CyclistsHub is supported by its readers. We could obtain a fee when you purchase merchandise utilizing our hyperlinks.
The C606 is Magene’s latest bike laptop. After I noticed its specs and value, I instantly thought: ‘This can be a direct assault on the lower-end Garmin Edge.’ It prices manner under $200, presents a crisp, colourful, touchscreen show, and is customizable by way of smartphone.
I examined it for a number of weeks, and on this evaluate, I may also evaluate it to different bike computer systems from manufacturers like Garmin, Wahoo, Hammerhead, and extra. For sure, C606 will not be flawless.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Magene C606 lasted me round 16.5 hours of ordinary use with all sensors related and auto brightness. Its display screen might be brighter as a result of the reflective coating typically makes it onerous to learn in direct daylight. Surprisingly, the GPS accuracy is sweet, contemplating C606 doesn’t have multi-band GNSS. C606 can be responsive and presents many knowledge display screen layouts. Nonetheless, its foremost drawbacks lie in its UI, which isn’t refined, and subpar navigation. You should buy the C606 right here or proceed studying for more information.
My C606 ranking at a look:Battery Life 3/5 | Ease of Setup 4/5 | Show 4/5 | Ease of Use 3/5 | GPS Accuracy 4/5 | Maps & Navigation 2/5 | Worth 5/5 | OVERALL 3.6/5More about this bike laptop scoring.
Magene C606 Professionals and Cons
These are the primary professionals and cons of the Magene C606 I discovered throughout its use.
Magene C606 Professionals
Customizable by way of a smartphone app
Straightforward to make use of
Fast startup time (~5s)
Distinctive codecs of knowledge fields
Sharp show
Surprisingly good GPS accuracy
Wonderful show efficiency when controlling with gloves or when moist
Interesting value
Magene C606 Cons
The UI will not be refined (the beginning button gained’t begin an exercise from the house display screen, knowledge fields can’t be modified in the course of the exercise, and extra)
Decrease show brightness than rivals
Maps can’t be downloaded by way of the smartphone app
Subpar navigation expertise
No multi-band GNSS
No ClimbPro-like function
Battery life doesn’t meet the claimed vary
The smartphone app will not be dependable and infrequently shows errors or is just too sluggish
Additionally out there at aliexpress.com
Unboxing and Setup
The contents of the Magene C606 package deal comprises:
Magene C606
Stem mount with rubber bands
USB-C charging cable
Tether
Handbook
To arrange the C606, you need to obtain OnelapFit. Then, you undergo the usual pairing technique of scanning a QR code. It’s not as streamlined because the Wahoo course of as a result of you need to choose the mannequin of your bike laptop. I consider this step might be omitted, and you must solely be prompted to scan the QR code.
It might even be good to have the ability to pair a number of discovered sensors directly when pairing sensors, however that is no huge deal. It’s simply me being choosy.
Earlier than the primary use, I additionally suggest downloading maps in your area. Keep in mind, you need to obtain them instantly from the bike laptop. Downloading from the OnelapFit app will not be potential. It took me some time to determine this out. I’ll clarify this additional within the Maps and Navigation part.
My Expertise
I’ve been utilizing Magene C606 for a number of weeks now. Listed below are my foremost takes:
The UI might be extra refined. Some actions don’t work intuitively as they need to.
The battery life is “solely” common.
The navigation expertise was subpar.
Let’s now speak about particular person options in additional element.
Show
The Magene C606’s show is 2.8 inches. Magene doesn’t present its decision, but it surely’s sharp. It’s not as sharp as Hammerhead Karoo 2 however about the identical as Garmin Edge bike computer systems.
Its kind issue jogs my memory of the mix of the Garmin Edge 830 and 1030 (Plus). Its bezels are fairly huge, however the display screen presents sufficient area for as much as 10 knowledge fields.
The C606 is principally the identical weight because the Bryton S800. It weighs solely 105g, which is 21g lower than the Edge 1040 and 5g lighter than the Sigma ROX 12.1 EVO, which has solely a 3-inch show.
Its readability in direct daylight is okay, however the show will not be as vivid as different bike computer systems, and it’s shiny. This implies the readability in direct daylight will not be splendid and not so good as Wahoo ELEMNT bike computer systems, which have an anti-gloss coating that reduces solar reflections.
The show measurement permits for as much as 10 simply readable knowledge fields. You may cut back them if wanted. C606 additionally presents to show them in numerous graphic codecs and knowledge layouts.
Battery Life
Magene C606 claims a battery lifetime of between 17 and 25 hours, which places it barely above the common. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless lower than the Edge 540 or 840. The query is, what’s the actual battery life?
It lasted me round 16.5 hours. That is an underwhelming consequence contemplating the as much as 25-hour vary. I used it with an HR monitor, Favero Assioma DUO energy meter pedals, Magene L508 radar, and related to a cellphone. I additionally used the auto brightness settings.
The chart under reveals the claimed battery lifetime of high biking computer systems available on the market, so you’ve gotten an thought the place it falls.
Lastly, it’s in all probability no shock that the C606 has a USB-C charging port.
Management and Person Friendliness
Magene C606 is a touchscreen bike laptop with 3 buttons, one among which is the facility button. They’ve an identical performance because the Garmin Edge 830. Nonetheless, beginning a brand new lap is finished by way of the facility button, which is positioned on the high of the bike laptop, so it’s not as simply accessible as the underside buttons.
I like the truth that the OnelapFit app permits me to do 90 % of the settings from the smartphone. This consists of settings issues like the information pages, fields, sensors, and so on.
