“Which is the best Garmin Edge bike computer?” That’s a question we hear a lot! In this post, we attempt to answer this important and complicated question. Our answer comes down to you: the best Garmin Edge bike computer for you, depends on what kind of cyclist you are.
What Kind of Cyclist Are You?
The key to finding the best Garmin Edge bike computer is to start by looking at your own needs. See which type of cyclist is the best match for you, and then check out our recommendations.
But first, a chart that sums it all up. If you want MUCH more detail, we also include a chart at the end of this post that compares all of the features of all of the recommended Garmin Edge bike computers.
Chart Showing Which is the Best Garmin Edge Bike Computer
| Type of Cyclist | Recommended Garmin Edge | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner Cyclist |  | Garmin Edge 130 Plus. Button Control. Best Price on Amazon Right Now: $199.99 | This excellent and affordable bike computer will cover all the bases to get you started on a lifelong marathon of enjoying cycling and getting fitter |
| Extremely Keen Cyclist Aspiring to be Even Better |  | Garmin Edge 530. Button Control. Usually around $300. But please click here to see the Current Sale Price on Amazon | Premium bike computer that will record all your rides & cycling metrics, and upload them. Much more affordable than the top-of-the-line 1030 Plus |
| Bike Commuter |  | Garmin Edge 830. Touch Screen. Best Price on Amazon Right Now: $398.99 | Premium bike computer that will record all your rides & cycling metrics, and upload them. Plus, it will help you find your way to any place |
| Bike Commuter with not-so-great eyesight (possibly older) |  | Garmin Edge 1030 Plus. Touch Screen. Usually around $600. Please click here to see the Best Price on Amazon Right Now | Top-of-the-line bike computer that will do absolutely everything, AND has a much bigger screen |
| Bike Tourer | | Garmin Edge 1030 Plus. Touch Screen. Usually around $600. Please click here to see the Best Price on Amazon Right Now | This one ships preloaded maps of North America and Europe. Plus it is a top-of-the-line bike computer that will do absolutely everything, AND has a much bigger screen |
| Mountain Biker | | Garmin Edge 530. Button Control. Usually around $300. But please click here to see the Current Sale Price on Amazon | Ships with every possible feature a mountain biker could want, including Trailforks (130,000 trail maps preloaded). Not too big, so it will be snug and safe on your handlebars while you are flying through the air |
Which is the Best Garmin Edge Bike Computer for a Beginner Cyclist?
Are you a beginner cyclist? If this is you, you ride your bike one to three times a week, mainly for fun. Perhaps you sometimes take your kids for a bike ride. You think about starting to ride to work one day. You especially think about it when you are stuck in traffic! You may have noticed that cycling is making you fitter, and you are starting to think that maybe you should cycle a bit more. Maybe you should track your rides and performance, and start to see some impressive fitness gains?
If this is you, we would recommend you check out the bottom-of-the-line Garmin Edge bike computer – which just happens to be an awesome bike computer in a small, affordable package. It does most of what the more expensive Garmin Edge bike computers do. It will be more than enough to get you really well launched into taking your cycling to the next level.
You operate this bike computer with buttons, not a touch screen. Unlike the others in the range, the screen is black and white. However, it is crystal clear and easy to read in all ambient light conditions.
Features of the Garmin Edge 130 Plus
The Garmin Edge 130 Plus is small, compact, and intuitively easy-to-use. The range of training options and available data on this bike computer is pretty much unbeatable at this price.
It is a great buy if you have tons of useful sensor information, user profiles, etc., on an older Garmin unit. If you are anything like me, the auto syncing to your new computer will put a big smile on your face!
Also amazing at this price, it comes with the very cool ClimbPro feature pre-loaded. Many cyclists find this a must for planning hilly bike rides.
Note: If you might want to start using a Power Meter one day, rather go for a Garmin Edge 530. The Edge 130 Plus does not support power meters.
Related Post: Garmin Edge 130 Plus vs Bryton Rider 15 Neo – Battle of the Entry-Level Giants
Are You an Extremely Keen Cyclist who Wants to Improve Further?
If this is you, you are most likely the fittest person on your block. You look great (or you are getting there), you cycle every day, and you love it. Most likely you do other exercise as well. You watch what you eat. You either have started doing bike races, or you aspire to get there. Your idea of weekend fun is a group bike ride. Or a 50-mile ride on your own.
In this case, we recommend the top choice of most bike computer reviewers – and our top choice too: the Garmin Edge 530. With almost every possible feature, this model looks like pretty much the best bike computer ever. And it is less than half the price of the top-of-the-line Garmin.
Why did we say “almost every possible feature”? Because you cannot input addresses onto the unit and have it calculate a route for you. If you want it to give you navigation advice, you have to download the route ahead of time. Or, use the Yelp app that is included.
