Comparison Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030: the differences, which one to choose?

Garmin perfectly masters the market for sports watches and GPS bike computers by offering ultra-complete models with advanced GPS navigation and offering powerful training and assistance tools for athletes (performance analysis, physiological measurements, cycling dynamics and more).Read this Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 to discover more.

The Garmin Edge range includes 3 mid-range and high-end GPS bike computers that are among the best on the market. The Edge 530 and Edge 830, released in 2019, complete the Edge 1030 released in 2017.

Overview of Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030

Here is a quick overview of these 3 bike GPS. We compare the 3 models below. You can otherwise go directly to our opinion and conclusion.

Garmin Edge 530: very complete, without touch screen

The Garmin Edge 530 is a bicycle GPS with color mapping and, for the mountain bike model, Trailforks data (more than 180,000 mountain bike trails and their difficulty). It offers turn-by-turn navigation, access to the routes most frequented by the Garmin member community, the ClimbPro function (slope profiles and information on the route), metrics and training tools to assess performance (dynamic cycling and mountain biking, physiological measurements), measuring acclimatization to altitude and temperature, safety functions (fall detection, assistance in the event of an incident, communication with other cyclists), nutrition and food alerts (needs assessment and smart reminders).

This model released in 2019 replaces the Edge 520 with many improvements. With the Edge 830, it is one of the most complete on the market today.

Buy the Garmin Edge 530

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Garmin Edge 830: the most complete, with touchscreen and the best GPS navigation

The Garmin Edge 830 takes all the features of the Edge 530 and adds a touch screen and more complete navigation.

In particular, you can ask the Edge to suggest a round-trip route from your location or calculate a route to a given address or POI (hotel, restaurant, train station, etc.).

This model replaces the Edge 820. It offers around twenty new features and constitutes to date one of the best GPS on the market.

Read our detailed review of the Edge 830 and our opinion on this modelBuy the Garmin Edge 830

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Garmin Edge 1030: a large and comfortable screen but less complete functions

The Garmin Edge 1030 is the top model in the series. It offers a large touch screen (88.9 mm in diameter compared to 66 mm for the Edge 830). This is almost its only advantage over the other 2 models.

Released in 2017, it does not offer the latest features added to the Edge 530 and Edge 830. Garmin should, however, partially correct this with a software update.

We can see in the Edge 1030 a light version of the Edge 830 but with a much more readable screen.

Buy the Garmin Edge 1030

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The main differences between Edge 530, Edge 830 and Edge 1030

Design and technical characteristics

Here are 3 GPS bikes which are similar in terms of look and technical characteristics but whose price ranges from simple to double (from around € 300 for the Edge 530 to almost € 600 for the Edge 1030).

We are dealing with pretty rectangular meters to place on a bike stand provided by Garmin. All 3 have a color screen. The screens of the Edge 830 and Edge 1030 are tactile, unlike that of the Edge 530. The other differences are in terms of size, weight, autonomy and certain components.

The Edge 1030 differs from the other 2 models by its significantly larger screen and better resolution. It is perfect for people who want to be able to read the map comfortably or who have a slightly weak view. On the other hand, it is clearly heavier: 123 g against 80 g approximately for the other 2 models. It also offers a place to connect a micro SD memory card.

The smaller Edge 530 and Edge 830 are identical in screen size and resolution. They have the advantage of being equipped with a processor twice as fast as that of the Edge 1030. The waiting time at the start is thus reduced.

Autonomy: no difference

Autonomy is an important parameter for cyclists who practice long trips or for outings over several days. On these 3 meters, the autonomy announced is 20 hours, which is already excellent. If you want more, you can activate the “energy saving” mode, a degraded mode which allows you to extend the range by 50% or even more. The degraded mode consists of deactivating the screen during the output and recording less data from the sensors (GPS in particular). The accuracy of the recording is therefore reduced.

For greater autonomy without loss of data, Garmin offers Garmin Charge , an external battery to be smart health connected under the support of the Edge. This solution doubles the autonomy. You can of course also charge the Edge during a break or between two trips via a standard phone charger (not supplied).

The sensors: a new GPS chip on the Edge 530 and the Edge 830

In terms of sensors, there are very few differences between the 3 models. All are equipped with barometric altimeter for measurements of altitude and elevation and a thermometer. These instruments are also used in the Edge 530 and Edge 830 for the evaluation of the acclimatization to temperature and altitude and the adjustment of the VO2max calculation.

The main difference between the 3 models is at the GPS level. The Edge 530 and Edge 830 are equipped with a new high-sensitivity Sony GPS chip, less energy intensive. The 3 meters benefit from compatibility with Galileo satellite systems in addition to GPS and GLONASS (the Edge 1030 was only compatible with GPS and GLONASS but an update was made at the end of 2018 to add Galileo).

