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I’ve used multiple high-end bike computers already, including the Edge 1040, Hammerhead Karoo 2, Sigma ROX 12.1 EVO, and more.
So, in this review, I share my thoughts on the 1030 Plus and whether it’s still worth buying. I’ve been using it for a couple of months to find its pros and cons compared to other alternatives.
KEY TAKEAWAY
The Garmin Edge 1030 Plus is overkill for weekend warriors in terms of features. But its large display is easy to read, so those with worse eyesight will appreciate it. I also recommend it for demanding cyclists who can leverage comprehensive navigation features and training suggestions. Its biggest drawbacks are the size (making it less suitable for everyday riding) and the MicroUSB port. I believe it’s still worth it (especially when discounted). Buy it here or continue reading to learn more about my experience and comparison with other head units.
My Edge 1030 Plus rating at a glance:
Battery Life 4/5 | Ease of Setup 4/5 | Display 4/5 | Ease of Use 3/5 | GPS Accuracy 4/5 | Maps & Navigation 4/5 | Price 1/5 | OVERALL 3.4/5
More about this bike computer scoring.
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus Pros & Cons
These are the main pros & cons of Garmin Edge 1030 Plus I found during its use.
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus Pros
- Large (3.5in, 282×470px), easy-to-read, colored, and touchscreen display
- Long battery life (up to 48 hrs – easy use, up to 24 hrs – heavy use)
- Responsive display
- Excellent navigation features
- Advanced training and recovery suggestions
- Possibility to use 3rd party apps from Garmin Connect IQ store
- Crash/incident detection
- MTB metrics (grit, flow, jump)
- Compatibility with Trailforks and ForkSight apps
- Relatively quick start-up time (~15 seconds)
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus Cons
- Too big for casual riding
- No possibility of setting up via a smartphone
- MicroUSB charging cable (no USB-C)
- The touchscreen display is not 100% reliable in non-ideal conditions
- Alphabetical keyboard (not QWERTY)
- Pricey
- No multi-band GNSS
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus (released in June 2020) is the upgraded version of the Edge 1030 from 2017.
The ‘Plus’ version brought multiple updates, including a black case, larger internal storage (16GB + microSD card vs. 32GB), workout suggestions, improved display, longer battery life, etc. I will explain them more in-depth later.
It was replaced by the Edge 1040 in June 2022, which has a longer battery life, a redesigned user interface, and many other improvements.
Below, you can see comparison pictures of the Edge 1030 Plus and Edge 1040.
Unboxing & Setup
The Edge’s 1030 Plus includes standard accessories like stem and flush-out-front mounts, MicroUSB charging cable, safety tether, and manual.
To set it up, you have to log into your Garmin Connect account (where you can set up settings like your weight, preferred units, etc.) and then go through the pairing process with your phone.
The mobile app then guided me through additional options and settings. Everything was easy to understand and ready to go within about 3 minutes. But it’s still more steps than with ELEMNT bike computers, where you just scan a QR code. The same applies to the Edge x40 lineup. Luckily, I didn’t encounter any connection issues.
NOTE: If you have already used a Garmin bike computer, the 1030 Plus will use the same settings based on your Garmin Connect account.
My Experience
Below, I share my experience with the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus and a comparison with other bike computers I have used.
Display
The Edge 1030 Plus display is great, and I quickly got used to the touchscreen. After all, I use a smartphone every day.
Its coating is glossier than on Wahoo ROAM, for example, so it is harder to read from some angles, but most of the time, it’s fine. Read this article comparing ROAM and 1030 Plus for more info.
The 3.5-inch screen is one of the largest bike computer screens on the market. It’s perfect for displaying multiple data fields (up to 10) or large maps (more about maps and navigation below). It’s ideal for people with worse eyesight because the digits are larger and, therefore, easier to read.
See the following chart for a comparison with other popular bike computers.
I was pleasantly surprised by the display’s responsiveness. For example, changing data fields was much simpler and faster than expected. Even faster than changing them on a smartphone.
But I have to warn you. Don’t expect today’s smartphone-level performance. The responsivity and refresh rate are not there yet. For example, Hammerhead Karoo 2 feels more smartphone-like.
Control & User Friendliness
Before testing the Edge 1030 Plus, I was used to button-based bike computers (I used ROAM for over a year), so I was curious about the touchscreen. I heard complaints about them because of their bad controllability in wet conditions or with gloves.
I would summarize my experience as follows. Touchscreen is better than button-based bike computers if the conditions are good (e.g., I don’t sweat or wear full-finger gloves* or it doesn’t rain). Browsing the menu or map is quicker and more convenient than pressing buttons.
*The gloves have to be touchscreen-compatible.
