The range of Garmin Edge bike computers can be confusing, so I did a lot of hands-on testing and research and wrote this comparison of the Garmin Edge 1000 vs 820 vs 520 to help you choose. First there is an infographic that sums up the key factors you might consider. Then there is a very extensive chart comparing all of the key features of all 3 bike computers. Then I discuss the key differences. Next, there is a slimmed-down features chart that compares only the features that are different between the 3 bike computers. The post concludes with advice on which Garmin Edge to buy, based on your needs.
This video shows you SOME of the awesome features you can use to enhance your bike training with a Garmin Edge bike computer.
Below is a visual of the differences between these 3 Garmin Edge bike computers.
This infographic sums up some of the key factors you might include in your decision.
So How to Decide: Garmin Edge 1000 vs 820 vs 520?
All 3 are top-quality bike computers that offer a huge number of advanced bike training features. You can connect all 3 to an impressive range of devices and sensors, such as heart rate monitors and power meters. They all have access to both GPS and Glonass satellite systems, so they acquire a GPS signal with lightning speed. All 3 will record your bike rides and will wirelessly transfer your data to Garmin Connect (or Strava, which you can read about here). All 3 offer live tracking – which means your spouse can check where you are . All 3 are very connected, with phone call and text message alerts. All 3 have beautiful color screens. But the prices are very different! So let’s start by comparing the features of Garmin Edge 1000 vs 820 vs 520.
Chart Comparing Garmin Edge 1000 vs 820 vs 520
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|---|---|---|---|
| Big picture | Great for training and navigation. Screen size is a lot bigger than the 520 and 820, 2 cm taller, easier to view maps. Has a microSD slot for adding new maps (the 520 and 820 don’t have this). Color touchscreen | Great for training and navigation. All the features (and then some) of the 1000, in a smaller unit - the same size as the 520. Several unique features, including Incident Alert, GroupTrack, Battery Save Mode and Stress Score. Color touchscreen | Great for training but not for navigation. Buttons, not touchscreen. Color |
| Lowest Price on Amazon Right Now: | $499.99 | $399.00 | Please check here |
| Unit Size | 2 x 3.7 x 1" (5.1 x 9.3 x 2.5 cm) | 1.9” x 2.9” x 0.8” (49.0 x 73.0 x 21.0 mm) | 1.9” x 2.9” x 0.8” (49.0 x 73.0 x 21.0 mm) |
| Display resolution, W x H | 240 x 400 pixels; color | 200 x 265 pixels; color | 200 x 265 pixels; color |
| Screen size | 3" (7.6 cm) diagonal, high res | 2.3" (58.4 mm) diagonal, high res | 2.3" (58.4 mm) diagonal, high res |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes | No, buttons |
| Landscape mode available? | Yes | No | No |
| Water rating | IPX7 (able to withstand immersion in water up to 1 m - 3.2 feet - for up to 30 mins) | IPX7 (able to withstand immersion in water up to 1 m - 3.2 feet - for up to 30 mins) | IPX7 (able to withstand immersion in water up to 1 m - 3.2 feet - for up to 30 mins) |
| Weight | 4.0 oz (114.5 g) | 2.4 oz (67.7 g) | 2.1 oz (60 g) |
| Battery life | Up to 15 hours | Up to 15 hours | Up to 15 hours |
| Battery save mode available? | No | Yes ( powers down the screen but continues to record your ride) | No |
| History that can be stored on unit | Up to 200 hours of history | Up to 200 hours of history | Up to 180 hours of history |
| Garmin Edge Remote Control support | Yes | Yes | yes |
| Round-trip routing (input a starting point and distance, and the Edge will suggest up to 3 bike ride options) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Out front mount (as well as original quarter turn)? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Is the screen responsive to level of ambient light | No | Yes | No |
| Incident alert? (to tell your spouse if you have an accident) | No | Yes. Can be switched off if you are uninjured | No |
| Compatible with Garmin Varia Vision and Garmin Varia Rearview Radar Tail Light? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Unit-to-unit transfer (shares data wirelessly with similar units) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Automatic sync (automatically transfers data to your computer) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Relive and share your rides with Garmin Connect™ (online community where you can analyze, categorize and share data) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smart phone Connected features (depends on having a Bluetooth enabled smartphone, and you may have to install the Garmin Connect mobile app on your phone) | Yes - Live Tracking, send/receive courses, workouts and training plans wirelessly, social media sharing, smart notifications (texts and calls) | Yes - Live Tracking, Group Tracking, send/receive courses, workouts and training plans wirelessly, social media sharing, weather updates in real time, smart notifications (texts and calls) | Yes - Live Tracking, Group Tracking, send/receive courses, workouts and training plans wirelessly, social media sharing, weather updates in real time, smart notifications (texts and calls) |
