Garmin recently released RTL515 Varia Cycling Rearview Radar. So, how does the new version compare against the older RTL510?
You can find out in this comparison guide.
Quick Summary
The main difference between the Garmin Varia RTL510 Cycling Rearview Radar and Garmin Varia RTL515 Cycling Rearview Radar is that the RTL515 supports smartphones. In addition to being used as a display, your phone can also show other helpful data and provide alerts.
The tail light of the RTL515 also comes with the extra peloton mode, which provides lower light flashes that makes it easier on the eyes of other cyclists.
RTL510 vs. RTL515 Comparison Chart
You can find Seeking Tech’s comparison table between the two cycling rear view radars below.
| Garmin Varia RTL510 Cycling Rearview Radar | Garmin Varia RTL515 Cycling Rearview Radar | |
|---|---|---|
| What's in the Box (Standalone) | Varia RTL510 Mounting Kit Cables Documentation | Varia RTL510 Radar Display Unit Mounting Kit Cables Documentation |
| What's in the Box (Bundle) | Varia RTL515 Mounting Kit Cables Documentation | RVR315 Mounting Kit Power Cable Documentation |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 0.8” x 1.6" (or 98.6 mm x 19.7 mm x 39.6 mm) | 3.9” x 0.8” x 1.6" (or 98.6 mm x 19.7 mm x 39.6 mm) |
| Weight | 2.5 oz (or 71.0 g) | 2.5 oz (or 71.0 g) |
| Radar Coverage Area | Up to 153 yards (or 140 meters) | Up to 153 yards (or 140 meters) |
| Viewing Angle | 220° | 220° |
| Modes | Solid Night Flash Day Flash | Solid Night Flash Day Flash Peloton |
| Lumens | 20 lumens in solid mode 29 lumens in night flash mode 65 lumens day flash mode | 20 lumens in solid mode 29 lumens in night flash mode 65 lumens day flash mode 8 lumens in peloton mode |
| Battery Life | 6 hours in solid mode 6 hours in night flash mode 15 hours in day flash mode | 6 hours in solid mode 6 hours in night flash mode 16 hours in day flash mode 8 hours in peloton mode |
| Waterproof | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| BLE Support? | No | Yes |
| Smartphone Apps | N/A | Varia App Ride with GPS Garmin Connect And More |
| ANT+ Support? | Yes | Yes |
| Compatible Devices | D2 Delta D2 Delta PX D2 Delta S Edge 1000 Edge 1030 Edge 130 Edge 25 Edge 520 Edge 520 Plus Edge 530 Edge 530 Mountain Bike Bundle Edge 810 Edge 820 Edge 830 Edge 830 Mountain Bike Bundle Edge Explore Edge Explore 1000 Edge Explore 820 fēnix 5 fēnix 5 Plus fēnix 5S fēnix 5X fēnix 5X Plus fēnix Chronos Forerunner 735XT Forerunner 935 Forerunner 945 tactix Charlie Varia Vision In-Sight Display vívoactive 3 vívoactive HR | D2 Delta D2 Delta PX D2 Delta S Edge 1000 Edge 1030 Edge 130 Edge 25 Edge 520 Edge 520 Plus Edge 530 Edge 810 Edge 820 Edge 830 Edge Explore Edge Explore 1000 Edge Explore 820 fēnix 5 fēnix 5 Plus fēnix 5S fēnix 5X fēnix 5X Plus fēnix Chronos Forerunner 735XT Forerunner 935 Forerunner 945 tactix Charlie Varia Vision In-Sight Display vívoactive 3 vívoactive HR |
| Pricing | Check price on Amazon.(#CommissionsEarned) | Check price on Amazon.(#CommissionsEarned) |
What’s in the Box
The contents included in the packages depend on what configuration you are getting.
You can check out the lists below:
Varia RTL510 Rearview Radar (010-01980-00):
- Varia RTL510
- Mounting Kit
- Cables
- Documentation
Varia RTL510 Radar Tail Light Bundle (010-01981-00):
- Varia RTL510
- Radar Display Unit
- Mounting Kit
- Cables
- Documentation
Varia RVR315 Rearview Radar (010-02252-00):
- Varia RTL515
- Mounting Kit
- Cables
- Documentation
Varia RVR315 Radar Tail Light Bundle (010-02376-00):
- RVR315
- Mounting Kit
- Power Cable
- Documentation
Dimensions
The Garmin Varia RTL510 and Garmin Varia RTL515 have the same dimensions.
