Garmin have launched not one but two new GPS cycle computers, the Edge 810 and Edge 510, coinciding with the start of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, USA, today.
The full bells and whistles Edge 810 is the successor to the popular Edge 800, which has served as Garmin's flagship device in the GPS cycle computer world for the past two years (looks as though we'll have to wait a while longer for the Edge 900). The Edge 510 is the 810 without maps and navigation, so as much an '810 lite' as it is a successor to the Edge 500.
The two products don't feature big hardware upgrades compared to the existing units. Rather, as BikeRadar speculated recently, Garmin have incorporated changes they've made to their nüvi car satnav systems, building in bluetooth connectivity along with ANT+ which means you can link the devices with your smartphone and unlock some nice new features via an app.
These include automatic uploading of your data to Garmin Connect and sharing to social media, easy downloading of routes and courses from Garmin Connect to your device, live tracking – for races or just so your loved ones know where you are – and weather alerts on the go.
While the 810 and 510 are certainly sophisticated gadgets, Garmin want them to enhance your riding experience rather than distract from it. Hence the emphasis on usability and connectivity rather than improved hardware. After using them for several weeks, we think that the company have achieved this.
If you want our full assessments, plus a more detailed description of what each unit does, read our Garmin Edge 810 review and Garmin Edge 510 review.
Edge 810 – what you need to know
Watch the video below for our first impressions of the Garmin Edge 810:
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- Size: 93x53x25mm
- Weight: 97g
- Main hardware features: Three external buttons (on/off, start, lap), colour touchscreen, rubber protected USB port, mini SD memory card slot, barometric altimeter
- GPS: Standard GPS array
- Navigation: Full turn-by-turn navigation provided you have maps
- Bike options: 10 with up to five riding types per bike
- Maximum screens: Five, with up to 10 fields/screen, plus map, elevation, virtual partner, courses and workout pages
- Field options (a range of sub options in each): Time, distance, speed, power (includes normalised power, training stress score, intensity factor and kilojoules among other options), calories (Garmin estimate), navigation, elevation, heart rate, cadence, temperature, general (battery life, sunset/sunrise, gps accuracy).
- Smartphone app: Uploads to and downloads from Garmin Connect, shares to social media, enables live tracking, weather alerts
- Wireless: ANT+ and Bluetooth
- Battery life: 17 hours
- Retail price: £379.99/€449/$US499.99/ (basic unit w/o map, charger, usb cable, handlebar mount) / £429.99 (includes detailed map) / £479.99/US$699.99 (map plus heart rate strap, cadence sensor and OutFront mount)
- Shipping date: 28 January 2013
Edge 510 – what you need to know
Watch the video below for our first impressions of the Garmin Edge 510:
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- Size: 85x52x24mm
- Weight: 80g
- Main hardware features: Three rubber covered waterproof buttons (on/off, start, lap), colour touchscreen, rubber protected USB port, barometric altimeter
- GPS: Standard GPS array and GLONASS satellite network
- Navigation: Breadcrumb trail with directional navigation
- Bike options: 10, with up to five riding types per bike
- Maximum screens: Five, with up to 10 fields/screen, plus map, elevation, virtual partner, courses and workout pages
- Field options (a range of sub options in each): Time, distance, speed, power (includes normalised power, training stress score, intensity factor and kilojoules among other options), calories (Garmin estimate), navigation, elevation, heart rate, cadence, temperature, general (battery life, sunset/sunrise, gps accuracy).
- Smartphone app: Uploads to and downloads from Garmin Connect, shares to social media, enables live tracking, weather alerts
- Wireless: ANT+ and Bluetooth
- Battery life: 20 hours
- Retail price: £249.99/€299/$US329.99 (basic unit, charger, usb cable, handlebar mount) / £299.99/$399.99 (includes heart rate strap, cadence sensor, OutFront mount)
- Shipping date: 28 January 2013
Finally, here's a nice video by Garmin of the units being used by members of the Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda team.
Garmin presents -- the edge : let others follow
Garmin Presents -- The Edge : Let others follow