Released in April 2019, the Garmin Edge 830 is an ultra-complete bicycle GPS with color mapping of Europe or the country or continent of purchase. It replaces the old model (Edge 820) by bringing about twenty new features, a larger screen, better autonomy and much higher computing power.Read this Garmin Edge 830 review.
This model is between Garmin Edge 530 (also new in 2024, offering similar functions but no touch screen) and the high-end model, the Garmin Edge 1030, which dates from 2017 and a new version of which is expected in 2024 .

In addition to roads and cycle paths Available on the on-board card, the Edge 830 knows a multitude of paths and trails thanks to the registrations of thousands of users of the Garmin community and their opinions (Trendline Popularity Routing function). Wherever you are, you will discover new paths to follow and will be able to follow them without ever getting lost and in the best safety conditions thanks to turn-by-turn assistance with warning in the event of dangerous turns. The Edge 830 also allows you to create your own routes. It guides you safely thanks to its arrow indications and voice guidance, can take you back to the start and can even recalculate the route if you leave the programmed route.
This GPS offers valuable tools to help athletes, including a ClimbPro function displaying the altitude profile (percentage of average slope, difference in height remaining to climb, distance to the summit with color display of the slope depending on the difficulty), a route generator, a Trailforks function displaying the difficulty of the mountain bike trails, assistance for electric bikes , weather apps.
The Edge 830 also incorporates advancedperformance analysis : information on VO2max, recovery, balance of your training (land, high intensity, anaerobic) compared to past sessions, followed by the power developed (with optional accessory). Of mountain biking dynamics analyze the number of jumps, the length of jumps, the duration of suspension, the difficulty of the course and the fluidity of the descents to help you improve your technique. The device assesses the acclimatization to altitude and to heat. It also tells you when to eat and drink thanks to an assessment of the difficulty of the route and your efforts. All these functions allow you to better understand the impact of the outings on training and to progress.
Finally, the Edge 830 has a fall detection and assistance in the event of an incident by calling a programmed number. He can follow other cyclists (display their position). It has an alarm in the event of movement of the bicycle (theft for example) and a function allowing the device to be found in the event of loss following a fall.

Specifications for the Garmin Edge 830

 

Garmin Edge 830 review

Technical specifications

The Edge 830 is offered with a touch screen and a color display of 2.6 “(66 mm) and 246 x 322 pixels (compared to the 2.3” (58.4 mm) and 200 x 265 pixels of the previous model ). It weighs 79.1 g (11.5 g more than the Edge 820). The touch screen can be used with gloves and in the rain.
On the Edge 820, the speed of calculation was quite slow and required a certain time of waiting before being able to start a course. On the Edge 830, Garmin announces a much faster processor and a computing time divided by 2. This makes a noticeable and appreciable difference.
With its IPX7 standard (1 ATM), it is resistant to water, i.e. to rain, snow, splashes and up to an accidental immersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes maximum.
It comes with a bike mount and a USB cable. Garmin also offers a Performance pack and an MTB pack (see the description of the content at the end of the article).

Autonomy: up to 40 hours!

On this model, the autonomy is significantly improved thanks to the use of a Sony GPS chip, much less greedy in energy than the Mediatek chip used on the Edge 820. We thus pass to 20 h of autonomy in standard mode (instead of 3 p.m.) and 40 hrs in energy saving mode (instead of 24 hrs). If you want even more, you can add 24 hours of autonomy by connecting an external power pack Garmin Charge ™ compatible with the Edge 830 and the Edge 1030.

The sensors

The Edge 830 has a GPS chip compatible with GPS, Galileo and GLONASS satellite networks. To improve the hooking speed and reception, the device can connect to 2 networks at the same time. The user can choose between GPS alone, GPS + GLONASS or even GPS + Galileo. Using 2 networks, however, further reduces battery life.
The device has a barometric altimeter for precise measurements of altitude, elevation, vertical speed.
It is compatible with many external sensors: heart rate monitoring (ANT + chest belt or Bluetooth Smart), cadence, speed, power, Varia lights, Varia radar, Varia Vision, VIRB camera, eBike, Shimano Di2 electronic derailleur, health home trainer . For the chest belt and the cadence, speed and power sensors, Garmin offers Bluetooth Smart in addition to the ANT + protocol as well as a Wi-Fi connection.
The connect IQ interface also allows the coupling of other sensors such as a pneumatic pressure sensor, etc.

Cartography and navigation

The Garmin Edge 830 includes a Garmin Cycle map showing the routes for cycling in Europe (for a device purchased in Europe), audio guidance and points of interest with search function (restaurants, hotels, stations, hostels , etc.). You can also buy and load other cards around the world.
The Edge allows you to program a route directly on the device by specifying a destination. You can also program a route yourself and load it from the Garmin interface (PC or Smartphone) or use the Trendline Popularity Routing function which lists millions of routes recorded by the Garmin member community and displays them under the form of heat maps. So, wherever you are, it is easy to find a route, know its difficulty and the opinions of the members before committing to it.
The Edge can also offer loop routes from a distance and a direction (as on the Fenix ​​5 Plus).
For mountain bikers, dedicated functions and data from more than 180,000 tracks are available free of charge thanks to Trailforks (see below).
Once the route has been defined, the Edge 830 assists the cyclist in his outing by displaying the route on the map and arrow signs. Voice guidance can be activated to follow audio instructions. The device can also be programmed to generate an alert in the event of a dangerous turn.
In case of departure from the planned route, the GPS recalculates the best route and this in an instant thanks to a processor twice as fast as the previous models.

