my previous experience with the H7. The H7 transferred data to my phone and that data was uploaded automatically. This does not occur with the V650. You must sync to a computer with USB and Polar's FlowSync software to upload the data to from the V650 to Polar's Flow website. At this time, you cannot sync your V650 wirelessly. The end result is the same, all of your data can be viewed online and shared with friends or family. A few minutes after syncing the V650 to a computer and the data for each ride is viewable on your phone using the Polar Flow app.
The V650 does collect additional data (compared to the combo of an H7 and the Polar Beat app on an iPhone), including altitude from its internal barometer. I found if I calibrate the barometer to the known altitude of my home before each ride (takes about 10 seconds to accomplish) then the altitude readings are pretty accurate. I went to Google Earth to see the altitude at my home, but you can see the altitude on many car GPS units too. I'd say after calibration, the V650 is accurate to maybe plus or minus 10 ft (3m). Since the weather changes, it is important to calibrate before each ride. During the ride, the V650 records all of the vertical feet you climb or descend on a ride.
The V650 can also read a speed sensor and cadence sensor via bluetooth. I've ordered the Polar speed and cadence sensors but have not yet tried them. I tried a Wahoo SC, but it would not fit my bike due to a conflict with my fat tires and fenders. One feature that sold me on the V650, was the ability to display the "inclination", or the grade of the road. Inclination can be displayed in degrees or percent. I like the idea of seeing if the hill I am climbing is a 10% grade or whatever. I discovered, however, to see inclination, you must have the speed sensor in combo with the V650. I found this out at the forum for the V650 at Polar's website. Kudos to Polar for maintaining a forum for users to share information.
| Brand | POLAR |
|---|---|
| Color | Regular |
| Item Weight | 12 ounces |
| Screen Size | 2.8 Inches |
| Display Type | color display |
| Battery Life | 14 Hours |
| Sensor Type | Heart Rate Sensor, GPS Sensor |
| Battery Cell Composition | Silver Oxide |
| Included Components | Polar V650 Cycling Computer with Heart Rate Monitor |
| International Protection Rating | IPX7 |
| Mounting Type | Handlebar Mount |
| Human Interface Input | Touchscreen |
| Manufacturer | Polar Electro, Inc. |
| UPC | 725882012254 |
| Display resolution | 320x240 |
| Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 5.7 x 3.8 x 2.9 inches |
| Package Weight | 0.8 Pounds |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 3 x 3.75 x 6.5 inches |
| Brand Name | POLAR |
| Model Name | V650 |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Part Number | 90050534 |
| Style | With Heart Rate Monitor |
| Sport Type | cycling |