You can take a look at the exact measurements below:
- 3.9” x 0.8” x 1.6″ (or 98.6 mm x 19.7 mm x 39.6 mm)
Weight
The two cycling rearview radars also weigh the same at 2.5 oz (or 71.0 g).
Radar Coverage Area
The coverage area of the radars is the same. The two devices are able to detect vehicles at up to 153 yards (or 140 meters) from the back of your bike.
Viewing Angle
Both Varia RTL510 and Varia RTL515 have the same viewing angle at 220°.
Modes
The Varia RTL510 comes in three modes: solid, night flash and day flash.
The Varia RTL515 features four modes: the aforementioned solid, night flash and day flash in addition to peloton.
For the uninformed, the peloton mode will provide a low intensity flash that will be easier on the eyes of other cyclists.
Lumens
Lumens measure the brightness level from the tail light.
In this case, the brightness are the same in the products with 20 lumens in solid mode, 29 lumens in night flash mode and 65 lumens in day flash mode.
The tail light will also produce 8 lumens in RTL515’s exclusive peloton mode.
Battery Life
The battery life is the same in solid and night flash modes.
The new Varia RTL515 will last a little longer than the Varia RTL510 in day flash mode.
Finally, the peloton mode of Varia RTL515 has a battery life of 8 hours.
You can find the full battery specs below:
Garmin Varia RTL510 Cycling Rearview Radar:
- 6 hours in solid mode
- 6 hours in night flash mode
- 15 hours in day flash mode
Garmin Varia RTL515 Cycling Rearview Radar:
- 6 hours in solid mode
- 6 hours in night flash mode
- 16 hours in day flash mode
- 8 hours in peloton mode
Waterproof
Both products have a waterproof rating of IPX7. As a result, the two radars can withstand being submerged in water at up to 1 meter for the maximum of 30 minutes.
BLE
The Varia RTL515 supports Bluetooth Low Energy (or BLE), a feature that lets you connect the radar to a compatible device, such as a smartphone, while using very little power consumption.
Smartphone Apps
Only the Garmin Varia RTL515 Cycling Rearview Radar is compatible with the Varia App. The smartphone application can be used as the primary or backup display. It provides graphics in addition to sound and vibration alerts of incoming vehicles.
The radar is also compatible with other apps such as Ride with GPS and Garmin Connect.
ANT+
Both Garmin Varia Bicycle Rearview Radars support ANT+. The technology will connect the radars to compatible devices.
Compatible Devices
You can find the list of compatible devices for the Varia RTL510 and Varia RTL515 below:
Garmin Varia RTL510 Cycling Rearview Radar:
- D2 Delta
- D2 Delta PX
- D2 Delta S
- Edge 1000
- Edge 1030
- Edge 130
- Edge 25
- Edge 520
- Edge 520 Plus
- Edge 530
- Edge 530 Mountain Bike Bundle
- Edge 810
- Edge 820
- Edge 830
- Edge 830 Mountain Bike Bundle
- Edge Explore
- Edge Explore 1000
- Edge Explore 820
- fēnix 5
- fēnix 5 Plus
- fēnix 5S
- fēnix 5X
- fēnix 5X Plus
- fēnix Chronos
- Forerunner 735XT
- Forerunner 935
- Forerunner 945
- tactix Charlie
- Varia Vision In-Sight Display
- vívoactive 3
- vívoactive HR
Garmin Varia RTL515 Cycling Rearview Radar:
- D2 Delta
- D2 Delta PX
- D2 Delta S
- Edge 1000
- Edge 1030
- Edge 130
- Edge 25
- Edge 520
- Edge 520 Plus
- Edge 530
- Edge 810
- Edge 820
- Edge 830
- Edge Explore
- Edge Explore 1000
- Edge Explore 820
- fēnix 5
- fēnix 5 Plus
- fēnix 5S
- fēnix 5X
- fēnix 5X Plus
- fēnix Chronos
- Forerunner 735XT
- Forerunner 935
- Forerunner 945
- tactix Charlie
- Varia Vision In-Sight Display
- vívoactive 3
- vívoactive HR
Resources: