Garmin has replaced Edge Explore 2 with two navigation-first bike computers for riders who want maps, turn instructions and safety alerts rather than the training analysis of a performance Edge. The Edge Explore 3 costs £349.99 / $399.99, and the Edge Explore 3 Plus costs £429.99 / $499.99; orders open on 23 October.
Voice control on the Plus
The Edge Explore 3 Plus’s microphone and speaker let a rider ask for a new route, hear ride stats read aloud, switch screens, and report a road hazard, all with both hands on the bars. The same speaker plays voice messages from other Garmin Messenger users and also works as a digital bike bell to warn pedestrians on shared paths. Garmin says voice commands are available in selected languages and that performance varies with riding conditions.
Navigation is where the money goes.
Both models route on Garmin’s cycling maps and add two features Edge Explore 2 never had. Free flow routing looks for roads with fewer stops, junctions, and slow sections, which can work well on a commute or long tour where repeated starts and stops cost time. Pin drop navigation takes a pin or point of interest from Google Maps or Apple Maps on a phone and automatically builds a bike route to it without touching a route planner.
The rest of the navigation set carries over and remains the reason to buy an Explore. These new features add to them
- Route options offer alternatives based on ride time, elevation and bike type.
- Before setting off, the course preview shows distance, climbing, surface type, busy roads, and the number of reported hazards.
- Up Ahead marks cafes, water and toilets along the course with the distance to each.
- ClimbPro shows how much climbing is left and how steep it gets.
- Riders on a compatible Bosch or Shimano system see assist level and battery status, and routing adjusts to the remaining battery range.
Map updates over Wi-Fi on the Plus
The Edge Explore 3 Plus has Wi-Fi and the Wi-Fi map manager, so you can add, swap, and update maps on the device itself. Edge Explore 3 connects over Bluetooth and ANT+, and its maps are managed through a computer or a phone. Anyone who rides abroad regularly and swaps map regions regularly will notice the difference.
Battery life
The Edge Explore 3 lasts up to 16 hours in demanding use and the Edge Explore 3 Plus up to 14 hours, with both reaching 48 hours in battery saver mode. Battery saver doubles what the Edge Explore 2 managed, putting a multi-day tour or a long audax within reach on a single charge when the screen is dimmed and sensors are dropped.
Choosing between the two
| Edge Explore 3 | Edge Explore 3 Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price at launch | £349.99 / $399.99 / €399.99 | £429.99 / $499.99 / €499.99 |
| Microphone and voice control | No | Yes |
| Speaker and digital bike bell | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi map manager | No | Yes |
| Battery, demanding use | Up to 16 hours | Up to 14 hours |
| Weight | 118.8g | 121.5g |
The £80 between them buys hands-free operation and on-device map management, at the cost of two hours of riding time. Full details for both models are on the Edge Explore 3 specifications page, and the model they replace is covered on the Edge Explore 2 specifications page.
Garmin Edge Explore 3
Garmin's navigation-led bike computer. Bike maps, free flow routing and pin drop navigation on a 3-inch touchscreen, with 48 hours in battery saver mode. The Plus adds voice control and Wi-Fi maps.
+other retailersWhere it sits in the Edge range
The nearest touchscreen Edge is Edge 850 at £469.99, which carries the full training and analysis stack for anyone who trains to power. Buyers pay £120 less for the screen, maps, and simplicity. Riders who want the full performance set with a larger display are in Edge 1050 territory, and Garmin launched Edge 1060 on the same day.
Both Explore models were announced on 20 October 2026, with orders opening on 23 October. More on the range sits on the Garmin Edge hub, the current picks are in the best cycling computer guide, and what Garmin is expected to launch next is tracked on the Release Radar.
Quick answers
What is the difference between Edge Explore 3 and Edge Explore 3 Plus?
Explore 3 Plus adds a microphone, a speaker and Wi-Fi. That gives it hands-free voice control, voice messaging through Garmin Messenger, a digital bike bell, and map management on the device. It costs £80 more and runs two hours less in demanding use.
How much do Garmin Edge Explore 3 and Explore 3 Plus cost?
Edge Explore 3 is £349.99 / $399.99 / €399.99 and Edge Explore 3 Plus is £429.99 / $499.99 / €499.99 at launch.
When can I buy Garmin Edge Explore 3?
Garmin announced both models on 20 October 2026, and its product pages say orders open on 23 October, with pre-order dates varying by region.
Does Edge Explore 3 have multi-band GPS?
No. Both models receive GPS, GLONASS and Galileo on a single frequency. Multi-band reception is reserved for the performance Edge models.
Does Edge Explore 3 work with an eBike?
Yes. Both models connect to compatible Bosch smart systems and Shimano eBike systems to show assist level and battery status, and routing accounts for the range left in the battery.
Does Edge Explore 3 work with Varia radar?
Yes. Both models pair with Varia rearview radar, radar cameras and smart lights, and both include incident detection and LiveTrack when paired with a phone.
Garmin’s announcement is on the Garmin newsroom.
Last Updated on 21 October 2026 by tfk the5krunner
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Watches and sensors
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On the bike
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Home and indoor training
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Health, recovery and sleep
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. See the gear tfk uses. ID
