| Manufacturer | Garmin |
|---|---|
| Type | Bike headlight with a built-in 4K camera |
| Series | Varia |
| Released | 9 April 2025 |
| Price | Garmin UK sells the Varia Vue at £459.99. The US price at launch was $549.99. A memory card is not included, and Garmin Vault cloud storage is a paid subscription. |
| Predecessor | None; Garmin’s first headlight with a camera |
| Successor | Not yet announced; see Release Radar |
| Part number | 010-02911-00 |
Specifications as listed by Garmin. Features reflect the latest Garmin software.
Expert opinion | Front and rear recording | Features | Specifications | Battery life | Quick answers | Further reading
Expert opinion
Who it suits: Commuters and road cyclists who want a bright front light and video evidence of what happens ahead.
The Vue records in up to 4K with image stabilisation and saves footage from before, during and after a detected incident. Its 600-lumen light has a cutoff beam that keeps glare out of oncoming drivers’ eyes, and with an Edge it adjusts brightness to your speed. Add an RCT715 and you have front and rear footage of the same moment.
Battery is the trade-off: up to seven hours in day flash at 1080p, but as little as 1.25 hours at full brightness in 4K. You also need to buy a microSD card, and Garmin Vault cloud storage is an extra subscription.
Garmin Varia Vue
A 600-lumen headlight that records the road ahead in 4K and keeps any incident.
Garmin Varia RCT715
Rear radar and tail light with a camera that saves the footage if something happens.
Front and rear recording
The Varia Vue covers the road ahead, and the Varia RCT715 covers the road behind. Paired to a compatible Edge, the two record at the same time, so you have matching front and rear footage of any incident. On its own, the Vue is a 600-lumen headlight with a cutoff beam that keeps light out of oncoming drivers’ eyes, and its brightness adjusts to your speed and the light when paired to an Edge. Battery life depends on the headlight mode and the video resolution, from 1.25 hours at full brightness in 4K to nine hours with the camera running alone in 1080p.
Features
Camera
- 4K, 1440p and 1080p recording at 30 frames per second, or 1080p at 60
- Electronic image stabilisation and a built-in microphone
- Saves footage from before, during and after a detected incident
- GPS speed and location overlay when paired to an Edge, a Garmin watch or the Varia app
- microSD card from 8GB to 512GB, sold separately
Headlight
- Up to 600 lumens in day flash and 550 lumens on high
- Cutoff beam to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic
- Auto brightness with a compatible Edge
- Fits Edge flush out-front mounts
Control and storage
- Camera and light control from an Edge, a Garmin watch or the Varia app
- Edit clips and add data overlays in the Varia app
- Optional Garmin Vault subscription uploads locked footage over Wi-Fi
Specifications
| Specification | Varia Vue |
|---|---|
| General | |
| ANT+ | Yes (bike lights, camera control) |
| Dimension | 92 x 60 x 33 mm (3.6″ x 2.4″ x 1.3″) |
| Weight | 200 g (7 oz) |
| Light modes | High, medium, low, night flash and day flash |
| Lumens | 550 high, 300 medium, 140 low, 400 night flash, 600 day flash |
| Water rating | IPX7 |
| BLE | Yes (bike lights, camera control) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Visibility distance | 1.6 km (1 mile) |
| Integrated camera | Yes |
| Smart headlight | Yes |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
| Storage | |
| Accepts Data Cards | Memory card sold separately; requires at least 8 GB microSD card (supports up to 512 GB), Class 10 or faster |
| Camera | |
| GPS speed and location info in video | Yes (when paired to a compatible Garmin Edge, Garmin smartwatch or Varia App) |
| Camera modes | Continuous, off, radar-activated (when paired with compatible Varia rearview radar) |
| Camera settings | 4K30, 1440p30, 1080p30, 1080p60 |
| Electronic image stabilisation | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Autolock footage upon incident detection |
| Camera control | Garmin Edge bike computers, selected Garmin smartwatches and Varia app |
| Vault support for video storage | Yes |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
| Connectivity | |
| Varia app compatibility | Light control, camera control and video transfer |
| Security updates | |
| Security updates until at least | 9 April 2027 |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Battery life
| Model | Garmin’s battery life rating |
|---|---|
| Varia Vue | 1080p30 recording: 1.5 hours high, 2.5 hours medium or night flash, 4.5 hours low, 7 hours day flash, 9 hours camera only; 4K recording: 1.25 hours high, 2 hours medium or night flash, 3.5 hours low, 5 hours day flash, 6 hours camera only |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Garmin Varia Vue
A 600-lumen headlight that records the road ahead in 4K and keeps any incident.
Quick answers
How long does the Garmin Varia Vue battery last?
Up to seven hours in day flash while recording 1080p, or nine hours with the camera alone. At full brightness the camera records for 1.5 hours in 1080p and 1.25 hours in 4K.
Does the Varia Vue come with a memory card?
No. It needs a microSD card of at least 8GB, Class 10 or faster, and takes cards up to 512GB.
Can the Varia Vue record with a rear camera?
Yes. Paired with the Varia RCT715 radar camera tail light, both record at once for matching front and rear footage.
When was the Garmin Varia Vue released?
Garmin announced it on 9 April 2025. Garmin UK sells it at £459.99.
Further reading
- Garmin Varia Vue headlight with 4K camera
- Garmin Varia RearVue 820: all you need to know
- Bike computers compared
- Garmin hub
- Garmin watch and device specifications
- Release Radar
Related devices
Rear radar and camera: Garmin Varia RearVue 820, RCT715 and RTL515, the radar tail lights, including the RCT715 with its rear camera.
Bike computers to pair with: Garmin Edge 1060, Edge 1050 and Edge 850 show radar alerts and camera controls alongside your ride data.
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Ravemen FR1000: The light and the computer mount in one unit, so nothing else goes on the bars. Better than mine.
- Ravemen FR1500SE: 1,500 lumens hanging under your Garmin, for proper night rides.
- Ravemen FR1100SE: 1,100 lumens under your Garmin, and up to 46 hours on slow flash.
- Ravemen FR500: A brighter FR300 with the same mount.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red and infrared light for sore knees, Achilles and other joints after hard training. I use it.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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