Garmin releases GPS bike computer with transparent solar panel for 750 euros – Tablets and phones – News

Advantages of a cycling computer are:
– Screen easier to read in bright sunlight. Colors are less beautiful (mine is not even in color), but is therefore not relevant for this.
– Can handle wet conditions better, my bike computer with buttons can still be operated in the rain, my smartphone cannot. Doesn’t hold true for this Garmin, but as far as I understand, those touchscreens work better in the rain than most smartphones. The charging ports are also physically closed, even my waterproof phone doesn’t like spray getting in there.
– Can take a beating better in a fall because it is not made of glass.
– Usually cheaper, this Edge 1040 is really the most expensive and my phone already costs 200 euros more. My bike computer cost €230 5 years ago and will last for years to come, still getting updates.
– Battery life with screen and GPS continuously on much longer than phone. Hanging a power bank on my sports bike is not an option (view, weight, sturdiness of construction). On a touring bike that is less of a thing, on a mountain bike I wouldn’t want it either.
– You are not draining the battery of the device that is your lifeline if you should have a breakdown or breakdown.
– Connection with sensors, few phones support ANT+ (important especially for sporty cycling). Sensors are also available with bluetooth smart, so not necessarily a point.
– Mounting the device itself on your handlebar, not your phone in a case. A Quadlock for phones works very well in my experience, but also costs a bit, and there is no case for my current phone. I don’t trust that self-adhesive adapter when I dock over cobblestones at 30 km/h.
– No additional apps to look for or subscribe to. Just works well out of the box as a bicycle computer. There are numerous apps for smartphones, but a few years ago I did not find an alternative that works so well for displaying sensors, navigation and GPS recording in one.
– Cycle computers are much smaller and lighter than telephones, you have them in a number of sizes but this one is about the largest and is still shorter than an iPhone 12 Mini. My 6.78″ phone is 5 cm longer and almost 10 cm longer than my own cycling computer.

I also find it an advantage that I can cycle immediately after work without having to charge my phone again, my cycling computer can last for several rides without charging. Maybe less of a thing with fast charging phones but I didn’t have that 5 years ago and that’s how long I’ve had my bike computer now, with no plans to replace it yet. So yes it is a device, but given the lifespan I think that is an advantage. I used to cycle with my phone too, but after one cycling holiday I got rid of that.

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