| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Magene |
| Type | Compact GPS cycling computer, 2.4-inch touchscreen and three buttons |
| Series | C506 |
| Released | 2024 |
| Price | GBP 109 / USD 119 at launch; USD 99 on magene.com |
| Variants | C506 SE, buttons only with route navigation |
| Review | Magene C506 review |
Specifications and features as at firmware 1.9, October 2026.
Jump to: Expert opinion | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Ride profiles | Quick answers | Further reading
Expert opinion
C506 is a first GPS computer that covers far more than its price suggests: maps with turn-by-turn directions, power meter and Di2 support, smart trainer control and radar display, in a 76g unit. ClimbPro and Strava Segments belong to the C606 family and the C706.
In my C506 review it recorded accurately over 500km, its buttons backed up a touchscreen that missed taps with cold fingers, and the OnelapFit app worked but felt unpolished. Firmware since then has added rerouting choices, colour-coded routes, laps by location and DJI and Insta360 camera control.
Magene C506
Compact touchscreen computer with maps, power meter support and smart trainer control.
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Type | Full-laminated colour touchscreen, Asahi glass with anti-fingerprint hydrophobic coating, ambient light sensor |
| Size | 2.4 inch |
| Controls | Touchscreen and three buttons |
| Physical | |
| Dimensions | 78 x 48 x 17.5mm |
| Weight | 76g |
| Water rating | IPX7 |
| Operating temperature | -10°C to 50°C |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GNSS | Multi-GNSS: BeiDou, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS (Airoha chipset) |
| Assisted positioning | AGNSS over Wi-Fi; Magene claims a fix in as little as 5 seconds |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
| Connectivity and storage | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, ANT+, Wi-Fi |
| Supported devices | Speed, cadence and combined sensors, heart rate monitors, power meters, smart trainers, radar tail lights, smart tail and front lights, DJI and Insta360 cameras, Shimano Di2, SRAM eTap |
| Storage | 4GB |
| Data fields | 108 in 14 categories |
| Bike profiles | 5, plus 3 electronic shifting profiles |
| Charging | USB-C, 3 hours |
| Apps | OnelapFit; Strava, TrainingPeaks and Komoot |
Battery life
| Mode | Battery life |
|---|---|
| Daily mode | 17 hours |
| Long battery mode | Up to 24 hours |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Features
Navigation
- Free global maps downloaded to the computer
- Turn-by-turn map navigation with off-course alerts
- Rerouting by Destination Direction or Nearest Rejoin Point
- Routes built in OnelapFit or imported as GPX files, up to 1,000km
- Colour-coded routes, with remaining distance and ride progress on screen
- North-up or heading-up maps
Training
- Structured workouts from OnelapFit or TrainingPeaks, indoors or outdoors
- Smart trainer control by target power, resistance or gradient
- Replays a past outdoor ride on a smart trainer
- Switches power source between trainer and power meter
- Laps by location, time or distance
- Virtual power
Smart riding assistant
- Controls Magene L508 radar, L308 tail and AT front lights
- Conditional commands, for example turning the front light on above 10km/h
- Shimano Di2 buttons control the computer and Magene devices
- SRAM gear ratio calculation
- Controls DJI and Insta360 action cameras from the computer or Di2 buttons
- Phone notifications, and time or distance reminders
Ownership
- Resume Later, and recovery of a ride stopped by an unexpected shutdown
- Auto start, auto pause, screen lock, dark mode
- Sensors enabled or disabled without unpairing
- Menus in 13 languages
Ride profiles
C506 has 12 riding modes, two default and ten customisable, each with up to ten data pages, and stores five bike profiles.
Magene C506
Compact touchscreen computer with maps, power meter support and smart trainer control.
Quick answers
When was the Magene C506 released?
Magene released the C506 in 2024. The launch price was GBP 109 or USD 119, and magene.com now lists it at USD 99.
What screen size is the C506?
C506 has a 2.4 inch full-laminated colour touchscreen with an ambient light sensor, plus three buttons.
Does the C506 have maps?
Yes, C506 has free global maps downloaded to the computer, with turn-by-turn navigation and off-course alerts. It reroutes by Destination Direction or Nearest Rejoin Point.
What is the C506 battery life?
Magene quotes 17 hours in daily mode and up to 24 hours in long battery mode. It charges over USB-C in 3 hours.
How much does the C506 weigh?
C506 weighs 76g, measures 78 x 48 x 17.5mm and is rated IPX7.
Does the C506 have ClimbPro?
No, ClimbPro and Strava Segments belong to the C606 family and the C706, not the C506.
Further reading
- Magene C506 review
- Magene C506 first look
- Magene C606 and C506 firmware 1.953
- Magene bike computers: which one to buy
- Magene C506 SE specifications
- Magene specifications
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.
- 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.
- 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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