Garmin Edge 1030 Pluschat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Many commenters were frustrated that a 2020 flagship device still uses Micro USB, calling it fragile, hard to align, dust-prone, and slower to charge than USB-C. Several said this alone was a dealbreaker or reason to delay upgrading.

@lil----lil

Micro USB?? Has ANYONE at Garmin ever used Micro USB at all? As in ever? It is one of the worst engineered charging ports of all time. It breaks easily, hard to align, and prone to dust. This factor ALONG, is an automatic no buy. It's like they are totally out of touch. Let BIKE RIDERS design your devices. NOT BEAN COUNTERS!launch

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October 24, 2020

@TheLouisEric

Not having USB PD for fast charging in 2020 is a major flaw. Also having had the misfortune of owning a 1030 before — with software that is still buggy in version 10 of the firmware — I am highly hesitant to consider giving Garmin more money.launch

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October 23, 2020

@kc3vv

I disagree with the part regarding micro usb. If you want your device to last and use it for a long time it is super annoying to get new products that don't switch to USB C.launch

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October 23, 2020

@ChrisMcQueen

Uhhh... Micro USB needs to go away. USB C is more than a form factor difference. Anything that \"takes a few minutes\" should take seconds over USB C. Also charging gets a significant time boost and there's no guessing on what way to plug in a device. I probably won't upgrade until Garmin devices change to USB C.launch

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October 23, 2020

Multiple riders reported the touchscreen becoming erratic or unresponsive in heavy rain, changing screens on its own, refusing input with gloves, and smearing badly after a single touch even on dry days.

@shabeerjameela3748

Thinking about scenario where I am riding during cold weather, goes off the route and having to remove gloves in cold weather to select an option; the \"new re-routing quick options\" at around 5:55, do they need to be selected using touch screen or using buttons? Right now trying to decide between wahoo road and garmin 1030 plus and the practicality around such situations to help me decide. Thanks.launch

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November 25, 2022

@daveevans5368

Good review. Just wondering how sensitive is the touch screen to water or sweating on to the device. I've been using my phone on the strava maps and it's been a disaster. Closes the app down and opening other apps. I have a fenix 6 watch it's great but hard to view the map when I'm cycling. Cheerslaunch

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July 3, 2022

@bluestilling101

I am not a fan of touch screens for various reasons, especially when it comes to rain. I do like a lot of the features on the 1030 plus. I decided to upgrade from the 130-Plus, therefore I'm hoping that you are correct with the rain test demonstration. I could not help but notice that your demonstration 10:10 was not in the pouring rain. It appeared to be underneath a cover of some sort. I guess I will find out the first time I get caught in the pouring rain, and I am relying on my touch screen not to jump around, and still react to my touch screen inputs. I can hardly wait for my unit to arrive. Thanks for the review. They help a lot when it comes to final decision-making.launch

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March 13, 2022

@willemjohannes9007

I can never understand why they don't include the buttons that the 530 has *in addition to* the touch screen. Like, it's their flagship device, far and away the most expensive one most people would be willing to buy, and where I live, there are significant chunks of the year when you can't use it normally/conveniently. I guess adding buttons is like admitting that the touch screen on its own doesn't cover every need and thus is not as premium a feature as it appears to be on the surface. But the fact that smartphones are purely touch-operated and that one can't use them with big gloves or in the rain/snow is one of the major arguments for switching to a dedicated computer (I also just hate trying to use a touch screen on my handlebars while I'm moving, particularly if it's bumpy, but that's a personal thing). All in all then, it doesn't make sense to me to manufacture a computer that is essentially operated exactly like a smartphone (and more clunkily, at that). Now to be fair, buttons by themselves come with their own drawbacks too. I would love to see Garmin go the Karoo or Sigma route and make a device that is both touch- and button-operated. It seems like it would be so easy for them to implement and then most/all conceivable conditions of use would be covered. I could probably ignore all the other weird UI, software and hardware choices Garmin makes, and would buy the 830 or 1030 this very second if only they also had buttons.launch

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October 30, 2020

Several users complained about the device aggressively prompting u-turns even while still on a valid route, GPS accuracy issues near tunnels, and one calling the GPS unreliable for straying off the intended path or shutting off unexpectedly.