| Automatically send your activity to Garmin Connect as soon as you finish recording | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live tracking (allows others to follow your activities in real time, if you invite them) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Group tracking (GroupTrack is an extension of Garmin’s LiveTrack feature, where your friends or family can follow you on a computer. With GroupTrack, you can have this same visibility, but from your handlebars. The idea is that you can meet up or just keep digital track of your cycling companions) | No | Yes | No |
| BlueTooth to connect wirelessly to smartphone and upload data? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts data cards | Yes, including optional memory card in the micro-SD slot | No - there is no micro-SD card slot. However, it has 16 GB of internal memory, so you are unlikely to need a card | No |
| Connect IQ™ compatible? | No | Yes | No |
| Advanced training features | Advanced performance and power analysis (if you are using a heart rate monitor and a power meter), including VO2 max, Recovery Time Advisor, and FTP (Functional Threshold Power) tracking | Advanced performance and power analysis (if you are using a heart rate monitor and a power meter), including VO2 max, Recovery Time Advisor, FTP (Functional Threshold Power) tracking, Time in Zone, and recovery (Recovery Time advisor) | Advanced performance and power analysis (if you are using a heart rate monitor and a power meter), including VO2 max, Recovery Time Advisor, FTP (Functional Threshold Power) tracking, Time in Zone, and recovery (Recovery Time advisor) |
| Training calendar (The calendar on your device is an extension of the training calendar or schedule you set up in Garmin Connect. After you have added a few workouts or courses to the Garmin Connect calendar, you can send them to your device) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Stress score (requires HR monitor) | No | Yes - first time ever on a Garmin Edge | No |
| Courses (compete against previous activities) | Yes (compete against your previous time by entering the % you want to improve by, then race your virtual partner; or enter a shorter time that you want to achieve) | Yes (compete against your previous time by entering the % you want to improve by, then race your virtual partner; or enter a shorter time that you want to achieve) | Yes (compete against your previous time by entering the % you want to improve by, then race your virtual partner; or enter a shorter time that you want to achieve) |
| Virtual Partner® (train against a digital person) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced workouts (create custom, goal-oriented workouts) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Time/distance alert (triggers alarm when you reach goal) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Interval training (set up exercise and rest intervals) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Connect Real-Time segments | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Download Strava Real-Time segments? | Yes, if you have Strava premium | Yes, if you have Strava premium | Yes, if you have Strava premium |
| Auto upload your rides to Strava? | Yes, once you sync your Garmin Connect account with Strava | Yes, once you sync your Garmin Connect account with Strava | Yes, once you sync your Garmin Connect account with Strava |
| Heart rate-based calorie computation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Optional heart rate, speed/cadence and power meter? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can you use it for indoor training? | Yes | Yes | You can record an indoor ride with the Edge 520. PLUS - a spectacular new feature - you can recreate recorded outdoor rides on your compatible indoor trainer |