The 3 GPS counters are compatible with most external sensors and offer protocols ANT + and Bluetooth Smart. We can connect a heart rate monitoring, speed, cadence and power sensors but also control a Shimano Di2 derailleur, a VIRB camera, a health home trainer, some electric bikes or even connect Varia products (Vision, radar, lights) .

Mapping and navigation: the more complete Edge 830

The Edge 530, the Edge 830 and the Edge 1030 integrate a Garmin Cycle Map in colour. The map includes the passable routes of the country or continent of purchase (Europe if you buy the device in France) and popular routes (routes frequented by members of the Garmin community). Navigation functions allow you to follow a route previously loaded in the GPS counter from the Garmin Connect interface. The device indicates the direction to follow and signals dangerous turns. It is possible to activate voice guidance (the instructions are stored in memory with the map) to be guided by a voice, exactly as for car GPS.

On the MTB version of the Edge 530 and Edge 830, the all new Garmin models released in 2019, the maps also include the Trailforks data, or more than 180,000 mountain bike trails, as well as their level of difficulty. These models also incorporate Trailforks functions aimed at helping the mountain biker to get out (evaluation of the difficulty of the track, indication of the position and the next intersections when taking a break, evaluation of the quality of a descent). Find out more: detailed review of the Garmin Edge 830. Garmin announces that this data will not be included in the update of the Edge 1030. Mountain bikers will therefore have every interest in opting for the Edge 530 or Edge 830 or waiting for the Edge 1040 planned in 2020.

Another big difference, for climbers this time, the Edge 530 and Edge 830 offer the function ClimbPro. This function should however be integrated into the Edge 1030. It displays the altitude profile of the course, indicates the percentage of average slope, the elevation remaining to climb, the distance to the summit. The profile is cut into colored sections depending on the difficulty. The cyclist can easily analyze the difficulty of the slope and manage his effort accordingly.

Regarding navigation, the Edge 830 and Edge 1030 offer 2 advantages over the Edge 530:

• Navigation to an address or a POI (“Point Of Interest”): the Edge works here like a car GPS. It calculates the best route to an address entered by the user or to a nearby point of interest (hotel, restaurant, train station, etc.)

• A round trip route generator: the Edge can offer round trip circuits from the cyclist’s position, a direction and a distance.

Training tools

The 3 GPS counters compared here all offer advanced performance analysis functions (race metrics, physiological measurements, cycling dynamics). Find a description of these functions in our detailed review of the Garmin Edge 830.

The Edge 530 and Edge 830 are now the brand’s most comprehensive Garmin bike computers. Compared to the Edge 1030, they also offer tools for mountain biking (dynamic and metric mountain biking), power monitoring, estimation of acclimation to heat and altitude and an assessment of the VO2max taking take these factors into account. There are also new nutrition and hydration alerts: the device assesses your needs according to the terrain, your efforts, the temperature and invites you to refuel when necessary. The GPS also tracks diet and hydration and indicates whether they have been sufficient.

Security, support and smart health connected functions

The 3 devices take into account smartphone notifications. They allow you to be followed on the Internet or to communicate with the other cyclists in the group, provided of course that they themselves are equipped with a Garmin Edge counter offering these functions and that they have a smart health connected smartphone. They all have a fall detection and incident assistance function (call an emergency number).

The last 2 models (Edge 530 and Edge 830) also offer the function “Find my Edge” which allows you to find your Edge in the event of loss following a fall (the device emits a GPS signal allowing a Smartphone to spot it). Garmin also added a bicycle alarm activatable with a code and which rings and emits an alert on a Smartphone if the bicycle is moved. You can also share data between 2 Edge.

Our opinion: Edge 530, Edge 830 or Edge 1030: which one to choose?

The 3 bike and mountain bike GPS meters presented in this comparison are among the best on the market today. They all embark on color mapping of roads and cycle paths in Europe (or the country or continent of purchase) and allow you to follow a programmed route with route recalculation in the event of distance from the initial route. So in theory you can never get lost. The training and performance analysis functions are very comprehensive. The autonomy is excellent. So we will not make a mistake when buying one of these devices.

Now, which one to buy among the 3 knowing that their price oscillates between 300 € approximately for the Edge 530 to 600 € approximately, or double, for the Edge 1030. Should we favor the most expensive device, if we have from the budget ?