Once you download routes, the navigation assistance is just as good as that offered by the top-of-the-line Edge 1030 Plus. You get turn-by-turn prompts, alerts if you go off course, and assistance with getting back on course.
Features built into the Garmin Edge 530
Features of the Garmin Edge 530
The Garmin Edge 530 is a premium bike computer with tons of features that will be more than enough for most cyclists. And the cherry on the top is that it is at an attractive price point, relative to the 1030 Plus and 830 ($273). This one is for you if you want absolutely premium bike training features in a small, light, affordable package, and you like the convenience of turn-by-turn directions. But you do not need your bike computer to calculate routes on the fly for you. It cannot find addresses. In practice, you are mainly limited to courses you download in advance.
The Edge 530 is suitable if you are more into button control than touchscreen control.
And if you do extremely long rides, then the Edge 530 is ideal, thanks to excellent battery life (20 hours). Plus, you have the option to plug in the extra Garmin Charge power pack to extend to more than 40 hours.
Related Post: Garmin Edge 530 vs 830: What’s the Difference?
Are You a Bike Commuter?
If this is you, you got into cycling more years ago than you can remember. And you love it! Plus, you have discovered that cycling is one of the best ways to get from A to B. You love that feeling of darting through cars that are standing still. You love how invigorated you feel when you get to work. And you love that you have never been in better shape in your life. And maybe you are looking forward to exploring all kinds of new areas and routes on your bike?
If this is you, we definitely recommend the Garmin Edge 830. This will record all your rides and all your cycling metrics, and upload them wherever you are. More importantly, it will help you find your way to any place you want to go. It works just like a GPS in a car. You just plug in an address, and it will direct you there. This will include turn-by-turn prompts, and also warnings when you get off route. Plus help in re-routing when required.
Unlike a car GPS, the Edge 830 has an invisible but important layer – Garmin heat maps. Basically, this is data derived from recorded rides by real cyclists, which tells Garmin which routes are most popular with cyclists. This enables the unit to calculate a route for you that is more cyclist-friendly.
You operate this one with a touch screen.
The Garmin Edge 830 on Maggie’s bike
Features of the Garmin Edge 830 Plus
In a nutshell, the Garmin Edge 830 is for you if:
- you want absolutely premium bike training features in a small, light, package; and
- connectivity with every possible sensor, smart notifications, and the latest apps; and
- you also want premium mapping and navigation features; and
- you prefer touchscreen control.
Related Post: Garmin Edge 830 vs 820: What’s the Difference?
Are You a Bike Commuter who is Getting Older?
This could be you, if you are exactly the same as the bike commuter cyclist above, but your eyesight is not as good as it used to be.
In this case, the flagship Garmin Edge 1030 Plus could be the best Garmin Edge bike computer for you. This is because it has a substantially bigger screen, making it very easy to see in any conditions. The diagonal screen size is a whopping 3.6 inches, making it almost an inch bigger than the 830.
You operate this one with a touch screen.
Related Post: Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs Garmin Edge 1030. What’s the Difference?
Features of the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus
This bike computer is the best choice if you are a truly dedicated cyclist who wants it all – premium training and premium navigation. With a big screen to make it easy to see the maps. And free pre-loaded maps for North America and Europe.
Naturally, the Edge 1030 Plus has true turn-by-turn navigation built into it, right out of the box. And full-feature navigation (that is, you can input addresses into the unit while you are riding, and then navigate to them with turn-by-turn directions).
It also has awesome training features, of course. And a bunch of attractive features, such as increased storage, longer battery life, improved Live Tracking, Daily Workout guidance, etc.
Basically, this one has it all. And it has an excellent touch screen, too.
Are You a Bike Tourer?
Are you one of those brave and adventurous people who likes to explore the world on a bike? Perhaps with panniers stuffed with essentials and a tent? If so, first of all: hats off to you. Second, our recommendation would definitely be the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus.
This premium GPS bike computer sports a huge screen, making it easier to use the navigation system (which includes route calculation, turn-by-turn prompts, and advanced re-routing options). Plus, It ships fully loaded with free, high-quality, world maps.
The Garmin Edge 1030 Plus will help you find your way, no matter where you are going
Features of the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus
This bike computer is the best choice if you are a truly dedicated bike tourer who wants it all – premium training plus premium navigation. With a big screen to make it easy to see the maps. And free pre-loaded maps for North America and Europe. Plus, you can download more maps for free.
Naturally, the Edge 1030 Plus has true turn-by-turn navigation built into it, right out of the box. And it has full-feature navigation (that is, you can input addresses into the unit while you are riding, and then navigate to them with turn-by-turn directions).
Basically, this one is perfect for bike tourers. And it has an excellent touch screen, too.
