iGPSport SR mini Review: Small, Cheap, and Accurate?

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I’ve already reviewed iGPSport SR30 a 12 months in the past. Initially, it carried out decently, however after one firmware replace, it began giving too many false positives, so it grew to become unusable. Naturally, I used to be curious concerning the newer SR mini radar. Has iGPSport solved the accuracy? I’ve been utilizing it for a number of weeks and have additionally in contrast it to different widespread biking radars to seek out out.

Full disclosure: I acquired this radar from iGPSport for testing, however as at all times, I assured them that I’d reveal the nice, the dangerous, and the ugly. They don’t have any editorial enter or management over the ultimate article.

My SR ranking at a look:Reliability 5/5 | Multi-object Detection 5/5 | Battery Life 2/5 | Brightness 4/5 | Facet Visibility 2/5 | Mount 4/5 | App 3/5 | Value 3/5 | WEIGHTED OVERALL SCORE 3.7/5More about this biking radar scoring.

NOTE: I examined this radar with firmware v1.0.3.

iGPSport SR mini Abstract

Beneath is the abstract of the iGPSport SR mini technical specs.

My Expertise with iGPSport SR mini

Primarily based on my testing, I discovered the next professionals and cons of the SR.

The field doesn’t embrace normal contents we’re used to. As an alternative of a seatpost mount, it features a saddle mount. This might be an issue in case you are not prepared to surrender in your saddlebag. Fortunately, I had a mount from the SR30, so I may take a look at SR mini with that mount, which sucks, btw., as a result of it slides on the seatpost.

I first used the SR with the Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM 3. SR mini shocked me because it didn’t give me too many false positives. In truth, it gave me round one false optimistic per 3 hours of driving. I used to be shocked as a result of the SR30 was a multitude. After one firmware replace, it began giving me a number of false updates per hour of driving. It grew to become unusable.

Naturally, I used to be inquisitive about its efficiency in comparison with Garmin Varia RTL515, which is my benchmark radar. So, I paired RTL515 with my Garmin Edge 840 for side-by-side comparisons. In concept, SR mini ought to detect vehicles quicker, because it has a 20m longer detection distance (160m). Nevertheless, each radars detect autos about the identical time, and typically, SR mini detects them later, by no means sooner. The identical occurred to me with the SR30. The claims didn’t meet the truth.

The SR additionally carried out nicely in detecting a number of vehicles without delay. It was in a position to monitor them precisely, particularly in bends when a number of vehicles had been driving behind me and the radar may “see” them (in contrast to when vehicles are driving behind one another). I replicated this by pointing the radar at a freeway with an 80 km/h (50 mph) velocity restrict. SR may detect vehicles nicely.

The variety of false positives was near zero. Throughout one cost of the radar, I bought one or two. That is so refreshing as a result of radars, such because the Magicshine R300 or iGPSport SR30, give a number of false positives per hour. The Cycplus L7 I reviewed lately gave me between 3 and 5 false positives per hour, relying on the realm. For instance, in city areas, false positives are extra frequent than in rural areas.

The battery is meant to last as long as 11 hours within the day flash mode. Throughout the first spherical of testing, the radar lasted me 8.5 hours. This outcome upset me a bit, however a lot of the radars I examined didn’t attain the claimed values for a number of hours. The next chart reveals the battery lifetime of among the hottest biking radars.

I additionally seen that the Auto Sleep characteristic didn’t activate itself throughout my first lengthy trip. I don’t know why, as a result of I had turned it on earlier than the trip. Throughout my second trip, it labored. This can be a helpful characteristic, by the best way. The app additionally means that you can regulate the period after which the radar falls asleep.

SR’s brightness is common. The flash has increased brightness, so I favor utilizing it as an alternative of the stable mode. The next image (credit score to the GP Lama for the thought) compares the Bryton Gardia R300L, Varia RTL515, and SR mini. It’s not as clear within the image, however the Varia had the brightest and most centered mild, whereas the SR was the least shiny.

I’m glad that the radar remembers the final used mode and modifications the flashing sample all through the whole overtaking interval. Nevertheless, you will need to allow this characteristic within the app. It needs to be on by default! Naturally, you may as well management the SR’s mild modes from the top unit if the top unit gives this performance. Sadly, Wahoo (or another bike laptop) can not get up SR from standby mode; they will solely flip it off if you flip off the exercise. That is one other massive disappointment, and I hope Wahoo will implement this with future firmware updates.

You’ll be able to barely regulate the customized mild mode, however the remainder of the sunshine modes needs to be adequate. The app additionally means that you can activate and off some extra settings, mild modes, and it will probably substitute a motorcycle laptop by exhibiting you vehicles like another radars (Varia, Gardia, and many others.).

One other factor I wish to talk about is the mount. It’s a disgrace the seatpost mount is just not included, as a result of the saddle mount, whereas being agency and stable, won’t suit your saddle rails and can almost certainly stop you from utilizing some saddle baggage. So, then it’s important to depend on third social gathering mounts. However let’s be sincere, these are normally significantly better than the first social gathering mounts that have a tendency to slip on the seatpost (honouring exceptions such because the Cycplus L7 mount).

Keep in mind, although, that the iGPSport SR mini socket is incompatible with the Garmin quarter-turn mount. It’s rotated by 90°.

iGPSport SR mini vs. Different Biking Radars

The next desk summarizes the technical specs of the SR and different widespread biking radars.

