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About a month after the official embargo was lifted (and early reviews published), Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT 3 and ROAM 3 are finally available. I compared them with the ELEMNT Ace that I bought a few months ago. I spent over $1380 on these bike computers (yes, I’m not sponsored by Wahoo, and this comparison is fully independent). You will learn about their differences, pros, and cons, and I will also compare them with the previous generations and other alternatives.
KEY TAKEAWAY
The main differences between the ELEMNT BOLT 3, ROAM 3, and ACE are in display size, battery life, and price. My favorite of these three is the ROAM 3 because it features a touchscreen display (unlike the BOLT 3), excellent battery life (easily reaching 25 hours), and a built-in speaker. The BOLT 3 lost its charm compared to the BOLT 2. ACE shouldn’t exist; it’s a huge mistake, in my opinion, because it’s too big and buggy. Read on for more in-depth information or buy the ELEMNT ROAM 3 here.
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT 3 vs. ROAM 3 vs. ACE: The Basics
Here is a summary of the main differences and technical specifications between the Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT 3, ROAM 3, and ACE.
| Feature | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT 3 | Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM 3 | Wahoo ELEMNT ACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size and resolution PPI | 2.3″ (480×720px) 376 PPI | 2.8″ (480×720px) 309 PPI | 3.8″ (480×720px) 228 PPI |
| Touchscreen | No | Yes | Yes |
| Buttons | Easy to press | Easy to press | Easy to press |
| Display colors | 16 mil. | 16 mil. | 16 mil. |
| Claimed battery life Real battery life¹ | 20 hrs 26.7 hrs | 25 hrs 28 hrs | 30 hrs 16 hrs |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Dimensions | 83.5×47.2×24 mm 3.3×1.9×0.9 in | 96×53×24 mm 3.8×2.1×0.9 in | 126×71×24 mm 5×2.8×0.8 in |
| Weight | 84g | 109g | 208g |
| Storage | 32GB | 64GB | 64GB |
| Start-up time | ∼33s | ∼36s | ∼35s |
| Mounts in the box | Out front aero mount Stem mount | Out front aero mount Stem mount | Out front aero mount Stem mount |
| Smart navigation (rerouting) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-band GNSS | No | No | Yes |
| Connectivity | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Crash/incident detection | No | No | No |
| Speaker | No | Yes | Yes |
| Bell | No | Yes | Yes |
| Wind sensor | No | No | Yes |
| Strava Live Segments | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| More info | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v3 Review | Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM v3 Review | Wahoo ELEMNT ACE Review |
| Buy | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
¹Based on my unscientific testing – multiple rides with multiple connected sensors (HR, power meter, radar). Auto brightness on.
Let me now explain them in depth.
BOLT 3 vs. ROAM 3 vs. ACE: Features Comparison and Differences
Below, I compare the most important features and differences among these three bike computers.
Physical Dimensions & Weight
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT 3, ROAM 3, and ACE mainly differ in dimensions. BOLT is the most compact, ACE is the largest, and ROAM 3 sits in the middle. However, ROAM is closer in size to the BOLT than the ACE. ACE is too big; in fact, it’s one of the largest (if not the largest) bike computers. It is even larger than the Garmin Edge 1040 or Edge 1050. It’s so big that it doesn’t fit some bike computer mounts! And I’m not even talking about its weight, which exceeds 200 grams. For comparison, BOLT 3 only weighs 85g.
Display
The BOLT 3 has a 2.3″ display, which is 0.1 inches larger than the BOLT 2. ROAM’s display is 2.8″ (0.1″ larger than the ROAM 2), and the ACE display has an incredible 3.8 inches. See the following chart for comparison with other popular bike computers.
So, when does a larger display make sense? Mainly, if you need larger fonts for better readability. I have a few friends who already struggle with their eyesight, so they appreciate larger head units because they can display the same amount of fields but with large fonts. If you often use maps, a larger screen shows you more information, which can be helpful as well. ACE is clearly targeted at a narrow group of people; it will likely never be among the top 5 most popular bike computers. I can guarantee you that.
What sets BOLT 3 apart from ROAM 3 and ACE is the fact that it doesn’t have a touchscreen. It is still stuck with only button controls. This is a shame, despite the user interface still being pretty simple (much more straightforward than Garmin’s). I would appreciate having the option to combine touchscreen and buttons, as I do on Hammerhead Karoo 3. I will comment on the displays’ responsiveness and controllability in the Control & User Friendliness section.
At least the number of colors is unified across the ELEMNT lineup. These bike computers can display up to 16 million colors, and they all have the same resolution of 480×720px1. This means that the pixels per inch (PPI) differ. BOLT 3 can display 376.23 PPI, ROAM 3 309 PPI, and ACE 227 PPI. Despite these differences, they still provide a resolution that is high enough for good readability and sharpness. See the following close-up photos.
In theory, the brightness of all these displays should be the same, but in reality, ACE appears to be slightly dimmer than BOLT and ROAM 3. See the following gallery for examples in different scenarios.
The brightness is lower than that of the Hammerhead Karoo 3 or the Garmin Edge 1050. These two are among the brightest bike computers I’ve tested. I have included one more picture below that shows the new ELEMENTs compared with competing head units.
The overall readability of the ELEMNT 3 line is not bad, but could be better. It’s worse compared to the 1st and 2nd generation BOLT and ROAM, especially in direct sunlight or when looking from angles. Again, it’s pretty tricky to capture it on camera, but below are some illustrative photos.
