I’ve always been a user of the Bike Cycle Computer. My cycling journey began at 12, circling the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit with a basic magnet sensor odometer on my handlebars. My first GPS-enabled device was the Garmin 510, a marvel at the time, though its route guidance was limited to a simple breadcrumb trail.
For me, a dedicated GPS bike computer was almost a given. But lately, I’ve been questioning this assumption. Could I be overlooking a viable, perhaps even superior, alternative? Could a smartphone truly compete with, or even outperform, a traditional bike cycle computer, moving beyond being just a backup navigation tool?
For competitive cycling, I’d still lean towards a dedicated unit. Compactness is paramount in racing scenarios. However, for bikepacking and non-competitive adventure rides, the equation shifts. With a 360km bikepacking loop from Marrakech, Morocco, traversing the High Atlas mountains on my agenda, it was the perfect opportunity to rigorously test smartphone navigation and challenge my preconceived notions about bike cycle computers.
Female cyclist navigating with a smartphone mounted on handlebars
(Image credit: Stefan Abram)
Before embarking on our Atlas Mountain adventure, we explored the tech landscape at the Atlas Mountain Race start line, documenting the best bikepacking setups and gear, which you can check out here. Our Atlas loop also led us to investigate the age-old question of carbon vs. steel frames for bikepacking. But now, let’s dive into the core comparison: smartphone versus GPS bike cycle computer.
The Cost Factor: Smartphone vs. Dedicated Bike Computer
Gravel bike equipped with smartphone on handlebar mount for bikepacking in Morocco
(Image credit: Future)
Let’s establish a benchmark with the Garmin Edge 530, a well-regarded bike cycle computer known for its value and pre-loaded maps. It typically retails around $299.99 / £259.99. This serves as a solid point of comparison as it’s a model I’ve personally purchased for its balance of features and price.
We’ll exclude the cost of the smartphone itself, as most people already own one. However, a power bank is almost essential for extended smartphone navigation. A decent power bank usually costs about $30 / £25. While prudent for adventure cycling even with a dedicated GPS unit, we’ll include this cost for a fair comparison.
Then there’s the phone mount. Basic mounts start at around $20 / £15, but I opted for the SP Connect Handlebar Mount Pro MTB. Its sleek, low-profile design and integrated vibration dampening system to protect the phone made it a worthwhile investment at $69.95 / £49.95.
To enhance the navigation experience, I utilized the Komoot app, favored for its route planning capabilities, offline maps, user-friendliness, and rich points of interest data. Komoot operates on a subscription basis, costing $2.99 per month. Free alternatives like maps.me offer offline mapping for budget-conscious users.
Lastly, a bag to house the power bank is necessary. However, for bikepacking and similar adventures, on-bike storage is already a given. Therefore, factoring a bag solely into the smartphone navigation cost seems skewed. The Ortlieb Fuel Pack, a top choice among bikepacking bags, costs $75.00 / £57.50 and is generally part of a bikepacking setup regardless of navigation method.
In terms of pure price, a smartphone setup can be significantly more affordable than even a value-oriented bike cycle computer like the Garmin Edge 530. My chosen setup, leaning towards premium components, approached the Edge 530’s price point but remained cheaper. A more direct comparison might be with the Garmin Edge 830 (touchscreen) or the Edge 1040 (larger screen), priced at $699.00 / £349.99 and $1049 / £519.99 respectively.
Round one, considering cost-effectiveness, goes to the smartphone.
Maps, Metrics, and Route Planning: Smartphone App Superiority
Komoot app screenshots displaying route details and elevation profiles on a smartphone
(Image credit: Future)
This section focuses on the Komoot app’s functionality compared to devices in Garmin’s Edge bike computer range or Hammerhead’s Karoo 2. While numerous best cycling apps exist, offering diverse features, we’ll concentrate on Komoot for in-depth analysis.
Komoot’s base map detail impressed me. It displayed trails of varying scales, names of even minor villages, contour lines, and numerous points of interest. Bike cycle computers offer similar information, but the smartphone’s larger screen and intuitive pan-and-zoom capabilities made accessing and utilizing this data significantly easier. This enhanced map interaction proved invaluable for identifying potential coffee stops or restroom breaks.
The elevation chart visualization on Komoot was also a standout feature. Quickly scrubbing through the day’s profile provided both a broad overview and detailed insights into upcoming climbs. Garmin and Hammerhead bike computers offer excellent real-time climb overlays, detailing gradients and distance to summit.
