Garmin 530 vs Android app for navigation
Discussion
This again. Every time I've looked at this in the past the apps have come out on top for me, but now trying to size up whether a Garmin 530 is a better option than RideWithGPS / Komoot / other Android app.
Routes will be planned in advance so all I want is unambiguous turn by turn navigation on screen and instructions through bluetooth headphones. I gather Garmin Connect works with the 530 to provide the latter. Up to this point I've been using OSMand for this but the navigation falls a short.
A used 530 looks to be ~£150, Android app would be a few £s/month and I'd need a powerbank for longer rides.
What is the case for the 530 here? Waterproof, better battery life, and ???
Routes will be planned in advance so all I want is unambiguous turn by turn navigation on screen and instructions through bluetooth headphones. I gather Garmin Connect works with the 530 to provide the latter. Up to this point I've been using OSMand for this but the navigation falls a short.
A used 530 looks to be ~£150, Android app would be a few £s/month and I'd need a powerbank for longer rides.
What is the case for the 530 here? Waterproof, better battery life, and ???
TheInternet said:
Well now I know that I almost certainly won't! Will try and work out which of the apps has the best navigation, but I'm still a bit baffled about why people use Garminy things over a phone.
Smaller, better battery life, buttons/different touch screen tech so works with gloves, massively more durable. Theres no way I'd let my phone get as filthy, wet, or muddy as my Garmin does!Go for a Garmin fenix 6 pro if you can stretch to it- it's got faster processer, better for multiple sports, bit better screen and battery life is good too.
Edge 530 is okay - main problems are it's quite slow so longer routes with a lot of waypoints can take a looong time to load up. My main gripes with it is using various colours of pink on a low contrast screen for roads, routes and path, it's hopeless at providing you a path back to your route (I've gone off course 10km into a 100km route and it took me back to the return leg of the loop), it gets mega confused when a loop shares the same path there and back (it will keep telling you to U turn either direction you try to go in). You'll also need a HR sensor or watch to track HR whereas that's all built into the fenix.
Edge 530 is okay - main problems are it's quite slow so longer routes with a lot of waypoints can take a looong time to load up. My main gripes with it is using various colours of pink on a low contrast screen for roads, routes and path, it's hopeless at providing you a path back to your route (I've gone off course 10km into a 100km route and it took me back to the return leg of the loop), it gets mega confused when a loop shares the same path there and back (it will keep telling you to U turn either direction you try to go in). You'll also need a HR sensor or watch to track HR whereas that's all built into the fenix.
Bryanwww said:
Go for a Garmin fenix 6 pro if you can stretch to it- it's got faster processer, better for multiple sports, bit better screen and battery life is good too.
Edge 530 is okay - main problems are it's quite slow so longer routes with a lot of waypoints can take a looong time to load up. My main gripes with it is using various colours of pink on a low contrast screen for roads, routes and path, it's hopeless at providing you a path back to your route (I've gone off course 10km into a 100km route and it took me back to the return leg of the loop), it gets mega confused when a loop shares the same path there and back (it will keep telling you to U turn either direction you try to go in). You'll also need a HR sensor or watch to track HR whereas that's all built into the fenix.
Yep I have an Epix2 over a Fenix 6 (screen, but I may have a bit of buyers remorse and want extra batt life), but I bought the 530 for handlebar nav. Will test and possibly return if crap.Edge 530 is okay - main problems are it's quite slow so longer routes with a lot of waypoints can take a looong time to load up. My main gripes with it is using various colours of pink on a low contrast screen for roads, routes and path, it's hopeless at providing you a path back to your route (I've gone off course 10km into a 100km route and it took me back to the return leg of the loop), it gets mega confused when a loop shares the same path there and back (it will keep telling you to U turn either direction you try to go in). You'll also need a HR sensor or watch to track HR whereas that's all built into the fenix.
Yea I've got both too and it's nicer to have the maps, climb pro and other stats in front of you, but if you can only have one the watches are more versatile (just make sure you get the version that includes the full maps, in fenix 6 that's what pro means I think) and faster than the 530. You even get bar mounts for the watches (but then you lose the HR tracking).
TheInternet said:
Routes will be planned in advance so all I want is unambiguous turn by turn navigation on screen and instructions through bluetooth headphones. I gather Garmin Connect works with the 530 to provide the latter. Up to this point I've been using OSMand for this but the navigation falls a short.
Interesting, never needed voice instruction on a ride (unless in a city) - so didn't know it was even possible.The 530 beeps at you when you need to make a turn when following a route, and gives a solid arrow on the map showing the direction to take. Always been enough for me.
I personally would only ever ride with a Garmin on the bars, not my phone...mainly based on the cost of phone to replace...
snotrag said:
TheInternet said:
Well now I know that I almost certainly won't! Will try and work out which of the apps has the best navigation, but I'm still a bit baffled about why people use Garminy things over a phone.
Smaller, better battery life, buttons/different touch screen tech so works with gloves, massively more durable. Theres no way I'd let my phone get as filthy, wet, or muddy as my Garmin does!The big issue is battery life. If I want to actually have the screen on for navigation, particularly on a sunny day when the brightness needs to be high, the battery would go from 100% to zero in a couple of hours max. Most routes I just get the maps up if i'm lost or in unfamiliar terriorty, but you need to have a rough idea of where you are going for that work. Club rides etc, there is always someone else with a proper GPS!
jimmy156 said:
snotrag said:
TheInternet said:
Well now I know that I almost certainly won't! Will try and work out which of the apps has the best navigation, but I'm still a bit baffled about why people use Garminy things over a phone.
Smaller, better battery life, buttons/different touch screen tech so works with gloves, massively more durable. Theres no way I'd let my phone get as filthy, wet, or muddy as my Garmin does!The big issue is battery life. If I want to actually have the screen on for navigation, particularly on a sunny day when the brightness needs to be high, the battery would go from 100% to zero in a couple of hours max. Most routes I just get the maps up if i'm lost or in unfamiliar terriorty, but you need to have a rough idea of where you are going for that work. Club rides etc, there is always someone else with a proper GPS!
So also depends how long you ride for, but all day rides you can't use realistically your phone unless you carry a battery pack.
I would always use dedicated tool for the job, and at £150-£200 its well worth it if you ride regularly.
jimmy156 said:
I use my phone (iPhone on a quadlock mount) as i'm too tight to buy a bike computer.
The big issue is battery life. If I want to actually have the screen on for navigation, particularly on a sunny day when the brightness needs to be high, the battery would go from 100% to zero in a couple of hours max.
That sounds v. poor, is your screen on all the time? The app I use only puts the screen on when necessary. ~10-15% an hour like that on my 2yr old knacker. A £20 battery pack would last far longer than my legs.The big issue is battery life. If I want to actually have the screen on for navigation, particularly on a sunny day when the brightness needs to be high, the battery would go from 100% to zero in a couple of hours max.
Otherwise the 530 does look like it does a fair few things I couldn’t with a phone, just nothing compelling for my use case.
TheInternet said:
That sounds v. poor, is your screen on all the time? The app I use only puts the screen on when necessary. ~10-15% an hour like that on my 2yr old knacker. A £20 battery pack would last far longer than my legs.
Otherwise the 530 does look like it does a fair few things I couldn’t with a phone, just nothing compelling for my use case.
I am just using the maps on strava, so yes the screen needs to be on to see the navigation. Also using an iPhone 7 from circa 2016...Otherwise the 530 does look like it does a fair few things I couldn’t with a phone, just nothing compelling for my use case.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff