The Garmin Edge 820 is finally announced.
With some caveats, I like it a lot.
ESSENTIAL READING: Review of the Garmin Edge 820
Below is a quick comparison of the Edge 820 to the Edge 520 and the more dated Edge 810. There’s not as many differences as you might think. I’m working on an opinion piece looking at these and other factors. I’ve already used with Varia…some quick thoughts (here) on that.
The issues with the 820 initially appear to be “stability-based” but, as of Feb2017, new firmware has notably improved general usage eg on 25/Sep/16 I had a 3 hour race/ride with it in perfect working order. Later in 2016, touchscreen firmware ‘fixes’ seem to have made things slightly worse for me! but seem to have generally improved touchscreen issues fro many people.
ESSENTIAL READING: A loooong navigation with the Garmin Edge 820
ESSENTIAL READING: Pru Ride London with the Garmin Edge 820
It really is that simple.
If you don’t know the 520, look at the table below. The 820 IS the most advanced and feature-full cycling computer available. I can only think of 4 reasons why you would not buy one: price; button-only operation (ie not touchscreen); remaining bugs; and screen size.
The cut-down Garmin Edge 820-EXPLORE variant is not worth considering, IMO, as it has neither power meter support nor workouts nor WIFI nor some lesser bits.
CAUTION: 12February 2017: The Edge 820 is a highly complex product and still has notable bugs (see Garmin forum) which may, or may not, affect how you intend to use the product.
If you decide to buy an 820, after reading the information below and reading my Review of the Garmin Edge 820, I would be remiss if I did not urge you to see if the remaining bugs will affect you. I *DO* use the 820 every week. I *STILL DO* have touchscreen issues but this may only be with early-release models.
| Edge 820 | Edge 520 | Edge 810 | |
| Physical dimensions | 73.0 x 49.0 x 21.0 mm | 49.0 x 73.0 x 21.0 Mm | 51.0 x 93.0 x 25.0 mm |
| Display size, WxH | 58.4 mm | 35.0 x 47.0 Mm | 36.0 x 55.0 mm |
| Display resolution, WxH | 200 x 265 pixels | 200 x 265 pixels | 160 x 240 pixels, touchscreen |
| Touchscreen | Yes | No | Yes |
| Color display | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 67.7 g | 60 g | 98.0 g |
| Battery | Rechargeable lithium-ion | Rechargeable lithium-ion | rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Battery life | Up to 15 hours GPS training mode; up to 24 hours UltraTrac mode | Up to 15 hours | up to 17 hours |
| Water rating | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| GPS-enabled | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GLONASS | Yes | Yes | No |
| High-sensitivity receiver | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Barometric altimeter | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Unit-to-unit transfer (shares data wirelessly with similar units) | Yes | ||
| Smart notifications (displays email, text and other alerts when paired with your compatible phone) | Yes | Yes | |
| VIRB® control | Yes | ||
| Maps & Memory | |||
| Basemap | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ability to add maps | Yes | Yes | |
| Accepts data cards | microSD™ card (some versions include a City Navigator microSD card) | ||
| Waypoints/favorites/locations | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Routes | 0 | 0 | Limited by memory space available |
| History | Up to 180 hours | Up to 180 hours | up to 180 hours |
| Cycling Features | |||
| Compatible with Vector™ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple bike profiles | Yes | Activity profiles | Yes |
| Bike speed/cadence sensor | Yes (Some versions) | Yes (optional) | Yes (optional) |
| Performance Features | |||
| Heart rate monitor | Yes (optional) | Yes (optional) | Yes (optional) |
| Virtual Partner® (train against a digital person) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Courses (compete against previous activities) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Pause® (pauses and resumes timer based on speed) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Lap® (automatically starts a new lap) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Scroll (cycles through data pages during workout) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced workouts (create custom, goal-oriented workouts) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Time/distance alert (triggers alarm when you reach goal) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Interval training (set up exercise and rest intervals) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate-based calorie computation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calculates calories burned | Yes | ||