| Can add a third-party compatible ANT+ sensor as a power meter? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can be paired with wireless ANT+ Heart Rate monitor? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bike speed/cadence sensor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shimano Di2 gearing information | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Activity profiles - store preferences for different cycling activities (For example, you can create a separate activity profile for training, for racing, and for mountain biking. The activity profile includes customized data pages, activity totals, alerts, training zones (such as heart rate and speed), training settings (such as Auto Pause® and Auto Lap®), and navigation settings) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Scroll (cycles through data pages during workout) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GPS enabled? (this is the Global Positioning System, the US satellite navigation system) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GLONASS enabled? (this is the GLObal NAVigation Satellite System, the Russian satellite navigation system) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Distance, speed, ascent/descent and GPS position | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Navigation? | Yes - once you pick a location, it will guide you to that location | Yes - once you pick a location, it will guide you to that location | No, it cannot figure out how to get to places. However, you can upload a breadcrumbs course and then follow that. When doing that, you do get turn notifications, plus an alert if you go off course |
| Turn-by-turn guidance? | Yes - just like a car GPS, it will warn you a turn is coming, and tell you when to turn (with text and a beep) | Yes - just like a car GPS, it will warn you a turn is coming, and tell you when to turn (with text and a beep) | Yes, for courses you have downloaded from your computer |
| Preloaded basemap? | Yes, preloaded Garmin Cycle Map with bike-specific navigation so it can give you turn-by-turn navigation instructions | Yes, preloaded Garmin Cycle Map with bike-specific navigation so it can give you turn-by-turn navigation instructions | Yes, but very basic. It's just to give you a rough idea of where you are |
| Ability to add maps, such as optional City Navigator® maps or Open Street maps or topographical maps? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Points of Interest (POIs) specifically for cyclists | Yes | Requires optional City Navigator® maps to access general points of interest | No |
| Plan and download new routes to follow (a route is a sequence of waypoints that leads you to your final destination) | You can upload routes you create elsewhere, and follow them; plus you can also enter in an address on the computer itself and it will create a route | Yes. You can upload routes you create elsewhere, and follow them; plus you can also enter in an address on the computer itself and it will create a route | Yes. The Edge 520 lets you upload routes you create elsewhere, and follow them, using pretty basic breadcrumb directions |
| Barometric altimeter (to tell you your elevation) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature (displays and records temperature while you ride) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
As you can see, there is not a whole lot of difference between these 3 premium bike computers. To simplify matters, I have summed up the 3 of them below.
The Garmin Edge 520, summed up
The Garmin Edge 520 has been widely hailed as the biggest leap forward in bike computers, ever. This model introduced new advanced performance and power analysis, including new Time in Zone, FTP (Functional Threshold Power) tracking, cycling-specific VO2 and recovery and cycling dynamics.
You can read the complete specs of the Garmin Edge 520 bike computer in an in-depth review here.
The Garmin Edge 520 has gone back to button control, not touch screen control. I prefer button control. Sometimes I find screen swiping doesn’t work perfectly, especially in the rain. Button control gives you complete control, all the time, even with gloves on. On the other hand, many people prefer touchscreen control (which is offered by both the Edge 820 and the 1000).
Important: note that the Garmin Edge 520 does not give you cycling-specific maps and cannot calculate routes for you. For that you are going to have to look at the Edge 820 or Edge 1000. All you get with the Edge 520 are the most basic of maps, plus breadcrumbs-type navigation if you download courses to it. Also, thanks to new software upgrades, it can now give you turn-by-turn navigation prompts for routes that you devise yourself and download to it – as shown in this video:
| Buy it now! Find the best price for Garmin Edge 520 | |
| REI | $300.00 |
As a very welcome change, here is a review of the Garmin Edge 520 by a woman reviewer.
