Wahoo Bolt 3 and Wahoo Roam 3
Wahoo just announced the completion of its next-generation tech line-up.
ELEMNT Ace was launched in a new, large format in December 2024, so today’s announcement keeps the new tech platform and its features, or most of them, but applies to medium- and smaller-sized formats. I’ll cover the differences in a minute; there are some unusual tidbits, but much of it is as expected if you understand what was added with ELEMNT ACE (which I liked).
Availability
- You can buy: May 6th, here
- Media: get theirs soon.
The launch has either been delayed because of production issues or, more likely, Wahoo got wind of Garmin’s next-generation Edge 550 and Edge 850 and wanted to let us know that its new models are about to hit the shelves, so don’t jump ship. If so, that would be a sensible move from the company.
Features
Here is a high-level feature comparison chart. ROAM 3 gains a high-grade speaker and touchscreen update from the BOLT 3’s button-only interface. ACE matches ROAM 3 and has a unique airflow sensor.
Unlike Garmin, Wahoo’s button-only interface is awesomely efficient. There’s no need to get ROAM 3 for the extra £/$100 unless you want a larger screen size and a couple of hours more battery juice.
The odd thing is the Airflow sensor and the WIND Dynamics that come with it. This is supposedly a pro-grade tool (hmm); however, it’s on the big, heavy model that Pros won’t use in any significant numbers. This is a super-odd omission from ROAM/BOLT, and I can’t explain it.
Wahoo ELEMNT ACE vs ROAM v3 vs BOLT v3: Display, Size & Weight Comparison
| Feature | ELEMNT ACE | ELEMNT ROAM v3 | ELEMNT BOLT v3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 3.8″ / 9.7 cm | 2.8″ / 7.1 cm | 2.3″ / 5.8 cm |
| High Resolution Display Type | 16 million colors | 16 million colors | 16 million colors |
| Height | 4.9 in / 125 mm | 3.8 in / 96 mm | 3.26 in / 83 mm |
| Width | 2.8 in / 70 mm | 2.1 in / 53 mm | 1.85 in / 47 mm |
| Depth | 0.8 in / 20 mm | 0.78 in / 24 mm | 0.78 in / 24 mm |
| Weight | 7.4 oz / 208 g | 109g | 84 g |
Take Out
ELEMNT Ace represents an entirely new platform for Wahoo; even the app side of things is moving from the ELEMNT app to the WAHOO app.
The new app has various back-end technical improvements, e.g., allowing synchronisation to other platforms to be triggered from the cloud rather than from your app. They are significant changes but ones you might not necessarily appreciate on the road. In terms of what you experience, the tech glue will work better.
I suspect the new platform positions Wahoo’s tech for the future. I don’t know for sure, but I would speculate that it will enable 3rd party apps at some point in the future – like Garmin’s Connect IQ. That has to be a strategic imperative for the company to compete with Garmin more effectively.
We’ve not got the complete list of features yet.
New features are definitely in the pipeline, but I don’t expect any new feature on launch day will tempt you to upgrade from your existing Bolt 2/Roam 2. But if you are switching to Wahoo from Garmin, you want to get one of the new Gen of ELEMNT bike computers rather than the older ones (which remain perfectly great bike computers).
More: WahooFitness.com
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Sizes and weight has been updated in the website and it differs from yours above: https://au.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-computers
thank you! updated
I have owned ACE since it came out. I’ve already got used to its size. Overall it is fine. However, there are some things that are endnlessly to be improved:
1. the colours of the map are too pale. When driving in the sun, the streets practically blend into the surroundings. Green colours are too bright. Grey fields blend in with white streets. On ROAM v2 there was no such problem. contrast was very clear.
2. despite the large map screen, after switching on the elevation profile I am again left with little space for the map preview. The map profile is too high. It could be 2x lower. Likewise the data fields are unnecessarily so large. It should have been possible to choose the size.
3 Voice turn notifications are a joke. It is not audible on the street. At home when it’s quiet it’s ok outside no point.
4. why is there no Bluetooth ON/OFF option. While driving I don’t want to be connected to my phone.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Very relevant comments, I bought Ace as well after using Edge 1050 and Karoo (3) and truly disappointed about the TFT screen quality which is far away from Amoled displays of Karoo and Edge 1050 even the backlight was 100%. I also found that the map page lost lots of space after elevation graphics is turned on.
Positive notes, indoor structured workouts were very good, because of Systm integration and overall the navigation was better than Garmins, but Karoo navigation was better. The buttons are also good catch.
I hope that Elemnt Roam 3 display is smaller and possibly sharper, but not sure is the display is good enough for my eyes, but Wahoo numbers shift is bold and better than Karoo, I might give a shot to Elemnt Roam 3. At the moment I will continue with Edge 1050.
I like the ACE screen tho its colours are a tad muted.
Edge 1050 is not AMOLED. karoo 3 is not stated as amoled. both are a kind of LCD.
a bonus with wahoo is the easy zoomability of metrics, effectively making them bigger on-demand
Here I disagree, wahoo still has better navigation. The visibility of the 6 data fields on the map is great. Navigation with a visible segment layer is cool too. Zoom from wahoo buttons is what garmin doesn’t have.
If the battery claims are as optimistic as those of the Ace, they should have better found a way to keep making the old models
I like the optical refresh. It was overdue in my opinion.
But the Bolt is still as thick when on the mount as it’s long. Should go real well with those brick like integrated stem-handelbar monstrosities!
The touch screen on the Roam is welcomed and a necessary upgrade to compete with Garmin.
Battery life could put them on a disadvantage if the new Edge x50 generation improves on it compared to the X40 ones.
Oh and they each could be 50€ cheaper.
But hey you get subscription free ease of use without convoluted menus and sub menus of sub menus.
i cant argue with any of that!
Disagree that the Airflow/wind sensor is a pro-grade tool. It is a cool feature for the enthusiast (or nerdy gimmick for geeks, depending on your point of view) to show off between cycling buddies. But it has no relevance for professionals or serious competitive cyclist.
fair comment
perhaps i should have said pro-like. i was trying to make the point that the performance type wahoo buyer won’t buy ACE but definitely would buy roam and bolt.