The Garmin Edge 830 and the Garmin Edge 1030 are two of the most prominent cycling computers available in the market. Equipped with a color touchscreen and various modern facilities, both these GPS are well worthy of their popularity and hype.
Hailing from the same brand, there are a lot of similarities between these two devices. However, in terms of features and specifications, quite a few differences are found in both these devices.
The Garmin 1030 looks bigger and more appealing in appearance as it comes with a much larger screen than the Garmin 830. On the other hand, the Garmin 830 edges out the Garmin 1030 with its various safety and mountain biking features. Also, the Garmin 830 is significantly cheaper than the Edge 1030.
In this article, we are going to dive deep into the features, specifications, pros and cons of both these devices. And more importantly, we are going to have an in detailed discussion on the differences between the Garmin 830 and the Garmin 1030.
Garmin 830 Vs 1030 Comparison
Garmin Edge 830 vs 1030- Side by Side Comparison
# Garmin Edge 830 Review
The Garmin Edge 830 GPS is a significant upgrade to the Garmin Edge 820. The Garmin 830 comes with a highly responsive color touchscreen. It also comes with a preloaded Garmin Cycle Map and the TrailForks features are integrated into it.
The Garmin 830 is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity. It has a lithium-ion battery that is rechargeable and lasts up to 20 hours. Its compatibility with the Garmin Battery Charge pack enables the user to keep their device charged for a number of hours.
Along with the turn-by-turn navigation, routing based on popularity, customized workout routines according to your needs, it also comes with various safety features. It has a pin-protected bike alarm feature that goes off every time it notices unusual movements while you’re away. Furthermore, it has another cool feature “find my bike computer” that can be used to find your bike if lost.
Specification
- Screen: 2.6 inches
- Pixel Resolution: 246×322 px
- Waterproof Rating: IPX 7
- Weight: 79.1 gm
- Dimensions (LxWxH) :3.2 x 0.8 x 1.9 inches
- Battery: 20 hours
- Human Interface Input: Touchscreen
Key Features
Mapping
The Garmin 830 will come with a preloaded Garmin Cycle Map. Along with the turn-by-turn navigation, this map will also alert you of the next turn ahead.
Routing
Features such as popularity routing that is based on the routing data of fellow cyclists are available in the Edge 830. Re-routing options are available too.
Training Planning
You will get dynamic insights into your performance with the Edge 830. It also has heat and altitude acclimation features to change the metric of your training and performance according to the temperature and height. Furthermore, this device will send you notifications when it’s time to eat or hydrate.
Power Curve
If you pair your Garmin 830 with compatible Garmin sensors, it can measure a power curve. The power curve is a measurement that is used to compare your ride effort details with the previous rides.
Safety Features
Garmin 830 comes with safety features such as group messaging and tracking. Moreover, it has a pin-protected bike alarm feature. This alarm goes off in your connected phone whenever there’s an unusual movement when you are not near your bike. Furthermore, it has incident detection that shares your location with your emergency contacts.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking features are another exciting option in the Garmin Edge 830. By downloading the TrailForks app you can get the most up-to-date information about the trails. In addition, the new ForkSight mode shows you the upcoming forks in your trail. Moreover, Edge 830 can track the most awesome details of your mountain biking such as hang time, jump count, etc.
ClimbPro
The ClimbPro feature in the Garmin 830 gives you an idea about how many grades and ascents you have left in your trail. Thus you can assess how much more you have to push yourself to complete your trail of mountain biking.
Shemano eBike System
The Garmin 830 is compatible with Shemano Steps eBike System. Shemano Steps eBike System will give you unique data fields, widgets and various alert and warning messages. Moreover, information such as battery level, the position of your gear and so on are also displayed in this eBike System.
Pros
- Long battery life up to 20 hours
- Gives flow and grit ratings
- High Processing Speed
- Lighter than Edge 1030
- “Find my bike computer” feature
- Faster processing speed
Cons
- Comparatively smaller touch screen than 1030
- Internal memory is not expandable
# Garmin Edge 1030 Review
The Garmin Edge 1030 comes with a larger screen than the Edge 830. The pixel resolution in Edge 1030 is also much higher than its predecessors. It also features a slot for microSD cards. Because of this external memory, you can download maps from various sources.
