Price | $299 | $229 | $229 |
Product Announcement Date | Apr 24th, 2019 | July 1st, 2015 | Mar 14th, 2017 |
Actual Availability/Shipping Date | Early May 2019 | July 31st, 2015 | Mar 14th, 2017 |
GPS Recording Functionality | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Data Transfer | USB, Bluetooth Smart, WiFi | USB & Bluetooth Smart | Bluetooth Smart, WiFi, USB |
Waterproofing | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 |
Battery Life (GPS) | 20 Hours (40 in battery Saver Mode) | 15 hours | 15 hours |
Solar Charging | No | | |
Recording Interval | 1-Second or Smart | 1-Second or Smart | 1-second |
Dual-Frequency GNSS | No | | |
Alerts | Audio/Visual | Audio/Visual | AUDIO/VISUAL + LED's |
Backlight Greatness | Great | Great | Great |
Ability to download custom apps to unit/device | Yes | Yes | No |
Acts as daily activity monitor (steps, etc...) | No | No | N/A |
Music | Garmin Edge 530 | Garmin Edge 520 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT | Can control phone music | No | No | No |
Has music storage and playback | No | No | No |
Streaming Services | No | | No |
Payments | Garmin Edge 530 | Garmin Edge 520 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT | Contactless-NFC Payments | | | No |
Connectivity | Garmin Edge 530 | Garmin Edge 520 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT | Bluetooth Smart to Phone Uploading | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Phone Notifications to unit (i.e. texts/calls/etc...) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Live Tracking (streaming location to website) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Group tracking | Yes | No | Yes |
Emergency/SOS Message Notification (from watch to contacts) | Yes | Yes | No |
Built-in cellular chip (no phone required) | No | No | No |
Cycling | Garmin Edge 530 | Garmin Edge 520 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT | Designed for cycling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter Capable | YEs | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter Configuration/Calibration Options | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter TSS/NP/IF | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Speed/Cadence Sensor Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Strava segments live on device | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Crash detection | Yes | Yes | No |
Running | Garmin Edge 530 | Garmin Edge 520 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT | VO2Max Estimation | (CYCLING YES THOUGH) | (CYCLING YES THOUGH) | N/A |
Recovery Advisor | (CYCLING YES THOUGH) | (CYCLING YES THOUGH) | N/A |
Triathlon | Garmin Edge 530 | Garmin Edge 520 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT | Designed for triathlon | Sorta | N/A | N/A |
Workouts | Garmin Edge 530 | Garmin Edge 520 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT | Create/Follow custom workouts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
On-unit interval Feature | Yes | Yes | No |
Training Calendar Functionality | Yes | Yes | No |
Functions | Garmin Edge 530 | Garmin Edge 520 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT | Auto Start/Stop | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Virtual Partner Feature | Yes | Yes | No |
Virtual Racer Feature | Yes | Yes | No |
Records PR's - Personal Records (diff than history) | Yes | Yes | No |
Weather Display (live data) | Yes | Yes | No |
Navigate | Garmin Edge 530 | Garmin Edge 520 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT | Follow GPS Track (Courses/Waypoints) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Markers/Waypoint Direction | Yes | Yes | No |
Routable/Visual Maps (like car GPS) | Yes | Yes for maps (but not routable) | Sorta (Maps yes, but technically not routable) |
Back to start | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Impromptu Round Trip Route Creation | No | No | No (But can create one-way routes from phone app) |
Download courses/routes from phone to unit | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sensors | Garmin Edge 530 | Garmin Edge 520 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT | Altimeter Type | Barometric | Barometric | Barometric |
Compass Type | GPS | GPS | Magnetic |
Optical Heart Rate Sensor internally | No | N/A | N/A |
Heart Rate Strap Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Heart Rate Strap Capable | YEs | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Speed/Cadence Capable | YEs | YEs | Yes |
ANT+ Footpod Capable | No | No | No |
ANT+ Power Meter Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Lighting Control | Yes | Yes | No |
ANT+ Bike Radar Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Trainer Control (FE-C) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Remote Control | Yes | Yes | No |
ANT+ eBike Compatibility | Yes | No | Yes |
ANT+ Gear Shifting (i.e. SRAM ETAP) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Shimano Di2 Shifting | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart HR Strap Capable | Yes | No | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence Capable | Yes | No | Yes |
Bluetooth Smart Footpod Capable | No | No | YEs |
Bluetooth Smart Power Meter Capable | Yes | No | Yes |
Temp Recording (internal sensor) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Temp Recording (external sensor) | No | No | No |
Software | Garmin Edge 530 | Garmin Edge 520 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT | PC Application | Garmin Express | Garmin Express | N/A |
Web Application | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | N/A |
Phone App | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android |
Ability to Export Settings | No | No | No |
Purchase | Garmin Edge 530 | Garmin Edge 520 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT | Amazon | Link | Link | Link |
Backcountry.com | Link | | Link |
Competitive Cyclist | Link | | Link |
REI | Link | | |
DCRainmaker | Garmin Edge 530 | Garmin Edge 520 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT | Review Link | Link | Link | Link |