Interesting. I just go on there being something there and only look back if I see multiple dots (a queue building up) or I want to do a manoeuvre. I’ve an older 1030 anyway, so I think the only real benefits to me of the new varia would be the better battery life which can be replaced, and maybe the USB C for better charging and the longer detection range.
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Does the half wide option stay onscreen or is it a pop up when cars are present like the normal notification?
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if there isn’t a setting that tells me when the threat level is “midnight”, i don’t want it. if what i just wrote confused you, please google.
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I expect there will be, given that they made this so much more expensive and gave it the RTL820 name instead of RTL520. I would also expect it won’t have the lane detection stuff, but will have longer battery life, brighter light and USB-C.
They are probably going to delay the RTL520 by 6+ months though so that more pale are tempted into buying the RLT820 just for USB-C and better battery life.
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I know what you mean by the naming convention and the space that leaves for a cheaper version
But
Somehow it feels different on a head unit than on a safety device
ie “we did this version without lane detection, to hit a price point, but its not quite as safe”
That, to me, feels a bit more dangerous positioning wise than “this head unit doesnt have certain training metrics”
I could be over thinking it though !!
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Look at safety features in automobiles (a very heavily regulated and litigated industry). It’s common to pay extra for safety enhancing features. Sure, some of them get regulated or become typical standard equipment, bits that only after 10+ years of them being costly options.
This seems like the natural successor to the Varia Rtl 515 if it had the same price. The 515 is already 5+ years old, so at its MSRP of $200 is overpriced but you can often find it for $150. The 820 seems only a bit better but not $150 better.
I still have the Varia 510 and I don’t have a reason to update to the 515 let alone paying $300 for a slight improvement. Those are nice safety enhancements but I’d wait to hear from others to determine if they actually translate in improved safety.
The name and number change suggests the pricing it’s an strategic decision and not only due increased costs because of tariffs, etc. I’m sure it’ll sell well but it’s hard to get excited about new products released with marginal improvements but huge price increases.
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I agree that the pricing and specs don’t leave a lot of room for a lower end model. The 515 is currently RRP £169 in the UK, but has been available for about £130 for ages. I would have expected that a simple update with USB-C and slight improvements in other specs would be something like £199 RRP (and not available anywhere for less, for a while) since Garmin really likes bumping prices lately. But one at £199 and the 820 at £259 just doesn’t seem like enough separation in price or specs to warrant two models.
If I were an optimist then I’d suggest that they might be going with a 520 at, say £139 to be highly competitive against other brands, plus the 820 at £259 as the premium option, then maybe a new camera one as a 1020? That would cover the market in a “why would you buy anything other than a Garmin?” way. But… I’m more inclined to believe a “no, we just like big prices” strategy than “we’re going to slot in a bargain version below.”
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Yeah, this is definitely the new RTL-515. I wouldn’t expect them to launch anything under this price-wise, as that’d go against every bit of upgauged Garmin pricing the last 18 months. Short of them free-falling in their earnings call in a few weeks.
While none of us like higher prices, this particular case is frankly pretty hard to argue with.
- Wahoo’s new radar is $250, so Garmin’s clearly better radar (in every possible spec you can think of), is $50 more
- The previous unit launched 6 years ago at $199, so using straight inflation rates alone, it would be $247, but that’s not accounting for tarrifs. And while tarrifs don’t directly impact EU/other pricing, Garmin has decided to basically spread the love and keep global prices at parity (which means US folks pay a bit less, and other folks pay a bit more)
- But again, ignore all that, because Garmin is looking at Wahoo’s price, and delivering better/premium product, and knows they can charge it.
- And finally, with all the random cheap radars out there that suck, Garmin’s not going to decrease price, it’s going to maintain/increase price, because it knows it’s tech doesn’t suck.
Plus, if history is any indication, this gives them flexibility on pricing to do sales at $249, with probably Black Friday sales at $199 here and there.
Look, I don’t like it anymore than anyone else, but out of all the wonky Garmin pricing fiascos of the last 18 months, this is pretty low down the crazy-pants list.
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I’m waiting for blackfriday, or at the very least a 25% off sale.
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I know this isnt meant to get political, but it boggles the mind that someone in the EU, or Asia will need to pay more on a product due to a domestic tax Trump is charging his own citizens.
Truly the entire world pays for this policy…
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Luckily the pricing in the EU is different and there is no need to pay the list price for the bike stuff, like in some countries/areas (unless you have to get the hot new product on the release day, of course). As mentioned, the rtl515 has been available for significantly less than the list price and the same thing will happen with the rearvue 820 once it has been available for a while.
I’m curious where you’re shopping from. I rarely see good discounts on Garmin devices in Europe. I was on a lookout for a watch and a bike computer for quite a while before finally buying used. Components, apparel, etc - yes, you can find deals. Electronics - not so much in my experience.
I hate that you’re probably right. But between the 5xx to 8xx change and the 60 GHz upgrade I still hold out hope that they release a 520 with 24 GHz, better light and battery and USB-C.
Because Garmin’s actual costs for the 515 are clearly low enough to make money at $149 even after tariffs, otherwise they at least would have stopped discounting it before. Such minor upgrades would hardly affect the materials costs. So they could launch it at $199, increase profit margin and keep market share by offering a clear winner over the competition.
Though I suppose they can continue to manufacture the 515 and limit the improved battery life and USB-C to the 820 to make more money from people that have to have those. I just don’t think many customers will spend an extra $300 (as opposed to zero) to upgrade for battery life and USB-C.
I suppose it all comes down to how many Varia sales are to new customers & those replacing dead units vs those upgrading for new features. I think at this point most people that are likely to be willing to buy a radar already have one. So to sell a lot of units requires enticing upgrades. But just guessing. Garmin certainly has data on that.
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I usually do my shopping from German shops, but I think I have seen the best prices for the rtl515 in a French shop (alltricks). When buying bike lights from EU you must always be careful to get the international version.
Yes, the Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung (StVZO) doesn’t allow flashing lights, sadly. I hadn’t come across French sites so far, good tip. My go-tos are the German ones and some Italian ones as well.
That’s Garmin’s decision to spread the love by having consumers in the RoW (like me) subsidise US consumers. No one forced Garmin to do that - it’s their commercial choice in order to help maintain volume in their largest market at home. Many other businesses have put in place similar cross-market subsidies to cushion US consumers from tariff impacts, but the RoW price rises have generally been very modest vs Garmin’s large RoW price hikes.
This is what I’m most interesting in hearing about in this new model. I’d be very surprised if this worked even half-decently, so my expectations are set suitably lowly, but you never know…….!
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I know its their decision and no one forced them to.
It doesnt take the fact that the tariffs gave them a decision to make (and ROW pricing increased as a consequence of wanting to keep domestic market share high, which could be impacted by (drum roll) tariffs))
Maybe you’re happy:
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