WAHOO MINI REVIEW! Unboxing, details, hands-on, and more!

It's here, the new Wahoo ELEMNT MINI bike computer. This $99 unit can record your ride, upload to Strava, and even includes an ANT+ & Bluetooth Smart speed sensor. However, there are some catches. Be it needing your phone for some rides, or that it only works with Wahoo sensors - I dive into everything, including accuracy.

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[michaeldudley]

The $99 Element Mini is perfect for me, particularly the use w/o phone. I'm 74 year old, raced for years, ridden steady the past 46 years and all I want is HR, speed, distance, and current time. I know my cadence and the compactness and stem mount are perfect. Thank you for your demo. All I apparently need is the Wahoo HR chest strap.

[fgabrieltomas]

Your reviews are so spot on and deep a delivered with a natural ease and pace that it's enjoyable to watch

[shifty]

man you are the class leader for in depth reviews on products related to cycling and tri both youtube and your site. thanks for all the effort you put in!

[D.Eldon_]

Thanks. I like the idea of the MINI very much -- it would be a great cycling computer for amateurs who never plan to buy a power meter. It's 300-hour battery life is super great! Plus, it's live sharing is an excellent feature (I use that with my BOLT regularly). However, it's a pity about the sensors because that makes the MINI a non-starter. There are lots of amateur cyclists I could recommend the MINI to if it supported third-party sensors like the BOLT. Since it doesn't, I won't be recommending the MINI to anyone. The MINI seems like a missed opportunity. Too bad!

[browellr]

the whole point is to have a cheap, non distracting display on your bike instead of your phone, which could ruin your phone

[PeakTorque]

Didn't wahoo do this with the Reflekt unit? It needed a tethered phone, which is why i took it back. Phone GPS chips aren't good with heat and barometers are almost always way out. If they put gps in this, a winner for sure.

[xawnia]

Thanks a lot for the in detail information about the dual-mode ANT+/Bluetooth. I really wanted to find out if there would be a data log file when used in 'non-connected' mode and you have explained exactly why only summary data will be available if no phone is connected, thank you!

[ceazy]

I just need something that will tell me my speed and time. I will use my fitbit ionic to track gps and heart rate and upload to strava. The cheaper cycle computers seem very cheap as far as materials and durability. The quality on the build of this wahoo is nice. I think I might pull the trigger on this one.

[MrJonnyb]

Sounds like a Refklt that actually works (I had a bad experience with that unit)

[waynosfotos]

They really need to go the other way, a head unit that replaces taking your phone, can make basic call, txt, plus cycle computer. This would get rid of taking your lumpy phone on a ride.

[oceanluvr]

Was just about to replace my RFLXT+ with a mini and thanks to this great review I have decided not to. I liked the RFLXT+ which displayed the data I wanted all on one screen - and it was easy to read, without having to scroll through pages. Also from the video is appears, the speed sensor is attached to the bike with a rubber band. An absolutely horrible way to attach if you live in a hot and humid area like Florida. That rubber will last about a year, if that. I know from personal experience with my older Wahoo speed sensor. I actually spoke to Wahoo and complained about the means of attachment, but I guess they did not care.

[markp]

I like the look of the MIni. It seems clear to read, and has easy to use buttons on the front. I am new to the sport - a keen weekend warrior. I do not have any sensors so purchasing wahoo senors is not a problem for me. I always have my phone with me. I will not race and are unlikely to get a power meter. I really like the idea of getting my phone off the handlebars and out of the weather. Though Turn-By-Turn would be great. It is quite well priced. There are some cheaper alternatives by other brands, but they do look cheap and don't seem to have the clarity and easy read screen with easy button use. For me I would look to purchase one - it will do all that I need.

Serious riders/racers will need a more professional orientated unit. Hence Bolt and Element.

[woolfel]

great review of the pros/cons. I no longer use head units and just put my iPhone in my back pocket. chris froome style of riding and staring at the head unit isn't fun and sometimes dangerous.

[smithleon]

I'd like to know how the phone connected mode affects your phones battery life.

[sergionavarromartin]

Do you think another wahoo mini early? Or a new wahoo bolt?

[EugeneTayam]

Thanks for the quality review and making clear that it does not work with other sensors...too bad as I would've bought it if I can pair with the Scoshe hr sensor.

[geekindakitchen]

I still use in 2021 as my main cycling computer!

[TadzioPies]

Very informative review which now has me rethinking purchasing this bike computer. So, a gorgeous successor to the ELEMNT but what? Wait! Suddenly they've lost compatibility with ALL other manufacturer's HRM!??! COME ON!

[automaticraccon]

Thx, great review Just to be clear: if I am pairing it with a phone i won't need to install the speed sensor? Also if paired with a phone is the navigation comparable to the Bolt aside from the LEDs? An lastly, how cumbersome would it be to switch between bikes with different wheel sizes when using it as standalone with the speed sensor?

[TreyGruel]

Seems that this is an update/replacement for the RFLKT, or I guess the REFLKT+ since it pairs directly with the sensors, but depends on the phone for GPS.

I just looked and the REFLKT is no longer on the Wahoo site.