Garmin has unveiled the Varia Vue, a cycling headlight that integrates a 4K incident camera, available now for $549.99 through Garmin’s online store and Amazon.
The Varia Vue is equipped with a front-facing 4K camera that automatically records incidents detected by its accelerometer. The camera is capable of recording 4K video for up to six hours on a full charge. However, the battery life is significantly reduced to as little as 1.25 hours when the headlight is set to its brightest setting. At a lower resolution of 1080p at 30fps, the recording time can be boosted to up to nine hours, or up to 1.5 hours with the headlight at full brightness.
The camera features electronic image stabilization to minimize shakiness in the footage, particularly useful when cycling on rough terrain. Additionally, it utilizes continuous recording, allowing the events leading up to an incident, as well as the aftermath, to be stored. When paired with Garmin devices such as smartwatches, cycling computers, or the mobile app, the camera can record GPS speed and location data alongside the video.
The Varia Vue can be paired with Garmin’s camera-equipped radar taillight, enabling incidents to be captured from two different angles. This setup also allows for an additional recording mode where the Vue only starts capturing footage when a vehicle approaches from behind, further maximizing battery life.
The recorded footage is stored locally on an SD card. With Wi-Fi connectivity, videos can be automatically uploaded to the online Garmin Vault for added security, but this requires a subscription, either $9.99 monthly or $99.99 annually.
The Varia Vue’s headlight has a maximum brightness of 600 lumens in flashing mode, designed for daytime use. At full brightness, it outputs 550 lumens and can be dimmed to as low as 140 lumens. The headlight is designed with a cutoff beam that angles the illumination down onto the road, avoiding shining directly into the eyes of oncoming drivers.
The device includes hardware for front handlebar mounting and can be operated using buttons on the camera or controlled through Garmin’s smartphone app and cycling computers. Notably, the Varia Vue uses a USB-C port for charging, marking a departure from Garmin’s traditional use of Micro USB ports.
