Originally Posted by
nnila
I've just discovered the Wahoo RFLKT+ and the Cateye Pandrone Smart+.
The Cateye Smart+ especially sounds very interesting as it gives you the best of Cycle computer AND smart phone sync'd. The only issue I see is that it doesn't come with the sensors and so I'd have to purchase a cadence and HR sensor separately. It does however seem like it gives me the best options for futureproofing it and adding new features.
Are there any other similar options from other brands? I dont even know what I'd search for to find them.
The big difference is that the Padrone will work with or without being connected to a smartphone. Hoever, if you always have your smartphone with you, it's sort of a moot point. The major difference between the two devices is that the Padrone only works with it's proprietary phone app and the RFLKT+ will work with all of the more popular cycling apps. Another difference between the two is that the Padrone is Bluetooth only, so your sensors will have to be Bluetooth. The RFLKT+ uses both BT and Ant+ sensors because of it's Ant+ bridge; but that only works on an iPhone 4S or newer. So if you already have some Ant+ sensors and an iPhone, you can use them with the RFLKT+.
As for similar computers on the market, the only other one that I am familiar with is the Topeak Panobike computer. It is very similar to the Padrone in how it works but again, it only works with it's proprietary phone app. And like the Padrone, if you always have your phone with you, the standalone computer feature is almost a moot point.
The cycling computer market is starting to change for the better and with the new features of smartphones, so are there new features of cycling products that are smartphone compatible. I think the developers of the cycling apps realize this and are adding more and more features to their apps to accommodate the new BT compatible hardware so that you don't need to have multiple apps on your phone in order to use them. Just my 2¢ worth.