However, once the screen is wet or I wear full-finger gloves, it doesn’t always react as intended, and its reliability is not 100%. See the following illustration.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t test it in more extreme conditions – for example, on muddy forest roads with full-finger gloves. So, feel free to share your experience in the comments below.
The 1030 Plus is not the best option for MTB because of its size. The Edge 830 and Edge 530 seem like better alternatives for mountain bikers.
Garmin could improve user-friendliness. For example, when I used Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM for the first time, I intuitively knew what button to press or what menu to open.
Due to the wide offer of features and complicated menus, it will probably take you some time to get used to it.
My learning curve was about 3 days. However, I still sometimes struggle to find some features.
I would also appreciate it if I could perform settings (of data fields, for example) using a smartphone app. However, this functionality is only available on newer Edges (x40) or Wahoo ELEMNT bike computers, Sigma ROX 12.1 EVO, Hammerhead Karoo 2, and others.
Yes, the Edge’s touchscreen is responsive, but the interface is not as well designed as on the Edge 1040. On the other hand, adjusting data fields on the go is easier than on Wahoo, where you have to put your phone out of your pocket.
Maps & Navigation
If mapping and navigation are something you are into, the Edge 1030 Plus is a great choice.
This is mainly thanks to the screen and detailed maps. I don’t use them frequently because I rarely visit unfamiliar places. But when I do, 1030 Plus guides me with confidence. It comes with detailed maps based on the region where you buy it.
You can also download maps for additional regions. Thanks to the 32GB storage, you will have enough memory to download additional 1 or 2 regions.
It’s a shame you can’t download them to the 1030 Plus via Wi-Fi, unlike with modern bike computers, and you have to plug your Garmin into a computer and use another app (Garmin Express) to download them.
At least they are now available for free because they were paid on the Edge 1030.
Edge 1030 Plus can navigate you to so-called points of interest – for example, to a grocery store, gas station, restaurant, and more. So you basically don’t have to put out your phone to find these locations. This is a pretty handy feature in places you don’t know well. However, I honestly rather put my phone out of my pocket and use Google Maps instead.
Battery Life
The battery life depends on the number of sensors and features you use. Garmin claims up to 48-hour battery life if you don’t pair any sensors and only use essential functions like GPS or recording your ride. It should last 24 hours on heavy usage. This means GPS+GLONASS and navigation enabled, multiple sensors connected, etc.
But what’s the reality?
I’ve been using the Edge 1030 Plus for the past weeks, and it lasted for about 18 hours and 30 minutes. I had a power meter, HR monitor, Garmin Varia RTL515 radar, and my smartphone connected to it. Please note that the tested head unit was already almost 2 years old.
Based on the frequency and length of your rides, this results in about 2 to 3 weeks of battery life. I ride about 5-10 hours weekly, so I didn’t have to recharge it for about two weeks.
This battery life is among the longest on the market and surpasses all Wahoo ELEMNT bike computers. However, the Edge 1040 and Edge 1040 Solar are on another level. You can read more info about it in my Edge 1040 review.
The chart below shows the claimed battery life of the best bike computers on the market.
Edge 1030 Plus also has a ‘sleep mode.’ I was curious about the battery drain in it. So, I recharged the unit to 100% and turned on the sleep mode. The battery dropped by only 1% in 24 hours. Cool!
Extras
Edge 1030 Plus comes with cool features like:
- ClimbPro shows stats about the upcoming climbs based on a pre-planned route. I like this feature because I can better pace myself. However, the ClimbPro page is not well-designed. Some fields could be larger. You can learn more in this article, where I compared ClimbPro-like features.
- MTB Dynamics measures your jumps, grit, and flow. It’s useful mainly for mountain bikers. I don’t use it.
- Incident/crash detection detects if you crash and notifies your emergency contacts. Unfortunately, it sometimes triggers randomly. I scared my mom the other day.
- Virtual Partner that you can use for pacing yourself.
- Trailforks compatibility, and many others…
You will probably not use all features daily. But Garmin has an Edge here over Wahoo. Paradoxically, Garmin bike computers are harder to use due to the number of features.
Connectivity
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus has Bluetooth, ANT+, and Wi-Fi connectivity. This means you can pair it with basically all sensors with the same communication protocols. It will also sync your rides to 3rd party apps like Strava, TrainingPeaks, and more.
What I find cool is the compatibility with Garmin’s Varia radars like the RTL515, RCT715, etc. For example, when the radar is in standby mode, Edge head units can wake it up, so you don’t have to turn it on (or off) manually. You can also control their modes via the head unit. This usually doesn’t work with 3rd party cycling radars.
