Garmin Edge 1030
The Garmin Edge 1030 is the latest flagship product of the US navigation specialists, and at a price of € 599 it should be the ultimate GPS computer featuring navigation as well as online functionality. Does it really have the edge?
The price and dimensions of the Garmin Edge – with its 3.5-inch colour display – raises the expectation of being a device capable of competing with today’s crop of high-end smartphones. Unfortunately, the Edge 1030 fails to meet this expectation: Processor speed, display resolution and menu navigation are more reminiscent of the Nokia era. There are three levels to determine the sensitivity of the touch screen and, like the previous Edge 1000 model, it is based on a combination of pressure and touch, which ensures that the touch screen functions work perfectly even in the rain or with gloves.
To upload a track onto your Garmin, connect it to your computer via USB, open the Explorer or Finder and drag the gpx file into the Garmin folder “New Files” – it’s quick and easy. If you want to download a route to the device from a smartphone, however, you can’t avoid the circuitous way via the “Garmin Connect” platform on your smartphone’s Internet browser, as gpx files cannot be uploaded directly to the connect app. Also, during testing, we repeatedly encountered problems with the stability of the wireless connection. Garmin can’t compete with Wahoo regarding usability and seamless connectivity.
When it comes to navigation, the Edge 1030 shows its strengths after minutes (!) of route calculation and shows clearly visible turn-by-turn instructions in the form of large arrows on the map and precise text hints. In the event of a route deviation, an automatic recalculation takes place with a short delay and re-routes you back to the planned route. This is Garmin’s lone strength.
The detailed map on the colour display is rather counterproductive for quick reading and often becomes confusing when trying to orientate yourself on the map.
Here Wahoo, with its minimalistic and monochrome display, demonstrates that less often is more. Weighing in at a total of 173 g, including the standard mount, the Garmin Edge 1030 is the heaviest unit in the group test.
GPX-transfer: 16 Klicks
GPS accuracy:
Navigation:
Battery runtime:
Price: € 599.99
Route calculation time: 02:34 Min
Usability:
Value for money:
Design:
Weight: 123 g
More info: garmin.com
Riders looking for a large, easy-to-read display with a detailed map and extensive navigation functions might be interested in taking a closer look at the Edge 1030 with its € 599 price tag. The complex menu, slow route calculation and limited smartphone connectivity do not meet modern expectations and show that proprietary operating systems like Garmin’s are quickly reaching their limits these days.
