Garmin Edge 850 vs. Hammhead Karoo 3: Which One to Buy?

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I bought Edge 850 and Karoo 3, so you don’t have to. Then I tested them and compared them in depth to help you decide whether they are worth it or whether you should consider alternatives.

Edge 850 vs. Karoo 3: The Basics

The table below compares the technical specifications of the Garmin Edge 850 and Hammerhead Karoo 3.

Edge 850 vs. Karoo 3: Features Comparison and Differences

Physical Dimensions & Weight

Edge 850 and Karoo 3 have similar dimensions, but the Karoo 3 is taller. They are mid-size head units, ideal for most scenarios, and my preferred size. I find the Edge 1050, ELEMNT ACE, and similar bike computers too big for casual riding. On the other hand, if you have poor eyesight, you might benefit from them. Despite their different form factor, the E850 and Karoo 3 weigh almost the same (±6 grams).

Ease of Setup

To set up both of these bike computers, all you have to do is scan a QR code. If you have already been using a Garmin Edge bike computer, its settings, such as the data pages, data fields, and sensors, will be downloaded from the cloud. Leaving you with a ready-to-go unit. You can also adjust most settings directly on the Edge 850, and eventually, via the Garmin Connect smartphone app.

Karoo 3 also synchronizes data fields and sensors (if you have used a Karoo device before). However, it cannot be customized using a smartphone app; all settings can be configured directly on the head unit.

I declare the Edge 850 the winner because it also allows customization through the Garmin Connect app. Except for that, it is pretty close.

Winner: Edge 850

Display

The 3.2″ display size of the Karoo 3 is 0.5″ larger than that of the Edge 850 (2.7″). Since the number of data fields is limited to 10 on both head units, the screen size matters because the fonts are larger and easier to read on the Karoo 3. The larger screen real estate simply has some benefits.

Both these head units are also brighter than the average. They almost reach smartphone levels, making them easy to read in most scenarios. You can see the following gallery for illustration. In reality, Karoo 3 is slightly brighter than the Edge (though some photos make it look the opposite).

The resolution is similar, and both displays look sharp, as shown in the following close-ups.

The Edge 850 is a clear winner here.

Winner: It’s a draw

Control & User Friendliness

The user-friendliness is similar, but Karoo 3 feels simpler to use. Maybe because its system is closer to Android, which is familiar to many of us, and also has fewer features. One of Edge’s advantages (its huge feature set) is also one of its downsides, as it makes the entire system clunkier.

Surprisingly, Karoo 3 won’t let you adjust many settings in the smartphone app. The app is primarily used to sync routes, activities, and notifications from your smartphone. Everything else has to be set up directly on the head unit. I like the vast customization options for how the data fields look. Garmin is much more guarded. It almost feels like comparing Android vs. iOS.

To me, it’s also fascinating to see how Hammerhead continuously improves the software. I turned Karoo on after a few months, and after updating it, it had several new features. Hammerhead also does a good job explaining what’s new (unlike Garmin), immediately “teleporting” you into the menu settings for a given feature if you want to. I’m not saying Garmin doesn’t push firmware updates; it does. But it does a much worse job of presenting the improvements.

In terms of control, both bike computers have touchscreens and control buttons, making them highly flexible and suitable for all conditions. I slightly prefer Garmin’s button placement because I miss the “main” buttons at the bottom of the Karoo. But I can live without them. The buttons on both devices feel tactile and easy to press, but on Karoo, they feel cheaper.

So, what about the performance in wet or with gloves? Watch the following videos. Both displays perform pretty well.

Garmin Edge bike computers might feel a bit overwhelming, especially the first time you use them. They have a steeper learning curve because there are so many features and options. On the other hand, they are more fluent. The Karoo system sometimes chops, especially when pulling the top widget. This is the only flaw. Otherwise, I am satisfied with the system.

Considering the cleaner UI, more modern approach, and better presentation of new features, I call Karoo 3 the winner here.

Winner: Karoo 3

Battery Life

The Edge 850 has a claimed battery life of 12 hours. My E850 lasted 10.3 hours in real-world testing. The Karoo 3 lasted about 2 hours longer (~12.3 hours); however, its claimed battery life is 15 hours. That said, the battery life of both head units is underwhelming. They simply traded a brighter display for shorter battery life than some of the best bike computers, as shown in the chart below.

I used both bike computers with auto-brightness settings (yes, both have ambient sensors to adjust brightness) and kept the same set of sensors connected to both.

Winner: Karoo 3

Maps & Navigation

This is also an area where the Edge 850 has an edge. Its navigation is simply more detailed and provides more granular instructions than Karoo 3. Both head units are great for navigation: they let you browse maps with a touch and are reliable, but Garmin is simply in a league of its own. The only thing that bothers me is the size of the map regions. Downloading gigabytes of data when you need to update maps for a specific country is unfortunate. Wahoo lets you select countries, so you can complete the update in minutes.

Winner: It’s a draw

Accuracy

Thanks to the Multi-Band GNSS system, which enables simultaneous reception of satellite signals across multiple frequency bands and global systems, both head units should be pretty accurate. However, this technology alone can’t guarantee the same level of accuracy between two competing devices. So, how was the reality?

I usually test bike computers on my favorite forest segment, but this time, I used Karoo 3 near Lake Como in Italy. It was not as accurate as I would expect, especially in densely forested areas. Unfortunately, I have not tested them side by side. Such testing could reveal that Edge 850 would also struggle in that area. Anyway, most of the time, the accuracy is good enough. Still, at least based on the rides I’ve done, Edge 850 seems to be more accurate.

Winner: Edge 850

Extras

Both bike computers can display information about upcoming climbs. These features are called ClimbPro (Garmin) and Climber (Hammerhead) and are some of my favorites. They don’t require a planned route, so I can pace myself more effectively on climbs that I’m not familiar with. I did a comprehensive comparison of these two and Wahoo’s Free Summit. In summary, the ClimbPro data page is less customizable than the Climber one. Climber is better integrated because it can be shown on your main data page as a tab that you can hide, not separately on two data pages.

Winner: Edge 850

Total score: Garmin Edge 850 (3) | Hammerhead Karoo 3 (2) | It’s a draw (2)

Garmin Edge 850 and Karoo 3 Alternatives

If you don’t want a Garmin 850 or Karoo 3, consider these alternatives:

• The Garmin Edge 840 and Garmin Edge 1040s are previous-generation Edge bike computers with much longer battery life, but a bit reduced feature set.
• Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM 3 is simpler and easier to use, and offers a longer battery life. On the other hand, it doesn’t have as many features.

Summary

After comparing several categories, Edge 850 beats Karoo 3, but it’s as close as it could be. I enjoy using Karoo 3 a bit more because of its more modern approach. However, I would probably miss the Garmin ecosystem, especially Garmin Connect. I sometimes use a Garmin smartwatch for swimming and running, so having my data in one place (not just on Strava) that also evaluates my training load and fatigue is beneficial.

Also, the price difference between these two head units is significant. The Edge 850 costs $599 while the Karoo 3 costs “only” $475. For some, this price difference can be a big deal and the reason to choose Karoo.

Before pulling the trigger, consider whether you can leverage the fancy Garmin features, and you don’t mind the short battery life. Personally, I would rather buy the E840 over these two, even if it has a less bright display. It might sound funny, but the missing electronic bell on Karoo 3 can also be the reason to choose E850 instead. I’m not kidding, it’s a more useful feature than it might seem.

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