There is no way you don’t know about the bike computers used for several purposes if you are a hardcore bike rider or enthusiast. Different companies out there are continuously making new versions and models of bike computers.
Everything about your bike ride that includes the navigation to the health-related calculations and measurements, can be accessed with these devices.
Here in this article, both devices from Garmin 820 vs 830 are considered as two of the best GPS devices for bicycles.
As the name suggests, the Garmin 830 is the successor of the previous version Garmin 820, so that you can assume some improvements with the 830 models than in 820.
However, both of these devices come with almost similar features and options. That’s why it is hard to decide on the best one from both of them or find the best one for each rider.
To help you out with selecting the right device for your daily use on your bike, here we will go through all the features and a comparison between them for better understanding.
Table of Contents
Garmin Edge 820 vs 830
Last update on 2021-10-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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Garmin Edge 820
Last update on 2021-10-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Garmin made one of the best bike computers with this Garmin 820 for all needs, including navigation while on your bike in between a ride or workout routines.
It was the first model that came before the 830 models from Garmin 820 vs 830 bike computers. This device has a touchscreen display for the controls, and it comes with high resolution and quality.
Besides, the device is lightweight, and the touchscreen is a responsive capacitive touch display that works without any problem with the gloves or when your hands are wet. So that it is reliable under any circumstances.
The Group track feature available in most of the Garmin GPS devices is also available on this device that will help you to keep in touch with other riders from the group that you are riding with.
You can get the information about the fellow riders’ position in your pack that will increase situational awareness throughout the ride. Moreover, the pre-loaded Garmin Cycle Map works behind the navigation system of this device.
And this navigation system has features like turn-by-turn navigation along with the round-trip course creator and on-device course planning.
Custom apps and data files can be downloaded and used on this device. The assured battery life of this Garmin 820 is about 15 hours on one charge.
- It has a responsive touchscreen with high-resolution.
- Compatible with all the ANT+ compatible applications.
- You have features of all kinds that will help in any bike ride you prefer.
- Local map files can be downloaded and used on this device without any complications.
- This is responsive but not as responsive as smartphone navigation applications.
Garmin 830
Last update on 2021-10-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Garmin Edge 830 is another model of bike computer from the same Garmin brand released years after the Garmin 820 model of this GPS device for the bicycle.
As time passed and the name suggests, this one is a little more advanced and expensive compared to Garmin 820 vs. 830 bike computers.
The number of loaded features on this device is a large list of items, and all of them are controlled with the high-resolution touchscreen display. First of all, this device is for you if you are looking for an updated model of your Garmin device.
Dynamic performance monitoring on this device provides insights on your VO2 max, recovery, training load focus, heat and altitude acclimation, nutrition, hydration, and more when paired with compatible sensors.
Besides that, it has safety features include bike alarm, group messaging, and tracking alongside the compatibility with Variant rearview radar and lights so you can see and be seen.
You can create a local route map or use the on-device map to create routes for your riding needs. And the device is capable of calculating the trail fork data.
The device lets you customize it according to your likes with free applications, widgets, and data fields from the Connect IQ store. Besides, the two kinds of compatible sensors include ANT+ and BLE.
Other options like track jump count, jump distance, hang time, and Grit, a measure of the ride's difficulty, and Flow, which tracks your descent's smoothness, are available to be used on mountain bike rides.
This device's battery life is increased from the predecessor model, which is Garmin 820 with 20 hours of battery life on one charge.
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- It has increased battery life.
- More clear and high-quality touchscreen display.
- You can set local map routes or can use the in-device map.
- Compatible with both ANT+ and BLE sensors.
- It is more expensive than the previous model of this device
Comparison Between Garmin 820 vs 830
Both these bike computers in Garmin 820 vs 830 has their own pros and cons. Besides, the 830 is the updated and the latest model that came after several years of the release of the 820.
So that it has different kinds of advanced features from the 820 version of this device. But you have to consider all the sides when choosing the right device for your needs.
To help in the selection of the device for your bike rides, here we are comparing all the different aspects of these Garmin GPS device models.
Battery Life
Garmin didn't forget to give a remarkable battery life for 820 and 830 versions of this bike computer. Even though the 830 has an advantage compared to the 820.
The battery used on the Garmin 820 is a Lithium-ion battery, while the Garmin 830 uses a Lithium-Polymer battery.
This makes the battery life difference, too, with 5 hours of an increased lifetime(20 hours) for the 830 models than 820 has(15 hours).
Screen Resolution
Here in the case of screen resolution also has some differences between these products. The resolution of the screen of the Garmin 820 is 200 x 265 pixels, while the 830 has an improved resolution of 246 x 322 pixels.
Weight of the Device
With all the extra features and a bigger screen, there are some sacrifices to be made. That what happened with the Garmin 830 model's weight that comes with 79.1 g compared to the 67.7 g weight of the Garmin 820.
FAQs
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions from the customers of these Garmin products and other bike product enthusiasts to get a better idea about them.
Do these devices come with any kind of mounting parts?
Yes, it has a couple of different mounting options that come with the unit. One for on the bars and one for in front of the bars.
How effective is the trail forks integration for MTB users whose primary interest is navigating unknown trail systems?
It is a play of hit or miss. Most of the time, it will be accurate with the trails. But some of the riders say that they compare it with Google Maps when they get confused in few situations.
Can this be used with multiple amounts of bikes?
Yes, it can be used with any kind of bike and has no limitations in the number of bikes that you can use them with.
Will the Edge 830 connect to a pioneer power meter?
It should work after pairing, but you should check your manufacturer’s user manual for compatibility.
Can I use this unit in a different country other than the USA?
Other country maps aren’t loaded on the US version. If you’re going to use it primarily in any other country, there’s an international version.
Conclusion
We went through all the features and details of both devices from Garmin 820 vs 830 bike computers that come with all the features you might need throughout your bike ride.
Garmin 830 is more advanced in every way possible in one quick look, but the price point is too high for some riders, and they may not need all the extra features that are available on the latest model.
So, it is crucial to know the rider's actual needs before selecting the expensive one or the one with fewer features. Because both of them has their own advantages and disadvantages. However, the clear winner is Garmin Edge 830, which is more suited and technically good for cycling adventures.