Whether you’re a rookie interested in bike navigating devices or you’re a professional looking to upgrade, don’t worry, we’ve got you!
This article contains a detailed review of Garmin 530 vs. 830. These are specialized bike devices for cycling enthusiasts looking to find a range of performance indicators and routing details.
Garmin Edge 530 and Garmin Edge 830, released about the same time, are two very similar products with a few distinguishing factors.
Here, we’re going to walk you through the pros and cons of two latest GPS devices to help you make a well-informed purchase. So, go on and keep reading!
Garmin Edge 530 vs. 830 – Comparison 2020
Last update on 2020-09-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Garmin Edge 530
With a 2.6-inch color display and 246 x 322 pixels resolution, the Garmin Edge 530 is a biking device for hardcore cyclists seeking a variety of performance indicators and traffic information.
Weighing at about 75.8 g, it has a storage capacity of 200 locations, 100 routes & up to 200 hours of past information.
The compact device is water-resistant. As promised, it has a good amount of additional features to assist with navigation.
It offers extra turn-by-turn mapping, but your access is limited to street level.
Due to the absence of a touchscreen and a sheer number of buttons, map browsing can get irksome.
However, if you have selected a destination, or if you’re simply following a preloaded route, the routing is impressive. The Bike Alarm feature is a pleasant touch.
When the app senses movement near the bike, your phone will be alerted as long as it’s somewhere nearby.
Then, there’s also the Find My Edge feature; if your Garmin Edge ever gets detached mid-ride, your phone will record the precise location where the contact is lost, so you can turn back and get it.
Besides the added performance measures on the device which provide comprehensive information regarding various performance metrics, there’s a ClimbPro feature.
It’s a handy tool that can tell you all the details you need about an upcoming climb, starting from when it’s approaching, including the significant numbers such as range, slope, elevation, and more.
PROS
CONS
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Garmin Edge 830
With the same sleek look and dimensions as the Edge 530, the Garmin Edge 830 is a device for cycling enthusiasts interested in a series of productivity and navigation information.
Weighing at about a little more, at 82 g, it has the same connectivity features but additional touchscreen features.
You can complete the driver installation using your phone and Garmin Connect, or straight on the device.
This new device has a considerable amount of extra features to help navigate, like routing turn-by-turn.
Unlike the 530, however, access is not limited to street level. You can search for specific addresses and points of interest.
It has a pretty decent interface and an easy-to-read screen, making the pile of details on screen simple to interpret.
The navigation features are pretty straightforward, and route programming is fairly simple.
However, route calculation is far from perfect; it surely did not live up to Garmin’s claims about riding like a local.
Even though the functionality of the software is much more enhanced, it is not quite perfect.
One significant issue is the occasional freezing when powering off the device.
Just holding all the buttons for about 20 seconds causes it to reboot, and just like that, the issue can be resolved.
And with an extensive selection of essential and insightful features, the Edge 830 is a topnotch navigating device that provides more than enough interesting features far and beyond its competition in the market.
PROS
CONS
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Garmin 530 or 830 Bike GPS Computer
Here’s the detailed comparison section that will help you to choose between them.
Screen Type
Unlike the way both gadgets look, they have totally different types of screens. While the Edge 830 has touchscreen features, the cheaper version doesn’t.
Design
Although both devices are sleek and look pretty much the same, the 530 has four additional buttons than the 830, since it’s not touch screen.
Weight
Weighing at 75.8 g, the Edge 530 is slightly lighter than the Edge 830, which weighs 82 g.
Installation Process
Installing the 530 takes too much time due to having multiple buttons, whereas 830’s touch screen is very quick at performing tasks.
Mapping Features
While the Edge 530 offers extra turn-by-turn mapping with access limited to street level, the 830 offers in-depth analysis and address-specific routing features.
Battery Life
Both devices appear to have 20-hour battery capacity when using GPS and up to 40-hour battery capacity while using the extra Garmin Charge™ rechargeable battery or energy saver.
Thus, it’s quite clear that there aren’t many variations. It really depends on the touch screen, and whether you intend to use address-specific routing, or will ride simple using saved routes or using buttons.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here we have the most commonly asked queries regarding the Garmin 530 and 830:
Is the Garmin Edge 530 worth the price?
Edge 530 is certainly one of the best machines ever created for the Garmin ride.
While it does not have 830’s touchscreen or 1030’s smartphone features, it certainly does a tremendous work of emulating and equalizing both of these machines’ productivity, only for much less money.
Is the Garmin Edge 830 worth the price?
The touchscreen is extremely intuitive with its modern and quicker operating system, and much less sluggish with the apps.
So yeah, it’s worth the price if you want optimum performance.
How do I set up my Garmin Edge device?
First, download the Garmin Connect app on your phone, and power your Edge on and then select a language.
The Edge will automatically ask you to start the phone pairing process, select ‘Continue’ and sign in on your phone app; this will show you the Edge, and all you need to do is select ‘Connect’ again.
Is Garmin Connect a free app?
Yes, it is the method used to monitor, review, and exchange health and fitness habits with your Garmin app, and it is free.
Can I back up my information and current settings?
Yes, you can back up information from your Garmin device directly to your Personal Computer or MacBook.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are two distinct differences between Garmin 530 vs. 830. So, the decision is quite easy.
If you’re opting for the address-specific routing or touch feature, get yourself the Edge 830.
But if you don’t need those, and can ride simple using saved routes or pushing the buttons, go with the 530 and save yourself money.
