Garmin Edge 520 Plus: The Budget Veteran, Reviewed
The 2018 Garmin Edge 520 Plus brought maps, incident detection, and Strava Live Segments to $249. Discontinued in 2022, but still on the used market at $80-$120.
Solid all-rounder, especially value
$APPEALS
70.0/100
Price
$249 USD (now ~$100 used)
$APPEALS Performance Radar
8-axis 10-point scoring (P-A-P-P-E-A-L-S). Per-category weighted.
$APPEALS Score
70.0 / 100
- Price:
- Pricing competitiveness within the category, value retention, total cost of ownership
- Availability:
- Channel coverage, supply stability, after-sales service accessibility
- Packaging:
- Industrial design, build finish, accessory completeness, unboxing experience
- Performance:
- Category-defining core performance — accuracy, power, range, speed, sensitivity
- Ease of Use:
- Setup difficulty, daily-use UX, app quality, learning curve, configurability
- Assurance:
- Build durability, water/dust rating, warranty policy, long-term reliability
- Life Cycle:
- Battery life, consumable cost, firmware support, residual value, repairability
- Social:
- Brand prestige, WorldTour adoption, professional rider endorsement, community
Hardware Spec Sheet
23/23 fields filled (100%) · Bike ComputersBasic Info
- Brand
- Garmin
- Model
- Edge 520 Plus
- Release Year
- 2017
- Price
- $249 USD (now ~$100 used)
- Weight
- 60g
- Warranty
- 1 year
Display
- Display Type
- Transflective TFT color (button-only)
- Display Size
- 2.3 in
- Display Resolution
- 200 x 265
- Touchscreen
- No
GPS
- GPS Chip
- u-blox M8
- GNSS Systems
- GPS + GLONASS
- Multi-band GPS
- No
Connectivity
- Bluetooth
- Yes
- ANT+
- Yes
- Wi-Fi
- No
Navigation
- Turn-by-turn Navigation
- Yes
- Preloaded Maps
- Preloaded basic maps (lower detail than 530+)
Battery Life
- Battery (GPS Mode)
- 15h
- Battery (Saver Mode)
- 40h
Physical
- Water Rating
- IPX7
- Weight
- 60g
- Mount Type
- Garmin out-front (standard 1/4-turn)
The Garmin Edge 520 Plus is the 2018 successor to the popular Edge 520. It added preloaded maps, incident detection, and Strava Live Segments.
Pros
- Price 8.0/10
- Performance 7.0/10
- Ease of Use 7.0/10
Cons
- Social 6.0/10
- Packaging 6.0/10
- Availability 6.0/10
On this page (5 sections)
The Garmin Edge 520 Plus is the 2018 successor to the popular Edge 520. It added preloaded maps, incident detection, and Strava Live Segments. Garmin discontinued the 520 Plus in 2022 with the launch of the Edge 540 / 840, but the unit remains widely available on the used market at $80-$120 and is still a competent choice for budget-conscious riders.
Key Specifications
- 2.3-inch color, 200x265 px, no touch, 7 buttons
- 15h battery
- GPS + GLONASS
- Preloaded basic maps
- ANT+ / Bluetooth
- IPX7
- 60g
- $249 USD at launch / ~$100 used in 2026
Should You Buy a Used 520 Plus in 2026?
At ~$100 used, the 520 Plus is a tempting budget option. The main trade-offs vs. the Edge 540 ($349 new): no Galileo GNSS, no Wi-Fi, no Trendline popularity routing, and a smaller 2.3" screen. For a casual rider who does not need turn-by-turn navigation in dense urban areas, the 520 Plus is acceptable. For a serious rider, the 540 is the right buy.
Pros
- Available for ~$100 on the used market
- Preloaded basic maps
- ANT+ / Bluetooth
- IPX7
- 60g (light)
- Strava Live Segments compatible
Cons
- Discontinued by Garmin in 2022
- No Galileo GNSS (Edge 540 has it)
- No Wi-Fi (Edge 540 has it)
- 2.3" screen is smaller than 2.6" on the 540
- No Trendline popularity routing
- 15h battery is shorter than the 540 (26h)
Verdict
The Garmin Edge 520 Plus is a competent legacy unit, but new buyers in 2026 should consider the Edge 540 ($349) for the multi-band GNSS and Wi-Fi upgrades. Used-market shoppers at $80-$120 will get a fair unit, but should set expectations accordingly. Riders who want a more future-proof buy should spend the extra $200-$250 for the Edge 540.
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