# Varia™ — user reviews > 162 indexed App Store user reviews of Varia™ by Garmin, rated 4.40/5 from 307 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/varia/id1463175187/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/varia/id1463175187.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 229 · 4★ 26 · 3★ 17 · 2★ 9 · 1★ 26 ## What do users think of Varia™? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Reliable and accurate radar detection - 👍 Provides peace of mind and safety awareness - 🚗 Alerts users to approaching vehicles - 🔔 Clear audio and visual alerts **Cons** - 🔇 Alert sounds could be louder - 🔋 High battery consumption on phone - 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues - 🔍 Limited functionality compared to Garmin bike computers **Commonly reported bugs** - Incompatibility with older Varia models - Screen burn-in issues on some phones - Unreliable video recording and playback **Most requested features** - Apple Watch integration for alerts - Customizable alert sounds - Ability to control Varia light settings from app - More detailed vehicle information (speed, distance, etc.) ## Newest reviews (14 of 162) ### 4/5 — Varia radar *2026-07-24, version 5.1.2* So far it’s been super useful I’ve been on 3 long rides and it’s working perfectly ### 3/5 — Good so far *2026-06-14, version 5.1.1* No complaints. Does what it should do. Will update review if thing go south ### 3/5 — Ok but could be so much better *2026-05-10, version 5.1.1* Pairs and works with Varia well. But the display could be so much better utilised. Integrate with Apple workout cycling displays, or show additional information on the screen such as speed, would make this app so much better. ### 3/5 — Problem mit Varia rearvue 820 *2026-03-25* Die Garmin Varia App ist aktuell extrem enttäuschend und macht das System rund um mein Varia RearVue 820 deutlich schlechter, als es sein sollte. Die Steuerung des Rücklichts funktioniert nicht mehr zuverlässig. Die Lichtmodi lassen sich nicht mehr anpassen, wodurch wichtige Einstellungsmöglichkeiten einfach fehlen. Gerade das war einer der größten Vorteile der App. Noch kritischer ist, dass Funktionen verschwinden: Die Option, dass das Radar bei erkannter Gefahr stärker bzw. auffälliger blinkt, ist einfach nicht mehr vorhanden. Dadurch geht ein wichtiger Sicherheitsaspekt verloren. So ist die App aktuell kaum noch sinnvoll nutzbar. Statt ein hilfreiches Steuer- und Sicherheits-Tool zu sein, schränkt sie die Funktionen des Varia RearVue 820 massiv ein. Hier muss dringend nachgebessert werden. ### 2/5 — 조명모드 접근이 안됩니다 *2026-03-15* 브레이크 조명 변경도 되지 않으며, 조명모드 접근이 안되어 휴대폰에서 설정 변경을 할 수가 없습니다. ### 3/5 — Used to be great *2026-03-02* Most recent software really downgraded. Used to run in the background no problem and duck your audio to play the car alert. The app now is only in background maybe 50% of the time and no longer supports reducing media sound just for the alert. Much less functional. Would also be great it if played an all clear tone, the way my wahoo head unit does when cars aren’t detected anymore. The rapidly approaching vehicle alert sounds too similar to the normal alert. ### 2/5 — Worked better in prior version *2026-02-22* On February 18th the app updated and it now overpowers my music so that I can barely hear it any time the app is on. If I turn the volume up, I can hear the music, but the traffic notification sounds are unacceptably loud. Not sure if there is any way to adjust the volume of the notifications, but it should not take control of my iPhone sound level. Haven’t used the radar on my last two rides because of this software update. 😢 ### 3/5 — So good and so bad *2025-10-12, version 4.0.4* The radar and the head unit display are great but the camera and its phone app are horrible. The radar on my wahoo works flawlessly. But the wonky connection to download photos and the random “failed to delete” are infuriating. ### 3/5 — Needs sounds customization! *2025-08-08, version 4.0.3* I can’t hear the sounds as well as I’d like. If you allowed us to choose our own sound files, we could select better tones. ### 5/5 — Sehr gute Hilfe *2025-07-03* Es stellt herannahende Objekte fest. Bei mir funktioniert es sehr gut auch bei herannahenden Radfahrer, was bei mir wichtig war. Apple Watch Funktion wäre Wünschenswert, derzeit ist mein Handy in der Tasche kann so die Meldung so so mitbekommen, wie gesagt Bild und Tonmeldung auf dem Apple Watch wäre eine perfekte Ergänzung. ### 5/5 — Safety *2025-05-30, version 4.0.3* To know that a vehicle is coming behind you is comforting. I am 82 years old and Electric vehicles don’t always make enough noise for me to hear so this helps me keep safe. Thanks ### 4/5 — Warntöne *2025-05-11* Hallo zusammen, insgesamt bin ich sehr zufrieden, lesiglich der Entwarnton ist bei höheren Geschwindigkeiten kaum hörbar, geht auch oft im Verkehrslärm unter. Hier würde ich mir einen prägnanteren Ton wünschen! ### 5/5 — A great safety tool *2025-05-09, version 4.0.3* I am much more relaxed riding in traffic ### 4/5 — Car image does not move - revised review *2025-05-04* I have been trying for months to get this app to work correctly with a garmin RTL515 on my bike. The little car icon shows up on the screen but does not move as the car approaches and passes. But if the radar picks up more than one car they will all move up the screen correctly. Garmin sent a replacement device but that made no difference. So it is a bug in the app or its connectivity to the device. I’ve tried moving the device