A preloaded Garmin Cycle Map is given to your Edge 1030. It also provides you turn-by-turn navigations and has the capability of rerouting at any given second. Moreover, The Edge 1030 can save ride history, routes, and addresses for later reference.
To help you with your training, will provide you with customized workout routines. Its battery life is 20 hours and it is compatible with the Garmin Battery Charge Pack. The Edge 1030 is compatible with three different types of maps.
Specification
- Screen: 3.5 inches
- Pixel Resolution: 282×470 px
- Waterproof Rating: IPX 7
- Weight: 123 gm
- Dimensions(LxWxH): 2.3 x 0.8 x 4.5 inches
- Battery: 20 hours
- Human Interface Input: Touchscreen
Key Features
Navigation and Mapping
The Edge 1030 comes with a built-in Garmin Cycle Map with turn-by-turn navigation. Moreover, it will also give you a navigation alert before every turn you face on your journey.
Routing
The Garmin 1030 gives you route suggestions based on the popularity of a route among fellow cyclists. It can also generate bike-friendly routes using the advanced Course Creator found in Garmin Connect.
Rider to Rider Communication Facilities
In Garmin 1030, you can send pre-written messages or notes to your fellow rider. Also, you befall any convenience you can seek help from your fellow riders who are paired with GroupTrack.
Connectivity
The connectivity features in the Edge 1030 are pretty amazing. There’s an option to respond with prewritten texts to the phone calls that you have missed or the messages. Real-time ride-sharing is also available with GroupTrack and LiveTrack.
Training Planning
You can use the TrainingPeaks Connect app to execute your workouts. The app will provide guidance throughout your workout in real-time. Moreover, it has the feature to analyze your training and track your progress in detail after the workout session.
Power Plan Assistance
You can get a power plan for the race day in Garmin 1030 by using the Best Bike Split. All you need to do to avail this is connect your Best Bike Split account to your Garmin Edge 1030.
Customization
The Garmin Edge 1030 is easily customizable with apps, widgets, and data fields that are available in the Connect IQ store. Various apps such as weather update apps are available in the Connect IQ Store for the 1030.
Pros
- Extendable internal microSD memory
- Battery life up to 20 hours
- The much larger touchscreen of 3.5 inches,
- Fully responsive touch screen
- Completely waterproof
Cons
- The processing speed is slower compared to the Edge 830
- Very expensive in comparison to the Garmin Edge 830
Garmin 830 vs Garmin 1030 – Comparison Chart
| Comparison Parameter | Garmin Edge 830 | Garmin Edge 1030 |
| Display Size | 2.6 inches | 3.5 inches |
| Battery Life | 20 hours | 20 hours |
| Battery Saver Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Processor Speed | Faster than Edge 820 | Slower than both Edge 820 and Edge 830 |
| Bike Alarm Feature | Yes | No |
| Find My Bike Computer feature | Yes | No |
| Nutrition and Hydration Alerts | Yes | No |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, WiFi | Bluetooth, ANT+, WiFi |
| Heat Acclimation | Yes | No |
| Altitude Acclimation | Yes | No |
| Garmin Battery Pack Support | Yes | Yes |
| Performance Power Curve | Yes | No |
| Rider to Rider Messaging | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate Monitor Compatibility | Yes | Yes |
| Compatibility with Speed and Cadence Sensors | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max Estimation | Yes | Yes |
| Girt and Flow Rating | Yes | No |
| ClimbPro Feature | Yes | No |
| Price | Cheaper than Garmin Edge 1030 | Costs 50 to 60 US dollars more on average |
Garmin Edge 830 vs Garmin Edge 1030 – the Breakdown
Display Size
Both the Garmin Edge 830 and 1030 come with fully responsive color touchscreens. However, with a 3.5 inches screen, the screen size in 1030 is much bigger than the one in Edge 830. The Edge 830 has a screen size of 2.6 inches
Battery Life
In terms of battery life, both the Garmin Edge 830 and Garmin Edge 1030 provide similar performance. They both have a battery life of about 20 hours.
Battery Saver Mode
The Battery Saver Mode is found in both these devices. The Battery Saver Mode significantly increases the battery life up to 10 extra hours.
Processor Speed
In the metric of processor speed, the Garmin 830 edges out the Garmin 1030. The Garmin 830 comes with a much faster processor than the Garmin Edge 830.