ClimbPro: a new function to better manage ascents

ClimbPro is a feature that will delight climbers. Already present on the latest high-end Garmin Fenix ​​5 Plus and Forerunner 945 watches, it displays the altitude profile of the course, indicates the percentage of average slope, the elevation remaining to climb, the distance to the summit. The profile is cut into colored sections depending on the difficulty. The cyclist can easily analyze the difficulty of the slope and manage his effort accordingly. This is a particularly interesting function for climbing difficult passes.

Dynamic performance analysis and training programming

The Garmin Edge 830 records your trip data and analyzes it to provide you with relevant information about your outing. These data are intended to analyze the outing, improve your technique or even optimize your training. You can also program workouts from Garmin Connect or Training Peaks to follow them directly on the device.
The bike GPS uses the algorithms of the company Firstbeat to provide a certain number of physiological measurements including the evaluation of the VO2max, the estimation of the recovery time after an outing, the measurement of the FTP power (with the compatible accessory ), the evaluation of the lactic threshold, the effort score, etc.

In addition to these functions and metrics already present on the Edge 820, the Edge 830 brings some interesting new features, including:

• The power curve: Garmin calculates the average power developed during your outings and saves the data for a comparison over several weeks or even months. This function requires a power sensor.
• Assessment of acclimatization to heat and altitude: this function requires having a heart rate monitoring (chest belt) and coupling the Edge to a Smartphone smart health connected to the network for access to weather data. For total acclimatization, it takes a minimum of 4 days of training.
• Smart nutrition and hydration alerts: the cyclist’s needs are assessed based on his caloric expenditure, accumulated elevation, temperature, effort (the pedaling power and heart rate are exploited if the cyclist uses compatible sensors).

The Edge 830 lets you program advanced and interval workouts. It has the Virtual Partner function, to measure yourself or a member of the community for a given route.

Functions dedicated to mountain biking. Over 180,000 tracks identified and evaluated.

For mountain biking fans, Garmin offers, for an additional € 70, the mountain bike pack. It contains an ATV mount, a speed sensor, an Edge remote control and a silicone cover.

But that’s not all. The Edge 830 offers new functions specially dedicated to mountain bikers. In addition, Garmin has developed a partnership with the company Trailforks to offer, in the maps of the MTB version of the Edge, the data of more than 180,000 tracks in 80 countries. To benefit, just download the free Trailforks app.
New features in the Edge 830 include:

• Trailforks data: more than 180,000 tracks listed in 80 countries, heat maps and an assessment of the difficulty and condition of the tracks. These data are integrated into the maps of the Edge 830 MTB pack and are regularly updated.
• Trail Planning: a function which makes it possible to seek a track in its region by specifying a level of difficulty.
• The dynamics of mountain biking: the Grit (difficulty) function evaluates the difficulty of the course based on altitude, elevation, slope and rapid changes in direction. Another Flow function (consistency) assesses the fluidity of descents (how braking is used for example) and helps you improve your technique.
• Forksight: this function is automatically activated when you take a break. It displays the next intersections and your position within the trail network.
• New metrics: position, number, length of jumps, air suspension time.
• Find My Edge: a function that allows you to find your Edge in the event of a fall.

Assistance and safety functions

Garmin offers, on this new model, a fall detection function and assistance which sends the GPS position to emergency contacts via a smart health connected smartphone.
We also find the LiveTrack functions, to be followed remotely by a third party from a Smartphone or on the Internet, with the possibility of sending predefined messages, and GroupTrack, to follow other cyclists directly on their device and exchange messages with them. These functions require pairing the Edge with a Smartphone and having a network connection.
The Edge 830 is compatible with radar and Varia lights, to see and be seen. It is also equipped with a bicycle alarm which sounds and sends an alert to your Smartphone if the bicycle is moved.

Coupling with external devices: electric bike, camera, health home trainer, electronic derailleur

The Edge 830 can be used to control a VIRB camera placed for example on a helmet or on the bike or to control a Shimano DI2 derailleur. For people training at health home or indoors, it can be paired with a health home trainer equipped with ANT + technology and display the speed and distance traveled. It also adapts to electric bikes equipped with the Shimano Steps system: it takes charge of the status of the bike and displays it on a dedicated screen (speed engaged, battery level, assistance level, etc.).