Related Post: 7 Great BUDGET Bikes You Can Buy on Amazon – Road, Mountain, Cruiser, Hybrid and Comfort Bikes
Are You a Mountain Biker?
Are you one of those people who likes to fearlessly explore remote trails? Or maybe even negotiate technical trails, occasionally sailing through the air on your bike? If so, first of all: respect!
Second, we would recommend the Garmin Edge 530. This is pretty much the best bang-for-your-buck premium bike computer on the market today. It comes preloaded with Garmin’s entire range of mountain biking features, including Trailforks (130,000 trail maps preloaded), plus mountain biking metrics (grit rating, flow rating, hang time).
At the same time, it is not excessively large, so it can fit snugly on your handlebars while you flying through the air.
Focus on the ride, NOT on hoping your bike computer will stay in place. The Garmin Edge is a powerful but compact option for mountain bikers
Features of the Garmin Edge 530 Plus
The Garmin Edge 530 is a premium bike computer with tons of features that will be more than enough for most cyclists. And the cherry on the top is that it is at an attractive price point, relative to the 1030 Plus and 830 ($273). This one is for you if you want absolutely premium bike training features in a small, light, affordable package, and you like the convenience of turn-by-turn directions. But you do not need your bike computer to calculate routes on the fly for you. It cannot find addresses. In practice, you are mainly limited to courses you download in advance.
The Edge 530 is suitable if you are more into button control than touchscreen control.
And if you are going to be out on the mountains for hours, then the Edge 530 is ideal, thanks to excellent battery life (20 hours). Plus, you have the option to plug in the extra Garmin Charge power pack to extend to more than 40 hours.
Related Post: All Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared: 130 Plus vs Edge Explore vs Edge 530 vs Edge 830 vs Edge 1030 Plus
Bottom Line on Which is the Best Garmin Edge Bike Computer
Like everything else in life, it comes down to who you are, and what you need. Good luck with finding the perfect bike computer to match your own personal cycling life. If you are still uncertain, please use the chart below to compare every detail of the Garmin Edge bike computers we have recommended in this post.
Chart Comparing Garmin Edge 130 Plus vs. 530 vs. 830 vs. 1030 Plus
| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Price right now on Amazon | Best Price on Amazon Right Now: $199.99 | Usually around $300. But please click here to see the Current Sale Price on Amazon | Best Price on Amazon Right Now: $398.99 | Usually around $600. Please click here to see the Best Price on Amazon Right Now |
| Best For? | Cyclists who want a premium bike computer in a budget, compact unit; and who don't need much navigation help; must be OK with black & white & with button control (not touch screen) | Cyclists who want nothing but the best in premium training features; must be OK with pre-downloading routes when they need navigation help, and with button control (not touch screen) | Cyclists who want nothing but the best in premium training features and navigation | Cyclists who want nothing but the best in the very latest premium training features and navigation; and who need a bigger screen & free, high-quality maps |
| Size of Unit | 1.1" x 1.4" (27 x 36 mm); 1.8" diag (45 mm) | 1.9" x 3.2" x 0.8" (50 x 82 x 20 mm) | 1.9” x 3.2” x 0.8” (50 mm x 82 mm x 20 mm) | 2.28" x 4.5" x 0.8" (58 x 114 x 19 mm) |
| Display Resolution | 303 x 230 pixels | 246 x 322 pixels | 246 x 322 pixels | 282 x 470 pixels |
| Weight | 1.2 oz (33 g) | 2.7 oz (75.8 g) | 2.8 oz (79.1 g) | 4.4 oz (124 g) |
| Waterproof rating | IPX 7 (you can drop it in 3 ft of water for up to 30 mins, & it will still work) | IPX 7 | IPX 7 | IPX 7 |
| Screen size | 1.8" (45 mm) diagonal, black and white | 2.6" (66 mm) diagonal, color | 2.6" (66 mm) diagonal, color | 3.5" (89 mm) diagonal, color |
| Touchscreen or button control? | Button control | Button control | Touchscreen, works well | Touchscreen, works well |
| Battery Life | Up to 12 hours | Up to 20 hours in GPS training mode | Up to 20 hours in GPS training mode | Up to 36 hours in GPS training mode, up to 48 hours with minimal sensors and backlighting |
| Battery Save Mode (extends battery life by up to 50% while still tracking all ride data) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Option to add Garmin Charge Power Pack (to double battery life)? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bike alarm that connects with your phone? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Find my bike computer? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| | | | |
| Satellite Systems: | GPS/GLONASS/Galileo | GPS/GLONASS/Galileo | GPS/GLONASS/Galileo | GPS/GLONASS/Galileo |
| Elevation? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Accelerometer? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ambient Light Sensor? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Basemap | No | Pre-loaded Garmin Cycle Maps with Integrated TrailForks content | Pre-loaded Garmin Cycle Maps with Integrated TrailForks content | Pre-loaded Garmin Cycle Maps with Integrated TrailForks content |
| Ships pre-loaded with high-quality maps for two countries, plus can download any other countries for free? | No | No | No | Yes |
| Can you add maps? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waypoints | 100 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| How many routes can you save on the device? | 30 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| How much history can you store on the device? | Up to 100 hours | Up to 200 hours | Up to 200 hours | Up to 200 hours |
| Address search (input address and it will plot a route)? AKA On-Device Course Creator | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Popularity routing (Trendline) - shows routes used most by cyclists? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Turn-by-turn navigation? | Yes, but very basic, breadcrumb-style navigation only. And only for downloaded courses, e.g. from Garmin Route Creator | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Recalculate route on the device? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New re-routing options? | n/a | No, but will arrive in a future software updatea | No, but will arrive in a future software updatea | Yes. Choose from Rejoin where you left course; Skip ahead to course; or Cut across |