The last thing I want to mention is the GPS accuracy. The Edge 1030 Plus doesn’t have multi-band GNSS like the Edge x40 line, so it’s less accurate, especially in areas with a worse GPS signal.
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus Alternatives
Here are Garmin Edge 1030 Plus alternatives worth considering.
- Garmin Edge 840 has a smaller 2.6-inch display, but it has higher accuracy, revamped user interface, and you can control it with buttons or a touchscreen. Learn more in my Edge 840 review.
- Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM has a smaller 2.7-inch display and does not have as many features. However, you can set it up via smartphone, and it’s cheaper. Learn more in my ROAM review.
- Garmin Edge 1040 is the next generation with a more accurate GPS, a new user interface, longer battery life, and many more improvements. It’s also available in a solar option. On the other hand, it’s much more expensive. Learn more in my Edge 1040 review.
- Hammerhead Karoo 2 offers a more smartphone-like experience thanks to its bright and high-resolution display and system running on Android. Unfortunately, it offers a relatively short battery life. Learn more in my Karoo 2 review.
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus Technical Specifications
Here is the summary of the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus technical specifications.
Technical Specifications
- Battery life: 24 hours (MicroUSB charging)
- Screen size: 3.5in / 88.9mm (282×470px)
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Weight: 124g
- Dimensions: 114×58×19 mm (4.5×2.3×0.8 in)
- Strava live segments: Yes
- Smart trainers control: Yes
- Smart navigation (rerouting): Yes
- Crash/incident detection: Yes
- Connectivity: ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Waterproofing: IPX7
- Internal memory: 32GB
The following table compares Garmin Edge bike computers and their basic features.
| Bike Computer | Edge 1040 Solar | Edge 1040 | Edge 840 Solar | Edge 840 | Edge 540 Solar | Edge 540 | Edge 1030 Plus | Edge Explore | Edge Explore 2 | Edge 830 | Edge 530 | Edge 130 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | 45 hrs | 35 hrs | 26 hrs | 26 hrs | 26 hrs | 26 hrs | 24 hrs | 12 hrs | 16 hrs | 20 hrs | 20 hrs | 12 hrs |
| Screen Size | 3.5in | 3.5in | 2.6in | 2.6in | 2.6in | 2.6in | 3.5in | 3.0in | 3.0in | 2.6in | 2.6in | 1.8in |
| Display | Colored | Colored | Colored | Colored | Colored | Colored | Colored | Colored | Colored | Colored | Colored | Monochromatic |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| On-Device Navigation* | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Live Segments | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ClimbPro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Waterproofing | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Weight | 133g | 133g | 90g | 85g | 85g | 80g | 123g | 114g | 104g | 78g | 76g | 33g |
| Memory | 64GB | 64GB | 32GB | 32GB | 16GB | 16GB | 32GB | 16GB | 16GB | 16GB | 16GB | n/a |
| More info | Edge 1040 Solar review | Edge 1040 review | Edge 840 review | Edge 840 review | Edge 540 review | Edge 540 review | Edge 1030 Plus review | n/a | n/a | Edge 830 review | Edge 530 review | n/a |
| Buy | Check Price Check Price (tredz.co.uk) | Check Price Check Price (tredz.co.uk) | Check Price Check Price (tredz.co.uk) | Check Price Check Price (tredz.co.uk) | Check Price Check Price (tredz.co.uk) | Check Price Check Price (tredz.co.uk) | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price Check Price (competitivecyclist.com) | Check Price Check Price (tredz.co.uk) | Check Price Check Price (tredz.co.uk) | Check Price Check Price (tredz.co.uk) |
*On-Device Navigation means that the device can recalculate the route when you are off-course.
My Verdict
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus is packed with so many features that it will take you some time to discover them all.
It’s mainly suitable for road cyclists and people who appreciate excellent navigation features, workout suggestions, and rich metrics (including MTB).
It has some downsides, though. The most annoying thing for me was the absence of the setup via a smartphone app, as we know it, from ELEMNT bike computers or the Edge x40 series.
The big elephant in the room is also the price. The Edge 830 offers a much better price/value ratio in exchange for the smaller display and shorter battery life.
But in the end, it all depends on your preferences and use case. I believe the Edge 1030 Plus is still a great buy, especially if you find it discounted for around $320.
I hope you find this review helpful. If you are considering the purchase of the 1030 Plus, please use my links to support Cyclists Hub. I would also love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Despite being released in 2020, it’s still a great bike computer offering many features that some of today’s bike computers still dream of. Its main disadvantages are microUSB charging port, the absence of multi-band GNSS, and the large form factor for casual riding.
Recommended Accessories
Below, I include a few accessories worth using with the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus.
Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar
Garmin Varia RCT715 Radar with Camera
Two Bolt Out Front Mount