Personalization

The device can be personalized thanks to the many free widgets and applications offered by Garmin on its Connect IQ store. It is possible for example to customize the display or to load new data fields. Some applications provide information on the weather and allow you to accurately anticipate the least suitable times for an outing. Others provide information on bicycle shops (sales, repairs) or places to eat. There is plenty to do.

Connectivity

Wherever you ride, the Edge 830 allows you to access data from the Garmin Connect ™ community via a smart health connected smartphone to view and download your workouts, download a route, synchronize your data from third-party applications like TraingPeaks and share their data. The bike GPS can also be used to control devices or communicate with other athletes (see above).
 

Our opinion on the Garmin Edge 830: should we buy it?

One of the best bike and mountain bike GPS today

Garmin bicycle GPS devices are among the most complete on the market. In terms of functionality, it’s hard to beat it anywhere else. Garmin mid- and high-end models include color mapping (which is not the case with most bike GPS), route generator, navigation with voice and visual guidance, heat maps but also powerful tools to help athletes (cycling and mountain biking dynamics, physiological measurements, etc.). These GPS are very complete and very attractive, whether you are a beginner or experienced or even if you are competing. The Edge 830 is one of the best GPS bike computers today.
 

Edge 830 vs Edge 1030: similar functions and special MTB functions for $ 200 less

The Garmin Edge 830 is at the top of the range, just before the high-end model Edge 1030.
This new model released in April 2019 could almost be seen as the best current model of the brand since it offers functions that do not exist on the Edge 1030, the top of the range, released in 2017. It is therefore more full. Admittedly, Garmin announces that the Edge 1030 will benefit from a software update, but this, for license reasons, will not include Trailforks data preloaded with the maps. For mountain biking, the Edge 830 is therefore more interesting.
In addition, the response times of the Edge 830 are better and the autonomy higher than on the Edge 1030 because of the new processor and the new Sony GPS chip. The interest of the Edge 1030 is its larger screen, the presence of an accelerometer, a slot for SD card and some additional functions (Virtual Racer, Aerobic Training Effect in particular).
If you are looking for the top of the range, it may be better to wait for the next release of the Edge 1040. It could be done in 2024 . Otherwise, the Edge 830 seems to us to be an excellent choice knowing that it is still worth $ 200 less!

Edge 530 or Edge 830? A significant price difference for a lower gain

Compared to the Edge 530, the model just below, the Edge 830 benefits from a touch screen, the possibility of entering a destination address (as on car GPS. On the Edge 530, you have to select the place directly on the map) and search for POIs (hotel, restaurant, station, etc. On the Edge 530, some POIs are displayed but you cannot search). The difference is not huge. If these characteristics are not important to you, perhaps it is better to orient yourself towards theEdge 530 and pay € 100 less.

New features that make the difference with the previous model

Compared to the previous model (Edge 820), the Edge 830 benefits from many new features (around twenty) and not the smallest:
In terms of technical characteristics, the screen is larger (2.6 “instead of 2.3”), therefore more comfortable. The battery life is better. Thanks to the new processor, 2 times faster, waiting at the start is significantly reduced.
Heat maps are useful for easily finding and downloading the routes of other users in the region. For mountain bikers, the Trailforks data (condition and difficulty of the trails, search for a trail according to the difficulty) makes it possible to quickly find a trail adapted to the level sought and this can be done once on site if you have a Smartphone.
The ClimbPro function is really a tool that is hard to do without once you have used it. This function alone can justify switching to the new model!
Assistance in the event of a fall with an emergency number is reassuring, especially if you are driving alone.
Finally, the dynamics of mountain biking, the power curve, the evaluation of acclimatization at altitude and to heat, hydration and nutrition reminders are also interesting additions to the range of features.
In view of these differences, if the budget is not a concern, we highly recommend the new version, the Edge 830!

In conclusion

To conclude, the Edge 830 seduces us with its new features. It is an excellent GPS for bikes and mountain bikes, ultra-complete and offered at a rather reasonable price (see below). Note that the Edge 530 (also new in 2024) offers almost the same functions, but without touchscreen, for $100 less. It therefore seems to us a good compromise for people whose budget is limited and who are not interested in the touch screen and the search for POIs (restaurant, hotel, etc.).
The Edge 1030, on the other hand, seems to us today too expensive for the on-board functions which are similar to the Edge 830. The more comfortable size of the screen and the few additional functions do not, in our opinion, justify the $200 difference, unless you take advantage of promotions on this model. Otherwise, we will have to see what the Edge 1040 will offer but its release should not take place before 2020.

 

Price and availability

The Garmin Edge 830 has been available for sale since April 2019 at a suggested retail price of $ 399.99. Garmin also offers a Performance pack and an MTB pack:

• The Performance pack (Sensor Bundle) includes a heart rate monitoring with flexible chest belt, a speed sensor and a cadence sensor. Everything is offered for € 100 more than the standard package, i.e. $499.99.
• The mountain bike pack includes an ATV mount, a speed sensor, an Edge remote control and a silicone cover. It is offered for $ 70 more than the standard package, i.e. $ 469.99.

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