Hammerhead Karoo 2 cycling computer review

It takes a lot of time to get into the best cycling computer market. Most consumers aren’t all that interested in chasing new brands once they’ve figured out how to make something work. Despite all these barriers, Hammerhead somehow seems to have turned the corner. The brand has established its entry into this small club and continues to move forward.

As expected, Karoo 2 is Hammerhead’s second entry and the best upgrade ever. Hardware has become smaller and faster, but the core that made computers recognizable is still there. The original Karoo started making waves in the industry and updates continue to do so, and his Karoo 2, now owned by SRAM, is starting to catch people’s attention. If you’re wondering if it’s worth your attention, read on to see what makes Hammerhead Karoo 2 unique.

Hammerhead Karoo 2 – Technical Details

Hammerhead Karoo 2 works in a world more like a smartphone than a bike computer. For example, finding details about processors used in Garmin products requires an email, which can still be difficult. However, Karoo 2 proudly lists his quad-core 1.1Ghz CPU with 2GB of RAM in a dedicated section on the product page. The reason for this is very simple. It’s more like a smartphone than a cycle computer.

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The most visible place for this to appear is the screen. In fact, the screen is Hammerhead Karoo 2’s most noticeable detail. Because it really is in a class of its own when it comes to bike computers. If you’ve ever wondered why you bother with a bike computer, given the superior performance of smartphones, Hammerhead denies that question. The brand has added a smartphone screen to its cycle computer and reduced the size to his 3.2 inches (about 81 mm). Backing up the quality is his 480×800 panel that delivers a pixel density of 292 PPI with support for 16.7 million colors.

Protecting the brilliantly bright screen are sheets of Dragontrail glass and a glass-filled polycarbonate chassis. The glass has a matte coating reminiscent of old Apple computer screens. As with these screens, the glass is extruded to the edges to enclose fairly large bezels. Overall, with dimensions of 100.6mm x 60.8mm x 19.3mm, Karoo 2 wahoo element roam.

However, the battery life is a little less than other categories. Having grown since the first release, Hammerhead shows up to 12 hours of runtime in regular usage. That’s despite a 2500mAh battery that’s actually larger than its competitors. It can be charged from % to 30% in 30 minutes and fully charged within 3 hours, but you’ll have to get creative in the rain. The USB-C port has been protected for years, and while it’s waterproof by itself, it shorts out when power runs through it in the rain.

Completing the hardware capabilities are sensors and connectivity. GPS is provided thanks to a single-band GNSS antenna, alongside BT 4.0, Wifi (b/g/n) and ANT+ connecting to compatible sensors. Onboard sensors include a barometer, ambient temperature sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, magnetometer and gyroscope. To emphasize its similarity to smartphones, somewhat unusually, it also has a cellular antenna.

Hammerhead Karoo 2 – Performance

Every Hammerhead Karoo 2 discussion I’ve ever had starts with the screen. People often don’t remember anything about computers. I just saw that my friend’s cycle computer had a different screen. It’s bright and they want more details.

If you feel like I’m blaming the point, I am. If you’ve ever covered your smartphone’s light sensor and calibrated the screen as if you were in a dark room, that’s what makes Karoo 2 different from all others. You might think Garmin or Wahoo are pretty bright, and they are, but it’s surprising to see them next to the Karoo 2. It’s not just brightness. Graphics are smoother, fonts are easier to read, and colors are brighter.

But Karoo 2 does a lot more than just a screen. Another important thing to understand about using this unit is how much it changes. Underpinning this system is a version of Android with a custom interface. Hammerhead is constantly updating, and the updates are so dramatic that the whole system feels completely new after a while of inactivity. There are also hardware changes, such as replacing the bottom of the shell with an integral port cover.

Hammerhead has also managed to squeeze a few extra hours of battery life out of the unit since launch – it has a battery saving mode so you can save battery on long rides. into your device, you may also want to share your location.