Sadly, I discovered that the C606 will not be as refined but. Listed below are a number of examples:
It’s not potential to vary the information fields, structure, and most different settings when an exercise is in progress.
It’s not potential to vary a knowledge area by long-pressing it (like on Garmin Edge).
Urgent the beginning button on the house display screen doesn’t begin an exercise. You have to click on the exercise profile first.
The smartphone app typically shows errors or is just too sluggish when loading previous actions.
I consider Magene can remedy this with future firmware updates. In the event that they achieve this, I gained’t have many issues to complain about contemplating the low value of this bike laptop.
The system responds rapidly. It’s not as fast as a smartphone, however that’s okay for a motorbike laptop.
Like at all times with touchscreen bike computer systems, I attempted it when moist and with gloves. The show works nicely. It’s on par with Garmin Edge bike computer systems. Watch the video under.
I additionally found that the audible alerts are too comparable to one another, resulting in confusion. I don’t know if it’s an alert from a radar, a reminder for consuming, or an alert for altering route when the navigation is turned on.
The crimson arrows exhibiting automobiles are additionally not very seen, so that you don’t know the place the automotive is at first look, in contrast to with different bike computer systems, which often solely present the dot.
Lastly, while you maintain the facility button to show the bike laptop off, it shows a display screen with just one choice (to show off the bike laptop). That is an pointless step, and the facility button may flip the unit off instantly. It might make sense to maintain it this manner when you may additionally entry a battery-saver mode.
Maps and Navigation
C606’s map and navigation expertise begins with downloading maps in your area. I couldn’t discover the maps within the OnelapFit app, however after some time, I discovered them on the bike laptop in settings.
Downloading one package deal (Europe 4) took round quarter-hour, which I contemplate fairly lengthy. Nonetheless, it included a number of nations (Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania). The 4GB storage could appear to be an issue at first. However after downloading 3 areas (Europe 2, 4, and 5), I nonetheless had 61% of storage left, so about 2.44 GB.
Anyway, after efficiently putting in the maps, I went for a experience to strive them out. I loaded a route simply by way of the smartphone. However that’s the place my confusion began. Magene C606 navigation behaves barely in a different way than different bike computer systems.
As an alternative of recalculating your route instantly, the system alerts you while you go off-course for the primary 100 meters. Between 100 and 300 meters off-course, it reveals a straight line to the purpose the place you deviated. After 300 meters, the bike laptop begins recalculating the route.
I additionally seen an odd inconsistency. The primary time I attempted navigation (with my smartphone related, which is obligatory for route recalculation), it fully stopped, and it was unable to recalculate the route. The recalculation labored on the second try (in a special space). I don’t get it as a result of I had a robust sufficient GPS and mobile sign.
After this expertise, I like to recommend wanting elsewhere for a head unit with dependable navigation. For instance, Sigma ROX 12.1 EVO presents a fantastic navigation expertise. C606 has the {hardware} to do issues proper, however the software program is programmed in a bizarre manner. It doesn’t swimsuit me in any respect.
Accuracy
The C606 doesn’t assist multi-band GNSS. So, how does this translate into GPS accuracy?
It’s not on par with multi-band GNSS bike computer systems just like the Garmin x40 line, but it surely’s above common. Regardless of the recorded route being out of the highway in a number of sections, it’s nonetheless extra correct than different non-multi-band GNSS items (BOLT 2, Sigma Rox 12.1 EVO, and so on.). See the next photos from my favourite testing phase in a forest.
Connectivity
Magene C606 has ANT+, Bluetooth, and WiFi connectivity. It could obtain and replace maps wirelessly. The identical applies to actions and sync with fashionable apps like Strava or TrainingPeaks. You may pair it with further sensors like HR displays, energy meters, cadence and velocity sensors, biking radars, and so on. You too can use it to manage your good coach and radar or join it to digital groupsets like SRAM eTap or Shimano Di2.
Nonetheless, I seen one other inconsistency when syncing actions. They sync with the OneLapFit app when I’m within the WiFi vary. Generally, they sync to third-party apps instantly, and typically, it takes some time. I’ve no rationalization for this habits.
Magene C606 Options
Listed below are among the Magene C606 alternate options value contemplating.
Magene C606 Technical Specs
Right here is the abstract of the primary options and the technical specs of the Magene C606.
Technical Specs
Battery life: 17-25 hours (USB-C charging)
Display screen measurement: 2.8in / 71mm
Touchscreen: Sure
Weight: 105g
Strava stay segments: Sure
Good trainers management: Sure
Good navigation (rerouting): Sure
Connectivity: ANT+, Bluetooth
Waterproofing: IPX7
Inner reminiscence: 4GB
Sensors: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou
My Verdict
Whereas the $159 value level is tempting and aggressive, the general person expertise is typically irritating. I additionally discover the navigation expertise subpar. So, till Magene fixes these “ache factors,” I can’t use it as my foremost bike laptop, which is a disgrace as a result of hardware-wise, it has all the things a head unit at this value level wants.
Primarily based on its specs, it’s higher than its rivals. Sadly, the firmware has not but been polished. This jogs my memory of my expertise with the Magene L508, which additionally had points after launch, however due to firmware updates, Magene improved its accuracy. Hopefully, it gained’t take too lengthy to do the identical with C606.
Additionally out there at aliexpress.com
Magene C606 FAQ
The product for this evaluate was kindly supplied by the producer. This didn’t affect my general verdict or my opinion in regards to the product.