Lastly, BOLT 3 can display up to 9 data fields, while ROAM 3 and ACE can display up to 11. It’s disappointing that ACE won’t allow you to show more, but I understand this from the readability point of view; individual fields would probably be too small. The primary benefit of the ACE is that its display size allows for large fonts, making them easy to read, even for those with poor eyesight.
I will comment on the displays’ responsiveness and controllability in the Control & User Friendliness section.
Winner: It’s a draw (it depends on what screen size you prefer)
Battery Life
Battery life is another area where these three head units differ. In theory, ACE should reach the longest battery life, but the reality is different. In my ELEMNT BOLT 3 testing, it lasted 26.7 hours, surpassing the claimed battery life by 6.7 hours. The ROAM 3 lasted 28 hours, surpassing the claimed battery life by 3 hours. However, ACE reached only 16 hours instead of the claimed 30 hours. How is this possible? I have no idea. All computers had the brightness set to auto, and I had similar sensors connected to them. By the way, the chart below shows the battery life of some of the top bike computers.
As you can see from the chart, BOLT and ROAM 3 are in the Garmin Edge x40 area, which exceeds 20 hours. Depending on how much time you spend on your bike, this should be enough to recharge them every 2 weeks. ACE disappointed me with its battery life.
Winner: ROAM 3
Control & User Friendliness
This generation of ELEMNT bike computers has a redesigned user interface. It’s a bit more comprehensive than the previous one, allowing us to pair sensors directly from the head unit. I appreciate that Wahoo unified the experience across the models, but this UI is less intuitive than the previous one. It’s more annoying to browse it with BOLT’s buttons than with ROAM’s and ACE’s touchscreen.
I mean, you probably won’t need to use the touchscreen in 90% of the cases, as the three bottom buttons allow you to control the most frequent commands. However, BOLT is unusable when browsing maps because it lacks this functionality.
What annoys me is also the fact that ROAM and ACE won’t allow you to adjust data fields on the go, and you have to take your phone out of your pocket. Wahoo ELEMNTs simply don’t have the same functionality as Garmin Edge bike computers (tap and hold a data field to open the data fields menu). This is a shame because it’s the fastest way to change a data field.
In terms of the controlability of ROAM and ACE displays with the touchscreen, I must say that ROAM feels faster and more responsive than ACE. I don’t know if my ACE is defective, but it feels slower, and I experienced more issues with it (more about them below). However, they both struggle when wet. You can watch the following videos where I demonstrate the controlability when wet.
Tapping the desired field while wearing full-finger gloves is sometimes tricky. I recommend buying tight, touchscreen-compatible gloves for easier control.
Unlike on Karoo 3 or Magene C606, when changing data fields, you won’t get live previews or more unique data page layouts. Wahoo keeps it simple, offering only a standard grid with the option to display selected metrics in a colored background, depending on the zone you are in.
It’s also worth noting that many settings are done via the Wahoo app instead of the head unit itself. These include options such as pairing Wi-Fi, changing data fields and data pages, adjusting zones, and more.
Another difference is that BOLT 3 doesn’t have a built-in speaker, so it doesn’t have an electronic bell or audible navigation instructions. You also can’t control the volume of the beeps.
Overall, I enjoy using ROAM 3 the most. It feels the most responsive and allows me to control it with he buttons and touchscreen.
Winner: ROAM 3
Maps & Navigation
BOLT 3 offers fewer navigation features than ROAM 3 and ACE. The first big difference is that you can’t browse maps directly on BOLT; you can only load routes or navigate back to the start/home. The second one is that BOLT can’t “Take You To” (a selected point on a map), and the third is that it can’t give you audible instructions because it doesn’t have a speaker.
I tested the navigation of these bike computers mainly on paved roads, and I have two complaints. The first is related to the readability of the map. The maps look nice, but they are not too contrasty, so they might be hard to follow in some light scenarios. The head units also sometimes didn’t select the most appropriate routes when I wanted to navigate back to the start. For example, ROAM 3 tried to take me via side roads instead of the main road, which would have been shorter. Luckily, route recalculation was quick.
The audible instructions on ROAM 3 and ACE are helpful, especially in fast, narrow descents or urban areas, as they allow you to keep your eyes on the road.
Winner: ROAM 3 and ACE
GPS Accuracy
All these head units support the multi-band GNSS. Below, you can see a few screenshots from my tests from a forest segment where I test all bike computers. As you can see from the following screenshots, the accuracy is basically the same.
Winner: It’s a draw
Built-in Speaker and Electronic Bell
The electronic bell is probably one of the most underrated features of the ROAM 3 and ACE. Garmin was the first to introduce it with their E1050, but others quickly followed. And the truth is, Wahoo’s implementation is on point. Instead of going to the menu to click a specific icon, you double-tap anywhere on the screen. That’s brilliant!
I find it to be decently loud at the highest settings, but it may be harder to hear in strong winds. Unfortunately, you can’t control its noisiness with the volume settings. I also can’t forget to mention that you can pair it with Shimano Di2 or SRAM AXS buttons. Damn, I wish shifters had as many buttons as gaming mice, haha.
Total score: BOLT 3 (0) | ROAM 3 (3) | ACE (1) | It’s a draw (2)
My Verdict
The choice between BOLT 3, ROAM 3, and ACE is surprisingly simple. I recommend buying ROAM because it has a touchscreen and speaker, unlike BOLT, while being more compact and having a longer battery life than ACE.
If you decide to buy one of these bike computers, please use the links below. It’s the best way to support this site. Thank you very much in advance!
ELEMNT BOLT 3 vs. ROAM 3 vs. ACE FAQ
- I noticed that the Wahoo website lists a different resolution for ROAM 3, but I contacted customer support, and they told me that all bike computers have the same resolution. ↩︎
