Now the Android status bar at the top is hidden and the software runs full-screen, and the overall effect is definitely an improvement.Īt first glance, the hardware looks unchanged from the X5, but there are a couple of changes. In use, the original X5 felt quite a lot like an odd-shaped phone running a haphazardly translated exercise app. The X5 Evo is an Android device, as was its predecessor, but a lot more effort has gone into making it feel like a dedicated device this time around. The Xplova brand was acquired by Acer, the Taiwanese electronics company, in 2015. Those who've previously used a Garmin will be pleased to learn that the mounts are compatible, so any fancy Garmin mounts you have will work just fine here.
I didn't use this, as it's held pretty well on the out-front mount and it's a tough little package anyway. In the box you have the unit itself, a plastic out-front mount, a micro-USB cable for charging, and a lanyard you can use to provide some security in case your device ever bounced off its mount. I think it bests the pricier Garmin Edge 1030 in this respect – it's more like a high-end smartphone.
It's the only full-feature GPS computer with onboard video recording, with a nice big colour screen and 720p video capability.
The Xplova X5 Evo is an update to the original X5 that we tested last year.