It’s the companion app that doesn’t exist that hasn’t been updated. Only the most basic functions are available from the unit and are performed through a web interface. You can view maps and overviews as well as vehicles, but there is no attempt to track anything. If you want analytics on your rides, or track anything over time, you’ll need to add an account like Strava to sync with. Similarly, access your Hammerhead dashboard with your Strava, Komoot, or Ride With GPS account for any routes you need to use.

You can also add your TrainingPeaks account to sync your workouts. You can also create routes with a competent map creator, but most web interfaces are conduits. Adding a route requires uploading a file or providing a URL, and other workouts require a file to be uploaded.

This leaves most of the interaction with the Hammerhead Karoo 2 to the device itself. This is where the Android operating system really shines. Like Android phones, you can access settings by swiping from the top of the screen, but unlike phones, everything is accessible via a non-touchscreen method. Instead of swiping up from the top, press the bottom left button on the home screen to dive into the menu. The top two buttons move the selection around the screen and the bottom right button selects the setting after highlighting that option in the menu. You can also turn on certain Rain Lock features to disable the touch screen in wet conditions. There is also an Android keyboard here that sometimes appears and works with fingers or buttons.

When it comes to everyday use, it’s like any other cycle computer. A custom out-front mount is included, but there’s also an adapter to make the Karoo 2 work with his Garmin compatible mounts.

Navigation is excellent as the maps are very clear and it supports the same multi-touch interactions as phones, allowing you to pinch to zoom in and swipe between screens. Route changes stand out compared to Etc., and instead of simply telling you to go back to a route and make multiple U-turns, Karoo 2 actually plans a new route to join the route. Original.

There’s also an automatic climbing screen, very similar to Garmin’s, but it works even if no route is loaded. All screens are customizable in a way reminiscent of Garmin head units, offering the ability to save multiple setups via different profiles. In short, there are no real surprises in this part of the experience.

Hammerhead Karoo 2 – The Verdict

We reviewed the Hammerhead Karoo 2 in late 2020 when it first hit the market. At the time, I had to reach out quite a bit to understand how it worked compared to Garmin and Wahoo. The interface took a while to figure out, the USB-C port had no cover, and battery life was around 10 hours of normal use. Everything that made it great was there, but I really didn’t understand why people loved it so much.

The next time I pulled it out, everything I hated about the interface had changed in essence. The constant nature of updates made it smooth as water on a rock. Bright screen still there There was, but we were able to focus on the brilliance of the dual touchscreen and button-based interface. Eventually, even the uncovered USB-C port got an update that required minutes in the drivers. bottom. You can customize your unit by getting another frame. This kind of change is unheard of for cycle computers, but normal for Hammerhead.

And we haven’t even mentioned the other superpower, which is powered by Android. There’s a custom UI on top, but it’s still Android, which means you can sideload apps. A Zwift companion app and streaming music service can be achieved with very little work, allowing you to be as creative as you want. Looking to add Shimano Di2 shift information to your SRAM cycle computer? Yes, sideload only. It’s a powerful feature.

Despite all the goodness, Hammerhead Karoo 2 still has two areas that need a little work. Battery life is probably out of reach for this generation. In normal use he’s a pretty good 12 hours, but he’s behind Wahoo and not even close to Garmin. Not everyone considers it a problem, but it’s worth considering.

Another problem is the lack of a companion app. You can add bookmarks to your mobile browser, but it’s a hassle. Hammerhead is right to let other software handle post-ride analytics, but it needs to be able to easily integrate with the same service. Auto-sucking routes is a given, and Karoo 2 doesn’t have that feature. It also lacks proper smartphone integration, like answering texts and sending tracking links to friends and loved ones without the need for a SIM card.

Price wise, the Karoo 2 retails for £359, making it an attractive option among the main competitors. Garmin’s flagship Edge 1040 Solar costs £629.99, while Wahoo’s Roam v2 is much closer at £350.

What is clear is that Hammerhead is a force in the cycle computer market. The brand has reached the top tier and now even has SRAM deep pocket linings.The only question I have with the Karoo 2 is which features matter? In exchange for smartphone integration and battery life you get a beautiful screen and apps Should I do sideloading?

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