New Magene C606, a high-performance cycle computer with mid-range price

In the world of cycle computers, we often get blinded by the usual brands, Garmin, Wahoo or Hammerhead to name the most popular ones. However, oriental brands also have interesting products, such as the new C606 that will soon be on sale by the Magene brand, a top seller on AliExpress that in recent years has evolved its products enough to be highly considered.

Magene throws down the gauntlet to traditional cycle computer brands

We usually think of the products sold on the Chinese portal AliExpress as purely economical options that, in most cases, are not going to measure up. In fact, many people are wary of purchasing cycling components through this medium, especially when reliability is an important issue, as can happen with wheels or a handlebar.

However, Chinese brands, which for years have supplied a multitude of recognized brands from the shadows, are becoming independent and evolving their own ranges with products that often surprise us with their level of quality and performance. A good example of this is Magene, specialized in electronic products for cycling, which has in its catalog smart rollers, power meters, bike lights and, what we are going to talk about today, cycle computers.

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And it is that Magene has its C606 unit, which will be available to its customers from next February 29, appearing on its website already in pre-sale for a very interesting price of 147 €. A cycle computer that, if we start to analyze its characteristics, has features worthy of much more expensive devices in the catalog of the usual brands.

At first glance, its structure reminds us of the 800 series from Garmin. Its similarities do not stop there since, like this one, it has a generous 2.8-inch color touchscreen. Of course, it has full connectivity with most devices on the market, supporting the usual ANT+ and Bluetooth protocols. The latter is also used to send data to its OneLapFit app, which also allows us to more easily configure the device to our liking. In addition, it also has WiFi connection to facilitate data download and device synchronization.

Of course, it has the ability to store maps in its 4 Gb of internal memory and offers full navigation functions in addition to practically any data we may need in our training thanks to the 103 available data fields that we can configure on its different screens to our liking. It also has, like any self-respecting high-level cycle computer, training functions that allow us to design in detail our structured sessions so we don't have to memorize them and it is the device itself that guides us in our series.

Its GPS receiver, like all the latest models on the market, is capable of capturing signals from the GPS, Glonass, Galileo constellations and, obviously, the Chinese Beidou. Regarding its autonomy, another important factor for users of this type of devices, Magene declares between 17 and 25 hours in normal use with full functionality, which varies, as in all devices, depending on what we have connected to it or with the level of screen brightness and the use of backlighting. Duration that extends up to 28 h in battery saving mode. By the way, the charging port is USB-C type, complying with the standardization set by the European Union and which avoids us having to have a specific charger.

Without a doubt, an unbeatable device in terms of features and price despite not having live tracking or fall detection functions as some of its competitors do but, of course, at a much higher price and that, without a doubt, will force traditional firms to get their act together in the following evolutions of their products.