@bgh5095

Maybe it’s me and I don’t know how to use this unit however after approximately 11 years of owning an edge 800 I think it’s fair to say I have a reasonable knowledge of how these units work,but after two weeks of using this new unit I am not impressed.\nthe 1030 plus satnav system can’t even find my house or street address (in a UK city) and the house has been here since 1879 !!!launch

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June 11, 2023

@JeffShepherdphotos

One feature I have seen on other makes of units, is the way the route changes colour when re-routing. I don't always know when my Garmin has re-routed due to this, and I keep cycling down the road only find out I have add a mile so to my journey or even have been sent back via a roundabout.launch

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July 26, 2021

@drsus0

The screen sensitivity change was enough to make me switch from a 1030 to a plus.. it was that bad, then theres the route re routing/pausing . “Make a u turn” every 5 seconds just becase im having to ride on the side walks and not the road for whatever reason was also Annoying enough to switch.\n\nBeing able to pinch to zozobra is also a VERY welcome improvement.. the 1030 was an absolute nightmare of you wanted to look around\n\n\nWhat garmin is failing at miserable is allowing for exercise done on other non-garmin devices to be used for data for their training status/load. Unless you use only garmin devices for ALL your exercises ( even Zwift ), it doesn’t apply the data to their training status, rendering it completely useless. Why cant what i do on my Apple Watch or training peaks or Zwift workouts be computed into tenor raining loads to determine training status on garmin? Useless. This is why things lke whoop bands are taking so much of the market share.launch

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April 21, 2021

@davidlee6666

I upgraded from the 830 to the 1030 plus just for the screen. I love the size. However, man, this thing is buggy. I’m on my second unit as the first one was replaced by garmin (good support experience) for repeatedly freezing my location on the map during navigation when I pass under a specific tunnel. Unfortunately, My second unit still freezes occasionally in the one spot. Secondly, IT DOES NOT DO STRAVA LIVE SEGMENTS RELIABLY, <10-20% DO I GET THIS TO WORK. This is a big deal for some of you. Sometimes the only notice I get is that I’m “off segment” and live segment never actually comes up. When I go “off segment”, mind you, I’m still on the correct route, the computer keeps wanting me to take a u turn and go back. This keeps happening. I keep hoping that it will reroute and continue me on the actual route which I’m on (which is the actual correct route), but it continues to ask me to take a u turn. Twice yesterday, I had to re-select the course in order to continue on my ride. I also get intermittent “Phone not connected” issues, and so live track does not reliably work as well. This is a big deal, because it’s the one thing you need to have 100% of the time work- in case you are in that accident and are unable to get/call for help, this is the one thing that just has to work 100% of the time. That is not the case for me. For me, it is reliable in keeping my sensors connected, capturing the data on the ride (even if the map freezes, it will collect the entire ride data). It is reliable in transmission of the ride to connected sites (garmin connect/strava). It does have an impressive battery, and I do love the louder beep- I know when a turn is coming up and I know when a car is approaching from behind with the integration of the garmin varia radar unit. But After yesterday’s ride, I almost pulled a trigger and purchased a wahoo roam. I’ve had a bolt in the past, and I know it’s cliche, and it’s what drove me nuts about fan boys of apple (which I now own), but WAHOO JUST WORKS! I feel this hardware is so much better than wahoo, but gosh, they need better software people! If wahoo comes up with a similarly sized unit, or when the karoo 2 comes out, and by then, if major recurring issues are not fixed, I think I will be jumping ship. Just like how the best equipment is the stuff that makes you forget you have it on (like bike shoes, saddle, clothes etc), you just want to ride and not have to keep looking down at your computer trying to hit menu items with thick winter gloves. Garmin, can I just enjoy my ride?launch

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October 26, 2020

One detailed report described repeated map freezing, Strava live segments working less than 20% of the time, and intermittent phone disconnects breaking LiveTrack. Another user cited firmware still buggy in version 10, and a third described shocking battery life versus claims and constant crashing.

@davidlee6666

I upgraded from the 830 to the 1030 plus just for the screen. I love the size. However, man, this thing is buggy. I’m on my second unit as the first one was replaced by garmin (good support experience) for repeatedly freezing my location on the map during navigation when I pass under a specific tunnel. Unfortunately, My second unit still freezes occasionally in the one spot. Secondly, IT DOES NOT DO STRAVA LIVE SEGMENTS RELIABLY, <10-20% DO I GET THIS TO WORK. This is a big deal for some of you. Sometimes the only notice I get is that I’m “off segment” and live segment never actually comes up. When I go “off segment”, mind you, I’m still on the correct route, the computer keeps wanting me to take a u turn and go back. This keeps happening. I keep hoping that it will reroute and continue me on the actual route which I’m on (which is the actual correct route), but it continues to ask me to take a u turn. Twice yesterday, I had to re-select the course in order to continue on my ride. I also get intermittent “Phone not connected” issues, and so live track does not reliably work as well. This is a big deal, because it’s the one thing you need to have 100% of the time work- in case you are in that accident and are unable to get/call for help, this is the one thing that just has to work 100% of the time. That is not the case for me. For me, it is reliable in keeping my sensors connected, capturing the data on the ride (even if the map freezes, it will collect the entire ride data). It is reliable in transmission of the ride to connected sites (garmin connect/strava). It does have an impressive battery, and I do love the louder beep- I know when a turn is coming up and I know when a car is approaching from behind with the integration of the garmin varia radar unit. But After yesterday’s ride, I almost pulled a trigger and purchased a wahoo roam. I’ve had a bolt in the past, and I know it’s cliche, and it’s what drove me nuts about fan boys of apple (which I now own), but WAHOO JUST WORKS! I feel this hardware is so much better than wahoo, but gosh, they need better software people! If wahoo comes up with a similarly sized unit, or when the karoo 2 comes out, and by then, if major recurring issues are not fixed, I think I will be jumping ship. Just like how the best equipment is the stuff that makes you forget you have it on (like bike shoes, saddle, clothes etc), you just want to ride and not have to keep looking down at your computer trying to hit menu items with thick winter gloves. Garmin, can I just enjoy my ride?launch

