The Wahoo Elemnt Ace is just the latest phone-sized bike computer, and it’s getting a bit silly
Well, there are plenty of counter-arguments to this article.
But first, these “big” (still smaller than a phone) bike computers are offered alongside some pretty tiny ones.
But if you use your bike computer for navigation, you really don’t want a tiny one.
Big means longer battery life, too. We’re talking days or weeks and not hours, when compared to a phone.
Some “big” bike computers also have features that need a little more space: wind sensor, solar panels, glove-friendly buttons, etc.
I’m totally OK with the sizes. My bike computer is medium size in Garmin’s offerings, and sometimes I feel like it’s too small, but never too big. It’s still WAY SMALLER than my phone, and I don’t have to worry about it being exposed to the elements.
To buy a new bike nowadays you have to safe longer. So, you will be older and your eyesight will be worse. That’s why you need a bigger display. Easy explanation.
/s, I guess
Are these things housing GPS modules, cameras, and microphones too? Every manufacturer of common goods wants to get on the surveillance game these days.
That’s actually one benefit to many bike computers: they can be used offline and/or have no data connection or app.
You could connect it to a manufacturer’s services, and lock down what data is shared.
If I had to pick between a phone and a bike computer for privacy, it would be a bike computer.