Komoot app screenshots showing detailed map views and point of interest markers
(Image credit: Future)
However, accessing the comprehensive daily elevation profile isn’t as seamless or rapid on dedicated units compared to Komoot. This broader perspective is crucial for estimating ride duration, as 20km can feel drastically different depending on whether it’s downhill, flat, or a 1,000m ascent, especially when bikepacking with luggage.
Moreover, seamlessly switching to Google Maps on a smartphone to locate ATMs, cafes, restaurants, or other amenities along the route is incredibly convenient. This adaptability is a major advantage when plans change or unexpected needs arise.
While mounting both a smartphone and a bike cycle computer is possible – and sometimes preferred, especially in ultra-distance racing where battery conservation is key alongside the need to easily find services – this scenario is relatively niche. Having a backup navigation system is always beneficial, but for most riders, it might be overkill.
In terms of mapping, routing, and data interface, the Komoot app on a smartphone proved significantly more user-friendly than traditional GPS units. Round two also goes to the smartphone for its superior mapping and user experience.
Size and Battery Life: Balancing Needs for Different Rides
For some cyclists, the larger screen of a smartphone is a major draw, allowing for more data fields and greater map detail. Others prioritize a compact bike cycle computer that sits discreetly on the stem, minimizing distractions.
Screen size preference is largely subjective. However, the battery life implications of smartphone navigation are objective. Sustaining a smartphone’s battery throughout a long ride necessitates a power bank, adding bulk and requiring storage in a top tube or frame bag.
This becomes a significant drawback for shorter rides, around three hours, starting and ending at home. For these outings, minimizing weight and clutter is often preferred. A top tube bag and charging cable can feel cumbersome.
However, in the context of bikepacking, adventure riding, and all-day epics, carrying a power bank becomes standard practice – either as a precaution or necessity. Bikepacking bags are also essential for these longer trips. Therefore, the added battery and bag for smartphone navigation become less of a burden, as the infrastructure is already in place.
Gravel bike with smartphone and top tube bag for charging on a bikepacking trip
(Image credit: Stefan Abram)
My 15,000 mAh power bank strikes a good balance between capacity, size, and weight. Combined with charging opportunities at cafes and restaurants, it keeps my phone powered almost indefinitely, even during multi-day camping trips without access to mains electricity.
Naturally, battery needs vary. In truly remote areas or for ultra-fast, minimal-stop rides, dedicated bike cycle computers excel due to their significantly lower power consumption. They offer much longer battery life on a single charge. However, these scenarios need to be quite extreme for a 15,000mAh power bank to be insufficient.
Again, nuance is key. A compact bike cycle computer is advantageous for shorter, local rides. But for bikepacking and adventure cycling, the smartphone, when paired with a power bank (already likely part of the kit), holds its own and even gains an edge in usability. I would have carried the power bank and bags on the Atlas Mountains loop regardless of navigation choice. In this context, the smartphone doesn’t add significant burden.
Rainproofness: A Key Advantage for Bike Computers
My phone, like many, lacks waterproofing, posing a limitation for navigation in rain. Morocco’s dry climate minimized this issue, with only snowfall encountered at a mountain pass summit. With a single descent road, stowing the phone in the top tube bag until the next junction sufficed.
Komoot app screenshots illustrating route guidance in a remote mountain environment
The next junction was often very far away
(Image credit: Future)
While workable, this isn’t ideal compared to a bike cycle computer’s inherent rain resistance. Waterproof phone cases exist but often add bulk and hinder phone operation. Waterproof smartphones offer another solution, becoming increasingly common.
Despite workarounds, navigating in wet conditions is less straightforward with a non-waterproof smartphone than with a bike computer. This round goes to bike cycle computers – at least until waterproof smartphones become universally adopted in cycling.
Conclusion: Shifting Paradigms in Cycling Navigation
Challenging cycling orthodoxy, and perhaps bordering on heresy for some, I contend that for bikepacking, leisure riding, and adventure-oriented cycling without competitive pressures, smartphone navigation now genuinely surpasses traditional bike cycle computers.
Smartphones offer richer route detail and unmatched on-the-fly navigation flexibility. Battery life concerns become largely irrelevant in these contexts, as power banks are typically carried anyway. A 15,000mAh power bank provides ample power, especially with cafe and restaurant stops for top-ups.
For quick 3-hour loops from home, a compact, charger-free bike cycle computer remains appealing. However, for all-day and multi-day adventures, the main drawback of smartphones – lack of rainproofness – is diminishing with the rise of waterproof models and effective, if sometimes clunky, waterproof cases.
If you’re considering smartphone navigation, explore our guide to the best waterproof cycling phone cases and mounts.