In a nutshell, the Garmin Edge 520 is for you if you want absolutely premium bike training features in a small, light package, and can figure out your own routes. Plus, you are more into button control than touchscreen control.
| Buy it now! Find the best price for Garmin Edge 520 Bundle | |
| Amazon Regular Price | $399.99 |
| Lowest price at Amazon | $399.99 (You save 0.00%) |
| REI | $400.00 |
The Garmin Edge 820, summed up
The Garmin Edge 820 has received a massive upgrade, and now has brand new features never before seen in Garmin Edge bike computers. These include Group Track, Incident Alert, Battery Save Mode and Stress Score. My unboxing the Garmin Edge 820 video below shows all that comes in the box (if you get the Edge 820 bundle), how to set it up, and the changes in appearance and menu options on this upgraded unit.
The Garmin Edge 820 offers a huge number of features, including advanced training options, great maps and turn-by-turn navigation, as well as connectivity with every possible sensor, and smart notifications. The Garmin Edge 820 is excellent for both bike training and figuring out routes, just like a car GPS. You can read a complete review of the Garmin Edge 820 here. You can read about the differences between the Edge 820 and the 1000 here.
| Buy it now! Find the best price for Garmin Edge 820 | |
| Backcountry.com | $399.99 |
| REI | $400.00 |
| Competitive Cyclist | $399.99 |
The Garmin Edge 1000, summed up
The Garmin Edge 1000 offers a huge number of features and user friendliness. Consequently, if you really need both high-end training metrics and high-end maps and navigation, connectivity with every possible sensor, smart notifications, and the ease of use that comes with a large, color screen, then the Garmin Edge Bike Computer 1000 is clearly the right bike computer for you.
The Edge 1000 has the largest screen of any bike computer. This makes it great for navigation. Plus, you can turn the Edge 1000 into landscape mode, so you can see the maps even more clearly. This feature is only available on the Edge 1000, which really looks more like a high end smart phone than a bike computer.
| Buy it now! Find the best price for Garmin Edge 1000 | |
| Amazon Regular Price | $499.99 |
| Lowest price at Amazon | $499.99 (You save 0.00%) |
| REI | $500.00 |
The Differences Between the Garmin Edge 1000, 820 and 520, summed up
Maps and Navigation
If you need a bike computer that comes with great, cycling-specific maps, and which you can use for navigation as it will calculate routes and give you turn-by-turn directions, then you will need to rule out the Edge 520. Only the Edge 1000 and 820 come with these advanced navigation features. The Edge 520 cannot figure out how to get to places. However, you can download a breadcrumbs course to the 520 and then follow that. When doing that, you can get turn-by-turn notifications, plus an alert if you go off course.
Touchscreen vs. Button Control
The Edge 1000 and 820 both have touchscreen navigation and control, while the Edge 520 is operated with buttons. So your preference on this matter is important. Bear in mind that there have been some user complaints about touchscreen controls on the Edge 820 in the rain.
Does Size Matter to You?
These 3 bike computers have quite significant differences in size and weight. The Edge 1000 weighs 4 oz (114.5 g), the 820 weighs 2.4 oz (67.7 g), and the 520 weighs 2.1 oz (60 g). The 820 and the 520 are identical in size and display resolution: 2.3″ diagonal screens with 200 x 265 pixels high resolution. The Edge 1000 is very noticeably bigger, looking more like a smart phone.
Really, the only way in which the 1000 is superior to the Edge 820, is that the 820 has a substantially smaller screen (the Edge 1000 screen is 2 cm taller). This means it is easier to see maps on the Edge 1000. Plus, you can turn the Edge 1000 into landscape mode, so you see the maps even more clearly. You cannot do that with the 820. This could be a problem if you are over 40, or you have eyesight that is less than stellar for any reason. I know that several people have chosen the 1000 over the 820 for that exact reason. But if you don’t have any vision issues, the Edge 820 offers a remarkable range of features in a cheaper unit.
Micro-SD Slot
Of these 3 bike computers, only the Edge 1000 has a micro-SD slot for an external memory card. These are usually used to add on a whole lot of maps, for example if you were off to the Netherlands for a bike tour. However, the Edge 820 has 16 GM of internal memory into which you can download maps, so it is unlikely to be a problem. Bear in mind that you can delete maps you are not using, for example, if you immigrate. You can also download maps to the Edge 520, but if navigation is a primary concern for you, you are unlikely to have one of these.