| Calculate route back to start? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can you create a custom course on the unit (this is a sequence of waypoints or locations that leads you to your final destination)? | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Create a round-trip route on the device? | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Find nearby POI (points of interest)? | No | No, but you can use the included Yelp app to find them | Yes | Yes |
| | | | |
| How does it communicate? | Bluetooth, ANT+ | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi |
| Time & date display? | No | No | No | Yes |
| Smart notifications? | Yes (calls and texts only) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can you respond to a phone call with text on your Android device? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rider to Rider messaging? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Does it display the weather? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Connect compatible? (this is an online community where you can share data, plys analyze - like Strava) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automatically syncs your rides to the Garmin Connect™ Mobile app on your phone? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ANT+ (to connect your devices? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Smart (aka BLE or Bluetooth Low Energy)? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Unit to unit transfer (share your data with friends with similar units)? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LiveTrack? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, new enhanced version |
| Group Tracking?? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Incident detection (so someone is automatically notified if you have an accident)? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LEV/ebike compatibility via ANT+? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compatible with heart rate monitors, plus power, speed and cadence sensors? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ANT+ shifting? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shimano Di2 electronic shifting integration? (“Digital Integrated Intelligence” enables instant electronic shifting) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can it download free apps and widgets from the Connect IQ™ store? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compatible with Garmin VIRB video camera? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compatible with Garmin inReach 2-way satellite communicator (to send your location if you need assistance and your cell phone cannot connect)? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Varia Compatible? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can you control it with a Garmin Edge remote control? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Does it have Extended Display (so you can use your bike computer as an extended display to view data screens from a compatible Garmin mulitsport watch)? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| | | | |
| Autostart (so your timer will start automatically once you are cycling at a custom speed)? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can You Customize Your Data Pages? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Interval training (so you can set up exercise and rest intervals)? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced workouts? (so you can create customized, goal-directed workouts) | Yes | Yes (much improved over 520 Plus) | Yes (much improved over 820) | Yes |
| Daily Workout Suggestions? | No | No | No | Yes |
| Can You Download Training Plans to It? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Partner (so you can compete against a digital cyclist)? | Yes, within a course | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max estimate? (the maximum amount of oxygen a person can utilize during intense exercise) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FTP tracking? (Functional Threshold Power is the average power that a rider can produce over the course of an hour) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Will it Advise You on Recovery Time? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Time in heart rate training zone? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TrainingPeaks iLevels (WKO4) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ClimpPro (new feature that shows you graphically the grades ahead)? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power Meter Compatible? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Performance Power Curve? (tracks your power output over periods of time) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Power Analysis? | No (not on device, but you can do it on your computer later) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Does it have Physio TrueUP (a Garmin Connect feature that keeps physiological data in sync between multiple devices)? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Does it compute calories based on heart rate? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Strava Live Segments on the unit? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Aerobic training effect? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Heat acclimation (how well are you adjusting to heat)? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Altitude acclimation (how well are you adjusting to changes in altitude)? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Water and calorie requirements (reminders based on course)? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Pause (so it stops recording when you stop your bike)? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smart Trainer Control? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Courses (so you can compete against your previous rides)? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Alerts (to alert you when you reach goals such as heart rate, calories, time, or distance)? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Activity Profiles (that's where you have different profiles for activities such as road or mountain biking)? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| | | | |
| Best Price on Amazon Right Now: $199.99 | Best Price on Amazon Right Now: $297.99 | Best Price on Amazon Right Now: $398.99 | Usually around $600. Please click here to see the Best Price on Amazon Right Now | |
| Grit rating (how tough is the route)? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Flow rating (how well did you ride the route)? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hang time (how long were you in the air when jumping, how far did you go)? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Integrated Trailforks? (130,000 trails preloaded on unit) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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