Garmin Edge Explore vs. 530 – Comparison of 2021

As health research makes more and more progress in associating being active with having a better life, the number of people becoming more active has spiked over the recent years.

Of course, in this modern day and age, everything we do is linked with some sort of technology, and honestly, tech does make our lives better.

If you have been around in the sports-related technology world for a while, you might have come across the brand Garmin and heard all about their great products.

Well, today, we are going to present a comparison of Garmin Edge Explore vs. 530, which are mainly products designed for cyclists to help navigate using GPS and much more. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into this battle!

Garmin Edge Explore vs 530 Comparison of 2021

Garmin Edge Explore

So, around 2018, Garmin dropped the Edge Explore, which is its own product apart from the numbered series.

Starting with its design, this product is more on the compact size; some may like the portability, while other users argue that it is not large enough for a comfortable map viewing experience.

This device comes packed with a colored touch screen from 3 inches and a resolution of 250 x 400 pixels.

Although the display is not amazingly sharp, its colors and touch capacity makes up for it.

One of the primary reasons why this product got praised so much is because it has a complete navigation system with an affordable price tag!

Yes, the Garmin Edge Explore guides you turn by turn and gives you all the intricate details of the maps that make for a good navigating experience.

In addition to that, you can also create your own route to your places of interest, such as your home or office; you can also tell it to make large routes for a long cycling trip.

Like most other Garmin products, this one also connects with Garmin Connect and lets you upload your routes, but you’ll also get an internal storage of 16 GB of maps, which is more than sufficient.

Some of you might be bummed by the fact that there are no performance metrics in this device.

There’s also no wifi connectivity and light sensor which can be annoying, and the largest downside is the lack of a Barometric Altimeter, which is IMMENSELY popular amongst cyclists because of its accurate measurement ability.

However, it does support external sensors such as external lights, heart rate, speed, etc.

Another plus point would be its unique guest mode feature, which allows a person to use your device just for a day; maybe if you want to lend your new piece of tech, this can be a good feature.

We still wish that the Edge Explore supported more than one user so that more people could use the same device daily with different data screens.

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Garmin Edge 530

The Garmin Edge 530 was dropped in 2019 along with a few other siblings, but today we will only be focusing on the 530.

Kicking it off with its design, this navigating device is definitely quite compact with a size of 2.6 inches, which is far from the smallest but not amongst the big boys.

Also, the display is not very high resolution coming with 246 x 322 pixels, but it is crisp enough for easy mapping with the help of its automatic backlight brightness.

Talking about its user experience, we have to say that it is very user-friendly and straightforward, so while using it, you will not have any problems.

Furthermore, along with Bluetooth, this device also supports wifi connectivity, which is essential for some bikers. However, we must include that the uploading of your ride can be quite the jittery experience with a few hiccups.

Coming to the main mapping interface, we must state that they have done quite a good job here! Needless to say, it packs a point to point full navigation system, which gives you street level details along with the ability to customize your points of interest.

Moreover, the new processor has plenty of power, resulting in a smooth and fast operation.

But the downside that will hit you in the face is the lack of a touchscreen here because let’s be honest, clicking buttons continuously to navigate can surely get tedious.

A nice little feature is the addition of the audio cues when you’re close to your destination or around a turning point.

The bike alarm is also a helpful little feature that you can set up when you’re at a distance from your bike in a public place to prevent it from getting stolen by a loud alarm.

Find My Edge is also a new nice little touch, which, as the name suggests, helps you find your Edge Explore if you accidentally drop it somewhere.

You can find it using the mobile app which will provide you exact coordinates.

There is also climb pro, which gives you a heads up when a climb is ahead, including all the details you could ever need.

Performance measurements of this device are noteworthy. Thanks to its Barometric Altimeter, it can adapt to the environment and provide more accurate analytics; it can measure your VO2 max and control your training zones.

A handy feature is that when you select your route, this device will give you suggestions for your clothing depending on the weather and the duration of the trip.

ANOTHER feature is that it can calculate your GRIT and flow scores, which is very advanced and not really necessary, but hey, we’re not complaining.

Related Comparison: Garmin Edge 130 vs. 530

Difference Between Garmin Edge Explore vs. Garmin 530 GPS Computer

Let’s compare them both feature-by-feature here.

Display and Design

The Garmin Edge Explore is significantly larger with a 3-inch display, whereas the 530 is lying around with a 2.6-inch display.

The larger display of the Edge Explore is undoubtedly better, but the colors of the two screens are similar, and both are sufficiently sharp.

But the 530 has a light sensor that allows for automatic brightness, a feature that the Edge Explore lacks. However, the Edge Explore wins over in this section with its very useful touch screen!

Mapping

Both the devices have a decent complete navigation system with a turn-by-turn mapping and customisability with routes.

However, the faster processor of the 530 makes the mapping experience snappier and smoother.

The wifi connectivity connects with the mobile app better for the 530 than the other product, but it still struggles to upload its ride.

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Performance Metrics

Over here, the Garmin 530 really shines over the Edge Explore because the 530 is feature-packed by all means.

The Barometric Altimeter of the 530 really shines through giving all the accurate analytics, and the MTB features and the better suitability for workouts add to that.

Although the Edge Explore supports external sensors, it is no match against the 530 over here. The Edge 530 also has the safety features, all of which the Edge Explore lacks.

Cost

The price difference between these two products is not massive, but it is worth mentioning the Edge 530 is unsurprisingly the more expensive one. Although both of these are cost-effective, the 530 will cost you about an extra 50 USD.

Related Guide: Garmin Edge Explore vs Edge 830

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

So, finally, after providing all the important details in our Garmin Edge Explore vs.530 guide, we would like to say that depending on your personal preference, make your purchase.

However, we would like to add that if the buttons are not a big problem for you and you can add some extra money, go for the Garmin 530.