Brand New Features on the Edge 820
Because the Edge 820 is the newest of these bike computers, it has several brand new features that the 520 and 1000 do not have.
GroupTrack on the Garmin Edge 820
The Garmin Edge 820 is the first (and so far the only, apart from the dumbed-down version of the 820, the Edge Explore 820) Garmin Edge bike computer to offer the brand new GroupTrack feature. This lets you pair your device through Garmin Connect with other people’s compatible devices, so you can see where your riding buddies are, right on your bike computer screen. Here’s a video that shows you how the Garmin Edge 820 GroupTrack feature works:
Incident Alert on the Garmin Edge 820
The Garmin Edge 820 has a built-in ability to detect an “incident,” which is basically an event that seems to be a crash. It will then notify a person who you have designated. If you fall off and you are fine, you have 20 seconds in which you can cancel the alert.
Battery Save Mode on the Garmin Edge 820
If you are worried about losing battery power, just put the bike computer into battery save mode. The screen will blank out, but it will keep recording your ride. You can bring the screen back to life at any time. This extends the battery life by several hours.
Stress Score on the Garmin Edge 820
The Stress Score basically shows you on a graphical interface how much you stressed your body (in a good way) during a bike ride. I find this very useful, as it tells me objectively if I have pushed myself hard enough (or if I have pushed myself too hard).
Connect IQ Compatibility on the Garmin Edge 820
The Garmin Edge 820 is the first Garmin to be compatible with the new Connect IQ. This basically means you can download apps for Connect IQ. Which is actually a lot more fun than it sounds – the apps include some really cool stuff, such as Uber, and the Strava Suffer Score.
Chart Showing the Differences between the Edge 1000, 820 and 520
| | |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Big picture | Great for training and navigation. Screen size is a lot bigger than the 520 and 820, 2 cm taller, easier to view maps. Has a microSD slot for adding new maps (the 520 and 820 don’t have this). Color touchscreen | Great for training and navigation. All the features (and then some) of the 1000, in a smaller unit - the same size as the 520. Several unique features, including Incident Alert, GroupTrack, Battery Save Mode and Stress Score. Color touchscreen | Great for training but not for navigation. Buttons, not touchscreen. Color |
| Lowest Price on Amazon Right Now: | $499.99 | $399.00 | Please check here |
| Unit Size | 2 x 3.7 x 1" (5.1 x 9.3 x 2.5 cm) | 1.9” x 2.9” x 0.8” (49.0 x 73.0 x 21.0 mm) | 1.9” x 2.9” x 0.8” (49.0 x 73.0 x 21.0 mm) |
| Display resolution, W x H | 240 x 400 pixels; color | 200 x 265 pixels; color | 200 x 265 pixels; color |
| Screen size | 3" (7.6 cm) diagonal, high res | 2.3" (58.4 mm) diagonal, high res | 2.3" (58.4 mm) diagonal, high res |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes | No, buttons |
| Landscape mode available? | Yes | No | No |
| Weight | 4.0 oz (114.5 g) | 2.4 oz (67.7 g) | 2.1 oz (60 g) |
| Battery save mode available? | No | Yes ( powers down the screen but continues to record your ride) | No |
| History that can be stored on unit | Up to 200 hours of history | Up to 200 hours of history | Up to 180 hours of history |
| Is the screen responsive to level of ambient light | No | Yes | No |
| Incident alert? (to tell your spouse if you have an accident) | No | Yes. Can be switched off if you are uninjured | No |
| Compatible with Garmin Varia Vision and Garmin Varia Rearview Radar Tail Light? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Unit-to-unit transfer (shares data wirelessly with similar units) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Smart phone Connected features (depends on having a Bluetooth enabled smartphone, and you may have to install the Garmin Connect mobile app on your phone) | Yes - Live Tracking, send/receive courses, workouts and training plans wirelessly, social media sharing, smart notifications (texts and calls) | Yes - Live Tracking, Group Tracking, send/receive courses, workouts and training plans wirelessly, social media sharing, weather updates in real time, smart notifications (texts and calls) | Yes - Live Tracking, Group Tracking, send/receive courses, workouts and training plans wirelessly, social media sharing, weather updates in real time, smart notifications (texts and calls) |