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October 26, 2020

@TheLouisEric

Not having USB PD for fast charging in 2020 is a major flaw. Also having had the misfortune of owning a 1030 before — with software that is still buggy in version 10 of the firmware — I am highly hesitant to consider giving Garmin more money.launch

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October 23, 2020

@neil2wheels876

I’d never go back to Garmin, shocking battery life actual vs claimed, constant crashing and clunky UX uploading maps and non-existent customer support. I met with someone who used to work for Garmin on a ride the other day who echoed all these points. Went Wahoo after three duff Garmins and never looked back. Ride with gps have been syncing with Wahoo for years. This looks like a better product but the price is absurdlaunch

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October 23, 2020

Some buyers said the screen looked grayish, low-contrast, or less vivid than in marketing images or compared to the cheaper 830, with one suspecting a faulty unit and others simply disappointed versus expectations.

@fullspeedfly1370

OK I have a brand new 1030 Plus and the screen is nothing like it's portrayed in online ads or in this video. Yes I'm looking at it outside and it's just a low contrast image with low saturation in the colors and no snap to it. Any ideas?launch

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September 27, 2021

@rct8884

How is the screen contrast versus the 1030? The contrast on my 1030 was poor so now that it is broken interested if the contrast/sharpness is any better on the 1030+. If the contrast is the same I may switch to the Karoo-2 just for the better screen contrast.launch

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October 26, 2020

@alimalekkassim3381

Great review. I recently purchased both the Edge 1030 Plus for myself and the 830 for my son, according to your review the screens should be identical apart from size but I noticed that the 830 had a much brighter and crisper display, the blacks are black where as in the 1030 plus they're kinda grayish, was that also your experience or did I get a faulty device? I tried fiddling with the brightness but no improvement, even the images in your video are much brighter than my device. appreciate your feedback so I can return the device in case it's faulty. Thanks.launch

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July 18, 2020

Two commenters who previously owned Edge units with screen halo problems (from an 820) noticed visible halo effects on the 1030 Plus screen as well, raising concerns the issue hasn't been resolved.

@briandarnell1809

Great video. Concerning the screen halo. I had my 820 replaced by Garmin once because of the halo only to have the second unit look just as bad within a year. Is it that hard to manufacture a screen that doesn't halo? At this point I won't buy another Garmin until I know that is fixed.launch

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June 23, 2020

@dandenham3139

Whoa! I didn't realize that the 1030 had the classic screen halo issue. My 820 has it from lots of sunlight exposure from riding time. I see evidence of your 1030 having some screen halo having paused your video at 12:14. Screen halo only affected visibility on my 820 during certain times of the day and sun angles. It was not a problem when backlighting was on. In low-light conditions, I would attach an external battery (small phone charger) and have backlighting for hours. A downside to that was the 820 ride data for temperature was higher from the effects of charging the internal battery. I am hoping that any screen halo development on my 1030 won't affect visibility during actual use. I don't remember seeing comments about screen halo on the 1030 in Garmin forums. I saw many comments on the 820 forum. Could you see any impairment on visibility from screen halo on your 1030 while riding?launch

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June 19, 2020

One user pointed out that despite doubling built-in storage to 32GB, Garmin removed the microSD card slot present on the original 1030, calling it a bad decision that limits future storage expansion.

@MusikPiratCH

The higher capacity 32 GB (to 16 GB of the original 1030) doesn't compensate for the missing microSD card slot on the 1030 plus. That's a very bad decision by Garmin to the \"improved\" 1030 plus. On the original 1030 you could even add microSD cards with 32 GB (without any firmware on it for maps only - with formating FAT32 even larger microSD cards). When the processor is faster the microSD slot would have been even better. I really don't understand Garmin's decision because other devices (handheld outdoor GPS) still use this microSD card slot! 🤔launch

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May 4, 2022