| Customizable screen(s) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power meter compatible (displays power data from compatible 3rd party ANT+™-enabled power meters) | Yes (records data approx. 1 per second) | Yes (records data approx. 1 per second) | Yes (records data approx. 1 per second) |
| Temperature (displays and records temperature while you ride) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shock Resistant | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Connect™ | |||
| Garmin Connect™ compatible (online community where you analyze, categorize and share data) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic sync (automatically transfers data to your computer) | Yes | Yes | By phone only. |
| Additional | |||
| Compatible with Varia™ bike radar and lights: | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Edge® remote compatibility: | Yes | Yes | Connected features via smartphone: yes |
| LiveTrack: | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced performance and power analysis, including VO2 max, FTP/Watts/kg tracking, Performance condition/lactate threshold/stress score as well as advanced cycling dynamics, GroupTrack, in-ride challenges through Strava live segments and connected features | Advanced performance and power analysis, including new Time in Zone, FTP tracking, cycling-specific VO2 and recovery and cycling dynamics | Compatible with Garmin Connect™ Mobile: yes | |
| Bike trainer profile for compatible Turbo trainer data display and control: | Yes | Yes | |
| On-device segment compatibility for dynamic and engaging in-ride competition: | Yes | Yes | Yes, STRAVA |
| Operating temperature: | -20°C to +55°C | -20°C to +55°C | -20°C to +55°C |
| Connected features via a smartphone: | Yes | Yes | |
| Compatible with Garmin Connect™ and Garmin Connect™ Mobile | Yes | Yes | |
| Integration with Shimano Di2 electronic shifting: | Yes (Not Explore Version) | Yes | Yes |
| Weather alerts: | Yes | Yes | |
| Preloaded Garmin cycling map | Yes | No | |
| Wi-Fi® compatible | Yes | No | |
| Ambient light: | Yes (Not explore Version) | ||
| Round-trip routing: | Yes | No | |
| Route planner: | Yes | No | |
| Incident detection: Yes | Compatible with VIRB® action cameras: Yes | ||
| Training plans/workouts: | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connect IQ™ store compatible: | Yes | ||
| Audio prompts: | Yes | ||
| This USB mass storage device is compatible with Windows® XP or newer and Mac® | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Approximate Prices:
| Garmin Edge 1000 Explore (non-bundle) | £345.00 | Link | $449.00 | Link |
| Garmin Edge 1000 | £345.00 | Link | $499.00 | Link |
| Garmin Edge 820 | £330.00 | Link | $400.00 | Link |
| Garmin Edge 520 | £176.00 | Link | $299.99 | Link |
| Garmin Edge 510 | £300.00 | Link | $329.99 | Link |
| Garmin Edge 810 | £197.00 | Link | $305.99 | Link |
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Where is the comparison between the 820 and the 810 ???
maybe the full width of the post does not show on your device
Garmin is incomprehensible, as always…..
I’d like the table to be available as a download, as a spread..
highlight the table paste it into excel…should work. you’ll have to do a bit of formatting afterwards. Word of warning though, the data is from the Garmin website 🙂
got a few things wrong re the 810 there (speaking as an owner of one). Auto sync – sort of… by phone so strictly, I agree, not by computer but it does auto sync (as opposed to the 800 which didn’t).
Multiple bike profiles = yes
speed cadence = yes (and power and Di2 if anyone’s interested).
Otherwise, good bit of comparison.
ty. and noted.
Thanks for the comparison. For four rows including the one for “Integration with Shimano Di2 electronic shifting: Yes”, the right column provides a comment for a different characteristic than the left column and their doesn’t appear to be comment in the right column for “ambient light”.
ty
My Varia radar works great with my 810
does indeed, ty
I have just ONE question that simply determines which one I will buy (810 or 820): as I know, the 810 has a RESISTIVE touch screen (meaning it will also work when touched with your finger-NAILS) but the all-important question is now: does the 820 also have a resistive type touch screen, or is it the capacitive type, as on all smartpjones? I just cannot stand those and is the main reason I do not buy a smartphone.
AFAIK: It has capacitive touch screen
You have made some clanging mistakes. The 810 does have Virb control and works with a smartphone for tracking and uploading.
ah well spotted. I did of course take those bits from the Garmin site so the multi-billion dollar company is the one that made the original clanging mistake 😉 . I’m just me who has a day job