| Group tracking (GroupTrack is an extension of Garmin’s LiveTrack feature, where your friends or family can follow you on a computer. With GroupTrack, you can have this same visibility, but from your handlebars. The idea is that you can meet up or just keep digital track of your cycling companions) | No | Yes | No |
| Accepts data cards | Yes, including optional memory card in the micro-SD slot | No - there is no micro-SD card slot. However, it has 16 GB of internal memory, so you are unlikely to need a card | No |
| Connect IQ™ compatible? | No | Yes | No |
| Advanced training features | Advanced performance and power analysis (if you are using a heart rate monitor and a power meter), including VO2 max, Recovery Time Advisor, and FTP (Functional Threshold Power) tracking | Advanced performance and power analysis (if you are using a heart rate monitor and a power meter), including VO2 max, Recovery Time Advisor, FTP (Functional Threshold Power) tracking, Time in Zone, and recovery (Recovery Time advisor) | Advanced performance and power analysis (if you are using a heart rate monitor and a power meter), including VO2 max, Recovery Time Advisor, FTP (Functional Threshold Power) tracking, Time in Zone, and recovery (Recovery Time advisor) |
| Training calendar (The calendar on your device is an extension of the training calendar or schedule you set up in Garmin Connect. After you have added a few workouts or courses to the Garmin Connect calendar, you can send them to your device) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Stress score (requires HR monitor) | No | Yes - first time ever on a Garmin Edge | No |
| Navigation? | Yes - once you pick a location, it will guide you to that location | Yes - once you pick a location, it will guide you to that location | No, it cannot figure out how to get to places. However, you can upload a breadcrumbs course and then follow that. When doing that, you do get turn notifications, plus an alert if you go off course |
| Turn-by-turn guidance? | Yes - just like a car GPS, it will warn you a turn is coming, and tell you when to turn (with text and a beep) | Yes - just like a car GPS, it will warn you a turn is coming, and tell you when to turn (with text and a beep) | Yes, for courses you have downloaded from your computer |
| Preloaded basemap? | Yes, preloaded Garmin Cycle Map with bike-specific navigation so it can give you turn-by-turn navigation instructions | Yes, preloaded Garmin Cycle Map with bike-specific navigation so it can give you turn-by-turn navigation instructions | Yes, but very basic. It's just to give you a rough idea of where you are |
| Points of Interest (POIs) specifically for cyclists | Yes | Requires optional City Navigator® maps to access general points of interest | No |
| Plan and download new routes to follow (a route is a sequence of waypoints that leads you to your final destination) | You can upload routes you create elsewhere, and follow them; plus you can also enter in an address on the computer itself and it will create a route | Yes. You can upload routes you create elsewhere, and follow them; plus you can also enter in an address on the computer itself and it will create a route | Yes. The Edge 520 lets you upload routes you create elsewhere, and follow them, using pretty basic breadcrumb directions |
Bottom Line on Garmin Edge 1000 vs 820 vs 520
- Buy the Edge 520 if you don’t care about navigation, as it gives you all the training features you could want in a cheaper unit. UNLESS you really want touchscreen, in which case you might want to choose the Edge 820.
- Buy the Edge 1000 if navigation is important and your eyes are not that great.
- Buy the Edge 820 if you really need to have the brand new features it offers (such as the Battery Save Mode), and can manage to see maps on a smaller unit just fine.
It comes down to what you need and value, and how much you are prepared to pay for it. It’s a tough choice, but somebody’s got to make it!
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