The main differences between the 3 models

The Edge 1030 was clearly the best bike GPS since its release in 2017. But with the arrival in 2019 of the Edge 530 and Edge 830 and new innovative features, it has become significantly less interesting. Why pay more for a slower, slower GPS meter? Its only advantage is the size of its screen, much larger than the other 2 models and above all readable even in the rain. People with low vision will appreciate this model more.

The Edge 530 and Edge 830 are almost identical. It’s the touch screen, the navigation to a given address or POI and the round trip generator that make the difference. If you are looking for a touch screen or if additional navigation functions are important to you, choose the Edge 830. Other than that, the Edge 530 is just as complete and costs $ 100 less.

Edge 530 and Edge 830: ideal for mountain biking

If you are looking for an ATV GPS-meter, choose the ATV version of the Edge 530 or the Edge 830. These 2 models offer Trailforks data (ATV trails and their difficulty) and some additional metrics to better be informed about your outing and you help progress. The Edge 1030, despite its software update, will not integrate this data.

Edge 830 and Edge 1030: choose for the touch screen

If you are looking for a device with a touch screen, the Edge 830 or Edge 1030 should be purchased. Be aware that Garmin is constantly improving the quality of its touch screens. They work in the rain and can even be used with cyclist gloves. Please note, the Edge 830 and Edge 1030 have fewer buttons than the Edge 530, the control being done by the touch screen. If you are not sure if you want to use the touchscreen all the time, it is better to opt for the Edge 530 (without touchscreen).

Edge 830 and Edge 1030: perfect for finding your way or discovering new routes

If you are looking for a bike GPS that works like a car GPS, that is to say that calculates the best route from an address or a point of interest, then choose the Edge 830 or the Edge 1030. Are you looking for a place to eat, an overnight hotel, a train station? Interrogate the GPS to discover the POIs around you and let it take you there.

With the Edge 530, you will have to record the route to follow before departure or via your smart health connected smartphone (route programmed on the Garmin interface or popular route). You can also go to a given address by positioning a cursor on the map. However, you will not be able to ask the Edge to drive you to a manually entered address or to a given center of interest.

Another advantage with the Edge 530 and Edge 830: they are able to offer round-trip routes from your position and a maximum distance that you decide. This is useful when you are cycling away from health home, on vacation, for example, and you don’t know where to go. The Edge will offer you loops.

Edge 1030: for its large and readable screen

The advantage of the Edge 1030 is to offer a very wide screen (around 60% more surface area than the other references) and better resolution (282 x 470 px versus 246 x 322 px). This GPS is perfect for people with low vision or looking for a comfortable screen to read. Study this setting carefully before purchasing your GPS.

The disadvantage of the Edge 1030 is that it is heavier (44 to 47 g more) and that it offers fewer functions than the other 2 GPS, pending its replacement for the Edge 1040 which should see the light of day in 2020.

Edge 530 and Edge 830: for more complete functions

Between the 3 devices, there is no photo: the Edge 530 and the Edge 830, very recent, are much more complete than the Edge 1030. There are notably ClimbPro (for climbers), the possibility of accessing mountain biking data, mountain biking dynamics, taking altitude and heat into account in certain calculations (VO2max, estimation of acclimatization), intelligent feeding and hydration alerts, etc. They are therefore better equipped than the Edge 1030. If these tools are useful for you, choose these models.

Edge 530 and Edge 830: for new components and faster calculations

The Edge 530 and Edge 830 benefit from the latest technological advances. The more energy-efficient GPS chip is also more sensitive, so it picks up the signal better in places where it is weak. The processor, 2 times faster than that of the Edge 1030, calculates routes faster and avoids waiting too long at the start.

Our preference: Edge 830: the most complete and the best value for money

Our favorite model to date is clearly the Edge 830, ultra-complete, with its touch screen (as long as you like touch screens), its GPS that works like car GPS, its route generator, a relatively small screen. comfortable (larger than that of the previous model, the Edge 820) and a price that remains reasonable (around 300 €). It is an excellent compromise and a very good value for money.

If your budget is tight, the Edge 530 offers almost the same functions for € 100 less, but no touch screen. It is our second choice.

Finally, the Edge 1030 seems too expensive since the release of the other 2 models. The only reason to opt for this GPS is its comfortable screen and micro SD card support. If the screen is really an important criteria for you and the new functions are not a priority, take the step, also knowing that the price should drop. Otherwise, it may be better to wait for the release of the Edge 1040 in 2020.

In order to help you in your choice, we offer the summary table below.

Garmin Edge 530, Edge 830 or Edge 1030: where to buy it?

You will find these bike GPS on the Internet (see below) or in specialist shops. Sport Passion offers you, with its partners, coupons.

Best Price Garmin Edge 530

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Best Price Garmin Edge 830

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