FeatureGarmin Varia RTL515Magene L508Bryton Gardia R300LiGPSport SRTL SR30Trek CarBackCycplus L7Wahoo TRACKR RadariGPSport SR mini

Dimensions98.6×19.7×39.6 mm 3.9×0.8×1.6 in94×38×25 mm 3.7×1.5×0.98 in97×20.9×40 mm3.82×0.82×1.57 in99×20.3×39.7 mm3.9×0.79×1.56 in70×50×30 mm2.76×1.97×1.18 in76.5×37×25 mm3×1.46×0.98 in90×82×42 mm3.54×3.23×1.65 in77×37×19 mm3×1.46×0.75 in

Weight71g65g66g68.8g70g67g99g50g

Claimed battery lifeUp to 16 hours (flash mode)As much as 18 hours (flash mode)As much as 17 hours (flash mode)As much as 18 hours (flash mode)As much as 7 hoursUp to 25 hours (flash mode)As much as 20 hours (low flash mode)As much as 20 hours (comet flash mode)

Actual battery life9 hours and half-hour within the day flash mode¹7 hours and 20 minutes within the flash mode11 hours and 40 minutes within the day flash mode²16 hours and 55 minutes within the flash mode11 hours and 21 minutes within the flash mode15 hours and quarter-hour within the flash moden/abeing examined

ChargingMicroUSBUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-C

RadarYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes

TaillightYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes

Brake sensingNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYes

Auto stand-byNoYesYesYesn/aYesYesYes

LumensUp to 65Up to 40Up to 73Up to 65Up to 90n/aUp to 53Up to 30

Mild modesSolid, peloton, evening flash, day flashSolid, peloton, flash, pulse, rotation, fast flash, radar onlyHigh/low stable, group trip (peloton), flash, radar onlyConstant (stable), fleet, respiration, day flash, evening flash, radar onlyDay flash, day regular, evening regular, evening flashSteady, flashing, respiration, radar onlyHigh and low regular/flashingHigh/medium regular, day, evening, comet, waterfall flash, radar solely

Customizable mild modesNoYes³NoNoNoYesNoYes

Detecting distanceUp to 140mUp to 140mUp to 190mUp to 150mUp to 230m⁴Up to 160mUp to 150mUp to 160m

Relative detecting speed10 to 160 km/h (6 to 99 mph)10 to 120 km/h (6 to 74 mph)10 to 120 km/h (6 to 74 mph)10 to 120 km/h (6 to 74 mph)n/a10 to 160 km/h (6 to 99 mph)n/a4 to 110 km/h (2.5 to 68 mph)

Water resistanceIPX7IPX7IPX7IPX7IPX7IPX6IPX7IPX7

Viewing angle220°220°220°220°n/a270°n/a220°

Horizontal detection angle40°40°40°40°n/a40°35°40°

ProtocolsBluetooth, ANT+Bluetooth, ANT+Bluetooth, ANT+Bluetooth, ANT+Bluetooth, ANT+Bluetooth, ANT+Bluetooth, ANT+Bluetooth, ANT+

Extra infoRTL515 reviewL508 reviewR300 reviewSR30 reviewCarBack reviewL7 reviewTRACKR Radar reviewn/a

BuyCheck PriceCheck Value (rei.com)Examine PriceCheck PriceCheck PriceCheck PriceCheck Value (trekbikes.com)Examine PriceCheck PriceCheck Value

This desk compares options of the chosen bicycle radars.¹About two years outdated unit. The battery depreciation most likely influenced the battery life.²Demo unit – I’m not certain if this influenced the battery life. ³Paid subscription or free for e-mail subscription.⁴Early opinions recommend the true detecting distance is round 150m, which suggests roughly the identical as different radars.Up to date: Could 27, 2025

Issues to Contemplate Earlier than Shopping for a Bicycle Radar

Biking radars need to be extremely dependable. They might offer you false positives, however they need to by no means offer you false negatives, that means they by no means miss a automobile.

You need to have zero tolerance for false negatives for those who purchase a tool like a biking radar. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t rely totally on a bicycle radar and use your different senses whereas driving.

Primarily based on my testing, the SR proved dependable by way of its technical specs. It detected vehicles about as rapidly as Varia and didn’t miss any vehicles. The variety of false positives was near zero.

My Verdict

The principle promoting factors of this radar needs to be the low weight and worth. It ticks the packing containers there. However what about its core characteristic, which is the automobile detection? The radar does a very good job there as nicely, because it doesn’t give many false positives. Their quantity is decrease than different Chinese language radar options, averaging about 2 per cost. It may well additionally monitor a number of autos without delay fairly nicely.

It’s a disgrace that the field doesn’t embrace a seatpost mount, and that the precise battery life falls beneath the common in comparison with different biking radars, so you’ll need to recharge it regularly.

It truthfully surprises me that the earlier radar from iGPSport, the SR30, performs so poorly in comparison with this one. Nevertheless, I’m glad that they improved the algorithm, and the SR mini is now virtually on par with the highest radars, such because the Wahoo TRACKR Radar or Garmin Varia.

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iGPSport SR mini FAQ

The product for this overview was kindly offered by the producer. This didn’t affect my general verdict or my opinion concerning the product. You’ll be able to be taught extra about how I method opinions right here.