{"id":21035,"date":"2017-02-25T09:58:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-25T17:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/?p=21035"},"modified":"2020-08-29T13:40:48","modified_gmt":"2020-08-29T20:40:48","slug":"garmin-edge-1000-vs-820-vs-520","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/garmin-edge-1000-vs-820-vs-520\/","title":{"rendered":"Garmin Edge 1000 vs 820 vs 520 GPS Bike Computers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The range of Garmin Edge bike computers can be confusing, so I did a lot of hands-on testing and research and wrote this comparison of the Garmin Edge 1000 vs 820 vs 520<\/strong> to help you choose. First I have a chart that highlights the key differences<\/strong> between these 3 bike computers. Then I discuss the key differences<\/strong>. Then I offer some advice on which Garmin Edge to buy, based on your needs. Finally, I present a very extensive chart comparing all of the key features<\/strong> of all 3 bike computers, for those who want to know every single detail.<\/p>\n[table \u201c135\u201d not found \/]
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New Garmin Edge Content!<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
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ALL Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared in Depth: 130 Plus vs. Explore 2 vs. 530 vs. 830 vs. 1030 Plus vs. 1040<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1030 Plus vs 830 vs 530<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>

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Garmin Edge 830 vs. 840: What's the Difference?<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

If you find this review useful, please consider using the affiliate links<\/a> to buy. It’s the only way I can get paid for the hours of research I do, and of course, it costs you nothing – so it’s a win\/win.<\/p>\n

First off, here is a chart that highlights the differences between these three bike computers.<\/p>\n

Chart Comparing Garmin Edge 1000 vs\u00a0820 vs 520<\/h3>\n

https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/garmin-edge-530-vs-830-vs-1030\/<\/p>\n

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<\/td>\"Garmin<\/a><\/th>\"Garmin<\/a><\/th>\"Garmin<\/a><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Big picture<\/td>Great for training and navigation. Screen size is a lot bigger than the 520 and 820, 2 cm taller, easier to view maps. Has a microSD slot for adding new maps (the 520 and 820 don\u2019t have this). Color touchscreen<\/td>Great for training and navigation. All the features of the 1000, in a smaller unit - the same size as the 520. Color touchscreen<\/td>Great for training but not for navigation. Buttons, not touchscreen. Color<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lowest Price on Amazon Right Now:<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lowest Price on Amazon Canada Right Now:<\/td>Click here<\/a> for the Amazon Canada price<\/td>Click here<\/a> for the Amazon Canada price<\/td>Click here<\/a> for the Amazon Canada price<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lowest Price on Amazon UK Right Now:<\/td>Click here<\/a> for the Amazon UK price<\/td>Click here<\/a> for the Amazon UK price<\/td>Click here<\/a> for the Amazon UK price<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Display resolution, W x H<\/td>240 x 400 pixels; color<\/td>200 x 265 pixels; color<\/td>200 x 265 pixels; color<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Screen size<\/td>3\" (7.6 cm) diagonal, high res<\/td>2.3\" (58.4 mm) diagonal, high res<\/td>2.3\" (58.4 mm) diagonal, high res<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Touchscreen<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No, buttons<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Landscape mode available?<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>4.0 oz (114.5 g)<\/td>2.4 oz (67.7 g)<\/td>2.1 oz (60 g)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Battery save mode available?<\/td>Yes ( powers down the screen but continues to record your ride)<\/td>Yes ( powers down the screen but continues to record your ride)<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
History that can be stored on unit<\/td>Up to 200 hours of history<\/td>Up to 200 hours of history<\/td>Up to 180 hours of history<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Is the screen responsive to level of ambient light<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CONNECTIVITY<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Incident detection<\/td>No<\/td>Yes. Can be switched off if you are uninjured<\/td>Yes. Can be switched off if you are uninjured<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Unit-to-unit transfer (shares data wirelessly with similar units)<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Smart phone Connected features (depends on having a Bluetooth enabled smartphone, and you may have to install the Garmin Connect mobile app on your phone)<\/td>Yes - Live Tracking, Group Tracking, send\/receive courses, workouts and training plans wirelessly, social media sharing, smart notifications (texts and calls)<\/td>Yes - Live Tracking, Group Tracking, send\/receive courses, workouts and training plans wirelessly, social media sharing, weather updates in real time, smart notifications (texts and calls)<\/td>Yes - Live Tracking, send\/receive courses, workouts and training plans wirelessly, social media sharing, weather updates in real time, smart notifications (texts and calls)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accepts data cards<\/td>Yes, including optional memory card in the micro-SD slot<\/td>No - there is no micro-SD card slot. However, it has 16 GB of internal memory, so you are unlikely to need a card<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CYCLING AND TRAINING FEATURES<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Training calendar (The calendar on your device is an extension of the training calendar or schedule you set up in Garmin Connect. After you have added a few workouts or courses to the Garmin Connect calendar, you can send them to your device)<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MAPS AND NAVIGATION<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Navigation?<\/td>Yes - once you pick a location, it will guide you to that location<\/td>Yes - once you pick a location, it will guide you to that location<\/td>No, it cannot figure out how to get to places. However, you can upload a breadcrumbs course and then follow that. When doing that, you do get turn notifications, plus an alert if you go off course<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turn-by-turn guidance?<\/td>Yes - just like a car GPS, it will warn you a turn is coming, and tell you when to turn (with text and a beep)<\/td>Yes - just like a car GPS, it will warn you a turn is coming, and tell you when to turn (with text and a beep)<\/td>Yes, for courses you have downloaded from your computer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Preloaded basemap?<\/td>Yes, preloaded Garmin Cycle Map with bike-specific navigation so it can give you turn-by-turn navigation instructions<\/td>Yes, preloaded Garmin Cycle Map with bike-specific navigation so it can give you turn-by-turn navigation instructions<\/td>Yes, but very basic. It's just to give you a rough idea of where you are<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Points of Interest (POIs) specifically for cyclists<\/td>Yes<\/td>Requires optional City Navigator\u00ae maps to access general points of interest<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plan and download new routes to follow (a route is a sequence of waypoints that leads you to your final destination)<\/td>Yes. You can upload routes you create elsewhere, and follow them; plus you can also enter in an address on the computer itself and it will create a route<\/td>Yes. You can upload routes you create elsewhere, and follow them; plus you can also enter in an address on the computer itself and it will create a route<\/td>Yes. The Edge 520 lets you upload routes you create elsewhere, and follow them, using pretty basic breadcrumb directions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Below is a visual of the differences between these 3 Garmin Edge bike computers.<\/p>\n

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