Bike Alarm Feature
One big plus in the Garmin 830 is its bike alarm feature with the smartphone it is paired with. The pin-protected bike alarm will go off in the paired phone if the device can detect any unusual movements in your bike while you are away.
Find My Bike Computer Feature
Another major difference in terms of safety features between the Garmin 830 and the Garmin 1030 is the Find My Bike Computer feature. The Garmin 830 is equipped with Find My Bike Computer feature which helps you to track your device from a paired phone if you lose it somehow.
Heat Acclimation
In Garmin 830, you will get the heat acclimation feature. This feature changes metrics such as recovery time, performance parameters, etc according to the temperature you are riding your bike at. However, the Garmin 1030 has no such heat acclimation feature.
Altitude Acclimation
The Garmin 830 keeps in consideration the altitude you are riding your bike at. With its altitude acclimation ability, it will adjust your performance metrics, recovery time, hydration and nutrition needs, etc according to the altitude. In contrast, the Garmin 1030 does not adjust its metrics according to altitude.
Garmin Edge Battery Power Pack Support
For those who want to keep their devices charged for a few hours, both Garmin 830 and Garmin 1030 are good choices for them. Both these devices support the Garmin Edge Battery Power Pack support to fulfill your needs.
Performance Power Curve
The performance power curve is another feature with which the Garmin 830 trumps the Garmin Edge 1030. In simple words, to compare your present ride efforts with your previous attempts, the Garmin 830 displays you a measurement called performance power curve. In contrast, the Garmin 1030 gives you no such facility to measure your rides with a performance power curve.
Rider to Rider Messaging
Another metric based on which we are going to compare the Garmin 830 and the Garmin 1030 is the availability of rider-to-rider connectivity. However, there are not any differences in this aspect. Both these devices offer the same perks in terms of rider-to-rider messaging. The rider-to-rider communication has been made easy in both Garmin 830 and Garmin 1030. In both the devices, live communication with fellow riders and real-time location sharing are available
Heart Rate Monitors Compatibility
In the metric of compatibility with heart rate monitors, there is not any difference between these two devices. Because both Garmin 830 and Garmin 1030 are equipped with smart Bluetooth connectivity, they are both compatible with heart rate monitors.
Compatibility with Speed and Cadence Sensors
The Garmin 830 and Garmin 1030 are compatible with smart sensors such as speed and cadence sensors. Compatibility with these sensors gives us a detailed analysis of speed and other information.
VO2 Max Estimation
The maximum amount of oxygen a person can utilize in his or her training session is referred to as VO2 max estimation. The Garmin Edge 830 and The Garmin Edge 1030 can both provide you with VO2 max estimation.
Grit and Flow Rating
The grit rating measures the difficulty of a trail and the flow rating gives you a measurement of how well you rode that trail. The Garmin 830 is capable of providing you with these details of mountain biking whereas the Garmin 1030 is not equipped with any features of the same kind.
ClimbPro Feature
Another noticeable difference between the Garmin 830 and the Garmin 1030 is the ClimbPro feature. The Garmin 830 is equipped with modern ClimbPro features that give the number of remaining ascents and grades in your trail. On the other hand, while riding a mountain trail with the Garmin 1030, you will get no such feature.
Price
The last parameter of our comparison between the Garmin 830 and the Garmin 1030 is their pricing. One thing to note here is, both these devices offer good value in their individual price ranges. However, the Garmin 830 is much cheaper than the Garmin Edge 1030 in the market. There is about a difference of 50 to 60 US dollars between their prices.
Conclusion – Which One to Choose?
There are very few metrics on which the Garmin 1030 outperforms the Garmin 830. On the other hand, the Garmin 830 edges out the Garmin 1030 in quite a few areas.
The Garmin 830 comes with various additional features such as the mountain biking features which are not available in the Garmin 1030. Moreover, in terms of safety features, it also outscores the Garmin 1030 with its bike alarm and Find My Bike Computer feature. Moreover, it also has a much faster processor speed than the Garmin 1030.
Along with all these additional perks, the Garmin 830 comes at a much cheaper price too. The Garmin 830 costs about 50 to 60 US Dollars less in the present market than the 1030.
Therefore, to conclude, the Garmin 830 is the clear winner between these two devices in our opinion. If you have no problem with the slightly smaller screen of Garmin 830, there is not a single reason for you to spend extra money to buy the Garmin Edge 1030.