up and down on the seat stem. Even holding it in my hand. Nothing makes any difference P S. I finally figured out why I had this problem. I have Bluetooth enabled hearing aids which would bring the “bell” of a coming car directly into my hearing aids. Somehow that high jacked the car image which would just stand still unless another car was picked up without triggering the “bell” warning. Once I disabled my hearing aids from Bluetooth everything works perfectly. It would be nice if this could be fixed so I could ride my bike with disabling my blue connection to my hearing aids ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Does not pair *2026-06-27, version 5.1.1* Disappointed. App will not pair to Varia. ### 1/5 — Problème de mise à jour *2026-02-26* Avec la dernière mise à jour, le feu arrière, 820 n’est plus reconnu donc le feu ne fonctionne pas ### 1/5 — Lower volume *2026-02-06, version 5.0.0* Ever since the update when the radar detects a vehicle, it lower the volume to give an alert. The volume stays lowered for 2 to 10 minutes until shooting back up to regular levels. ### 1/5 — Mise à jour *2026-02-04* Mon varia ne se connecte plus depuis la dernière mise à jour hier avec mon téléphone. ### 1/5 — Varia RCT rocks, but app is terrible *2025-09-14, version 4.0.4* I use my Varia with a Wahoo Roam, and it’s fantastic in every way. I can then upload video using a usb c cable to my computer. But then there’s the app. The app is so slow it’s useless. Good thing you won’t need it, if you have a computer and a compatible gps. ### 1/5 — Glitchy *2025-08-08, version 4.0.3* Absolutely useless app! Drops connection constantly with varia ### 1/5 — Filled with bugs, slow as molasses *2025-03-09, version 3.3.0* Incredible hardware, but for $400 for a product there are terrible connection issues. There has to be a better way to view footage. Takes hours to comb through footage and that's only when it's connected. Good luck. ### 1/5 — Great product, garbage app. *2024-10-16, version 3.2.0* Slow and buggy, won’t connect to its own WiFi. Should be able to connect through the Garmin app rather than Varia. Settings don’t seem to stick. ### 1/5 — Pair issues *2024-09-08, version 3.2.0* Try to pair many times without success , Maybe my iPhone 11 Pro do not work for this device, but I saw that also iPhone 14 do not work ether. I have to send back ### 1/5 — BASIC *2024-05-08, version 3.2.0* Really doesn’t do much, nobody is using this app whilst riding. Buggy and useless ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Top *2026-06-13* Une fois habitué on ne peut plus s’en passer. Un vrai plus pour la sécurité 👍👍👍👍👍 ### 5/5 — It definitely works as advertised *2026-05-11* I only used it one time so far and it definitely works. I love that I can listen to my music and run a couple apps in the background. By running this app to let me know that cars are coming behind me by sound and visual. It definitely helps Keeping me safe . And I use an iPhone 14 Pro Max it works great and only took five minutes to set up. ### 5/5 — Please develop an Apple Watch version *2026-05-10, version 5.1.1* Please add the Apple Watch ### 5/5 — Simple app that is easy to use *2026-04-11, version 5.1.1* Good app to simply sync the Varia and look out for cars, as well as device manuals. ### 5/5 — Really pleased *2026-03-16* Probably like most who have broth a Varia .. I didn’t think I needed one especially at the price, but I needed a new light & I took the plunge & I must say I’m really happy with it, battery life could be better.. but I find now I don’t like riding without it. ### 5/5 — No stress *2026-02-21, version 5.0.1* I absolutely consider my Varia a riding necessity. It takes the stress out of my rides and I don’t have to keep looking to see if a vehicle is approaching from the rear. ### 5/5 — INDISPENSABLE *2026-01-26* Tout est dans le titre, pas besoin de blabla, de toute façon si vous faites un essai vous êtes sûr de ne plus pouvoir vous en passer. Vieux cycliste expérimenté je ne vous donnerai qu’un seul conseil : Faites tout pour pédaler en sécurité. ### 5/5 — 1e Utilisation *2025-10-20* 1e Utilisation et j’en suis Très heureux de mon achat ### 5/5 — The best app of 2025 *2025-10-14* This is the best app of 2025, and every single year into the future. Not only can this program/device/application notify users of possible accidents, or getting hit— it can also notify other gps units in cars. A true life saver. This program has one “best of” for the next decade. It also pairs well with a bicycle gps unit (“lights off” feature). -Austin ### 5/5 — Multiple sclerosis ride 2025 *2025-07-26* I just bought the Varia for the Multiple Sclerosis ride across Minnesota because we ride on some big roads. We also ride on some quiet country roads, but the few cars that ride these roads are moving fast. I ride a road bke and paired the varia with my iphone and my garmin triathlon watch. It worked awesome! I knew when the cars were coming on the country roads so i could move to the edge of the road. On busy roads , likewise you knew when cars were coming. The varia made a clear visual and sound ( on my phone) AND the visual was also on my tri watch!! When all the cars were past it gave a softer “all clear” chime so yiu knew yiu could move away from the edge of the road. Battery life lasted well past my 5 hour rides and was quickly charged at night from my power pack. It really helped me feel safer and i could enjoy the long days of riding much more. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-02.*